PRSA Posts Tips on How to Be a "Great Blogger" — from Derek Gehl

The editor of PR Tactics and The Strategist got in touch with me after reading this post, and I've agreed to contribute to his pubs. It was kind of him to reach out.I should also add, if it wasn't clear, that I do not know, nor do I have anything against, Derek Gehl. It sounds like he's doing great, and more power to him. I just found it unfortunate that PRSA was not getting this kind of info from some of the hundreds of PR practitioners who blog every day.

Wow, go out of town and everyone has a big discussion. I know the person who puts together Issues and Trends. In fact, she helped me put together some fantastic stats for the presentation Andrea, Susan and I gave to Robert's students at Auburn on Monday and Tuesday, so I know she isn't 100% clueless. I will call and find out what was up with this one and report back.As for the speed of PRSA on getting "with it," well, it is going slowly. Scott, I am still interested in a pitch for helping them do it. More later...

Kevin,I'm definitely open to suggestions. I know that Kami and I, as well as others, have raised this issue with them and they have not seemed too interested.Todd,I'm not as concerned about the organization itself as I am about the membership they're communicating with and influencing every day. 95 percent of PR people are clueless about Web 2.0, and we're going to ultimately need PRSA to advance the education process. Either that or we can keeping talking to each other.

Thanks for clarifying.Methinks I was venting on a few topics at once actually...hence the generalization alert, added emphasis, etc.My Cheerios are, um, clean.So perhaps we approach PRSA and offer to help them take the lead? They need help and we're all about evangelizing. It'll be like peas and carrots.

Kevin...OK -- now where's the "respect" part??I'll just assume someone adulterated your Cheerios today.My point in this post is that, over a period of several years, PR bloggers have developed a community.There are hundreds of members of this community, and dozens of very active ones. I don't think it's too much to ask for PRSA to at least be aware enough of this community to monitor it.As long as people think that PR blogging is "for dollars," and aren't aware of how PR practitioners -- like you, Kevin -- are using the medium, PR as an industry will never be able to move the needle in this space.

Scott - With all due respect, you're acting all A-listy if you expect everyone to find you...even PRSA.Bottom line, I assume, is that Derek pitched them and he filled their need for content.Should PRSA be aware of blogs? Yeah. They knew enough that it was a topic worth covering. Should we expect them to know who all the players are? Not sure. Even so, does that mean someone like Derek cannot write about it?Does his content suck? Well, let's say he is consistent (having visited his web site). So we can let our membership lapse or if we want to submit content to issues and trends, tactics or any other PRSA vehicle, we might take this opportunity to pitch them on us and our ideas?(GENERALIZATION ALERT)Folks that want their professional societies to do all the work are typically disappointed. Like any organization or activity, you need to get involved.You can still be the mountain in this scenario, you just might still need to go visit Mohammad.

Honestly, Scott, do you REALLY want the PRSA to "take a little more of a lead" here? Wouldn't you rather lead yourself than follow a group that's never shown any genuine innovation nor leadership?If the PRSA focuses on anything, I hope it focuses on gittin' out of our way. Let 'em bone up on "Sarbanes-Oxley & The PR Pro's Responsibility" or something boring like that. I've never been a big PRSA fan (is it obvious?); this faux pas does not surprise me a bit.

I believe the only link to a blog I've ever seen in PR Issues and Trends is a single link to Jeremy's Blog Run -- which they probably only did because it is "legitimized" by its association with Bulldog Reporter.PRSA's head-in-the-sand approach is becoming truly embarrassing for all PRSA members -- including me (an APR, at that) -- who would like the organization to take at least a little more of a lead here.

I guess it would have been too hard to research how many PRSA members might have a blog and could provide better suggestions.

“swarms of traffic“They have a spray for that now, don’t they?