On the home front, we added Jaimee and Krista as new team members.  We were pleased to make former intern, Hanna, a regular fixture while she completed her last year of college.  The end of 2011 and early 2012 also brought Adrienne and Meghan to the team.  I am so fortunate to have such a diverse group of talented women in my midst.  If you haven’t had the opportunity read about our expanding team, you can read their formal bios (link) or laugh at their funny factoids on the Platinum PR Facebook ‘team’ page.

As we kick off 2012, we strive to maintain our success in providing strategic, cost effective communications solutions for our clients.

http://www.shepherdstownchronicle.com/page/content.detail/id/507832/Age-old-tradition-of-resolutions-continue.html

For those who’ve resolved to manage their time better in 2012, here’s an excerpt:

“I know this sounds crazy, but I’ve been taking tap and ballet classes and my goal is to do the splits,” [Sandy Sponaugle] said.  She also shared that she hopes to try one to two new recipes per week, which could be a very big deal because normally her husband does most of the cooking.

Sponaugle shared that her business goals for Platinum PR include writing one to two blogs per week, something she says her company does for clients but does not do enough of for themselves.  She also hopes to encourage each of her team members in attaining their personal goals in 2012.

Since it is now mid-January, an update on my progress is in order.  I’ve prepared two new recipes and written three new blogs.  My ballet classes continue and my flexibility improves, but the splits remain a distant fantasy.  While performing in Swan Lake or Cirque du Soleil isn’t on the immediate horizon, no one said I needed to complete my resolutions in the first month!

Admittedly, I’ve been too busy with client projects to connect with my team members on their goals for the year.  I hope to tackle this resolution before the month is out.

Now I’ve shared my resolutions… what about yours?  How can we advance your personal or professional goals in 2012?  Don’t forget, “We are the music makers; we are the dreamers of dreams.”  – Roald Dahl.

http://holiday.platinumpr.com/

The game is fun to play anytime!  If you’re looking for an excuse to procrastinate on another resolution, take a moment to solve our puzzle!

This program can show clients the impact of Platinum PR’s services, and it will allow those of us here at Platinum PR to monitor the success of any campaign. This paints a more objective picture of a campaign’s success, giving both the client and the agency hard data to compare and contrast. In addition to being able to monitor the immediate impact of a campaign, Google Analytics can show when the effect begins to taper off, signaling the need for new information to be published.

The Google Analytics webpage provides first-time users with several tools to get started. A product tour gives visitors an overview of the features available in Analytics and how they can use these tools to their advantage. The setup checklist gives specific instructions on how to get started, which provides users with step-by-step details on how to take full advantage of the service.

The screen shots provided show merely a fraction of what Analytics’ capabilities. As can be seen in the first, it is possible to look at the number of hits a website has taken on any particular day. Furthermore, Analytics allows users to take a specific time frame and compare it to another, showing either a drop-off or increase in site traffic, perhaps signaling the need for a new campaign or showcasing the success of a recent launch.

Another example of what makes Analytics unique is the ability for users to determine key markets. This example shows which states provide the most traffic based on a color coded system. For more specifics, users have the option of scrolling over any particular state to see the number of hits it has provided. What’s even more valuable is that by clicking a state, users can see city-by-city information. This gives users the ability to efficiently gauge market presence, with quantitative data to back them up.

These are just some of the tools available via Google Analytics. Sign up for free today and find out what’s really going on with your website.

- Written by Ryan Robison, Platinum PR intern

All types of businesses have begun implementing QR codes, and we at Platinum PR are one of them. We have recently begun using this method because of its usefulness in tracking and engaging readers.

To read more information about QR codes and find out some useful tips, we suggest you visit the Social Media Examiner website. We would also like to invite you to contact us if you are interested in employing QR codes in your marketing campaigns.

Branding is defined by the American Marketing Association (AMA) as a “name, term, sign, symbol or design, or a combination of them intended to identify the goods and services of one seller or group of sellers and to differentiate them from those of other sellers”, but we at Platinum PR believe it is a little bit more than that. We think of a “brand” as a showcase for your company’s personality. A way to show others what we stand for and the goals we strive to achieve.  “Rebranding” is can simply be revising your current brand or creating an entirely new one.

Undergoing rebranding efforts on a consistent basis is important. You never want your brand to become boring or stale. That will decrease the amount of interested customers, which in the world of business, is the ultimate error. At Platinum PR, we were looking for a way to refresh our brand and showcase our personality and professional objectives. This resulted in new website and social networking pages. Our new brand identity is drastically different than our previous one, and it may have even shocked a few of our loyal followers when they visited the new site. Obviously, it was not a normal sight to see our CEO Sandy Sponaugle with a huge megaphone, but this design gave us a way to remind our clients and let prospective clients know that this is what we do. We shout about you, your brand and your message far and wide.

Another positive aspect of our personal rebranding initiative is that we now prominently display our core capabilities. We thought this was a good idea because many people that we work with, even on a daily basis, were unaware of the services we provide and that our business model has shifted slightly over the years. We continue to provide public relations, marketing and event planning services, but we frequently provide these as part of a comprehensive communications plan and are typically done for/with organizations that do not have these talents internally. Often times, we are a solution for organizations that can’t afford or do not need a full time team to carry out these initiatives. 

Finally, this new brand has given us an opportunity to have some fun, get more interactive on Facebook and Twitter with a more solidified identity and to promote the expansive PPR team. So, I invite you to take a look at the sites, engage with us online and then give us a call or shoot us an email because we’d love to hear from you! Also, if you’re not a fan of Platinum PR on Facebook, we hope you visit our page with three new sections of content and “like” us!

Google+ allows you to separate and categorize your friends into different circles or groups based on your relationship with them. For example, you can have a circle of your closest friends and separate them from colleagues and the people you work with professionally. Google+ says that it has this feature because they are aiming to make online interaction with others more like socializing in the real world.  For instance, you wouldn’t necessarily share the same kinds of information or new with your family or close as you do with your coworkers or colleagues. Google+ also merges other aspects of the regular Google search engine such as Google Places, Google Buzz and more with individual profiles and new features like circles, hangouts, sparks and huddles.

Since this new site is only in its beginning stages and has been flooded with more interested users than originally expected, it has essentially wait-listed any new users who wish to join the site. This could be because they are trying to work out any kinks or design flaws that have been encountered or because they want to take their time expanding. Either way, the Google+ project is something I predict will catch on with many more users and turn into something that we all use everyday just like Facebook and Twitter.

See what other online experts have to say about the Google+ project at www.Mashable.com or visit the Google+ project website to join and try it out for yourself at www.Plus.Google.com.

This can easily be done by creating an online presence for your company or business. Having a website as well as utilizing many social media outlets can be one of the most basic and effective marketing strategies. Sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Foursquare, as well as search engines like Google, Bing, Yahoo and Yelp can be extremely beneficial to promoting your business, and they are usually free.

By creating a Facebook page for your business and having it on Facebook Places, you can reach your target audience by combining local searches with social networking. Once people start becoming “fans” of your page or “check in” to your business’ location, it will then appear on their friends’ newsfeeds, providing you with fast, free and effortless advertising. When you take into account that, on average, each person on Facebook has 130 friends, you can see how many individuals your information can reach quickly. Today, there are over 200 million mobile Facebook users, and providing people who are on the go and perhaps in your local area with fast and detailed information about your business can have positive results. You can even advertise specials and discounts on your page as well which can draw in customers.

Foursquare is another social media site that is location based and encourages brand loyalty. There are over 6 million Foursquare users so far, and that number continues to grow quickly. By creating a Foursquare location for your business and setting up specials, your business can attract many local consumers and reward repeat customers.

Another way to make your business more visible online is to list your business on a search engine such as Google Places or Yahoo Places. You can create a basic listing for no cost on both of these sites. This makes it easy to direct more traffic to your website and also level the playing field with other competing companies. You can list simple information such as your address, phone number, hours of operation and accepted payment methods, as well as photos or a video of your business. This is a cost effective way to market yourself and further develop a credible online presence.

One thing that most search engines and online social media sites have in common is that they allow  customers to review your business. This can be very helpful as reviews are now considered to be the “currency of the internet”. This means that reviews can potentially make or break how your business is viewed in the online community.  They can also build up your online reputation among other businesses. Most of these sites have an option that will send you updates on when reviews are posted so you can monitor the reactions and experiences of your customers . When managing your reviews, however, it is important to understand that not all feedback is going to be positive, but in some cases it is better to have a few negative reviews out of many than to only have a handful of reviews about your business. So, be sure to encourage customers who you know have had a positive experience to go onto one of these sites and write a review. Reviews are a major factor when someone who has never been to your business is searching online.

Google yourself and your company, and see what improvements you could be making today!

Here at Platinum PR we are so fortunate to have great partners.  We work with graphic designers, printers, photographers, freelance writers and videographers.  Many of these partnerships have been in place for nearly the ten years we’ve been in business.  We encourage you to visit our “Partners” section of this site and learn more about each of our partners.

With 9 out of 10 new small businesses failing in 2010, it is important to first learn the critical skills necessary for successful business ownership before you open your doors. The Entrepreneurship Certificate Program at Blue Ridge Community and Technical College teaches students a proven set of business principles that helps students identify and improve a viable business concept leading to greater success.

The program is comprised of two certificate tracks. The first track offers coursework that equals 20 credit hours. The second offers 12 credit hours providing general education studies to complete the full certificate. Courses promote entrepreneurial thinking among students and develop relevant skills for founding and growing a small business venture. Students have the opportunity to apply these skills by managing and operating a retail facility. Students will apply for financing, practice inventory planning, discuss employee management, and learn current customer service practices through “Red Carpet Customer Service.”

In addition to entrepreneurial coursework, students will also be exposed to the “Entrepreneurial Speaker Series” with new and seasoned entrepreneurs sharing their thoughts and wisdom regarding their business specialty and a business plan contest with the assistance of local entrepreneurial organizations and other partners.

The Entrepreneurial Certificate Program at Blue Ridge Community and Technical College is a prudent investment and is recommended for anyone considering starting, buying or growing their own business.

 Blue Ridge Community and Technical College offers over 50 associate degree and certificate programs as well as workforce development training. Blue Ridge is conveniently located at 400 West Stephen Street in downtown Martinsburg, WV, with their Technology Center located at 5550 Winchester Avenue in Martinsburg, and has classes available at both campus locations and online. For more information about their courses and services, please call 304-260-4380 or visit www.BlueRidgeCTC.edu.