A few tips to consider:

• When someone enters a meeting room, stand and greet them
• When in a room of strangers, extend a warm handshake and introduce yourself, especially to those standing solo
• When dining, don’t chew with your mouth open
• Don’t chew gum during meetings
• Never put your bags on the conference room table; sit them next to your chair or on your chair and unload from there
• Always bring paper, writing utensil and your calendar to ANY meeting
• Always arrive a few minutes prior to a meeting – don’t make everyone wait on you
• Hold the door for others – male or female
• Clean up after yourself; don’t expect someone else to pick up your dirtied glass or trash
• Send a handwritten thank you note after meeting a new person and enclose your business card … not only good etiquette, but also good networking!

For more great tips, check out Emily Post.

PR isn’t just about picking up the phone and calling a reporter. There is a ton of strategy involved in what we do. So before you pick up the phone or send out a “PR release,” listen to what I have to say

But STOP! Before we go any further, IT IS NOT CALLED A PR RELEASE. I repeat. It is not called a “PR Release.”  We send out news releases

Now, on to the good stuff

DO NOT MASS DISTRIBUTE. Don’t blast emails or faxes. Don’t do a generic pitch that blankets a ton of reporters.  It’s important that you do your homework and get to know each reporter you’re planning to pitch. There is nothing more embarrassing than sending a pitch to a reporter that doesn’t cover your topic. Example: my client is launching an exercise video. Over my dead body will I pitch the financial editor on this topic. UNLESS there is a financial angle

Further, mass distributing your news releases is just like spam. You know how annoyed you get when you receive those Australian lottery winner emails or the African prince that is looking for his soul mate. DON’T SPAM

Customize your outreach. Refer to previous coverage by that particular reporter. Open up with a brief remark that gets the conversation going … and personalize it.

It’s fine to follow up with a reporter, but please don’t call and ask if they’ve received your news release. Chances are their desk is just as cluttered as yours.  Instead, lead with “Am I calling at a good time” and give them a couple of juicy facts to gauge their interest. They may ask you to send them a release; don’t be offended. Just keep your mouth shut and send it again. Be respectful of their time and courteous with your follow up.

Most importantly, develop relationships with reporters so that you become a resource for them.  A few reporters I work with contact me needing sources for stories that don’t apply to any of my clients. I don’t mind helping them because I know that when I really need them, they’ll be there.

I came across a great article last week in Ad Age, How Agencies Are Helping Their Clients Help The Environment. It really puts things in perspective … as individuals, it’s important to make wise decisions concerning the environment (recycling, buying locally-grown produce, etc.). As a corporation, it’s important to take a look at how we can eliminate waste during the manufacturing process, etc. But as a marketer what can we do? We can encourage our clients to create earth-friendly campaigns.

Example: Snackbox is working with a major consumer packaged good brand that has practiced earth-friendly production since the early 1900s. Before it was “cool” to be “green.”  We’re working with said company to create a public relations campaign that educates consumers about their practices in producing disposable tableware.  Most don’t automatically think paper plates = good for the environment. I’m sure demand for their product will increase once our campaign is complete, but more importantly, as consumers, we will know that we have choices. Choices that are actually good for the environment.

We’re also taking the environment into account in other practices: Doing away with paper press kits, emailing our invoices and presenting brand identity systems electronically rather than pasting to presentation boards.

Protecting the environment isn’t another fad. Let’s all do our part to protect and preserve.

But why stop with one project?

One of the more difficult things we encounter as business owners is the art of cold calling to expand our business. But why go through all of the effort when you have clients from your past who are perfectly capable of being your clients of the future?

I encourage you to dive deep into your Rolodex and remain in contact with ALL of your clients. Build conversation with them, create a database you can reference for years to come.

For example, I make note in my address book regarding important answers to my questions: does my client contact have kids, what is their favorite food, do they have pets, etc.  Those notes allow me to pick up dialog right away without missing a beat.  It doesn’t mean that I don’t value each of the people in my Rolodex … it just means that my Rolodex is too large to remember all of the details. My database allows me to keep up.

As you build your Rolodex, you can watch for patterns and have the opportunity to connect those in your network. Build Karma points by connecting a favorite package designer with an inventor looking to gain shelf space in local grocery stores. More than likely, those who have been helped by you are happy to return the favor down the road.

It’s all about who you know, but also what you know about them.