Comments on: Don’t be a (PR) geezer

By: Aluminum Laptop Cases

Aluminum Laptop Cases — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 20:14:50 +0000

It is a challenge for people in certain industries to suddenly change how they do things to adapt to new technologies. You were taught certain things and you learned other things along the way. Then one day a new technology comes out that changes the way we communicate. To stay current in such industries, you have to be on the cutting edge of technology and use it to your full advantage.

By: A study in contrast | Allen Mireles Social Media Consulting

A study in contrast | Allen Mireles Social Media Consulting — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 02:29:45 +0000

[...] Willbur, a PR pro some 10 years younger than I, who cautions her colleagues not to become “PR Geezers”, saying the time to learn to use social media effectively is now. She makes the point that her [...]

By: tony mackey

tony mackey — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 00:22:10 +0000

The great thing about PR people getting connected via these types of online conversations is progress for the industry and it also shows that we are all adapting (or trying to adapt) to the quickly changing world in which we work.

Thanks Jen. And I didn’t answer yes to all the questions, so I better get back to work.

By: Allen Mireles

Allen Mireles — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 13:30:26 +0000

Hi Jen,

Your post is timely. I’m a bit of a geezer myself (will be 51 in May–yikes!) but have embraced social media with passion and great excitement for what it means for our clients and for the rest of us.

I started this morning w/ a snarky email from a colleague who was critical of my social media involvement and declared herself “not interested in all that social media stuff”. Mind you, this person has wondered aloud on more than one occasion why she isn’t winning new business. A moment later I checked my Facebook and found the announcement about Sara Evans’ (and partners) new MediaOn Twitter shareable media database.

Such contrast in the space of a few moments. I have just spent the past 10 minutes posting the link to MediaOnTwitter in all of my LinkedIn groups, Facebook, Facebook fan page and have also Tweeted about it (my MySpace and FriendFeed pick up updates from Twitter). I’m excited for journalists, PR folks and everyone else to have access to such a resource. It can only be a good thing.

So your excellent post is very timely. Good work, youngster! I can say, having a few years on you.

This is an exciting time for all of us and watching the unfolding of this new direction with all of its possibilities makes me almost giddy at times. I encourage my colleagues in marketing PR to jump in and join the rest of us. Today.

Warmly,

Allen Mireles

By: Kellye Crane

Kellye Crane — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 18:22:25 +0000

Jen: I love a gal who’s both funny and smart! You’ve hit on something important — and many folks who are involved and engaged in social media are a bit blind to this fact.

Those of us who are out there talking to our (sometimes clueless) colleagues know that the use of social media by PR pros is not yet mainstream. But time moves oh so quickly in this space, and you put it best when you note: “How long will it be before you are in the defensive position?” The time for us to act (geezers or no) is now, or risk playing catchup — perhaps too late.

By: Tressa Robbins

Tressa Robbins — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 17:13:12 +0000

Great post Jen. At 43, I finally took the Twitter plunge a few months ago and really only got on Facebook and others in the past year. I thought I was behind but in reality find that I, too, am explaining what SM is and why it’s important to clients. I thank my employer (BurrellesLuce) for being progressive and nudging us in this direction, encouraging us to learn, participate and share so that we may help our clients in these changing times.

I’ll definitely be pointing some folks to this post – great job!

By: Brenna Sowder

Brenna Sowder — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 17:11:20 +0000

Jen – Great list of questions to ask yourself as a PR pro. I have to agree at least in part with the comments of others about finding time for Twitter. Being part of a very small agency, time is in short supply. It has been important for me since I found Twitter to set some very clear ground rules about how much time I spend running around the internet trying to catch all the latest commentary and insight – and phew, can it be overwhelming! BUT, I agree that it’s important to stay at the forefront of this ever-changing business. As a fairly new person in PR, I also find it EXTREMELY instructive for personal and professional development. And finally, very true statement from your post – complacency or fear of change will be the death of PR pros in today’s environment. Get on the social media bus, but take your proven toolbox with you!

By: David Kostik

David Kostik — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 16:42:46 +0000

From the perspective of a card-carrying ‘geezer’ I think this is a great post. We’ve always had to struggle to keep from being obsolete – but now the leading edge is moving at a break-neck pace. Given that, ‘geezer’ is not defined by age, but commitment to invest in staying current!

By: David Kostik

David Kostik — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 16:32:45 +0000

From the perspective of a card-carrying ‘geezer’ I think this is a great post. We’ve always had to struggle to keep from being obsolete – but now the leading edge is n

By: Fresh INK PR Blog » Blog Archive » The Power of Five

Fresh INK PR Blog » Blog Archive » The Power of Five — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 14:40:02 +0000

[...] that end, I direct you to Jennifer Willbur’s guest post on Sarah Evan’s blog, PRSarahEvans.com, Don’t be a PR Geezer. She poses five (hmmm, five – how fortuitous) questions that EVERY PR pro should consider, and [...]