If you are a professional communicator, you MUST maintain your own personal slice of the Internet. (You can’t convince a client, boss or co-worker of the importance of online reputation management if you don’t even manage your own online reputation.)

More than a blog, you should have an online portfolio to communicate to the world your talents, skills and experiences. Creating an accurate, impressive web presence is especially important if you are on the lookout for a new job/client. And let’s face it, if you’re a good communicator, you’re always networking for the next opportunity.

Before you panic–or send me more emails about how you don’t know how to create a website, nor have the cash to pay someone to build one for you–I’ll remind you of a little something called Linkedin.

Linkedin is free, it boasts a fabulous Google Page Rank and now features most of the bells and whistles you’d want on your website (like syncing with your Twitter account). So, mosey on over to your Linkedin profile and start spreading your news. And please, don’t be so humble; tell the world all about your irreplaceable skill set and achievements. Seriously, tell us. Because if you don’t, who else will? 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.

A clever headline every now and then is nice, but if you look at your blog and find that every post’s headline is nothing more than a vague pop culture reference and/or shout-out to an inside joke, it is a disservice to your readers.

Your headline is especially important if you are only sharing a partial snippet of each post in your RSS feed; if I subscribe to your post and can’t tell what it’s about from the feed headline, why would I click on it? I probably won’t. Same goes for the short teaser to the links you’re sharing on Twitter, FriendFeed and Facebook.

I’m not advocating “link baiting.” I’m tired of seeing cute/funny/pithy headlines that in no way explain to what the heck it is people expect me to click on. Pointless blog headlines are an epidemic these days; I’m not clicking on those posts…and I’m unsubscribing from those feeds. 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…

I’m not even going to try and play this cool. About an hour ago, FlackRabbit was added to the PR page of Guy Kawasaki‘s Alltop.com. OMG, I KNOW!

If you’re unfamiliar with Alltop, it is a content aggregation site that describes itself as an “online magazine rack” of the Web. You can view featured blogs by topics like babies, LinkedIn, recycling and social media. Or view every topic alphabetically on one page. Besides being a freakin’ big deal for me personally, this is also a great opportunity for FlackRabbit guest bloggers. Alltop gets a boat-load of relevant traffic; it will be great exposure. Read More…

Blogging might not be your day job, but your posts are reaching folks from 9 – 5 and beyond. Traffic is picking up, referral links are rolling in. Heck, folks are actually using your contact form. Looks like you’re gonna need a blog content disclaimer.

A good disclaimer doesn’t require a lawyer, you simply need to post some thoughtful language that conveys your blog’s purpose, content ownership and what you intend to do with the information you’re collecting on your readers. Blog Herald provides some great samples here.

For about two years now, I’ve had in my footer a disclaimer that reads:  This is the personal blog of Margie Maddux Newman. The opinions, random thoughts, industry rants and emotions expressed here belong to her alone and are not those of her employer, husband, family or tea-cup poodle.

Today, with FlackRabbit’s rising traffic, the addition of guest bloggers, and due to the fact that more of you are using the contact form, this site now has a full legal page. On that page, you’ll find: Read More…

After my most recent nagging about how you should be blogging, a few folks have asked what platform I recommend.

For those of you wanting to start a blog quickly, cheaply and on completely on your own, hop over to WordPress.com or Blogger. Sign up, find an available name, choose a theme and get crankin’. I think WordPress.com is better, but there are many who would disagree. They would be wrong. You’ll then have something like www.blogname.wordpress.com or www.blogname.blogspot.com, which is what I use for my Picalicious blog.

If you have a domain name (FlackRabbit.com, etc.) and want it turned into a blog, I recommend self hosted WordPress. I’ve used self hosted WordPress since 2006. FlackRabbit has known three different looks during this time. The most recent was unveiled a few weeks ago when hubby installed a new theme for me. Read More…

I’d like to offer up FlackRabbit as platform for those of you without blogs to publish your public relations and communications expertise. You’re incredibly smart and I’d love to see your thoughts in pixels; why not do it here?

I often harp on PR folks for not blogging. It’s hard for me to understand why one would not want the writing practice and a published account of their knowledge.

It’s a lot of work though. A blog is like a dog. If you don’t feed, water and bathe it, and take it for frequent walks, it will die. Some folks would rather not bother with the maintenance; maybe you’re more of a cat person. In any case, I urge you to seek out the opportunity to pen a guest post for a relevant industry blog–be it on FlackRabbit or somewhere else. You’ll get all the benefits of a published piece, without the actual blogging part.

How do you get started? Think of it as a pitch for a client. Read More…

Sneak peek of the new Brazen Careerist!

I’ve shared with you my excitement about the online GenY community, Brazen Careerist, before. Well, in a few hours, they’ll launch a new site in just about every way: new look, new vision, new reason for you to care – and maybe – for me to move on.

Since I read mostly PR, writing and geek blogs, I dig Brazen because it allows me to follow posts about journeys I don’t usually read about, like paying your dues in the workplace, searching for ultimate purpose, frustration with non-techy boomers, whether or not to get your masters degree, etc.

Even though I’m on the almost-too-old-to-really-be-Gen-Y side of the Brazen Careerist spectrum, I still routinely get a lot out of the site – including meeting new folks (Hi, Nisha!), learning new things, and a steady amount of blog traffic.

The “old” site was billed as a true online community, with contributors “bold enough to explore divisive topics, but sensible enough to admit that they don???t have all the answers.”

The new site is touted as “the career management tool for next-generation professionals.” It’s intended to showcase you – twenty-something newbie – and your vast potential. It understands that lack of experience doesn’t mean not smart or capable. It gets you. It gets what you will be.

I LOVE that new vision, that business niche. I love the fact that Brazen will now be a place where smart and proactive grads will gather to take over the world.

There’s just one problem: I guess that kinda means I’m out.

I turn 30 in three weeks. With eight years of public relations and reputation management experience, I’m no longer your gal if you are targeting our future workforce. I may be young, but I am currently a professional. I love my career and can articulate my desired path. I wear a suit every day and have Manager in my title. Worse, heart excel sheets and regularly lead task forces.

Maybe it’s time for me to find the online community for the “not-quite-running-the-world-but-nearly-there professionals”? Did I just describe Twitter?

Don’t get me wrong: I’m thrilled for Brazen – and Penelope and the Ryans. If you liked the “old” Brazen, you’ll love the new site. I’ll still surf it and (hopefully) contribute.

Their strategic move to target and empower the next gen of pros is spot on; sadly, it’s just no longer the spot I’m in.

It’s not that I agree with everything Devin Coldewey says today in his TechCrunch post; but I gotta say, it’s so nice to (for once) read a smart and different (and negative) take on Twitter.

A highlight of his rather long, thoughtful thesis: “…if someone is so regularly finding content of merit, why don???t they have a blog where the content can be given context, discussion, and perhaps a preview so people aren???t going in blind? I like reading interesting blogs. I don???t want to receive links every time someone find something they think everyone should see. Twitter just adds another layer to the equation ??? and I don???t like layers.”

READ IT HERE. It’s good stuff. Of course, any blog post with a good Hammer pants reference gets an A in my book.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Twitter or Blogging? Are You a Sprinter or Marathoner? (philbaumann.com)