As the resident copywriter at Blue, I’ve written (and/or edited) my fair share of Press Releases. I’ve noticed that many clients and companies seem to think that press releases are only good for one thing—telling news outlets about potential stories. Think again.

PRs can do so much more than just create a news story. In fact, with the downturn in print news, it’s become more difficult for a PR to be anything other than a sheet of paper in a pile on an overworked journalist’s desk. So, why bother writing a PR at all?

1.    Status Updates—With Caution

You can let your connections know what’s going on with your business without posting updates that say “15% off of EVERYTHING in the store TODAY ONLY!!! Visit us from 9-5:30 at our downtown location for a GREAT DEAL!” Subtlety is key. Say something like “Busy getting the store ready for today’s big event! You’re all invited”—then give the hyperlink to the event information. Don’t make it an everyday occurrence. You should try to update your status with interesting information or even the hyperlink to your latest blog post (or even…ahem…someone else’s).

What use is a blog when no one is reading it? We've outlined three simple ways to start using your blog to its fullest, which can mean a larger readership and better brand awareness. Start cashing in on your blog today!

1.    Promote on Other Networks
We don’t mean that you should promote your blog on other blogs (persay), but don't be afraid to let people know that you have a blog. That means that blog promotion should start getting some real estate on your website and other social networks (probably in the form of a feed that shows the first sentence or three of your blog). Promote each post on Twitter, or on Facebook. Let people know through LinkedIn. It’s amazing how simple it is to gain readers when you just let the world know that you’re saying something online.

While some may have missed it, the Old Spice Guy was on a roll a few weeks ago, showing the world what a complete social media campaign can be. Videos of actor Isaiah Mustafa—known to many as the “Old Spice Guy”—started appearing on Old Spice’s YouTube account in response to Twitter questions/comments. The videos became viral quickly and, while it’s over now, we can learn a lot from what happened, whether you’re a multi-million dollar corporation or the café around the corner.

It can be tough to get your social media presence going...we've put together some simple ways to help you move from "what am I doing" to "why didn't I do this sooner"!

1. Educate Yourself.
It’s simple: make sure you’re as up-to-date as possible when it comes to your field. For example: if you’re a lawyer, I’m not just talking about CLEs (continuing legal education seminars). I’m talking about getting the latest in rulings, hot topics and industry news. It may mean taking an hour and diving into blogs, news sites and the latest Bar Journal…but it’s worth it when you really know what you’re blogging, tweeting or updating about. Be the expert!

We’ve all seen businesses dig themselves some deep holes. We can think of one company that spent over 80 days deep in a giant disaster. While we can’t help a company embroiled in an environmental catastrophe, we do have some tips to help your business weather the next big brouhaha that comes your way…perhaps you could even come out on top after it’s over. So whether you’ve under-priced everything in your store or have an employee whose mouth is about to get you in deep trouble…here is how to use a tough situation to your advantage: