Over the years, this website has been home to my rants and raves about PR, communications, social media, geek stuff and productivity.  I’m grateful; this virtual garden o’mine has played an important role in the creation and maintenance of my personal brand.

People complement FlackRabbit.com quite a bit. Thanks, folks! Don’t be fooled, I didn’t design it! I’m lucky to be married to a talented web dude who created my logo and website long, long ago.

Of course, I realize that not everyone is married to a web designer. Still, you can do a lot to shore up your personal brand even without the customized creative: Read More…

Nope. Not even if you delete something you said, mark your account private and/or keep only close friends on your roster.

To help us all remember that, please repeat after me this not-at-all-brilliant, but 100 percent accurate mantra:

Tweet with caution, Facebook with care – ten years from now, it will still be out there.

On second thought, print it out and tape it to your computer monitor.

XOXO –Flackrabbit

I’m fortunate to have been raised by a very close, thoughtful family; the “I love you’s” and “Great job’s” flowed from the lips of adults and teachers in my life like a river. Lord knows every little move I made and accomplishment I achieved was recorded, lauded and recounted at family meals. I realize this is not the case for a great deal of folks; I can honestly say I’ve never taken it for granted.

The same is true today: I have a INCREDIBLY kind and encouraging base of family, husband, friends, bosses (past, current and future) and mentors. Even clients and strangers.

The power of  kind gestures, complements and encouragement is truly amazing — and I experience these things from someone every. single. day. Do you? Read More…

As you may have heard, I’ve been offered – and have accepted – an incredible job opportunity in Washington DC.

I KNOW! (squeal!)

As odd as it may seem, most folks I’ve told about this adventure promptly ask, “Well, what about Dave? Is he going with you?” Um, yes. Dave is going with me. And so is the porge.

In anticipation of this and other queries, we’ve created a quick Frequently Asked Questions section for your reference: Read More…

Image by mafleen via Flickr

Reading this makes me sad, but David Cay Johnston’s play-by-play on the attitude and work approach of the Obama press shop-o-newbies (answering the phone, anyway) should be required reading for every aspiring public relations pro.

I’ve read Johnston’s words three times now and each time, something different makes me cry a little stands out. Here’s a quick sample:

Its 3 p.m. and the phone in the White House press secretary’s office is ringing. It rings and rings and rings. Eventually, a recorded voice asks callers to leave a message, followed by a second voice saying the voicemail box is full. Read More…

I’m no social media expert, let’s make that clear right now. The digital PR and social media landscape changes daily, so if anyone tells you they are the social media guru – run like the wind. Tip: these are the same folks who will tell you they can “make something go viral.”

The only thing I can say with absolute certainty about the ever-evolving social media landscape is that successful use of these communication tools isn’t hard unless you are lazy. The more I read up, the more I find social media best practices among those that are smart, active, succinct and sincere. Read More…

Call me obsessive, but I cannot resist the weekly urge to check the pulse of my online self.  I want to know what you see when you Google any combination of Margie Maddux Newman.

It’s not that I think everyone is out there Googling me, but what if they do? I want to be sure those results are not in the least bit embarrassing. I also want them to be relevant, even if they are nothing more than my thoughts on Google Chrome, downtown living, public relations stuff or my love for Nashville Predators Hockey. Read More…