Lara Kretler’s blog

PRogress not PRfection

Lara Kretler’s blog Columbus Ohio

About Lara Kretler

Professional bio
Lara Kretler, AVP and social media lead at Fahlgren Mortine Public Relations, is passionate about the strategic use of the social web. A career PR pro with both agency and corporate experience spanning more than 15 years, Lara brings over a decade of online community building and social media expertise to her public relations work. She is a frequent, lively and high-energy presenter about social web applications at regional conferences and meetings as well as business and community groups. She conducts regular social media training camps for Fahlgren clients and staff. Connect with Lara via LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook or her blog. You can also send an email to lara at larakretler.com.

A more personal approach
Sure, that’s all true, but there’s so much more. My Twitter profile dubs me AVP/social media lead at FMPR, lucky wife, devoted dog mama, liminal creature, world’s coolest aunt, and now new mom to be in 2010. That gets a bit closer to it. At my core, I’m all about striving for balance — between work and life, between my love for food and my love of fitness, between a craving to travel and a longing for home. I’m married to the most amazing guy ever who adores me, quirks and all. I was born and raised in NY to British parents and I choose to live in Ohio although my family now resides in Cali. I have seemingly incongruous hobbies like scrapbooking (don’t laugh – it’s my passion) and motorcycling. And really, all that’s about to change in March as we welcome our baby girl, Zoe Bellatrix, to the world.

So what’s the blog about?
All this and more. It’s one PR professional’s deep dive into exploration, experimentation and execution in the world of social media, Web 2.0 and beyond. I also love travel and food, so I do blog about those topics from time to time. And, as of January 2010, I’m also incorporating a bit of “mommyblog” content into this forum as I embrace my new roles as later-in-life pregnant chick and cool mom.

Press, videos and buzz
Although PR folks like me are usually found behind the scenes when it comes to media and blog coverage, once in a while we do make it into the news ourselves. I’m no Peter Shankman, but here are a few recent highlights:

Photography

Whenever possible, I use my own photographs on this blog. All of my rotating banner photos were taken in the great state of Ohio – mostly in and around Columbus and nearby attractions. You may have noticed the shots that look as if they were taken on an African safari? Those were taken at one of my favorite places in Ohio, The Wilds. Just a 90 minute drive from Columbus, yet you feel as though you’ve gone on an exotic adventure. Huge thanks to my killer blog administrator, aka my better half, for randomizing the photos and making this blog so cool.

12 Comments

12 responses so far ↓

  • 1 Glenn Gutierrez // Sep 28, 2008 at 11:50 pm

    My name is Glenn Gutierrez and I’m a full time student and entrepreneur working in my living room. I believe that you might be interested in PopScreen, a startup I’m running, because it’s a social media application that can help us share and discuss videos with our favorite people. I know I don’t know you, but if you have some free time I’d like to hear what you think about the idea or how it works when I release the beta at the end of the year. Feel free to contact me at my email addres, and if your interested I can alsochit chat on the phone. I also would appreciate any advice that you might have on marketing, considering your experience breadth of experience. By the way, I enjoyed your article on how you praised Delicious, which makes me more intrigued to determine whether my startup can meet your expectations. Thanks, and I hope to hear back from you soon.

    Regards,
    Glenn
    PopScreen

  • 2 larak // Oct 1, 2008 at 1:16 pm

    Glenn, thanks for visiting and glad you liked my post about Delicious. I will check out PopScreen. Be sure to save your URL to Delicious with accurate tags and a good description so others will find you that way!

  • 3 links for 2008-10-04 < Chris Abraham // Oct 4, 2008 at 3:00 pm

    [...] About Lara Kretler [...]

  • 4 Dannette // Nov 5, 2008 at 10:45 pm

    Lara, Thank you coming out today to the Dublin Rec Center…..WOW! Like I said I thought I was in the know! Your blog will be a wonderful addition to my network and when I figure out how I will try to boost those numbers for you.

    I LOVED the Art in the Park idea!!!
    Thanks again and I will be in touch Dannette

  • 5 larak // Dec 7, 2008 at 9:05 pm

    Thanks, Dannette – I really appreciate your enthusiasm and look forward to checking out your gallery next time I’m in Dublin.

  • 6 Sonya Higginbotham // Apr 22, 2009 at 3:06 pm

    Thanks for the insights today! Great PR tools that I’m anxious to put to work. Are you clearly the queen of social media!

  • 7 Gossip CBUS // May 18, 2009 at 3:33 pm

    Dear Everyone,

    This is just a quick reminder e-mail as you have not e-mailed me back concerning my request for your participation as a voter for the 2009 Gossip Awards, which will take place July 26 at the Frog Bear and Wild Boar. As a point of clarification, the voting process takes place prior to the awards. You do not have to be present at the awards, you can simply vote. I very much would value your participation. You were chosen either because of your position in this city and you follow us on twitter. 450 voters all told will be selected… 150 initial voters (you and others) will receive three ballots, one for themselves and two others for influentials (I can’t possibly know everyone who is important)… This will ensure a randomized and ultimately equal opportunity across every category.

    If you wish to accept this, please respond with a simple yes e-mail. If you cannot, please simply reply with that information as well. Also, if you cannot participate, but still wish to have your company represented, please respond with another individual’s information. Thank you so much.

  • 8 Lara K // May 18, 2009 at 6:37 pm

    Ugghh – I am leaving the comment immediately above this one as an example of a worst practice blog comment. Never leave a spamment like this on a blog! Gross. And for the record, I never got any email.

  • 9 Mitch // Jun 12, 2009 at 5:59 am

    Hi,

    I’m glad that I came across your blog, Lara Kretler’s blog at larakretler.com. You have some very useful and interesting posts there. I will put a link to your blog from my site, if this is okay with you.

    I help run a store called HiSunglasses.com; it’s not really a big one, but it’s getting there. Please have a look. If you could possibly place a small link of my site, that would be really great.

    Have a great day and hope to hear from you.

    Happy blogging,

    Mitch
    Hisunglasses.com

  • 10 Josh Patel // Jul 24, 2009 at 3:05 pm

    Hey, it will really be cool to have an application like that. I really wish i could share videos with my friend but can not in the end because most of the time my system hangs….lol

    Btw, I really like your blog so I submitted it to Viralogy.com. That will help more people discover it! If you want you can claim your blog at http://www.viralogy.com/blogs/my/720 which will also help your ranking. Hope you get more traffic through that!
    Anyway, I hope you have a great week and that you will be successful in every activity you engage in!

  • 11 Lara K // Jul 30, 2009 at 3:58 pm

    More great examples of spamments – see the two above from Josh and Mitch! Great examples of how not to comment. ;)

  • 12 courtney // Jun 18, 2010 at 11:18 am

    Lara! I have been wondering how you have been. I can’t believe you’re expecting! Congrats. We have so much to catch up on! Find me!

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