{Today’s guest post by Pounding the Pavement’s Joy Paley ponders a blog’s role in corporate online reputation management. Give it a read and share your thoughts in the comments!}

If you’re reading Flack Rabbit, you’re probably a PR geek who is well aware that blogs can be an excellent tool for the corporate communications expert. But, let’s face it: although some corporations are beginning to get on board, many are dragging their feet. The fact that corporate blogs can allow a forum for (potentially negative) comments keeps many from implementing interactive media.

However, in a market where online presence is increasingly critical and sustainability issues are gaining traction with consumers and policy makers, corporations are increasingly expected to having an outlet to promote/defend/address their social responsibility to shareholders, customers, and the public at large. Furthermore, new research in the area is proving that, when managed appropriately, corporate blogs can help shape businesses’ images.

How to Harness the Power of a CSR Blog

The Journal of Business Ethics recently published a study, entitled “Corporate Social Responsibility in the Blogosphere” aimed at assessing how much a company could actually control their image of corporate social responsibility (CSR) though blogging. Read More…

{In today’s guest post, Stacey Viera asks how you feel about bringing gifts to an interview. Is gifting brown-nosing, ignorance or smart marketing? Participate in the poll after the jump.}

Recently, I learned from a colleague at LyonsPR, a Washington, D.C.-area firm specializing in radio, that an interviewee for their summer internship slot brought brownies to the interview.

I thought such a gesture was a fluke, a desperate attempt to get hired in an incredibly competitive industry in an even-more-competitive town. I’ve hired and been hired for jobs and internships since I was a teenager, and never once have I come across a similar situation.

But then journalist Jeff Sonderman at the new TBD.com news organization noted on Twitter that a potential hire sent flowers after an interview. I wondered aloud what the accompanying card read. “You had me at ‘hello!’” was my snarky guess. Read More…

A couple months back, I called for guests posts offering up your take on PR, social media and communications; I received a delightful response and I’d like to do it again. This time, I’m looking for submissions on four topics:

The importance of internal communications

How a mentor has shaped your career

The trials of being someone’s “replacement” at a new gig

What’s next in journalism

I’m interested in thoughtful posts that are no more than 400 words; please include a short bio, too. You may email your submission to margie (at) flackrabbit (dot) com. All opinions are welcome–even by folks who already have their own blogs.

{Former New York Times editorial page staffer Maura Casey is back with a follow up to her recent post about op-ed writing. Once you write your masterpiece, you’ll want to get it placed. Here, Maura walks you through how.}

Now that you have written a compelling commentary on a public issue, there’s no reason to hold back — after all, it won’t have any impact unless you can get it published where the public can see it on the blog, web page, or newspaper oped page of your choosing. For many, this is the hard part.

It’s understandable: Making phone calls or sending e-mails to get editors excited about your point of view feels like a pitch for approval. But don’t think of it that way. Instead, put yourself behind the editor‘s desk.

Editors see you as a potential solution to a daily challenge: they want to publish compelling opinions and they have less and less of a budget to pay for them. They are publishing fewer syndicated columnists than ever and are always on the prowl for fresh, often local points of view. To the extent that you can solve their perennial problem, they care not just about what you have to say, but how you say it. Present an interesting, provocative and well-written piece, and editors’ doors will fly open to you. Read More…

When I offered up FlackRabbit as a place to feature the thoughts of folks without blogs, I had no idea I’d get flooded with so many great posts. In case you missed them, here’s a recap:

Joe Flood: Make your blog look good on the iPhone (picked up by DC Blogs!)

Ashley Haugen: 3 tips on improving your pitch

Stacey Viera: be transparent when promoting client work on and offline

Mary Beth Ikard: how’s your PR bedside manner? (picked up by Nashville’s Post Politics!)

Katie Place: overcoming gender bias in public relations

Dave Newman: three Web strategies every PR person should employ now (most Tweeted guest post!)

Maura Casey: write with a purpose, think like an editor

Joe Flood: reel lessons in marketing

Adam Hollingsworth: In a crisis, never lose the public’s trust

A few lessons I learned include: most guest post-ers are happy to be confined by a word count; guest post-ers are often shy about sending a bio; for those who aren’t used to blogging, there is a tendency not to respond to folks in the comment section; and finally, not all guest post-ers will drive traffic to their post. Read More…

{Today’s guest post comes from veteran crisis comm guy, Adam Hollingsworth, who offers up three rules for keeping the public’s trust when communicating in the midst of chaos.}

Toyota just can’t seem to get it right.  And every PR flack worth his or her salt knows it.

Toyota was slow to respond to initial reports of uncontrolled acceleration in some of its vehicles.  Their corporate suits have been defensive in both media interviews and Congressional testimony.  And, worst of all, they have been less than sympathetic to the victims of the malfunctions.

Taking these three major gaffes together, Toyota has struck out when it comes to maintaining public trust.  And it looks like they’ve forgotten one of life’s great lessons: You never have a second chance to make a first impression.

That’s particularly true in a crisis.

Having advised a number of Fortune 500 companies through headline-grabbing crises, I know that navigating the bright lights of public scrutiny is hard work.  It’s also an inexact science where even the best-intentioned can stumble.  However, over the years, I’ve developed a few key rules that must be followed – including, by the way, giving the PR folks an equal seat at the table as soon as a nightmare strikes. Read More…