Come work with me at iostudio. You know you want to.

iostudio is experiencing rapid growth and is seeking a talented and experienced public relations professional. iostudio has a growing portfolio of fast-casual restaurants, nonprofits and charities, and B2B clients in need of public relations services. We are looking for someone to oversee client projects, create fascinating and innovative promotional tactics, and position iostudio as an industry leader as a full-service marketing communications agency.

This position requires an expert ability to remain organized, work independently and think on your feet. The candidate we are looking for will:

• Create and execute PR plans for a diverse array of clients and iostudio’s own program.
• Independently build relationships with media to promote our clients’ and iostudio’s internal programs.Generate and maintain media lists using Vocus.Develop, plan, organize and initiate grassroots marketing efforts.
• Write and edit news releases.
• Travel up to 20 percent.
• The above statements describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this classification. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties required of personnel so classified.

Minimum Requirements:

• B.S. or B.A. in public relations/advertising/marketing or related field.
• 3–5+ years of PR experience (agency or company).
• Previous restaurant and nonprofit experience preferred, but not required.
• Effective and professional verbal and written communication skills are essential. Ability to communicate ideas to employees, vendors, applicants and others in a clear and concise manner.
• Strong proficiency with Word, Excel and PowerPoint on a Mac or PC platform; PR programs (such as Cision, Vocus, MyMediaInfo, etc.); and other applicable software.
• Knowledge and ability to research information on the Web.
• A wide degree of maturity, independence, creativity and latitude is expected.
• Ability to pass a thorough background check as per the iostudio handbook guidelines.

To apply: email careers@iostudio.com 

Facebook Timeline for Brands is coming. And soon.

The 850-million use social network is expected to announce details of their new Timeline for Brands roll-out on Feb. 29.

This comes not long after Timeline for Profiles was made available worldwide.

To make such a seismic shift to their entire platform – both personal and brand pages – means Facebook strongly believes in what this new functionality has to offer.

And since Timeline was a major change to profiles, there is a lot of stress over what will happen to brand pages.

Which leads me to my #1 Tip for Brands to Prepare for Facebook Timeline:

RELAX.

As of this moment, there is nothing to do.

No firm facts have leaked out, meaning marketers have no idea what this new functionality will provide, from benefits, challenges, capabilities and loses.

However, we’ll find out what Facebook has in store soon enough.

And there will be a period to plan and implement before the switch is finally flipped. Remember how nearly every online marketer had Timeline for their profile months before the global roll-out?

I’ll be watching the virtual announcement – and I’ve set aside time Wednesday and Thursday to process and adjust.

The Facebook platform will be changing drastically – that much we know.

But until we know exactly what changes will be made, my only piece of advice is to relax.

And then, when the announcement comes, we can freak out together.

There has been no bigger sports story over the past few weeks than the meteoric rise of New York Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin.

He’s taken over the sports media world over the past few weeks, capturing the minds of fans in a nearly Tebow-esque manner.

Let’s examine the 7 Elements of…LINSANITY…and why he may not be just a flash in the pan.

1) Ethnicity.

Let’s get this one over with first. He’s the first Asian-American player of Chinese or Taiwanese descent. Being the FIRST to do something is newsworthy, no matter what Floyd Mayweather, Jr., thinks. Also of note, Asian Americans make up roughly 5% of the US population.

2) Education.

Lin played at Harvard. Anytime an Ivy Leaguer finds success in a major professional sports organization, it will be newsworthy. Book smarts + athletic ability = huge upside. In an industry where most players enter the league with barely a year of college under their belt, the educated Harvard man stands tall.

3) Market.

He’s in New York. The Knicks have been starving for relevancy for years now. So there is a fan base and media corps ready to jump on something hot and ride the wave. You can also say that being close to ESPN’s home base of Bristol, CT, plays a role, too. Trust me, Linsanity wouldn’t be so Linsane if he played in Milwaukee (no disrespect meant to the fine city, but it’s the truth).

4) Timing.

The Super Bowl is over. Spring Training doesn’t fully kick-in for another few weeks. The Peyton Manning story is dragging. Basically, if there was ever a moment for a basketball star to emerge, this is it.

5) Excellence.

The #1 component is his out-of-this-world play. He has scored more points in his first five starts than any other player in NBA history. Think about that. He is off to the best start ever, topping Michael Jordan, Shaq, Bill Russell and others. Hitting the game-winning 3-pointer on the road against Toronto on Tuesday will only increase the hype. But the fact of the matter is, he’s bringing the steak and the sizzle.

6) Connection.

Watch a Knicks game and you’ll see shirts, signs, posters, jerseys (which are selling quite nicely – by some accounts, the most NBA jerseys sold since Feb. 4), face paint and more. People want to see this guy succeed.

7) Instant Value.

On Monday, Forbes claimed his “brand” was worth $14 million. Three weeks ago, nobody knew who he was. And that claim was made BEFORE Tuesday’s game-winning shot. I’m certain brands are trying to strike while the iron is hot and maximize his promotional value – or get in on “the cheap.”

This was illustrated/mocked by Stephen Colbert Monday night on Comedy Central. The man is a cross-over star now.

Will the Legend of Lin continue to grow?

Or will he fizzle and disappear the the back of the bench in a few weeks?

At this point, does it matter?

His one-of-a-kind background and record-settling plat has made him a phenomenon. He’s a made man and a marketing machine in waiting.

You remember Kegasus, right?

Kegasus, unveiled last year as the Tweeting mascot/leader of the InfieldFest at the Preakness Stakes, appeared to be the Maryland Jockey Club’s answer to how to join horse racing and social media to attract younger audiences to the annual race.

Well, according to a news release this morning, he’s gone missing!

This has The International Brotherhood of Mythical Creatures quite concerned.

See, Kegasus hasn’t Tweeted (@allhailkegasus) since last May. Here is the text from this morning’s release:

Kegasus is Missing: International Brotherhood of Mythical

Creatures Announces Alternative Options

THE NORTH POLE – (February 13^th, 2012) Today, the International Brotherhood of Mythical Creatures (IBOMC) announced that Kegasus, the Lord of the InfieldFest at the Preakness, is officially missing. The last time he was seen was in Shackleford’s stall for the Preakness after-party on May 21^st, 2011. Two days later, he tweeted (@AllHailKegasus) his plans to travel to the British West Indies with an “unnamed supermodel.

The news of Kegasus’ disappearance has been devastating for the Brotherhood, as he sat on the Executive Board as the social chair. The IBOMC understands the great honor of having a member play the important role of Lord of the InfieldFest at the Preakness, the biggest party in the Mid-Atlantic region.

The IBOMC was established to protect the interests of mythical creatures everywhere and to clearly define each member’s role. At the very core of its by-laws, members are forbidden from performing the duties of another member. However, in light of Kegasus’ absence, the union has been placed in a precarious position as two of its members have stepped forward in an attempt to assume the title of Lord of the InfieldFest.

The Leprechaun and the Easter Bunny are each using personal assets to launch PR campaigns to make the public aware of their respective platforms. The IBOMC plans to convene an emergency board meeting to review its bylaws concerning the matter.

These two mythological creatures have launched their independent campaigns today, and can be followed by fans on their Facebook pages:

www.facebook.com/BunnyMakinMoney & www.facebook.com/TallWhereItCounts

For questions please contact the IBOMC directly at www.facebook.com/TheIBOMC or by phone at 202-714-0886.

About

The International Brotherhood of Mythical Creatures, or IBOMC, is a union governing all mythical creatures who must shelter the light of Awesomeness from within while guarding against the darkness of Lameitude. Its origin dates back to 93,145,109 B.C.  The 13^th day of the month of Octobius at 9:17pm, a Tuesday, is oft quoted as the day the union movement was first conceived. According to ancient scribes, the union was formed at the behest of the most beloved mythical creature of all, Santaclawzius, when ions ago, he began to face stiff competition from the most unlikely of places.

As a marketing campaign, I’m VERY curious to see where this goes.

Will the absence of the controversial Kegasus capture the imagination of people as much as his emergence did?

You can say that as a half-man, half-horse, Kegasus had a halfway decent tie-in to horse racing, whereas the Easter Bunny and a Leprechaun are a bit of a reach.

But I really like the PR/social tie-in here. The only thing missing here is a hashtag!

Nice work – and let’s see where it goes.  Oh – and I hope Kegasus is OK!

Nothing gets marketing/communications folk more amped-up than THE BIG IDEA!

A BIG IDEA is something monumental, memorable and completely out there, but perfect.

We chase THE BIG IDEA like we’re Sasquatch hunters.

And when we find that THE BIG IDEA came to another company, we aren’t even jealous. It’s a cocktail of admiration, respect, hatred and frustration. Probably toss a few deadly sins in there, for good measure.

I do believe that Pizza Hut has struck gold and oil and diamonds all at the same time.

To launch their new $10 Big Dinner Box, they thought, appropriately, completely outside of it.

They are currently running a “Tie the Knot with a $10 Dinner Box” campaign that is so stinking brilliant.

For $10,010, you get a marriage proposal package that includes:

1. A Ruby Red Ring (and while a diamond would preferable, Red is their primary color)
2. Fireworks
3. Limo Service for a night
4. Flowers
5. A videographer
6. A photographer
7. …and a $10 Dinner Box

But here is the best part.

Click on that link and read the fine print: Limit 1 per person!

Do you want to be that guy who is unsure which woman is the one for you, so you purchase multiple proposal packages from Pizza Hut to see who says yes??

But I digress.

This campaign has made headlines everywhere. It’s been in the news and covered on the radio.

It’s not a contest or a prize, it’s a special package people can PAY for.

I would assume that buried in the fine print is that the photographer and videographer will give a copy of all film and assets to Pizza Hut for use in future marketing materials.

I don’t think my wife would have approved of this proposal method, but I’m sure that there are 10 couples out there that would consider this well worth the $10,000. Plus $10 for dinner.

Awesome, awesome, awesome campaign.

By now, you are aware of the mess that occurred when the Susan G. Komen Foundation pulled funding from Planned Parenthood.

If you aren’t, a review of it can be found here.

Today, Komen’s vice president for public policy, Karen Handel, resigned, in light of the situation.

But her letter of resignation, highlighted here, she made a PR mistake. (You can read the full copy here)

The public has spoken and the vats majority of the nation disagreed with their decision to pull the funding. Planned Parenthood reportedly raised MILLIONS of dollars last week in support.

So what does Komen do?

According to Handel, she claimed that every level of the organization, including every single member of the board of directors, signed off on cutting the funding.

Say what?

When the organization should be trying to repair relationships, she has left them high and dry with a complete “screw off” to the public.

This sounds like, “we restored the funding, because silly people made a lot of noise, but, gosh, we don’t want to give money to Planned Parenthood.”

She cited “gross mischaracterization” of their strategy.

What she should have done was admit fault and misreading their donors. Say that they respect Planned Parenthood and look for ways to grow the partnership. Say that there was a giant miscalculation. Say that there is work to be done to restore public trust.

But don’t fight back against the public.

I found this letter combative and defensive, the last traits Komen should be displaying at this time.

They can stand by their decision, but the people who fund their organization weren’t on board with it. So which is more important – defending a hard-to-defend decision or repairing your relationship with your donor base?

Related: Komen is hiring!