Young Pros host social media event at Hanson Dodge Creative


This week, the PRSA Young Pros were treated to a presentation on the 10 Principles of Good Content by Sarah Van Elzen, social media director at Hanson Dodge Creative. Sarah discussed what defines “good” content, provided industry relevant examples and showcased the top 10 principles every writer needs to know.

Sarah Van Elzen and event guests

Sarah Van Elzen and event guests

More than 30 young and seasoned pros along with senior students from nearby universities filled the room and had an opportunity to network over wine and cheese plates. Attendees were encouraged to use the hashtag #PrinciplesOfGoodContent for a chance to win the book, Social PR Secrets by Lisa Buyer. (Sarah is quoted in the book on page six.) Patty Bloom, a reputation management assistant account executive from Charleston Orwig, won the book with this tweet. Sarah loved her sense of humor for using the wrong hashtag.

We grabbed five minutes with Sarah to ask a few follow up questions:

Q. For a client starting out in social media, is there a place they should absolutely be – whether it’s a blog, Facebook, etc?

A. It varies by client. I’d recommend a blog for nearly every brand because it will showcase long form brand voice, provide content for social platforms down the road and help optimize the client’s online presence from an SEO standpoint.

Q. Do you have a favorite platform right now?

A. Instagram

Q. What is the most challenging thing about working in an ever-changing industry?

A. Keeping up with the new trends

Q. What is the one key quality or characteristic that makes a social media person successful?

A. Organized

Q. What is the best piece of advice you can give to someone entering this field?

Be active…in professional social platforms.

Be professional…in all your content. 80% professional. 20% personal.

Be proactive…reach out to industry thought leaders and connect with people.

Be there…have an online profile and examples you can refer to quickly with a link.

Q. Is there anything in your own personal life that helps make you better at social media?

A. My job history growing up helped significantly. I worked as a server and had to handle customer service situations frequently. I also worked at a telemarketing company during college which helped with quick thinking and communication.

Q. You’ve worked with House of Harley-Davidson. What would you name your motorcycle gang?

A. Yogi Gangsters

Turning content into results, Sarah Van Elzen is responsible for leading the HDC social media practice. Her team engages audiences across a variety of platforms, focusing on campaign strategy, content development, community management and analytics. Sarah began her career in music marketing and then moved to sunny Florida for her ongoing endeavor in online PR and SEO. Sarah has managed social media strategies for clients since 2007, when Facebook launched brand pages and Twitter was just a few months old.

Through a variety of agency positions, Sarah’s experience encompasses web content strategy, SEO, online PR, social media strategy and relationship management.

Her client experience includes: fashion, CPG, technology, finance, tourism, real estate, law and health & beauty.

Sarah regularly practices yoga, bringing a sense of calm in and out of work.

Young Pros Learn Crisis Comms

The Chapter's Young Pros Learn Crisis Comms from Seasoned Veterans

The Chapter’s Young Pros Learn Crisis Comms from Seasoned Veterans

On Wednesday, September 25, fifteen students from UW-Whitewater attended “PRSA Young Pros Discuss: Crisis Communication in Milwaukee.” The purpose of this event was to inform, teach and help college students in the field of public relations understand how to handle a crisis in communication.

The people who attended were divided into three groups and given a different crisis communication case to work through as if they were the PR coordinator.

The PRSA Young Pros had three seasoned professionals that attended as well and jumped into the groups to help evaluate and understand the crisis communication process.   Carol Weber, Matthew Wisla and Alan Gaudynski, all PRSA members, led each group discussion.  Each has many years of experience in public relations and was happy to pass along knowledge and advice.

The event had excellent attendance and the students who attended all were able to walk away with new people to network with, advice to take home, and more knowledge about what crisis communication is and how to go about managing crises.

— Justina Kruser, UW Whitewater student

 

PRSAYP2      PRSAYP3 PRSAYP4

 

Annual Summer Social Event at Barnacle Buds

Join the PRSA Southeastern Wisconsin Chapter and the Young Pros at Barnacle Buds on August 18th from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. for our annual summer social event.

Take a seat by the Milwaukee River, enjoy a cocktail and some tasty fried food while networking with your fellow PR professionals and aspiring young pros.

Appetizers will be served and the first 40 people will receive a free drink ticket.

RSVP on Facebook.

PRSA Young Pro Happy Hour: Bradford Beach

Hey PR Young Pros!

You’re not experiencing Déjà vu. We got rained out last time so let’s try it again!

The PRSA Young Pros Committee invites you to Bradford Beach on June 28, 2011 at 6:00 p.m. for a Young Pro Happy Hour.

RSVP on Facebook: http://goo.gl/4ipNo

Stick your toes in the sand, breath the fresh air, play some beach volleyball, and relax with some tunes as the sun sets on Lake Michigan, while hanging out with other like-minded professionals.

Did I mention that there will be a bonfire with live music? Bradford Beach is still finalizing the schedule but starting at 6:30 p.m., a local musician will perform until dusk. Three large bonfire pits available f

or public use. All you’ll need is your blanket on the sand.

Happy Hour Specials are available at the Tiki Hut from 5-7pm.
Specials include:
· $10 – iced buckets of Corona or Pabst (4 cans / bucket)
· $5 cocktails- Cuervo Margarita, Smirnoff & Lemonade, Bacardi Mojito, Jeremiah Weed & Lemonade
· $3 Pabst

Purchase a drink on the beach and receive a wristband good for one free drink at one of the following establishments following the musical performances on Thursday evenings:
· BelAir – BelAir Margarita
· Hi Hat Garage – Pint of the Day

Questions? Contact Andrew Wiech (Andrew@CometBranding.com)​ or Megan Sullivan (megans@bvk.com).

PRSA Young Pros offers an outlet for professional development, best practice sharing and niche networking in a social setting for young professional in the Metro-Milwaukee Area.

PRSA Young Pros Happy Hour: Replay Sports Bar

UPDATE: Hey PR Young Pros! Change of plans. Bradford is taking this Thursday off to let the beach recover from all the rain, so we’ve decided to switch things up. 

The PRSA Young Pros Committee invites you to Replay Sports Bar on June 23, 2011 at 6:00 p.m. for a Young Pro Happy Hour. 

Let’s play some foosball, shuffleboard, flip cup, or billiards insides, shielded from mother nature. 

RSVP to our Facebook Event.

Happy Hour Specials are available all night. 

Specials include: 

$2 tap beers
$3 rail cocktails
Plus I’m pretty sure they have $2 Tall Boy PBRs all day, every day. 

Hopefully, we can hit up the beach next month for a PRSA #YPHH. 

Sorry for the change of plans. 

Hey PR Young Pros! The PRSA Young Pros Committee invites you to Bradford Beach on June 23, 2011 at 6:00 p.m. for a Young Pro Happy Hour.

RSVP to our Facebook Event.

Stick your toes in the sand, breath the fresh air, play some beach volleyball, and relax with some tunes as the sun sets on Lake Michigan, while hanging out with other like-minded professionals.

Did I mention that they have a bonfire going with live music from the Marc Ballini Trio?

Starting at 6:30 p.m., the Marc Ballini Trio will perform until dusk. Three large bonfire pits available for public use. All you’ll need is your blanket on the sand.

Happy Hour Specials are available at the Tiki Hut from 5-7pm.

Specials include:

  • $10 – iced buckets of Corona or Pabst (4 cans / bucket)
  • $5 cocktails- Cuervo Margarita, Smirnoff & Lemonade, Bacardi Mojito, Jeremiah Weed & Lemonade
  • $3 Pabst

All that purchase a drink on the beach will receive a wristband good for one free drink at one of the following establishments following the musical performances on Thursday evenings: BelAir – BelAir Margarita or Hi Hat Garage – Pint of the Day.

PRSA BLUtender Battle: Young Pros vs. Seasoned Vets

Come one, come all. And, bring your friends too. The PRSA Young Pros Committee invites ALL Milwaukee PR professionals to Blu, on the 23rd floor of the Pfister Hotel on March 30, 2011 at 5:30 p.m. for the ultimate Young Pros vs. Seasoned Vets battle. Please RSVP on Facebook.

Watch as PRSA Young Pro committee co-chairs Megan Sullivan (BVK) and Andrew Wiech (Comet Branding/Hanson Dodge Creative) go head-to-head bartending against “Seasoned Vets” Laura Monagle (Staples Marketing & PRSA President) and Mo Moorman (Jockey) with 10% of the proceeds going toward the PRSA Young Pros Committee.

Blu Manager Adam Jones will provide a quick tutorial (and maybe a few valuable tips on getting bigger tips) on bartending. Then watch as they display their skills and serve drinks for the next 2 hours.

Take advantage of Beat the Clock Happy Hour pricing on select drinks.
Drinks specials, including featured wines, start at $5 from 4-6pm, $6 from 6-7pm and $7 from 7-8pm. So, get there early to beat the clock on drink specials.

No need to worry about parking. The Pfister Hotel offers the following discounted rates.
Free 2 Hour Parking w/ purchase
Free 5 Hour Parking w/ Foursquare check in at Blu

Let the smack talk begin! Pick a team (#TeamYPs vs. #TeamVets), start trash talking and let the best drink slingin’ PR professionals win.

-Andrew Wiech (@AndrewWiech) & Megan Sullivan (@Sullivm)