Online assistive technologies for the blind continue to evolve. Where people with low vision use screen magnification software to aid them in using web sites, the blind use screen readers. One of the most common-and free-screen readers is called JAWS. This software introduces each page to the listener and reads every word on the screen as well as information running behind the scenes. Here are some tips for optimizing your corporate web site for blind users and screen reader technology. (Read more…)

Many companies have embraced web-based, multimedia tools as a way to deliver a presentation when they and their audience can’t be in the same room at the same time. There are now several complete multimedia presentation managers to choose from, able to replicate anything from a small “conference room” experience to an auditorium setting for classes, briefings, and demonstrations. Here are some tips for conducting an online presentation regardless of the technology you choose. (Read more…)

When you have a public relations message you need to get out to the media in a quick, efficient way, a press conference might seem like a good idea. Rather than setting up interviews with individual reporters, sending out press releases, and contacting editors and producers, you can speak to a roomful of journalists at once. But a press conference, like any media interview, can be tricky. The following tips should make your first — or fiftieth — press conference that much easier. (Read more…)

When writing a press release, especially one that contains numbers or statistics, even seasoned public relations consultants can find their message failing to grab the media’s attention. Here are a four tips for perking up that dry, boring press release. (Read more…)

These five simple refresher tips are part of the complex dance between the public relations industry, the media, and the public-at-large. These tips may sometimes be easy to forget in the hustle and bustle of your day-to-day workload. But if you regularly employ these basic strategies, your PR workload will be that much easier to manage–and your clients will be that much happier. (Read more…)

Each year when the holidays roll around, it means one thing for those in public relations: press opportunities galore. As soon as Thanksgiving is on the horizon, a public relations department should start pitching to the media. These are a few tips to help you drum up some good publicity during the holiday season. (Read more…)

Election season is over, the economy is in the dumps, and winter is creeping in. As such, here are some random musings on the current state of public relations and a few tips for PR professionals. (Read more…)

Even seasoned public relations pros sometimes need to be reminded what makes for the most effective press release. Whether you’re a press release newbie or have written hundreds of releases during your career, the following tips should serve as a reminder of what to do—and maybe more importantly, what not to do. (Read more…)