Dear PPA Member,

The phrase, "The pen is mightier than the sword," needs to be updated for the 21st century. It's now the mighty keyboard.

Social media and online review sites can impact your business when unhappy clients decide to take their comments to the Internet rather than to you first. Sometimes, it's a misunderstanding that you didn't realize had occurred...or worse, a false statement from an anonymous poster. While we recognize that we can't make everyone happy, it's important to address those less than stellar comments made about you or your business. And you need to do so as a professional.

This week's Vital Signs discusses how to handle clients with "keyboard courage" (those who say things online rather than dealing with someone face to face) and the steps that you should follow to right any perceived wrongs.

Cheers!
Christel Aprigliano
Director of Member Value & Experience

Photographers stay informed and connected to local, state and regional organizations with newsletters, magazines or websites. But these publications don't produce themselves! All PPA Affiliate editors and webmasters are invited to participate in the 2011 Affiliate Communications Competition, which encourages excellence in affiliate publications and recognizes the individuals who spend their time and energy editing, designing and maintaining them. Entrants earn an achievement merit if their entry is accepted into the competition and an additional merit if they win.

Pass this news on, so the affiliate members who work hard to keep you informed get the recognition they deserve!

Entry forms and rules are available at the Competitions page on ppa.com, and it is free to enter. Entries must be received at PPA no later than Friday, February 25, 2011. If you have additional questions, please contact PPA at (800) 339-5451, ext. 226, or e-mail awijesinghe@ppa.com.

At age 88, Betty White ended up hosting Saturday Night Live because of Facebook.

Despite her decades of success, stellar comedic performances and the plain fact that she's just so adorable, she wasn't the "It Girl" of 2010 until a Facebook campaign to get her on SNL made it so. In her opening monologue, she thanked her Facebook fans with her tongue firmly implanted in her cheek: "I really have to thank Facebook...I didn't know what Facebook was, and now that I do know what it is, I have to say that it sounds like a huge waste of time."

Well, for some, it may be a huge waste of time. (Need I name the game "Farmville"?)

But for some smart photographers (or their smart staff), it's a great way to connect with clients and potential clients while providing a new marketing avenue. Like any technology, there's a learning curve. So pay attention to this week's Vital Signs, for it brings up some important questions to consider as you navigate this crowded section of the information highway.

Afterwards, if you haven't already, jump on Facebook. Be a fan of Imaging USA. Be a fan of Professional Photographers of America. Connect with other photographers. Connect with your clients. (Just stay away from Farmville...trust me.)

Cheers!
Christel Aprigliano
Director of Member Value & Experience

Dear PPA Member,

Who inspires you? How can you inspire others? I think it starts by sharing what you know. In fact, I bet that many of the speakers you consider most compelling didn't start their careers by saying, "I want to be a great speaker!" But I believe that they all said, "I want to share what I know with others."

So how do you start sharing your knowledge with others?

Well, the Beatles didn't begin by playing at Shea Stadium. They began with small gigs in Liverpool and Hamburg. They started small, but dreamed big. They practiced. Got better. Practiced some more. Got even better.

You may not want to play Shea Stadium, but if you want to be a great speaker, you need to start somewhere. This week's Vital Signs will give you some helpful tips on where to begin. Where will you end up? Well, Lennon and McCartney mentioned something about the long and winding road...

Cheers!
Christel Aprigliano
Director of Member Value & Experience

P.S. Have you ever wanted to accept a credit card payment while you're out of the studio? Midwest Transaction Group (MTG) is now offering mobile payment solutions, which allow you to accept swiped credit card transactions through your smart phone or mobile device! Learn more about the new service and the discounts you get as a PPA member!

Dear PPA Member,

This is the first Vital Signs of 2010...and what better way to ring in the new year than to talk about new ways to communicate with your clients? In a recent Vital Signs, I referenced my father's love of texting. In addition to texting, my father's social media resume also includes a Facebook page and a Twitter account. I make this point to show the incredible reach you can achieve by expanding the way you communicate.

In case you've missed the past month or two of Vital Signs, online communications and social media have exploded as ways for companies to interact with their clients. It's becoming more and more common for the general population to utilize these resources (see above paragraph for reference). By taking advantage of these tools, you not only communicate more effectively and reach more people, but you also save money in the process--how can you turn that down? Read this week's Vital Signs here.

Cheers!
Christel Aprigliano
Director of Member Value & Experience