Chat update as of September 2014

Our weekly #awcchat on Twitter about communications-related  topics is still going strong (11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Central on Thursdays unless the host has a travel conflict) but we recently lost all of our chat transcripts on Chirpstory. I’m not sure why, but now all links to our AWC Channel and past chats simply redirect to the Chirpstory homepage.

We’re starting to explore Nurph chat “replays” as a chat transcript alternative – here’s the link to our latest chat on 25 September, about guest blogging and article-writing.

We’ve also launched a series of online learning sessions called Know to Grow and Speed Mentoring, which are free to AWC members. Learn more on our AWC – Association for Women in Communications – Professional Development Events page.

Follow the @AWCchat account on Twitter and the “mothership” at @AWCConnect. We’re working on the October 2014 chat topics right now.

Thanks for your support of the AWC (Association for Women in Communications) community.

Summary transcript for 24 Jan 2013 #AWCchat: Publicizing awards

Thanks to everyone who participated in our 43rd #AWCChat on Twitter, about how to acknowledge, celebrate and publicize when you win an award, but not come across as an annoying show-off.

Three questions were posed:

1)  If you get a significant award, should you send out a press release? Why or why not?

2)  How can you publicize your award(s) on your website & social media channels? Or is it not appropriate for social?

3)  How can you give back if you’ve been blessed with award recognition? (nominate someone else for one, yo!)

—>>  We mentioned that the AWC Clarion Award nominations are open, with a wide variety of communications award categories. Check it out!

**  On Chirpstory – the summary transcript for the 24 Jan chat.

**  Chat schedule and topics for January 2013

Thanks for your support of the AWC (Association for Women in Communications) community.

Summary transcript for 17 Jan 2013 #AWCchat: Google+ Hangouts

Thanks to everyone who participated in our 42nd #AWCChat on Twitter, about how to use Google Plus Hangouts (free video teleconferencing for up to 10 people from Google) for business and communications.

It was a free-form chat so there were no numbered questions.

We talked about what you need to set up and participate in a Hangout, pros and cons of meeting on video, equipment tips for webcams and audio head sets and resource links about Hangouts.

**  On Chirpstory – the summary transcript for the 17 Jan chat.

**  Chat schedule and topics for January 2013

Thanks for your support of the AWC (Association for Women in Communications) community.

Summary transcript for 6 Dec 2012 #AWCchat: Gift ideas for communicators

Thanks to everyone who participated in our 40th #AWCChat on Twitter, about holiday gift ideas for the communications professional in your life (and maybe a few other folks, too.)

It was a free-form chat so there were no numbered questions. Lots of creativity!

**  On Chirpstory – the summary transcript for the 6 Dec chat.

**  Chat schedule and topics for December 2012

Thanks for your support of the AWC (Association for Women in Communications) community.

Summary transcript for 15 Nov 2012 #AWCchat: Plank Center Study on PR Industry Changes

Thanks to everyone who participated in our 39th  #AWCChat on Twitter, about what’s changing in the PR industry based on a new Plank Center study as featured on mediabistro.com’s PRNewser.

Three items were posted to spark discussion and to answer questions:

1)   1st item in the Plank study post says the PR profession is now 70% female. Will this change the industry?

2)  The Plank study says younger PR people aren’t happy with older people in the industry; they want to move PR into the future. Agree?

3)  The Plank study says “measuring outcomes & effects of social media” is one of PR’s most pressing problems. Your thoughts?

**  On Chirpstory – the summary transcript for the 15 Nov chat.

We won’t have a chat on Thursday, 22 November, the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday. Next one is 29 November.

**  Chat schedule and topics for November 2012

Thanks for your support of the AWC (Association for Women in Communications) community.

Summary transcript for 1 Nov 2012 #AWCchat: What’s new on LinkedIn

Thanks to everyone who participated in our 38th  #AWCChat on Twitter, about what’s new on LinkedIn.

Two items were posted to spark discussion and to answer questions:

1)   What are some new features for LinkedIn personal profiles?

2)   What are some new features for LinkedIn Company Pages?

There were lots of great resources and advice; don’t miss this chat transcript!

**  On Chirpstory – the summary transcript for the 1 Nov chat.

We won’t have a chat on Thursday, 8 November, since the host is at a conference. Next one is 15 November.

Thanks for your support of the AWC (Association for Women in Communications) community.

Summary transcript for 11 Oct 2012 #AWCchat: Better Search Engine Research Results

Thanks to everyone who participated in our 37th  #AWCChat on Twitter, about getting more accurate search engine results from Google and Bing.

Four items were posted for discussion:

1)   How many ways can you find search query results on Google besides the default, “Web?”

2)   What’s a “Boolean search” and when would you use it?

3)   It’s more of a statement than question – Don’t forget the paid search engines like Lycos avail free from your local library.

4)   What’s the Number Two search engine on the planet right now?

**  On Chirpstory – the summary transcript for the 11 Oct chat.

The next chat is on Thursday, 25 October at 1130 am CST, about what’s new on LinkedIn. We’re taking a chat break next week, on 18 October.

**  Chat schedule and topics for October 2012

Thanks for your support of the AWC (Association for Women in Communications) community.

Summary transcript for 4 Oct 2012 #AWCchat: Taking Care of Yourself

Thanks to everyone who participated in our 36th  #AWCChat on Twitter, about taking care of yourself so you can take care of your business.

Four items were posted for discussion:

1)   How do you recommend starting your day? Meditation? Workout? Something besides the Snooze button? 🙂

2)   The weather’s about to get colder, the days shorter (in the Northern Hemisphere.) How can we still get workouts in?

3)   So many of our jobs are sedentary; do any of you use stand-up or treadmill desks? Any other anti-sedentary tricks?

4)   How often do you take a real vacation? A day once a month? 2 days a quarter? Yearly? Does it help your business?

**  On Chirpstory – the summary transcript for the 4 Oct chat.

The next chat is on Thursday, 11 October at 1130 am CST, about getting better results from your search engine searches.

**  Chat schedule and topics for October 2012

Thanks for your support of the AWC (Association for Women in Communications) community.

Summary transcript for 27 Sept 2012 #AWCchat: crisis communications

Thanks to everyone who participated in our 35th  #AWCChat on Twitter, about crisis communications, with guest hosts Christine Cox Reinauer (@crcpr21) and Andrea Schulle (@AndreaSchulle) from Andris Media (@AndrisMedia).

Five items were posted for discussion:

1)   Has anyone here ever been in (or “have a friend” who’s been in) a PR crisis position with a client?

2)   What’s the difference between a social media PR crisis & a general sort of crisis?

3)   What social media components need to be in place to avoid/address a PR crisis/disaster?

4)   What key lessons can we learn from past #SMflubs like Susan G. Komen vs. Planned Parenthood? 

5)   How to avoid this crisis problem: C-suite people are often not very good at media, but no one believes/wants to hear from “the PR weenie” in a crisis. Discuss.

Christine and Andrea also shared their Pinterest Board for PR flubs – http://pinterest.com/andreaschulle/pr-flubs/

**  On Chirpstory – the summary transcript for the 27 Sept chat on crisis communications.

The next chat is on Thursday, 4 October at 1130 am CST, about taking care of yourself so you can take care of your business.

**  Chat schedule and topics for October 2012

Thanks for your support of the AWC (Association for Women in Communications) community.

Summary transcript for 20 Sept 2012 #AWCchat: getting a job with a communications degree

Thanks to everyone who participated in our 34th  #AWCChat on Twitter, about how to find a relevant, decently-paying job with a communications degree.

We had some great advice on the chat from several people who landed excellent jobs in their field, including the communications manager for a major arts company and another who works in A/C/E marketing (Architecture, Construction and Engineering.)

Four questions were posted for discussion:

1)   What are some communications degree skills that are particularly desired in today’s market?

2)   Is an internship (or two) a must-have to find a job with a communications degree?

3)   Since communications skills are highly valued in ANY job, it shouldn’t be hard for comms majors to find work. Discuss.

4)    Can you list some job titles that aren’t “the usual” for a communications major, but that they should consider?

**  On Chirpstory – the summary transcript for the 20 Sept chat on job-hunting for communications majors.

The next chat is on Thursday, 27 September at 1130 am CST, about crisis communications, with guest host Christine Cox Reinauer from Andris Media Group. She’s @crcpr21 on Twitter, so give her a follow!

**  Chat schedule and topics for September 2012

Thanks for your support of the AWC (Association for Women in Communications) community.