Connect with Us!
http://iabcstl.org/2013/01/five-reasons-you-wont-want-to-miss-our-february-2013-event/
Save the Date for February 28
Five Reasons to NOT Miss February’s Event:
- Meet Les Landes, author of the recently released “Getting to the Heart of Employee Engagement: The Power and Purpose of Imagination and Free Will in the Workplace” and have a chance to win an autographed copy of his book! (You must register by Feb. 18 for your chance to win)
- Ask about the 2013 IABC St. Louis Quill Awards
- Network with other IABC members and communicators in the St. Louis community.
- Eat lunch and learn something new in the middle of your week.
- It’s a chance to join IABC and take advantage of all the benefits it has to members!
The Details
When: Thursday, February 28, 11:30 a.m. – 1:15 p.m.
Where: Ces and Judy’s, 10405 Clayton Road, St. Louis, MO 63131
Meeting Fees:
$30 – members
$40 – nonmembers
$20 – students
Register here!
About Our Presenter
Businesses worldwide have been searching feverishly in recent years for the key to unleashing the power of people in the workplace. The reason is obvious: compelling evidence from countless studies has shown the commanding competitive advantage of high-engagement cultures when it comes to virtually every relevant business measure – sales, profitability, quality, customer satisfaction and more. While some attempts have been fruitful, deep-rooted employee engagement continues to elude most organizations.
Les Landes is president of Landes & Associates based in St. Louis. The firm provides an array of services designed to help organizations align marketing communication with employee engagement to improve overall performance. Landes formerly was a program director and creative supervisor with Maritz, Inc., and later was the head of corporate communications for Pet Incorporated before the company was acquired by General Mills.
Les will share fresh insights from his book on human nature at work that set the stage for a breakthrough in optimizing employee performance. He will explain how imagination and free will are inseparably linked – and why understanding that connection is vital to creating a trust-based organizational culture where employees love to work and customers love doing business. He also will touch on essential topics related to employee engagement, such as communication, continuous improvement and performance development.
http://iabcstl.org/2013/01/call-for-speakers-proposals/
Call for Speakers – Now Open!
Planning is underway for IABC St. Louis’ annual half-day seminar to be held April 18, 2013!
Today’s communicators are often required to have a wide breadth of skills, with the ability to do more with fewer resources. This half-day seminar will be geared toward communications and marketing professionals who are:
- New to the industry, looking to acquire relevant skills at low cost
- Looking to maximize impact on a shoestring budget
- Seasoned individuals looking for continuous improvement
We are looking for speakers with expertise in the following categories:
- Strategic Communication
- Online Communication/Marketing
- Measurement and Evaluation
If you are interested in presenting at this seminar, please complete this form and submit it to nikki.eaves@covidien.com. If you have an audience evaluation from a previous presentation you made for a similar group or organization, please submit it with this form. Deadline for requests for speaker proposals is February 1.
http://iabcstl.org/2013/01/2013-iabc-st-louis-quill-awards/
Call for Entries Now Open!
You did the work, now earn recognition for excellence in business communication. Show your colleagues your outstanding work and add value to your business and clients with a St. Louis Quill award.
All IABC St. Louis Quill entries are judged by top communicators nationally. You can be very proud of what you’ve accomplished.
You don’t have to be a member to enter. The competition is open to all area business communicators who completed a significant project in 2012. Choose to enter one of 27 categories across three primary divisions: communication management, communication skills and creative.
Winning entries feature clear objectives supporting the organization’s goals, creative communication strategies and effective, measurable results.
How to Enter
The call for entries brochure contains all the details you need on which categories to enter and how to prepare your entry.
Eligibility
Bronze Quill is open to all communications professionals, including freelancers and those working in agencies, nonprofit organizations or corporations. You do NOT have to be an IABC member to enter the competition or attend the awards gala, but members do receive a discount for entry prices.
Deadlines
- Early Bird (discount) entries: Friday, March 1, 2013
- Final entry deadline: Thursday, March 21, 2013
- IABC St. Louis Quill celebration: Thursday, May 30
Presenting Sponsor:
Source: IABC St. Louis
John Twombly, Awards Chair
(314) 286-0417
jjt1320@bjc.org
http://iabcstl.org/2013/01/upcoming-free-webinar/
Managing Communications During a Time of Crisis — February 1, 2013
IABC Pacific Plains Region presents an hour-long webinar with a seasoned crisis communications pro, Michael Freitag a partner with strategic communications firm Joele Frank of New York.
February 1, 2013
12 noon Central
IABC Pacific Plains Region Webinar
Managing communications during a time of crisis
with Michael Freitag, Partner, Joele Frank, New York
At a moment’s notice, an organization can find itself facing an unexpected, out-of-the-ordinary event that threatens a company’s operations and public and internal perception. As communicators, how do we best take control of our message when our company’s back is seemingly up against a wall?
For more information, check out IABC Pacific Plains Region Webinar information.
http://iabcstl.org/2013/01/january-event-new-connections-for-a-new-year/
Join IABC and PRSA St. Louis for a special happy hour event
On January 23, IABC and PRSA St. Louis are joining forces for a unique happy hour experience at the newly re-opened Cheshire!
It’s Happy Hour …
Of course, you know what to expect from happy hour:
- A chance to unwind
- An opportunity to reconnect with fellow communications and marketing professionals
- An opportunity to enjoy appetizers and drink specials
… With a Twist.
But what if this happy hour was the start of more? What if this was your opportunity to make a new connection that enhanced your career? What if this was your chance to have a conversation with someone in the industry that sparked your next great idea? What if this event gave you the tools to make not only a good first impression – but a great one – on someone in that room?
This event can do just that because we’re also bringing in a special guest – Steve Hughes, founder and president of Hit Your Stride.
Steve will help you jumpstart your new year, your network, and possibly your career with the tools you need to make great and lasting first impressions. Everyone knows the power of a first impression and the fact that you only get one chance to make one, but this is your chance to learn the simple yet often overlooked secrets of the few who leave truly memorable first impressions.
Come to happy hour on January 23, reconnect with old friends, and gain the tools you need to make an amazing first impression on some new friends!
Register here!
When:
Wednesday, January 23
5:30–7:30 p.m.
Where:
The Cheshire
6300 Clayton Road
St. Louis, MO 63117
Food and Beverages:
Complimentary appetizers and cash bar provided
Parking:
Complimentary valet parking provided, or metered parking along Clayton Avenue or adjacent streets
Meeting Fees:
$30 – members
$40 – nonmembers
$20 – students
Register here!
About Our Presenter:
Steve is the founder and president of Hit Your Stride, LLC and his mission is to help people look and sound smart when they talk. He is the author of Dazzle Me: Captivate and Win Over Any Audience, and he has appeared on NPR, BBC Radio, and BusinessWeek. He’s also the creator of National Be Kind to Lawyers Day (www.BeKindToLawyers.com) celebrated annually on the 2nd Tuesday in April.
Prior to launching his own business, he spent 12 years in advertising and public relatoins and was a managing partner at a 50-person ad agency. Steve’s journey to Hit Your Stride includes stints as a high school history teacher, computer salesman, stand-up comedian, and even a residential house painter.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts in French Literature and European History from the University of Kansas and a Master of Business Administration in marketing from Washington University in St. Louis, where he was awarded the prestigious Olin Cup.
http://iabcstl.org/2012/12/engaging-employees-via-mobile-communications/
by Jonathan Erwin
Have you ever heard an employee or co-worker say, “I wish our company would stop communicating with me?” Not likely, right? Instead, employees praise companies that keep them in the loop, and gripe and moan when they feel like they were the last to know an important piece of information. How can communicators make sure we consistently communicate with employees, particularly those who are not in a central location?
Quite simply, by communicating with employees about what they want to know—when and where they are most likely to receive that information. Mobile communication has the potential to break the cycle of misinformed and disengaged employees.
As consumers, we are living in a time of unprecedented electronic exposure. Marketers, spammers, social platforms, banner ads, retailers, family, partners and employers all have access to our inboxes, devices, social media profiles and desktops.
But guess what? Most consumers are also employees. If organizations are willing to invest so heavily in mobile and online marketing to attract and engage customers, and if they truly believe marketing will influence sales, they should be investing equally in internal marketing, or employee engagement.
A recent Harvard Business Review article, “The Silent Killer of Big Companies,” detailed the devastating losses that large corporations are suffering due to a lack of clear and concise internal and employee communication. Successful companies are engaging employees by adopting communication methods that bring them closer to employees, promote dialogue and raise employees’ understanding of the company’s strategic initiatives.
http://iabcstl.org/2012/12/not-marketing-for-mobile-yet-time-to-get-moving/
by Rich Barber
The magic of mobile marketing lies in the fact that people are seldom separated from their mobile phones. Like Gollum and the One Ring in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, people are loath to be away from their precious technology, which keeps them connected to the world and provides them with timely information.
In the old days, advertisers could only reach people in their homes, their cars and their offices by television, radio, direct mail, billboards, etc. Now, they can reach them anywhere—when they’re shopping, going out to eat, sitting in a dentist’s office or at a ball game. The major advantage mobile advertisers have is that they are reaching people who often already have their wallets out, ready to buy something. The only thing then is to convince them to spend the money at your restaurant, barber shop, paint store or flower shop—and the closer they are to you, the better.
http://iabcstl.org/2012/12/mobilizing-your-marketing-integrating-mobile-into-your-mix/
by Kent Lewis
Since 2006, I’ve predicted that the “Year of Mobile” was upon us. Rather than lose faith and look to another trend to promote, I do believe this next year is truly going to be the “Year of Mobile.” For those of you who want to get a jump on mobile marketing, I’ve outlined a few key areas on which to focus your efforts.
Mobilizing your website
As with any effective online marketing effort, your website should be the primary focus. Corporate marketers have a few options when it comes to mobilizing a website. The easiest and most cost-effective approach is to develop a mobile-friendly website, designed in CSS, which considers small screens in the design. The site should render nearly as well on a phone screen as on a monitor, if designed correctly. The drawback is that mobile browsers are not as robust and do not typically support Flash or Javascript elements, but HTML 5 provides a viable alternative for interactivity.
http://iabcstl.org/2012/11/december-luncheon-charity-brainstorm-bash/
The holiday season is officially upon us! It’s also a time when everyone starts thinking of ways to give back.
This year, IABC St. Louis is turning its December luncheon event on its head – and you’re invited to help! And the best part is, it’s for two great causes.
Join us for this unique opportunity to give back with your professional expertise and creativity. Representatives from two worthy organizations – Headway Clubhouse and Diversity Awareness Partnership – will join us to share a particular communications challenge their organization faces.
Then, you will divide into brainstorming teams, discuss the issue, and come up with solutions. You will then compile your ideas into a pre-formatted template. At the end of the session, you’ll deliver a simple, actionable communications plan to each organization on the spot!
It’s fun, creative and a unique way for you to help nonprofits in our area during the holidays. Plus, it’s the perfect way to connect with other communicators while enjoying lunch at Ces and Judy’s.
All profits from the event will be donated to Headway Clubhouse and Diversity Awareness Partnership.
We hope you’ll join us to help us help these worthy causes!
When: Thursday, December 13, 11:30 a.m. – 1:15 p.m.
Where: Ces and Judy’s, 10405 Clayton Road, St. Louis, MO 63131
Meeting fees:
$30 – members
$40 – nonmembers
$20 – students
Click here to register!
Learn more about the two nonprofits you’ll be helping!
http://iabcstl.org/2012/11/in-the-aftermath-of-sandy-communication-starts-with-sensitivity/
According to crisis experts, communication with constituents during the initial stages of a crisis is critical — and will be remembered. It can be tricky for organizations to balance a sense of urgency or basic pragmatism with sensitivity.
JPMorgan Chase bank showed a kinder side to its customers by letting them know about its decision to waive fees. A note went out to Chase customers before the storm and a follow-up note was posted to the Chase website . The latest note starts out in this way: