Social Impact

At Lilja Inc. we value “classic” communications tools and strategies, but that doesn’t mean we shun social media tools. The decision to use Facebook, Twitter or a blog in any campaign comes down to a simple question: will it get your message to the target audiences?

For Lilja Inc. client Educational Kits, Inc., Twitter did that and more.

Jill Berlin, a former educator and president of Educational Kits, Inc. is the creator of the Bee Ready Kindergarten Readiness Kit, which provides simple activities for parents to do with their children that lead to complex cognitive development, ultimately preparing them for kindergarten.

When we began working with Educational Kits, Inc., the company had an existing presence on the web, including a blog and Facebook page. As we got to know Jill, it became clear that her unique point of view on early childhood education was worthy of additional attention. We further developed her blog and launched a Twitter page to help push content to consumers and opinion leaders in education.

Just recently, the Bee Ready Kit was selected for the Pre-Emmy Awards Baby and Kids Suite, which showcases the newest and hottest in maternity, baby, and toddler products to Hollywood actors and actresses, with proceeds to benefit underprivileged children. Where did this opportunity come from?

The suite organizers found Educational Kits, Inc. through Twitter.

Now as we roll out our media campaign, we will continue to leverage the power of our social media strategy.

-- Alex

The Devil Is in the Details

I had an art teacher in high school who would walk around the room while we were painting and chant: "The DEVIL is in the details!"

It was his way of reminding us not to get caught up in any one part of our project. While it was a strange way to get his point across, I understand his sentiment. Filling 80 percent of your canvas will be easy, but the other 20 percent is where you'll spend most of your time, analyzing and reworking and agonizing over it. Maybe you'll even paint over something that was already perfect just as it was.

The same can be said of almost any PR endeavor. Eighty percent of a project will breeze by, but it's that 20 percent that'll getcha. You'll rewrite one sentence in a release ten times, or debate which reporter to call for an hour.

There's no grand solution to this problem other than to accept it and be on the lookout for it.

And it is this 20 percent that wakes us up at night wondering, "Did I do the right thing?" Or, as my art teacher might say, it's the Devil getting to you.

-- Alicia

A Family Breakfast

While I certainly can understand the draw of a beautiful sunrise, I must confess I prefer the sunsets. A morning person, I am not. So why on earth would I be excited about a breakfast meeting, starting as early as 6:30 a.m. on June 7^th?

Because this breakfast meeting is for MVNA – Minnesota Visiting Nurse Agency, one of our longstanding clients. MVNA sends nurses into people's homes, providing a safety net for those who are uninsured or underinsured.

This year, the MVNA "There's No Place Like Home" breakfast included touching stories from a nurse who works with teen mothers. We heard from the mother of a former hospice patient, and saw a video highlighting the work MVNA nurses do every day in people's homes. We also heard from MVNA's new CEO: Jen Van Liew, who introduced us to her family, and shared a bit about her first weeks at MVNA.

And this year, we brought our family to hear about MVNA's family! Special thanks to Alicia's mother and Mary's sister and sister-in-law for joining us to hear about the good work that MVNA does every day.

To learn more about this wonderful organization, visit mvna.org.

- Kadee Crottier