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4112018 March Professional Independent Communicators (PIC) Buzz
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PIC Newsletter mdash March 2018 View this email in your browser
Hello ltltFirst Namegtgt Hope you enjoy the latest edition of The Buzz
A message from PIC chair Sharon Aschaiek When it comes to the activities and achievements of our membersProfessional Independent Communicators has a lot to celebrateMany of the hundred or so IABCToronto members who belong toour group are not only running successful communicationbusinesses theyrsquore also actively involved in advancing theprofession through volunteering writing speaking and teachingand other endeavours Here are highlights of what some PIC members are up to thesedays Jess Baria has been volunteering this year as the editor ofIABCTorontorsquos online magazine Communicator The publicationis rich in information and insights on topics relevant to GTAcommunicators The March 2018 issue is focused on the facets ofa marketing communications department and what it takes tosucceed in one Sue Johnston ABC of Itrsquos Understood which focuses on changecommunications will be speaking at Agile amp Beyond 2018 aconference focused on agile principles and practices taking placeMay 17shy18 in Michigan She will be speaking at two sessionsHeroes are Expensive Extinguishing the Firefighting Culture andBeing Understood while we Wait for the Babel Fish Sheelagh Caygill head of Communicate Influence isvolunteering to help plan and execute IABCTorontorsquos OvationAwards which celebrate the big bold and innovative work of GTAcommunicators Sheelagh is working with PIC to help highlight ourgrouprsquos achievements at the awards gala Heather West of Fresh Communications has written aninformative blog post on managing change communications Sheshares three key tips for ensuring the process of sharinginformation in your organization about a new initiative earns thetrust of employees Finally in the March 21 edition of CBCRadiorsquos Here and Now past PIC chairDonna Papacosta of TrafalgarCommunications weighed in on thehot topic preoccupying not onlycommunicators but perhaps most ofus Facebook usersrsquo data beingmisused by British political consulting firm Cambridge Analyticaand whether or not we should get off Facebook She also sharedher perspective in her blog post Why DeleteFacebook may notbe the answer Continued success
Sharon Aschaiek Chair Professional IndepedentCommunicators (PIC) Vice President Special InterestGroups IABCToronto torontoshysigiabcto
In This Issue
A message from SharonApril 3 Crushingcorporate video contentMarch 15 Words wordsand more wordsWhatrsquos PESOPIC Personality MeetBetsy ChalyHave your say in thenew CommunicatorSee you on social mediaIs your profile on the PICmember listGet a copy of The IndieLife
Quick Links
PIC on the webPIC on LinkedInPICToronto on TwitterGet a copy of TheIndependent LifeIABCTorontoPIC email torontoshypiciabcto
Newsletter archives
Find back issues of TheBuzz from Jan 2010 toAug 2016 hereJoin Our Mailing List
We want your talents Interested in writing editing orcontributing ideas for PICs TheBuzz or IABCTorontosCommunicator Wed love yourhelp Let us know PIC Executive Contact any of us withquestions comments and ideasfor speakers or topics Chair Sharon Aschaiek Past Chair Donna Papacosta Communications Sue Horner Membership MelikaRamkissoon Programming John BromleyABC Social Media Bill Smith
April 3 Crushing corporate video content What you need to know for today and tomorrow
4112018 March Professional Independent Communicators (PIC) Buzz
httpsmailchimp164dfc909335professional-independent-communicators-pic-buzz-march-2018-344293 25
Tuesday April 3 630 pm to 9 pm Blue and Gold Room 3rd floor Mattamy Athletic Centre 50 Carlton St Toronto
The video landscape is evolving Your audiences live in a digital world whether theyrsquore employees prospects orpartners They have shorter attention spans and theyrsquove grown to expect choice and interactivity to drive morevalue out of the content they choose to consume Although video can be effective itrsquos typically a passive experience for the audience In todayrsquos digitalshyfirst worlditrsquos about empowering the audience to actively control the content and providing communication professionalswith rich analytics to help make informed decisions Elevate your video game with the latest strategies and tools in this session with Cyrus Mavalwala ABCResearch best practices and stories from the trenches of corporate video production will give attendees richinsights into
The challenges with traditional linear videoWhat the evolving video landscape means for communicatorsWhich video technologies you need to start integrating today to elevate your content game
For a preview of his talk listen to his conversation with past PIC chair Donna Papacosta Cyrus is an awardshywinning communication strategist and trainer who has been helpingorganizations achieve their business objectives for over 20 years After leading teams atglobal agencies Cyrus founded Advantis Communications a digital communication agencythat delivers measurable value by integrating traditional video and social strategies Registration and networking 630 pm to 7 pm Presentation and QampA 7 pm to 830 pm Postshyevent networking 830 pm to 9 pm Registration fees $15 IABCToronto member rate $25 Nonshymember rate This event counts towards professional development credits to maintain the IABC Communications ManagementProfessionals (CMP) or Strategic Communications Management Professionals (SCMP) certification Learn moreabout these certifications here
March 15 Words words and more words
Sue Horner is the spellebrity from PICrsquos spirited Spelling Bee(r) on March 15 taking home an ndigo gift card
4112018 March Professional Independent Communicators (PIC) Buzz
httpsmailchimp164dfc909335professional-independent-communicators-pic-buzz-march-2018-344293 35
Joining her as last spellers standing were PIC members Melika Ramkissoon and Sue Bowness (at far left) andguest Joan Janes (beside Sue H) seen here with Jennifer Arnott and Sharon Aschaiek The last four wordsspelled were ostentatious juvenescent detriment and tantalize
Whatrsquos PESOBy Sue Horner
During last monthrsquos webinar with Gini Dietrich founder and CEO of Arment Dietrich participants asked aboutPESO Gini developed and championed the PESO modelmdashwhich stands for paid earned shared and ownedmediamdashas a framework for how PR and communications professionals should think about PR People used to ldquomeasurerdquo PR by counting media impressions and advertising equivalencies PESO goes beyondthis to allow insights into what types of content work best and allows for tracking testing and improving resultsfor future campaigns ldquoThe PESO model takes the four media typesmdashpaid earned shared and ownedmdashand merges them togetherrdquoGini says in her SpinSucks blog ldquoYoursquoll use shared media to distribute [your content] paid media to amplify itand earned media to rubbershystamp itrdquo Herersquos a quick look at how PESO works
Paid media Use paid and promoted content (such as sponsored tweets and Facebook posts) to capture leads and reachcustomers or followers Paid media supports earned owned and shared media resulting in higher quality leadsand a shortened purchase cycle Earned media Build relationships that result in getting bloggers journalists customers and others to talk about your businessproduct or service This helps you be seen by Google as an expert Shared (social) media Distribute your own blog posts videos images and other content on Facebook Twitter LinkedIn YouTube andother social media outlets to drive leads back to your site Owned media (start here) House your informative and engaging stories reviews videos podcasts and other content on your own blog orwebsite You control the message and tell your own story This material pulls consumers towards you organically ldquoWhen the PESO model is working at its best it can help you establish authorityrdquo Gini says Learn more about where to start with PESO and how to use it in your business on Ginirsquos blog and in her post tothe Public Relations Society of Americarsquos Content Connection hub
PIC Personality Meet Betsy ChalyBy Sue Horner Betsy Chaly is a communications and marketing professional Her business calledTableau finds the best way to tell the clientrsquos story Reach her by email or connecton LinkedIn Whatrsquos your background I have a BSc and BA from Queenrsquos University and an MBA from the University ofNew Brunswick and have worked in communications and marketing for variouscompanies for almost 20 years I was fortunate to start my career in a largecompany (Bell) and that allowed me to try a bit of everything and hone my skillsIrsquove also headed marketing and communications departments for nonshyprofit and forshyprofit organizations When did you launch your independent business and how did it come about I tried my hand at consulting in 2012 and really enjoyed it After about a year and a half the opportunity came upto work with Indspire a national charity that raises funds to deliver programs and tools to support Indigenouspeople as they strive to complete their education It was a good learning opportunity and a chance to gainexperience on the charity side with an Indigenousshyled organization But I had thought of getting back to consulting The change in my personal life of having a son prompted me to
4112018 March Professional Independent Communicators (PIC) Buzz
httpsmailchimp164dfc909335professional-independent-communicators-pic-buzz-march-2018-344293 45
make the move in 2017 What type of work are you doing now Having led communications teams that are severely undershyresourced Irsquom positioning myself as the helpinghands needed for communications leaders to achieve their goals I really enjoy and do a lot of writing and editingfrom social media to articles press releases reports and grant proposals Irsquom hoping to do more work that usesmy background in communications planning and strategic planning What do you enjoy most about being an independent I enjoy the flexibility I also like the variety of working for different clients in different industries on different typesof work When yoursquore working in one organization itrsquos easy to get caught up in whatrsquos happening in that field orindustry Another thing I like as an independent you can separate yourself a bit from workplace politics What donrsquot you like about being an indie The insecurity especially in the early stages and the split between doing the work and doing the networking andpitching to keep enough work in the funnel Ed Gandiarsquos article recently posted to the PIC Facebook group was ahelpful reminder about how to keep business momentum Even when you have a couple of solid clients youcanrsquot stop You always have to think of whatrsquos next What advice would you give someone new to independent life The same thing I remind myself it takes time to establish yourself and build a client roster Embrace the fact thatyou need to borrow a little or cut into your savings to make it happen Give it time How long have you been a PIC member and what value do you get from your membership Irsquove been a member of IABC since the early 2000s The job board has been helpful as I planned changes in mycareer or to see some of the roles and responsibilities for writing job descriptions for my own teams And theinternational conferences are extremely helpful a great place to learn new ways of thinking and great fornetworking Irsquove been a member of PIC since 2012 and itrsquos a great group of likeshyminded people who are facing many of thesame challenges Itrsquos a place to feel safe to ask questions and get help as yoursquore setting your business up andkeeping it going We count more than 100 members in PIC offering a range of talent from coaching and media relations to videoproduction and writing Do you know everyone Our PIC Personalities feature introduces new members andrandomly profiles existing members Let Sue Horner know if youd like to be profiled and shell be in touch to setit up
Have your say in the new CommunicatorAn eshynewsletter version of IABCTorontorsquos Communicator launched in March Whether you are an experiencedprofessional or a recent graduate get yourself heard by contributing to these upcoming issues
May (writing deadline April 9) Gearing to Communicate in the 2020s As the world continues to evolve politically socially economically and technologically it also affects theworld of communications What are these effects and how should we equip ourselves now for thechanges ahead This issue will invite contributors to gaze into our crystal ballsJuly (writing deadline June 8) The Communications lsquoNewcomer to Canadarsquo Special Toronto is home to a multitude of skilled newcomers from all over the world Often their path tointegration into the local job market is not easy The issue will take a frank look at the challenges thatcommunications newcomers face and offer practical advice on what they can do to ease their transitioninto the local industry
Email your contributions to editor Jess Baria
See you on social media Build and strengthen your connections with other PIC members advance your communications businessdiscuss business issues and network with PIC on social media
Follow us on Twitter at pictoronto Take part in our LinkedIn group IABC Toronto Professional Independent Communicators(login required)Take part in our Facebook group (chapter members only) Professional Independent Communicators(PIC) part of IABCToronto
Recent posts have discussed how to manage client expectations handle rejection chose a niche and more Youare welcome to post articles or ask questions that will help you and other members grow and manage yourbusinesses
Is your profile on the PIC member list As a member of PIC you can promote yourself at no charge on the PIC member list on the IABCTorontowebsite We keep a running list of changes (such as new contact information or links to your LinkedIn profile orwebsite) and update it with IABCToronto every quarter Not on the list yet Send Melika Ramkissoon your name company name location email address telephonenumber website URL and a brief description of your business (up to 40 words) The next deadline to submit aprofile or make changes to your existing profile is March 30
Get your copy of The Independent Life PIC has a wonderful resource in our eshybook The Independent Life It shares the wisdom of PIC members with
4112018 March Professional Independent Communicators (PIC) Buzz
httpsmailchimp164dfc909335professional-independent-communicators-pic-buzz-march-2018-344293 55
online resources to guide you through the steps in starting your ownbusiness setting up your office managing your finances setting feesmarketing and more Our thanks to graphic designer Cathy Ledden RGD for turning thecontent provided by many PIC members into a handy guide Grab yourcopy as a PDF download or as an eshypublication for Kobo or iReader
PIC is a special interest group of IABCToronto PICs mission is to support independent IABCTorontocommunicators through professional development networking and marketingThe Buzz is PICs eshynewsletterintended to inform independent communicators about our activities share professional development tips frompast meetings and keep us aware of whats going on Connect with us on the web at pictorontocom andLinkedIn As the largest chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators IABCToronto providesaccess to products services activities and networking opportunities in Toronto and around the world IABC helpspeople and organizations achieve excellence in corporate communication public relations employeecommunication marketing communication public affairs and other forms of communication For moreinformation visit the IABC website
Sue Horner Editor and Director Communications mdash PIC
Copyright copy 2018 IABCToronto All rights reserved
Want to change how you receive these emails You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list
4112018 March Professional Independent Communicators (PIC) Buzz
httpsmailchimp164dfc909335professional-independent-communicators-pic-buzz-march-2018-344293 25
Tuesday April 3 630 pm to 9 pm Blue and Gold Room 3rd floor Mattamy Athletic Centre 50 Carlton St Toronto
The video landscape is evolving Your audiences live in a digital world whether theyrsquore employees prospects orpartners They have shorter attention spans and theyrsquove grown to expect choice and interactivity to drive morevalue out of the content they choose to consume Although video can be effective itrsquos typically a passive experience for the audience In todayrsquos digitalshyfirst worlditrsquos about empowering the audience to actively control the content and providing communication professionalswith rich analytics to help make informed decisions Elevate your video game with the latest strategies and tools in this session with Cyrus Mavalwala ABCResearch best practices and stories from the trenches of corporate video production will give attendees richinsights into
The challenges with traditional linear videoWhat the evolving video landscape means for communicatorsWhich video technologies you need to start integrating today to elevate your content game
For a preview of his talk listen to his conversation with past PIC chair Donna Papacosta Cyrus is an awardshywinning communication strategist and trainer who has been helpingorganizations achieve their business objectives for over 20 years After leading teams atglobal agencies Cyrus founded Advantis Communications a digital communication agencythat delivers measurable value by integrating traditional video and social strategies Registration and networking 630 pm to 7 pm Presentation and QampA 7 pm to 830 pm Postshyevent networking 830 pm to 9 pm Registration fees $15 IABCToronto member rate $25 Nonshymember rate This event counts towards professional development credits to maintain the IABC Communications ManagementProfessionals (CMP) or Strategic Communications Management Professionals (SCMP) certification Learn moreabout these certifications here
March 15 Words words and more words
Sue Horner is the spellebrity from PICrsquos spirited Spelling Bee(r) on March 15 taking home an ndigo gift card
4112018 March Professional Independent Communicators (PIC) Buzz
httpsmailchimp164dfc909335professional-independent-communicators-pic-buzz-march-2018-344293 35
Joining her as last spellers standing were PIC members Melika Ramkissoon and Sue Bowness (at far left) andguest Joan Janes (beside Sue H) seen here with Jennifer Arnott and Sharon Aschaiek The last four wordsspelled were ostentatious juvenescent detriment and tantalize
Whatrsquos PESOBy Sue Horner
During last monthrsquos webinar with Gini Dietrich founder and CEO of Arment Dietrich participants asked aboutPESO Gini developed and championed the PESO modelmdashwhich stands for paid earned shared and ownedmediamdashas a framework for how PR and communications professionals should think about PR People used to ldquomeasurerdquo PR by counting media impressions and advertising equivalencies PESO goes beyondthis to allow insights into what types of content work best and allows for tracking testing and improving resultsfor future campaigns ldquoThe PESO model takes the four media typesmdashpaid earned shared and ownedmdashand merges them togetherrdquoGini says in her SpinSucks blog ldquoYoursquoll use shared media to distribute [your content] paid media to amplify itand earned media to rubbershystamp itrdquo Herersquos a quick look at how PESO works
Paid media Use paid and promoted content (such as sponsored tweets and Facebook posts) to capture leads and reachcustomers or followers Paid media supports earned owned and shared media resulting in higher quality leadsand a shortened purchase cycle Earned media Build relationships that result in getting bloggers journalists customers and others to talk about your businessproduct or service This helps you be seen by Google as an expert Shared (social) media Distribute your own blog posts videos images and other content on Facebook Twitter LinkedIn YouTube andother social media outlets to drive leads back to your site Owned media (start here) House your informative and engaging stories reviews videos podcasts and other content on your own blog orwebsite You control the message and tell your own story This material pulls consumers towards you organically ldquoWhen the PESO model is working at its best it can help you establish authorityrdquo Gini says Learn more about where to start with PESO and how to use it in your business on Ginirsquos blog and in her post tothe Public Relations Society of Americarsquos Content Connection hub
PIC Personality Meet Betsy ChalyBy Sue Horner Betsy Chaly is a communications and marketing professional Her business calledTableau finds the best way to tell the clientrsquos story Reach her by email or connecton LinkedIn Whatrsquos your background I have a BSc and BA from Queenrsquos University and an MBA from the University ofNew Brunswick and have worked in communications and marketing for variouscompanies for almost 20 years I was fortunate to start my career in a largecompany (Bell) and that allowed me to try a bit of everything and hone my skillsIrsquove also headed marketing and communications departments for nonshyprofit and forshyprofit organizations When did you launch your independent business and how did it come about I tried my hand at consulting in 2012 and really enjoyed it After about a year and a half the opportunity came upto work with Indspire a national charity that raises funds to deliver programs and tools to support Indigenouspeople as they strive to complete their education It was a good learning opportunity and a chance to gainexperience on the charity side with an Indigenousshyled organization But I had thought of getting back to consulting The change in my personal life of having a son prompted me to
4112018 March Professional Independent Communicators (PIC) Buzz
httpsmailchimp164dfc909335professional-independent-communicators-pic-buzz-march-2018-344293 45
make the move in 2017 What type of work are you doing now Having led communications teams that are severely undershyresourced Irsquom positioning myself as the helpinghands needed for communications leaders to achieve their goals I really enjoy and do a lot of writing and editingfrom social media to articles press releases reports and grant proposals Irsquom hoping to do more work that usesmy background in communications planning and strategic planning What do you enjoy most about being an independent I enjoy the flexibility I also like the variety of working for different clients in different industries on different typesof work When yoursquore working in one organization itrsquos easy to get caught up in whatrsquos happening in that field orindustry Another thing I like as an independent you can separate yourself a bit from workplace politics What donrsquot you like about being an indie The insecurity especially in the early stages and the split between doing the work and doing the networking andpitching to keep enough work in the funnel Ed Gandiarsquos article recently posted to the PIC Facebook group was ahelpful reminder about how to keep business momentum Even when you have a couple of solid clients youcanrsquot stop You always have to think of whatrsquos next What advice would you give someone new to independent life The same thing I remind myself it takes time to establish yourself and build a client roster Embrace the fact thatyou need to borrow a little or cut into your savings to make it happen Give it time How long have you been a PIC member and what value do you get from your membership Irsquove been a member of IABC since the early 2000s The job board has been helpful as I planned changes in mycareer or to see some of the roles and responsibilities for writing job descriptions for my own teams And theinternational conferences are extremely helpful a great place to learn new ways of thinking and great fornetworking Irsquove been a member of PIC since 2012 and itrsquos a great group of likeshyminded people who are facing many of thesame challenges Itrsquos a place to feel safe to ask questions and get help as yoursquore setting your business up andkeeping it going We count more than 100 members in PIC offering a range of talent from coaching and media relations to videoproduction and writing Do you know everyone Our PIC Personalities feature introduces new members andrandomly profiles existing members Let Sue Horner know if youd like to be profiled and shell be in touch to setit up
Have your say in the new CommunicatorAn eshynewsletter version of IABCTorontorsquos Communicator launched in March Whether you are an experiencedprofessional or a recent graduate get yourself heard by contributing to these upcoming issues
May (writing deadline April 9) Gearing to Communicate in the 2020s As the world continues to evolve politically socially economically and technologically it also affects theworld of communications What are these effects and how should we equip ourselves now for thechanges ahead This issue will invite contributors to gaze into our crystal ballsJuly (writing deadline June 8) The Communications lsquoNewcomer to Canadarsquo Special Toronto is home to a multitude of skilled newcomers from all over the world Often their path tointegration into the local job market is not easy The issue will take a frank look at the challenges thatcommunications newcomers face and offer practical advice on what they can do to ease their transitioninto the local industry
Email your contributions to editor Jess Baria
See you on social media Build and strengthen your connections with other PIC members advance your communications businessdiscuss business issues and network with PIC on social media
Follow us on Twitter at pictoronto Take part in our LinkedIn group IABC Toronto Professional Independent Communicators(login required)Take part in our Facebook group (chapter members only) Professional Independent Communicators(PIC) part of IABCToronto
Recent posts have discussed how to manage client expectations handle rejection chose a niche and more Youare welcome to post articles or ask questions that will help you and other members grow and manage yourbusinesses
Is your profile on the PIC member list As a member of PIC you can promote yourself at no charge on the PIC member list on the IABCTorontowebsite We keep a running list of changes (such as new contact information or links to your LinkedIn profile orwebsite) and update it with IABCToronto every quarter Not on the list yet Send Melika Ramkissoon your name company name location email address telephonenumber website URL and a brief description of your business (up to 40 words) The next deadline to submit aprofile or make changes to your existing profile is March 30
Get your copy of The Independent Life PIC has a wonderful resource in our eshybook The Independent Life It shares the wisdom of PIC members with
4112018 March Professional Independent Communicators (PIC) Buzz
httpsmailchimp164dfc909335professional-independent-communicators-pic-buzz-march-2018-344293 55
online resources to guide you through the steps in starting your ownbusiness setting up your office managing your finances setting feesmarketing and more Our thanks to graphic designer Cathy Ledden RGD for turning thecontent provided by many PIC members into a handy guide Grab yourcopy as a PDF download or as an eshypublication for Kobo or iReader
PIC is a special interest group of IABCToronto PICs mission is to support independent IABCTorontocommunicators through professional development networking and marketingThe Buzz is PICs eshynewsletterintended to inform independent communicators about our activities share professional development tips frompast meetings and keep us aware of whats going on Connect with us on the web at pictorontocom andLinkedIn As the largest chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators IABCToronto providesaccess to products services activities and networking opportunities in Toronto and around the world IABC helpspeople and organizations achieve excellence in corporate communication public relations employeecommunication marketing communication public affairs and other forms of communication For moreinformation visit the IABC website
Sue Horner Editor and Director Communications mdash PIC
Copyright copy 2018 IABCToronto All rights reserved
Want to change how you receive these emails You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list
4112018 March Professional Independent Communicators (PIC) Buzz
httpsmailchimp164dfc909335professional-independent-communicators-pic-buzz-march-2018-344293 35
Joining her as last spellers standing were PIC members Melika Ramkissoon and Sue Bowness (at far left) andguest Joan Janes (beside Sue H) seen here with Jennifer Arnott and Sharon Aschaiek The last four wordsspelled were ostentatious juvenescent detriment and tantalize
Whatrsquos PESOBy Sue Horner
During last monthrsquos webinar with Gini Dietrich founder and CEO of Arment Dietrich participants asked aboutPESO Gini developed and championed the PESO modelmdashwhich stands for paid earned shared and ownedmediamdashas a framework for how PR and communications professionals should think about PR People used to ldquomeasurerdquo PR by counting media impressions and advertising equivalencies PESO goes beyondthis to allow insights into what types of content work best and allows for tracking testing and improving resultsfor future campaigns ldquoThe PESO model takes the four media typesmdashpaid earned shared and ownedmdashand merges them togetherrdquoGini says in her SpinSucks blog ldquoYoursquoll use shared media to distribute [your content] paid media to amplify itand earned media to rubbershystamp itrdquo Herersquos a quick look at how PESO works
Paid media Use paid and promoted content (such as sponsored tweets and Facebook posts) to capture leads and reachcustomers or followers Paid media supports earned owned and shared media resulting in higher quality leadsand a shortened purchase cycle Earned media Build relationships that result in getting bloggers journalists customers and others to talk about your businessproduct or service This helps you be seen by Google as an expert Shared (social) media Distribute your own blog posts videos images and other content on Facebook Twitter LinkedIn YouTube andother social media outlets to drive leads back to your site Owned media (start here) House your informative and engaging stories reviews videos podcasts and other content on your own blog orwebsite You control the message and tell your own story This material pulls consumers towards you organically ldquoWhen the PESO model is working at its best it can help you establish authorityrdquo Gini says Learn more about where to start with PESO and how to use it in your business on Ginirsquos blog and in her post tothe Public Relations Society of Americarsquos Content Connection hub
PIC Personality Meet Betsy ChalyBy Sue Horner Betsy Chaly is a communications and marketing professional Her business calledTableau finds the best way to tell the clientrsquos story Reach her by email or connecton LinkedIn Whatrsquos your background I have a BSc and BA from Queenrsquos University and an MBA from the University ofNew Brunswick and have worked in communications and marketing for variouscompanies for almost 20 years I was fortunate to start my career in a largecompany (Bell) and that allowed me to try a bit of everything and hone my skillsIrsquove also headed marketing and communications departments for nonshyprofit and forshyprofit organizations When did you launch your independent business and how did it come about I tried my hand at consulting in 2012 and really enjoyed it After about a year and a half the opportunity came upto work with Indspire a national charity that raises funds to deliver programs and tools to support Indigenouspeople as they strive to complete their education It was a good learning opportunity and a chance to gainexperience on the charity side with an Indigenousshyled organization But I had thought of getting back to consulting The change in my personal life of having a son prompted me to
4112018 March Professional Independent Communicators (PIC) Buzz
httpsmailchimp164dfc909335professional-independent-communicators-pic-buzz-march-2018-344293 45
make the move in 2017 What type of work are you doing now Having led communications teams that are severely undershyresourced Irsquom positioning myself as the helpinghands needed for communications leaders to achieve their goals I really enjoy and do a lot of writing and editingfrom social media to articles press releases reports and grant proposals Irsquom hoping to do more work that usesmy background in communications planning and strategic planning What do you enjoy most about being an independent I enjoy the flexibility I also like the variety of working for different clients in different industries on different typesof work When yoursquore working in one organization itrsquos easy to get caught up in whatrsquos happening in that field orindustry Another thing I like as an independent you can separate yourself a bit from workplace politics What donrsquot you like about being an indie The insecurity especially in the early stages and the split between doing the work and doing the networking andpitching to keep enough work in the funnel Ed Gandiarsquos article recently posted to the PIC Facebook group was ahelpful reminder about how to keep business momentum Even when you have a couple of solid clients youcanrsquot stop You always have to think of whatrsquos next What advice would you give someone new to independent life The same thing I remind myself it takes time to establish yourself and build a client roster Embrace the fact thatyou need to borrow a little or cut into your savings to make it happen Give it time How long have you been a PIC member and what value do you get from your membership Irsquove been a member of IABC since the early 2000s The job board has been helpful as I planned changes in mycareer or to see some of the roles and responsibilities for writing job descriptions for my own teams And theinternational conferences are extremely helpful a great place to learn new ways of thinking and great fornetworking Irsquove been a member of PIC since 2012 and itrsquos a great group of likeshyminded people who are facing many of thesame challenges Itrsquos a place to feel safe to ask questions and get help as yoursquore setting your business up andkeeping it going We count more than 100 members in PIC offering a range of talent from coaching and media relations to videoproduction and writing Do you know everyone Our PIC Personalities feature introduces new members andrandomly profiles existing members Let Sue Horner know if youd like to be profiled and shell be in touch to setit up
Have your say in the new CommunicatorAn eshynewsletter version of IABCTorontorsquos Communicator launched in March Whether you are an experiencedprofessional or a recent graduate get yourself heard by contributing to these upcoming issues
May (writing deadline April 9) Gearing to Communicate in the 2020s As the world continues to evolve politically socially economically and technologically it also affects theworld of communications What are these effects and how should we equip ourselves now for thechanges ahead This issue will invite contributors to gaze into our crystal ballsJuly (writing deadline June 8) The Communications lsquoNewcomer to Canadarsquo Special Toronto is home to a multitude of skilled newcomers from all over the world Often their path tointegration into the local job market is not easy The issue will take a frank look at the challenges thatcommunications newcomers face and offer practical advice on what they can do to ease their transitioninto the local industry
Email your contributions to editor Jess Baria
See you on social media Build and strengthen your connections with other PIC members advance your communications businessdiscuss business issues and network with PIC on social media
Follow us on Twitter at pictoronto Take part in our LinkedIn group IABC Toronto Professional Independent Communicators(login required)Take part in our Facebook group (chapter members only) Professional Independent Communicators(PIC) part of IABCToronto
Recent posts have discussed how to manage client expectations handle rejection chose a niche and more Youare welcome to post articles or ask questions that will help you and other members grow and manage yourbusinesses
Is your profile on the PIC member list As a member of PIC you can promote yourself at no charge on the PIC member list on the IABCTorontowebsite We keep a running list of changes (such as new contact information or links to your LinkedIn profile orwebsite) and update it with IABCToronto every quarter Not on the list yet Send Melika Ramkissoon your name company name location email address telephonenumber website URL and a brief description of your business (up to 40 words) The next deadline to submit aprofile or make changes to your existing profile is March 30
Get your copy of The Independent Life PIC has a wonderful resource in our eshybook The Independent Life It shares the wisdom of PIC members with
4112018 March Professional Independent Communicators (PIC) Buzz
httpsmailchimp164dfc909335professional-independent-communicators-pic-buzz-march-2018-344293 55
online resources to guide you through the steps in starting your ownbusiness setting up your office managing your finances setting feesmarketing and more Our thanks to graphic designer Cathy Ledden RGD for turning thecontent provided by many PIC members into a handy guide Grab yourcopy as a PDF download or as an eshypublication for Kobo or iReader
PIC is a special interest group of IABCToronto PICs mission is to support independent IABCTorontocommunicators through professional development networking and marketingThe Buzz is PICs eshynewsletterintended to inform independent communicators about our activities share professional development tips frompast meetings and keep us aware of whats going on Connect with us on the web at pictorontocom andLinkedIn As the largest chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators IABCToronto providesaccess to products services activities and networking opportunities in Toronto and around the world IABC helpspeople and organizations achieve excellence in corporate communication public relations employeecommunication marketing communication public affairs and other forms of communication For moreinformation visit the IABC website
Sue Horner Editor and Director Communications mdash PIC
Copyright copy 2018 IABCToronto All rights reserved
Want to change how you receive these emails You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list
4112018 March Professional Independent Communicators (PIC) Buzz
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make the move in 2017 What type of work are you doing now Having led communications teams that are severely undershyresourced Irsquom positioning myself as the helpinghands needed for communications leaders to achieve their goals I really enjoy and do a lot of writing and editingfrom social media to articles press releases reports and grant proposals Irsquom hoping to do more work that usesmy background in communications planning and strategic planning What do you enjoy most about being an independent I enjoy the flexibility I also like the variety of working for different clients in different industries on different typesof work When yoursquore working in one organization itrsquos easy to get caught up in whatrsquos happening in that field orindustry Another thing I like as an independent you can separate yourself a bit from workplace politics What donrsquot you like about being an indie The insecurity especially in the early stages and the split between doing the work and doing the networking andpitching to keep enough work in the funnel Ed Gandiarsquos article recently posted to the PIC Facebook group was ahelpful reminder about how to keep business momentum Even when you have a couple of solid clients youcanrsquot stop You always have to think of whatrsquos next What advice would you give someone new to independent life The same thing I remind myself it takes time to establish yourself and build a client roster Embrace the fact thatyou need to borrow a little or cut into your savings to make it happen Give it time How long have you been a PIC member and what value do you get from your membership Irsquove been a member of IABC since the early 2000s The job board has been helpful as I planned changes in mycareer or to see some of the roles and responsibilities for writing job descriptions for my own teams And theinternational conferences are extremely helpful a great place to learn new ways of thinking and great fornetworking Irsquove been a member of PIC since 2012 and itrsquos a great group of likeshyminded people who are facing many of thesame challenges Itrsquos a place to feel safe to ask questions and get help as yoursquore setting your business up andkeeping it going We count more than 100 members in PIC offering a range of talent from coaching and media relations to videoproduction and writing Do you know everyone Our PIC Personalities feature introduces new members andrandomly profiles existing members Let Sue Horner know if youd like to be profiled and shell be in touch to setit up
Have your say in the new CommunicatorAn eshynewsletter version of IABCTorontorsquos Communicator launched in March Whether you are an experiencedprofessional or a recent graduate get yourself heard by contributing to these upcoming issues
May (writing deadline April 9) Gearing to Communicate in the 2020s As the world continues to evolve politically socially economically and technologically it also affects theworld of communications What are these effects and how should we equip ourselves now for thechanges ahead This issue will invite contributors to gaze into our crystal ballsJuly (writing deadline June 8) The Communications lsquoNewcomer to Canadarsquo Special Toronto is home to a multitude of skilled newcomers from all over the world Often their path tointegration into the local job market is not easy The issue will take a frank look at the challenges thatcommunications newcomers face and offer practical advice on what they can do to ease their transitioninto the local industry
Email your contributions to editor Jess Baria
See you on social media Build and strengthen your connections with other PIC members advance your communications businessdiscuss business issues and network with PIC on social media
Follow us on Twitter at pictoronto Take part in our LinkedIn group IABC Toronto Professional Independent Communicators(login required)Take part in our Facebook group (chapter members only) Professional Independent Communicators(PIC) part of IABCToronto
Recent posts have discussed how to manage client expectations handle rejection chose a niche and more Youare welcome to post articles or ask questions that will help you and other members grow and manage yourbusinesses
Is your profile on the PIC member list As a member of PIC you can promote yourself at no charge on the PIC member list on the IABCTorontowebsite We keep a running list of changes (such as new contact information or links to your LinkedIn profile orwebsite) and update it with IABCToronto every quarter Not on the list yet Send Melika Ramkissoon your name company name location email address telephonenumber website URL and a brief description of your business (up to 40 words) The next deadline to submit aprofile or make changes to your existing profile is March 30
Get your copy of The Independent Life PIC has a wonderful resource in our eshybook The Independent Life It shares the wisdom of PIC members with
4112018 March Professional Independent Communicators (PIC) Buzz
httpsmailchimp164dfc909335professional-independent-communicators-pic-buzz-march-2018-344293 55
online resources to guide you through the steps in starting your ownbusiness setting up your office managing your finances setting feesmarketing and more Our thanks to graphic designer Cathy Ledden RGD for turning thecontent provided by many PIC members into a handy guide Grab yourcopy as a PDF download or as an eshypublication for Kobo or iReader
PIC is a special interest group of IABCToronto PICs mission is to support independent IABCTorontocommunicators through professional development networking and marketingThe Buzz is PICs eshynewsletterintended to inform independent communicators about our activities share professional development tips frompast meetings and keep us aware of whats going on Connect with us on the web at pictorontocom andLinkedIn As the largest chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators IABCToronto providesaccess to products services activities and networking opportunities in Toronto and around the world IABC helpspeople and organizations achieve excellence in corporate communication public relations employeecommunication marketing communication public affairs and other forms of communication For moreinformation visit the IABC website
Sue Horner Editor and Director Communications mdash PIC
Copyright copy 2018 IABCToronto All rights reserved
Want to change how you receive these emails You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list
4112018 March Professional Independent Communicators (PIC) Buzz
httpsmailchimp164dfc909335professional-independent-communicators-pic-buzz-march-2018-344293 55
online resources to guide you through the steps in starting your ownbusiness setting up your office managing your finances setting feesmarketing and more Our thanks to graphic designer Cathy Ledden RGD for turning thecontent provided by many PIC members into a handy guide Grab yourcopy as a PDF download or as an eshypublication for Kobo or iReader
PIC is a special interest group of IABCToronto PICs mission is to support independent IABCTorontocommunicators through professional development networking and marketingThe Buzz is PICs eshynewsletterintended to inform independent communicators about our activities share professional development tips frompast meetings and keep us aware of whats going on Connect with us on the web at pictorontocom andLinkedIn As the largest chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators IABCToronto providesaccess to products services activities and networking opportunities in Toronto and around the world IABC helpspeople and organizations achieve excellence in corporate communication public relations employeecommunication marketing communication public affairs and other forms of communication For moreinformation visit the IABC website
Sue Horner Editor and Director Communications mdash PIC
Copyright copy 2018 IABCToronto All rights reserved
Want to change how you receive these emails You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list
