In Defense of Public Relations

Taking a page from People magazine’s annual list of sexy men, I decided to create a list of the hottest PR chicks based on their pics on Twitter.

This list is based solely on my honest opinion/personal taste, a totally unscientific formula. I hope you understand that this is all in good natured fun so DON’T TAKE IT SERIOUSLY!  If you feel there are others who should be on this list,  all you have to do is submit her twitter handle in the comments section.  The only requirement is that she must work in PR.

To the lovely ladies on this list, please DM or email me if you’d like to be removed, and I promise I will.  I am not a douche bag though I’ve been called that at least once in the past.  For the record, I have the highest respect for the women on this list. They have been carefully chosen for both their sizzle level and PR accomplishments.

This is my #followfriday for today so feel free to follow the ladies whose names grace this list (unless you’re a stalker).  List not in any order:

@rachelakay — Rachel Kay is aka as the queen of PR. I gave her this title when she showed @prcog and I her power over her twitter subjects (okay followers) when she honored us with a #followfriday.  Her majesty’s majestic looks makes men bow.

@amandasena — Don’t mess with Amanda Sena, she’s an Army vet who can kick a$$. Don’t say anything bad about the Mizzou Tigers.

@nataliekeiko — A loyal subject of her majesty, Rachel Kay, Natalie is a woman of many hobbies (just check her profile). Makes me wonder if there is an attractiveness requirement at RKPR.

@jessisjuicy — The youngest of the bunch. Jess showed her creative genius when she suggested the 1st masked tweetup in NYC #masquertweet.

@prsarahevans — Sarah has the largest number of Twitter followers among this group.  She single-handedly put Elgin Community College on the map.

@afashionista — A golfer and fan of Big East basketball, need I say more? Oh yes, Alexis is a West Virgina Mountaineer fan.

@luxuryprgal — Her twitter handle definitely captures her personality. Christine does luxury PR and does it well. And the fact that she does PR for the Club at PGA West has nothing to do with her being named on this list. (Still angling for that comp. round)

@stephaniewebb — Don’t know much about Stephanie except that her toe must be aching. Her sideview profile was enough to get her on this list.

@melissapr — She’s created a demand for ZooLoo.com even if no one knows what it is except for her. Melissa said I was wrong when I asked if ZooLoo was what the Brits call the bathrooms at their zoos.

@PR_Couture — The only one on the list who is not a person, but if you visit their site, you’ll know why it belongs on this list. Founded by fashion hottie Crosby Noricks.

Next week, it’ll be a list of the PR dudes with the smoothest moves (on Twitter). I will not be on the list due to conflict of interest. If you’re a PR dude and think you should be on the list, pitch me at prdude@indefenseofpr.com.  Stay tuned.

When I read Don Bartholomew’s post, “You Might Be a PR/Social Media Redneck If…,” I was filled with laughter, yet at the same time sadness, just because there are so many PR agencies out there, including the one I work for, that can’t seem to adapt to the changes in the industry.

There is fear and ignorance that seem to plague many PR firms to take the step in changing the way they measure PR programs.  PR pros are so good at talking the talk about using social media in PR, but many are clueless as to what it entails. Furthermore, they don’t know how to sell their social media ideas to clients.

Here’s hoping that PR firms, including my own, will begin to embrace new ways of measuring PR. (Thanks to C-Money for forwarding Don B.’s post.)

Who else can explain the difference between PR and publicity better than Seth Godin? Seth put in under 10 paragraphs, what I’d like to think a majority of PR pros including myself, have been trying to tell clients and PR firm bigwigs (you know who you are!).

I hope everyone in PR would send Seth’s post to everyone they know in PR. It may just stop the insanity!