PRChannel has passed the 1,000 follower mark on Twitter!  We joined mainly as another way to stay up-to-date on current PR related news and topics, but have since found a range of other great uses as well.

We use it to share ideas and thoughts that don’t quite make it into full-fledged blog posts, we tweet PR related news items that happen to catch our eye, we give ’shout outs’ to new companies that sign up for the directory (that now reach over 1,000 people), occasionally do a bit of self-promotion and, probably most importantly, we use Twitter to interact and network with others in the public relations industry.  We don’t tweet every 2 minutes (not even every day), and it’s always meant to be of real use to someone.

Thanks for following! (If you aren’t yet that’s OK…follow @PRChannel here!)

Impact – Ken McArthur - “Some people spread a simple message that is so compelling that their voice is not solo for long. People rally around their message and spread it like wildfire.” This one is all about how to make an impact in a crowded marketplace.  The book is very easy to follow with step-by-step lists and bullet points, but with relevant stories thrown into the mix as well.  With an emphasis on online marketing the book is more practical than conceptual…which is why it’s on our list.

How to Win Friends and Influence People – Dale Carnegie – “This grandfather of all people-skills books was first published in 1937. It was an overnight hit, eventually selling 15 million copies.” This one is a classic and it’s been called the PR person’s bible by more than a few.  The techniques and strategies presented in the book are just as relevant today as they were more than 70 years ago.  Stop what you are doing right now and go read it.

Can We Do That?! – Peter Shankman – “What would you do to get your business noticed?” A funny, insightful look at some of the more ridiculous PR campaigns of the past and why they worked or didn’t.  If you are looking for a How-to book, move on – it’s not this one.  But the book is entertaining to read and can motivate you to get creative and develop inspired ideas of your own.

The New Rules of Marketing & PR – David Meerman Scott – “This excellent look at the basics of new-millennial marketing should find use in the hands of any serious PR professional making the transition.” Out with the old, in with the new.  New Rules focuses on how PR has changed with the advent of online marketing, blogging and social media.  It’s a great overview of new terms and strategies that will bring everyone up to speed in terms of PR online.

Writing Effective News Releases – Catherine McIntyre – “Would you like to have your business featured in hundreds of newspapers and magazines, and on radio and television stations around the country?” Catherine McIntyre provides practical advice and step-by-step guides to writing releases that will get you placed.  There are also plenty of real examples to learn from – all in all a must read guide.

Guerrilla PR – Michael Levine – “The manifesto for waging a street-smart publicity campaign with no- or low-cost strategies from one of Hollywood’s most successful publicists. “ This one is an oldie, but goodie.  It covers all the basics (except Internet – which wasn’t a factor when the book was written in 1993).  The conversational style and logical organization make it a great reference, but the witty advice and real-life examples and stories is what makes this a must read.

Did we miss your favorite?  Let us know in the comments…

“I’ve talked with many recent grads throughout the interview process. Many are missing solid and relevant writing samples for the position they are applying for – but not having gotten your first job yet should not be a excuse. Rather, grads need to find a way to use and sharpen their writing skills. They could volunteer to write news releases or even offer to write or produce an entire website for a local nonprofit. Or they could help a friend or relative get the word out about their business. The idea is to simultaneously grow your portfolio and find a great first job.” ~ Rachel Hunt DPR Group

“Stay current! The media landscape and consumer behaviors are rapidly changing so I always look for applicants who are up-to-date on the latest media news, familiar with the newest media outlets (both online and offline) and understand what consumers are reading, watching and talking about.  My clients are very diverse but they all value us for being ahead of the curve with our expertise and so I look for people that can bring that same mind set to the team when I am hiring. Let potential employers know that even as a recent grad you bring value to the table as someone in the know and on top of trends. I personally subscribe to a large number of daily newsletters, alerts and feeds to stay on top and recommend it highly as way to ensure you’re always in the loop. “Embrace Digital! The digital media space is expanding by leaps and bounds and any recent grad will surely be spending a huge amount of their career working with digital so it is essential to get involved and get confident early on. With all of our clients we make sure digital is a part of the media-mix and with many we execute digital tactics that go well beyond the traditional digital campaign. An ideal candidate for me is someone who sees the value in digital and is willing to constantly learn, try new things and grow in their expertise. If you haven’t had the opportunity to work directly in digital yet there are excellent case studies, seminars, resources and information online to learn from – and the great thing about digital is that it is changing and evolving everyday and there are no hard and fast rules. I think recent grads actually have many advantages over more senior folks in PR because the industry is changing so much right now. They bring fresh perspective to traditional media and, more often than not, they have an innate knowledge and willingness to learn in digital media. Additionally, success is no longer guaranteed by how big someone’s rolodex of contacts is so recent grads have the opportunity to jump into a more level playing field to make new connections and possibly change the game for all of us! In the past 6 months I’ve interviewed and met numerous recent grads, hired several of them and watched them absolutely kill it for our clients with their hard work, fantastic ideas and willingness to always learn, try and grow.” ~Victoria Shaw VP, Integrated Public Relations | AMP Agency

The public relations professionals we reached out to also gave us several resources that grads can take advantage of during a job hunt:

PR Open Mic – An ad-free and nonprofit social network for PR students, faculty and practitioners worldwide. Kristin Maverick, Director of Communications at CarrotCreative says “It’s easy and free to join, they host events and offer a platform to promote yourself and your skills.” She also pointed us to Path101, a career discovery destination that offers an advice column to connect with PR pros and experts that answer questions directly.

Also check out the IABC Student Connection, specifically the article Adventures of a New PR Professional by Rebecca Armendariz, and Ned Lundquist’s weekly newsletter featuring jobs for communications professionals.

If all the advice we stock-piled still isn’t enough for you check out these blog posts from various PR pros:

What Young PR Pros can do NOW to Help Their Job Search – from Angela Moore of Starfish PR
10 Places to Find Jobs on Twitter – from Drew Gneiser via the Daily Axioms Blog
5 Tactics to Land a Job Using Social Media (Plus Tips to Do it Right) – from Kelly Rusk’s Web2.What?
Advice For Graduating College Students – from Amybeth Hale
Landing a Great Job – Tips for Success – from Vojtech Horna’s Blog CzechPR

First up is Online-pr, a great site with lots of information on making your PR campaigns better and less expensive.  Someone also suggested Manta.com, a great way to gather background information on both private and public companies online.

Last up for this set of additions is AdHat, where you can enter a keyword, brand name or agency to find appropriate promotional campaigns on display. Great for inspiration and brainstorming!

We’ve had a great response to the PR Dashboard so far, and we’ll post new additions here from time to time, but we can’t list them all so make sure to check back often.  And keep sending in suggestions…