Category Archives: Nathan “PRCog” Burgess

Nathan "PRCog" Burgess

35 tips in 30 minutes (text edition)

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As many of you know members of the PRBC group presented today at Ragan’s Social Media panel.  Below we share some of our thoughts on SM.  The names in parenthesis indicate who brought up the point.  Hyperlinked to their twitter account on the first use.

Diving Into Social Media

Before any company, agency, or professional decides to become involved in social media, there will no doubt be some basic questions that they want answered, or some background information that they would appreciate hearing.  The first group of points provide some helpful hints for diving into social media, whether you’re interested in using it for clients or becoming the resident thought-leader for your company. Continue reading →

Nathan "PRCog" Burgess

Brush Up Your Latin

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Composite of lightning bolts and pen writing on paperFor 90% of us, writing is the bedrock of our business.  Having a good vocabulary, being able to structure a sentence properly and persuasively, and adding that special je ne sais quoi to a piece we’re working on is invaluable.  It’s not about using big words—it’s about using the right word.  Some of the most evocative pieces of literature use very few “big words.”  Orwell’s 1984 and Douglass’s Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass instantly come to mind. Continue reading →

Nathan "PRCog" Burgess

PRBC pontificates on SM in 2010

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In one of today’s posts Arik Hanson suggests conferences get more midlevel speakers. He notes about VIPs

“They don’t actually do the work. They’re typically brilliant people. Tremendous speakers. But, they’re not on the front lines. I want to hear from the folks in the trenches sometimes. What’s working? What isn’t? What surprised you?”

Ask and ye shall receive Arik….

In case some of you hadn’t heard, 7 members of the PRBC crew will be participating in the The 2010 Media Relations Best Practices Summit on March 3rd in New York City.

Some of your favorite PRBC family members Continue reading →

Nathan "PRCog" Burgess

HAPPO Days are Here

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Businessman Offering HandshakeFor any of you who missed Friday’s announcement, the next two leading up to what should be an amazing 4 hours on Friday February 19th.

This new project, spearheaded by Arik Hanson and the amazing Valerie Simon, this amazing project looks to put together job seekers with those with job openings.  For the full background and inspiration, including inspiration from Dave Mullen, be sure to check out Arik’s post, linked in the first sentence.  For those of you looking for the short version, and what you can do to participate in HAPPO day, take a look below: Continue reading →

Nathan "PRCog" Burgess

We’re Growing the Family (Tree)

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TreeOver the last five months the PRBC founding members and contributing bloggers have had the absolute joy of bringing you nearly 250 posts on the things that impact all our lives — PR, Social Media and everything else that touches on the various communications arts we all get to call our day (and sometimes night) jobs.

After some thought, we’ve come to the realization that you, our devoted readers need more — more variety of specialty, experience, geographic diversity, and everything else that makes each of us, as a person and professional, unique. Continue reading →

Nathan "PRCog" Burgess

Twitter 101

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Businesspeople following businesswoman

So we’ve all (hopefully) gotten over the importance of the Twitter follower count. Nonetheless you’ve got to have some core group of people you’re talking with or it’s just you shouting at the mountain.  So the question remains what can you do, particularly when you’re new on Twitter to get followers (or more accurately, find your community).  And so, a step by step guide from signing up to getting your first few followers.  This post, of course, supplements TJ’s, on how the PRBC folks decide who they follow.

This might be particularly useful if you’ve got a friend that’s recently decided to join the SM world as part of a New Year’s Resolution (or your client’s CEO is just not getting ‘it.’)

First: Continue reading →

Nathan "PRCog" Burgess

12for12K hits the ground running in 2010

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The folks over at 12for12K, which strives to change the world through social media and which has been mentioned here, in one manner or another, over the last few months certainly have their hands full only 15 days into the new year.

Following the massive earthquake that hit Haiti in recent days the group partnered with Hope for Haiti to raise funds for the relief effort.

So far the 12for12K-ers have raised $4,160, but there’s an anonymous blogger who will donate $1,000 if the group reaches $7,000 by Sunday.

To further up the ante, 12for12K supporter and professor/entrepreneur Amelia Maness-Gilliland will donate 100% of all sales from the first five people to buy her Resume packages – details here.

Additionally, Mr. Danny Brown (12for12K founder) himself and some other folks may be offering social media audits at a reduced price with all fees going to the charity and there may be some Headway theme magic in the works.
As it stands the group needs under $3,000, less than $1,000 per day to hit the $7,000 mark.  Let’s make it a happy Friday, great weekend, and let’s work on making this anonymous blogger $1,000 poorer.
Nathan "PRCog" Burgess

Plan Z

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Young boy playing with building blocks

Last week, while walking around downtown NYC with my 5 year old he pointed to one of the taller buildings while we waited to cross the street and asked (in his “I know the answer but I want you to know that I know” voice), “Daddy, do you know what will happen if that building falls down?”

He’s been a bit obsessed (and pessimistic) about meteors hitting the earth since we explained how the dinosaurs became extinct.  So whenever he asks ‘catastrophe questions’ we always try to assure him that whatever it is “isn’t going to happen” (assuming it’s true) and do our best to reassure him we don’t live a world where buildings just fall down or [insert catastrophe here]. Continue reading →