By Emma Walter
Now that we’ve completed our search for a summer intern (in fact, Rachel just started), it’s already time to start the process of finding an intern for the fall semester. We received a lot of submissions for our summer internship position and while some were great, others fell flat. Here are some tips for making the most of your application by standing out to us WordWriters. 
Follow directions
Our online description of the position is designed to help you succeed. We give you the steps needed to get us to notice your application. When a large pool of applications is sitting in front of us, we are left to weed through them anyway we can. If an applicant doesn’t do the steps we’ve laid out at the beginning, we won’t be able to consider them for the position. Being detail oriented in this line of work is a must, so following the steps we’ve given you on our job description is a great way to show us you are.
Show us you did your research
We’ve asked you to connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and our blog for you to get to know WordWrite better. Show us you’ve done your research in the materials you provide for your application. Keep your resume and cover letter tailored to the specifications of the position, and find a way to tie in some of the processes we use on a daily basis. We want interns who have a thirst for knowledge. Surprise us and show us what you’ve uncovered in your research.
Get our name right
One of the best ways to immediately lessen your chances for a job with us is to use a cover letter and resume that is blasted out to multiple locations and has generic information—or worse yet, has different company information listed. As mentioned above, it should be tailored to the specifications of the position for which you are applying. You may choose to use bits and pieces of another resume or cover letter in your materials, but be sure to get the name of the company and position right.
This also can be said for the person to whom you are sending your information. If the application guidelines list a particular person to send your application to, address your e-mail and cover letter to them, and be sure to spell their name right.
Take it a step further
Part of the application process is to connect with us on our social networking accounts, but take it a step further. Show us that you are actually paying attention to the content we are posting. Engage with us by commenting on one of our posts or re-tweeting one of our tweets. It shows us that you care and each time you do it, your name will be brought to our attention again.
Ask
Finally, as noted in so many other situations throughout our lives, if you are unclear on a part of the process, ask about it. We are committed to finding the best fit for our organization. Don’t let one question deter you from applying, just ask us.
Now that we’ve given you the steps to getting an internship with the WordWrite team, it’s time to put them to practice. Visit our website to read up on the position and the details you need to apply. Don’t delay; the deadline is July 6. I look forward to seeing your materials!
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Emma Walter is an account executive for WordWrite Communications. You can find her on Twitter @emmasreallytall.
May 17 2012 | Uncategorized | Add a Comment »
By Jason Snyder
As social media giant Facebook prepares for its upcoming initial public offering that could value the company at nearly $100 billion based largely on ad sales, there have been some media reports indicating big advertisers are questioning what they’re getting for their money. They’re asking whether eyeballs on ads equal product sales.
The story is similar when it comes to social media and the healthcare sector. In a time of limited resources, healthcare executives ask what an investment in social media will return to their organizations, or they struggle to justify a committed social media initiative.
Based on a new report from PwC’s Health Research Institute, the answer to the ROI question is clear: higher quality care, more loyal customers and revenue growth.
According to the HRI survey, “Social media ‘likes’ healthcare,” one-third of U.S. consumers are using social media for healthcare discussions. Most telling, the survey said, is that consumers are choosing community sites over industry-sponsored sites, such as an official health system web site.
A social media “listening” report WordWrite just completed for a major health system supports that finding. Of all the online discussions we reviewed – from Twitter, to Facebook, to blogs – the most substantive, clinically related conversations took place in community forums, a space not always easy to find and mine unless you are listening regularly.
Active social media listening presents our client and the entire healthcare sector with several excellent opportunities, including:
- Understanding what’s most important to patients, from healthcare services and medical conditions to emergency room wait times;
- Providing meaningful content that resonates with current and prospective patients; and
- Cultivating goodwill by engaging directly with upset or happy patients.
Without the right listening tools – such as Radian6 – and social media experience, knowing where and how to listen can be a challenge. And even with the right tools and expertise, executing an effective social media strategy, including listening, engaging and measuring, can be difficult. It requires dedicated human resources, discipline and a commitment to frequent, regular content development to be successful. Many health system public relations and communications departments have such a significant workload that social media is often neglected or, at a minimum, is last on the list for attention.
WordWrite works with several clients who find themselves in that very position. We serve as an extension of their communications team, developing, executing and managing social media efforts that include listening, blogging, proactive and reactive Twitter and Facebook strategies and LinkedIn group creation, to name a few.
With one-third of consumers in the new survey saying they’re comfortable having their social media conversations monitored if the data help them find ways to improve health or better coordinate care, it’s clear that healthcare organizations that are not fully engaged in a comprehensive social media strategy are missing the boat.
In an age where direct, one-on-one communication with consumers is more achievable than ever, and the results of those interactions are quantifiably positive, what is your healthcare organization doing to take advantage of this opportunity? If the answer is little or nothing, the follow-up question is: Why? I’d be most interested in your answers to that question.
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Jason Snyder is a senior vice president for WordWrite Communications.
May 11 2012 | Uncategorized | 2 Comments »
By Leah Trimble
During my semester as an intern, I learned more about public relations than I could have ever imagined. The team at WordWrite taught me everything I need to know about the industry and what it takes to be the best at what they do. I had the opportunity to work in a setting where I encountered a well-rounded experience, one that was as close as possible to what it will be like working in PR once I graduate. I wasn’t given menial tasks or asked to make the coffee runs, but instead I was provided with actual projects and important assignments that had to be taken seriously. From this experience, I took away four important lessons that I will definitely need in the years to come: 
1. Procrastination is a “school thing.”
When you work for clients, you can’t wait until the last minute for everything. Sometimes things come up unexpectedly or you need more time than you imagined. When there’s a real deadline, everyone is counting on you to meet it. Also, the stress of procrastination is one you can’t live with on a day-to-day basis. Believe me!
2. Don’t be afraid to ask questions.
This is a piece of advice people often give, yet I find it’s one that’s rarely carried out. It’s so important, especially when you’re new to a company or industry. In previous experiences, I was hesitant to ask for fear they would think I was under-qualified. When I came to WordWrite, I knew I didn’t know nearly enough to go through projects without asking, so I threw in the towel and asked a lot of questions. Thankfully, the WordWrite team was patient and helpful no matter how simple or complex the question. They knew the mistake I was trying to avoid could cost hours trying to fix, so asking about something small was well worth it.
3. Be a team player, always.
I’m not going to lie, before I came to WordWrite, I had maybe three good experiences working with a team. Usually, there is always that one person that ruins it for everyone, but when you find the right team, like here at WordWrite, it all comes together, both creatively and logistically. You don’t have to worry about a bad day because someone is always willing to help you along, and that’s the way it should be.
4. Be enthusiastic.
This is especially true for people like me who will soon enter the work world. If you’re not excited to help, the people around you won’t be excited to give you work. Plus if you love what you’re doing, it’s easy to be enthusiastic.
So here’s some of my advice for you — to the interns, get as much out of your internship as possible and use these lessons to help you now and in your future. To the professionals giving students the opportunities, continue being patient and let your interns have some real projects. They won’t disappoint you, I promise. And to WordWrite, thank you so much for giving me the experience of a lifetime! I learned more than I could ever hope for and worked with the most amazing group of people!
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Leah is a public relations intern for WordWrite Communications. She can be reached at leah.trimble@wordwritepr.com.
April 30 2012 | Uncategorized | Add a Comment »
By Emma Walter
Recently my colleagues and I took a field trip during our weekly WordWrite University meeting to tour the WPXI-TV studio and watch the 5 p.m. newscast live (which was absolutely awesome, by the way). One of the first stops on the tour was the technology and social media center. Our gracious guide, weathercaster Stephen Cropper, explained the station’s effort to move with the times and create an app for viewers to get their news. Stephen described it as something that every station must consider to be competitive. 
Some say TV news is dead, especially for those in the millennial generation. We’ve grown up around social media and have a strong thirst to get only the information we want, when we want it. From my personal experience, if I see a news topic of interest, I will find just that clip online and only watch that. That’s the beauty of on-demand news.
It’s becoming even easier for this to happen with devices like Apple TV, which allow you to use your favorite apps and stream clips of interest. Social media is inevitable, and if you try to fight it, you won’t get anywhere. It’s time to move with the times and embrace it. So how do local TV news operations adapt?
As with WPXI, the first step is to consider an app for news consumers to put on their mobile devices and tablets. Next, get your reporters, anchors, meteorologists and others in your station active on social media. One of our favorites here in the WordWrite office is Stephen’s WPXI colleague Scott Harbaugh. He does a great job of providing the information you want and he still has fun with it.
Those who say local TV news is dead are right about one thing, asking if TV is relevant in a social media world. I say yes. But if you aren’t appropriately integrating social media, then forget about it. And it’s not just true for newsrooms. A recent study by Nielsen showed that advertisements with a social media component are more effective than without. Lately a lot of social media has been integrated into television shows as well. People are going to be talking about the show whether you have a hashtag or not, so it’s better to provide them with one and try to get all the conversations in one place.
We’ve only just begun to see the possibilities of social media and television integration, including in the newsroom. What are your thoughts on the topic? Do you think television news is still relevant in a social media world? Share your thoughts in the comments; I’d love to hear them.
Want to see pictures from our WPXI trip? Check out our album on Facebook!
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Emma Walter is an account executive for WordWrite Communications. You can find her on Twitter @emmasreallytall.
April 23 2012 | Uncategorized | 1 Comment »
1. How long have you been using social media? Personally? Professionally?
Personally I’ve been using it since about 2006 or so; we started Kennametal’s presence in social media around 2009 with a YouTube Channel!
2. What social media outlets do you use?
Kennametal uses Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, Google+ and some regional outlets as well. We also blog.
3. How often do you post to your accounts?
It depends on what account. Twitter, we try to post a couple times a day to reach a broader audience; Facebook, an average of 4-5 times per week; LinkedIn and Google+ a couple times a week. We update our blog a few times a month.
4. What device do you use primarily when posting to or using social media? (Computer, iPhone, etc.)
Almost always a computer, but I do check our accounts when I’m out and about. If someone makes a post or a comment, I’ll typically respond via my mobile device.
5. How do you balance your presence among different networks? (Do you post different things? Do you use one for personal and one for professional, etc.?)
In regards to Kennametal, we do alter our “speak” on each platform. Same message just spun a little bit differently.
6. How do you engage with your social media audience?
We ask questions, we answer questions; we look to build online relationships with those posting in and about our industry.
7. In using social media, what do you find to be the most rewarding? Most challenging?
When a customer tells you you’re doing something right and they appreciate the quick response, that makes you stand a little taller. The challenging piece of it for our industry is just getting the conversation started — lack of resources sometimes holds us back from doing all we’d like to do. But isn’t this typical of every function in a business? 
8. How has social media helped your business or brand?
Recognition – it’s opened up a communication channel with folks we may never touch or hear from. From product, to industry and product development, the social conversation is helping us better provide to our customers … in all aspects.
9. Which social media outlet do you think is underutilized? OR Which outlet do you see as an up-and-comer?
LinkedIn – there’s still so much opportunity out there on LinkedIn and I think businesses have only tapped into about a quarter of its potential.
10. What are some of your favorite accounts or pages to follow?
Personally … I love to follow our CMO (@JHJackoCMO) and our CEO (@CarlosMCardoso) to see what they’re thinking. I’m always encouraged when they post things that are in-line with what I’m thinking or what I believe, it allows me to push that extra mile. I also love General Electric (@GeneralElectric). They are a big brand that engages with just about everyone who mentions them. They not only engage their audience to comment, they then keep the conversation going. I swear I think I had a one-week conversation with them about kitchens once. It’s amazing to see the kind of comments they receive, how they respond and then continually follow-up. I’d love to understand how their team is made up!
11. Have you been guilty of a social media faux pas? Care to share details?
Yes, yes, I have, and anybody who tells you they haven’t is mistaken. I’ve occasionally been known to post my personal tweets from our corporate accounts, they’ve been deleted almost immediately, but it’s been noticed by a few. J
12. How would you describe social media to your Grandmother (or Grandfather)?
It’s the telephone you’ve never known that you’ve always wanted.
- Never miss a call.
- If you don’t feel like talking, you don’t have to.
- You can read the news that you want to read about, no more unnecessary stories.
- You can “connect” with others across the globe to learn and share what interests you.
- And of course, you can keep up with your grandchildren and know just about everything they have going on. For most grandparents this is enough to get them hooked.
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Jennifer Altimore is a site content manager for Kennametal, a global tool designer, innovator and manufacturer that sold more than $2.4 billion of products and services in 2011, and a social media consultant for local small businesses, non-profits and individuals. Jennifer’s skills and passion have elevated Kennametal to a thought leader in the social media landscape.
Interested in getting your business started with social media? Download the same tools WordWrite uses to help launch our client’s social media, free!
April 19 2012 | Uncategorized | Add a Comment »
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