The holidays are upon us and so is the age-old question most people struggle with this time of year — real or fake? A Christmas tree that is!

Here at NST, we have a longstanding tradition of displaying a real Christmas tree each year. Our team gathers together to string the lights, decorate and take an annual office photo in front of the glowing tree. It’s a nice opportunity to unwind with each other and welcome the season.

But, we’re also a bit biased …

For the last six years, our agency has worked with the Pacific Northwest Christmas Tree Association, a group of more than 1,000 individual Christmas tree farms throughout Oregon and Washington. The association supplies more than 90 percent of the real trees purchased throughout the Southwest, and, as many of us in the public relations world know, you tend to become well versed in your client’s industry. We’re not the “official” real Christmas tree experts, but after spending a significant amount of time promoting real trees, we’ve learned a tip or two!

The NST Christmas tree is up, and our beautiful Douglas Fir is welcoming visitors in our lobby. We put together a short video recapping 2012 NST Christmas Tree Selection and decoration party, and also highlighted a few tips to help you select a fresh tree on the lot. Enjoy!

Nuffer, Smith, Tucker’s 2012 Christmas Tree from NSTPR on Vimeo.

We also asked the team to share photos of their personal real Christmas trees (and, in turn, received photos including adorable children and pets!).

What are your personal or professional real Christmas tree traditions? We’d love to hear them!

NST Trees:

Jessica Vasquez, her boyfriend Cody and their cat Bib are all smiles in front of their Noble Fir. “Bib loves it when we bring the tree in each year because she hides underneath and tries to grab you when you walk past,” says Jessica. 

The Trumpfheller family’s 9-foot Noble Fir follows tradition. Bill says that each ornament on the family tree has a story and “when we decorate we rehash the story of each to remind us of where we got it.” 

Bryan Spevak’s daughter Emme stands next to the real tree the Spevak family decorated this year along Loop 360 in Austin, Texas. It’s an annual tradition in Austin to decorate the “Christmas” trees, which are visible to drivers along the busy highway.

For Teresa Siles, selecting her real Christmas tree is an annual tradition. With her birthday in early December, Teresa heads to the tree lot with her parents in what has become an annual Christmas/birthday tradition to select the perfect Noble Fir. 

Rebecca Schmidt added some greenery to her home this year with a wreath made out of Nobile Fir branches. Santa Miggy approves!

Price Adams and her husband Brad selected a 6-foot Noble Fir tree this year, which is perfectly placed and waiting for admiration from Santa as he comes down the chimney.

Mark Olson’s dog Hank steals the show in front of the family Christmas tree. Bonus points for wrapped presents already under the tree!

Natalie Haack’s “Wee Tree” (as she says). It’s a tabletop Noble Fir and is the perfect size for her apartment.

Besides the Timeline’s obvious two-column feature that pulls in content chronologically from the left and then the right, there are a few new features to be aware of in regards to where a brand’s content now lives on Facebook’s revamped pages. Emphasis is now placed on communication within the Timeline wall. However, there are a few ways brands can highlight important posts. It is widely believed that Facebook made these changes in an attempt to keep brands’ communication with individual users as organic as possible.

Here are a few of the features:

• Static profile information. Upon scrolling down the page and leaving the cover photo and “above the fold” features, you’ll see a new profile bar pop up on the top of the screen. This bar will stay static and allow your page users to access different page content without having to scroll back up to the top of the page.

• Post box. The first box on the left column will feature the traditional features needed to post or comment on the page. This feature looks and acts the same as the old layout.

• Friends box. The first box on the right column will feature pictures of the users friends who also like the brand page. Although the friends box will stay static across the platform, its content will be personalized for each user.

• Recent posts by friends and others. The box immediately under the friends box on the right side of the page will feature posts concerning the brand made by the visitor’s friends. Immediately following will be a box showcasing the most recent posts regarding the brand by other users. Brands can choose to eliminate the “recent posts by others” box in the Timeline if they wish.

• Featured content vs. pinned posts. Brands now have the ability to identify posts that hold significant meaning and make them appear more prominent on the Timeline. By hovering over the top right corner of a post, an edit box appears. You can now “highlight” a post to stretch it to the full length of the Timeline, covering both the left and right columns. This post will be larger in size, but stay in chronological posting order. Or, “pin” a post to the top of the Timeline and the selected content will be moved to the top of the Timeline where it will be listed first and stay for seven days before returning to its place in chronological order.

• Direct messaging. Users can now send direct messages to brand page admins allowing organizations to handle customer service issues or other sensitive matters in private. Note that pages are not able to initiate private messages with fans or any other user – users must initiate the direct message. However, the page admin can suggest a fan contact them through direct messaging to take a conversation offline and provide further support.

Not sure what type of content your brand should highlight or pin? We’re happy to talk strategy with you to make sure your optimizing Facebook’s Timeline features, or even a larger social media strategy, in a way that makes sense for your brand.

This blog post is the second in a three-part series. The first blog looks at Facebook Timeline cover photos and above the fold features.

It’s the announcement that everyone in marketing has been on the edge of their seat waiting for – Facebook Timeline for brands. Recently, a few NSTers were able to sit in on some webinars about the new features.  We had so many notes on the new features that we’ve broken them out into a three-part blog series, starting below with “above the fold” features.

Although the changes affecting brand pages will require us to make a few tweaks to our clients’ pages, overall, we’re excited!  Some of the features are downright cool, like the new cover photo.  Here are a few of the new elements you should be aware of:

• Default landing pages are no more.  Visitors will automatically go to a brand’s wall, or Timeline.  This, along with some of Facebook’s other changes, highlights the importance of posting and engaging with fans regularly.
• Brand cover photo.  Brands now have an 851 x 315-pixel area at the top of the page for a cover photo, which will be public to everyone.  This can be a fun or artsy photo or design, but cannot include:

• Smaller profile pictures.  At 180 x 180 pixels, the profile photo overlaps with the cover photo.  There are some creative ways to have this work with your cover photo, as these brands show, but the profile picture is still a prominent feature when interacting with a brand, so it’s important to have it work by itself too.
• Application changes.  The applications that were previously listed as tabs on the left sidebar will now appear as boxes below the cover photo (see Coca-Cola’s four applications above: Photos, Likes, Home, Your Stories).  However, there are only four spots immediately visible and one will be taken up by photos, which is a static feature.  Therefore, you should design custom icons (110 x 74 pixels) for at least three other tabs that will be visible “above the fold” without clicking to see more.
• Once visitors click on those application boxes, the tabs they see will now also have a larger area (810 pixels wide).  Current tabs (at 520 pixels) will be centered, but you should consider filling the extra space.

What are your thoughts on losing the welcome page option and gaining the cover photo?  Leave us a comment with your thoughts and stay tuned for Part 2 in our 3-part series on the subject.

Our team has been talking with potential panelists for a few months now, and each conversation gets us more pumped for the diversity and dialogue we’re going to have at the San Diego Social Media Symposium.

We’ve talked to so many inspiring and knowledgeable individuals, that we’re announcing a fourth panel “Best Practices: Social Media Case Studies.” The addition will give attendees even more first-hand stories, experiences and learning moments from the folks with their boots on the ground.

In addition to adding a fourth panel (don’t worry, we’ll still wrap things up by 4:30 p.m.), we’ve secured panelists from companies such as Cisco Systems, FIJI Water, JustFab.com, Social Control and Realtor.com. We’ll be hearing their perspectives in addition to our keynote speaker Jason Falls and lunch speaker Gary Kim.

Checkout the full agenda and panelist line up, and start formulating your questions for our social media specialists.

Register online at www.sandiegosocialmediasymposium.com.

San Diego has been abuzz this week celebrating SDSU Homecoming. We decided to do a little celebrating of our own at Nuffer, Smith, Tucker, marking our first ever College Day. Today, employees are sporting their collegiate t-shirts and alma mater’s colors and we realized something … NST’s Aztec pride “runs deep!”

As San Diego’s oldest public relations firm, having opened our doors more than three decades ago, it’s no surprise we have a deep connection to San Diego State University. With seven SDSU alumni currently on staff and NST president Bill Trumpfheller, a two-time SDSU Alumni Association past president and current board member, we certainly bleed red and black!

Go Aztecs! Beat TCU!

We’ve had fun celebrating National Physical Fitness & Sports Month throughout May. Although, our NSTers really don’t need a month designated to healthy activity and sports: we live it.

If you haven’t seen our many posts about Major League Baseball, check out Opening Day … It’s Like Christmas at Nuffer, Smith, Tucker to see how baseball is celebrated by CEO Kerry Tucker.

Baseball is also Michelle’s favorite sport. “I played softball from age 9 to age 26 and the tradition continues with my daughter Trista playing Little League now. She is great at first base and has about an .800 batting average!”

Even though workouts at Crossfit Invictus can get competitive, that doesn't stop Price from mastering kettle bell swings.

Some NSTers, like Price, follow a more regimented workout routine. Price has been doing crossfit since January 2010 and it has completely changed her outlook on fitness. “It’s not just about looking good, but also feeling good and helping your body do what it is designed to do,” says Price. “Crossfit Invictus has allowed me to push myself mentally and physically further than I ever thought and increase my confidence and mental toughness.”

For other NSTers, being active outside is a preference.

She's conquered Half Dome in Yosemite, where will Teresa's hiking take her next?

“My favorite exercise by far is hiking, and I’m still surprised by how many hidden hiking trails there are in San Diego County – if you know where to look,” says Teresa. “I love exploring new places and would love to visit as many national parks as possible. I go to Yosemite almost annually, and this year I will be exploring two new national parks: Zion and Bryce.”

Katie (left) and her friend enjoying an afternoon of kayaking on Mission Bay.

For Katie, it’s the location of her apartment that makes it easy for her to stay active. “I live about one block away from Mission Bay, meaning I’m just steps from a bike path, sand and cool bay breezes – the perfect elements for training for my first half marathon.” Good luck, Katie!

We’ve said it before, and Mary will say it again: being fit isn’t just a benefit for our bodies, but also for our minds. “I feel off balance when I don’t exercise, so that’s why I do it at least five times a week. Even when it means waking up at 5 a.m. to get a workout in before my daughters wake up.”

Becky agrees, but adds that a nighttime workout is a great way for her to unwind after work. “Besides actually making me feel better, working out on a regular basis helps me de-stress and relax.” Becky’s workout of choice includes TRX, Pilates and yoga with some spinning mixed in for fun.

And that seems to be the key for us all of us at NST – fun! We balance working hard and playing hard, which for most of us means being active in our personal lives.

As for me, here’s the spectator information to catch me (if you can) at the San Diego Rock ‘n’ Roll ½ Marathon on June 5!

What’s your favorite way to keep active?

If you weren’t aware, May is National Physical Fitness & Sports Month, as designated by the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition. The purpose of National Physical Fitness & Sports Month is to encourage Americans to get active and play…and we couldn’t be more excited here at NST!

We truly believe in the benefits of living an active and healthy lifestyle and we work hard to support healthy habits in our workplace.

You may have seen our previous blog post about NST’s “Corporate Walking” program, but we’ve outdone ourselves this time.

In celebration of National Physical Fitness & Sports Month, today, May 18, is National Employee Health and Fitness Day and we proudly present to you “C.W. – The Video”. It’s an inside look into the NST C.W. program – rules, routes and why C.W.ing is important to our employees.

Enjoy…and don’t forget to get out there and be active! Also, check back throughout the month for more on how NSTers are celebrating National Physical Fitness & Sports Month.

C.W. – The Video: http://vimeo.com/nstpr/cdub

At NST, we celebrate our co-workers by taking office field trips to Padres games, Temecula wineries and local pubs for happy hour, and by having unique birthday celebrations.

Welcome to Greg Kershaw's Office!

Though we love to recognize each other’s hard work (see our Tiki Token blog posts), we also think the occasional prank is a must. So, it’s entirely fitting that NST’s birthday also happens to be April Fools’ Day!  In honor of this special day, the entire office supported Krystin Williamson and me when we suggested an April Fools’ joke be played on our very own Greg Kershaw – or as we call him – The Gersh.

The Gersh is a hard worker (just ask him) but he also loves to have fun – especially if it means cheering on his beloved San Francisco Giants.  His desk in cubeville is filled with all things Giants and WD-40 – his other love – so Krystin and I knew it was a risk to move any of Gersh’s cherished tchotchkes.  As the photos will prove, we were more than willing to take that risk.

Krystin and I arrived to the NST office bright and early to clear out Gersh’s desk and move all items to his new office – the men’s bathroom.  The Gersh loved the prank – though he did have to wander around the office for some time to figure out just where all of his stuff had gone.

Gersh's old office and new office

Visit the NST Facebook page for photos of April Fool’s Day, NST-style!

And and huge HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Nuffer, Smith, Tucker!

The San Diego Social Media Symposium is back! In partnership with San Diego State University’s Digital & Social Media Collaborative, we are hosting the second San Diego Social Media Symposium Friday, Jan. 28, 2011, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at SDSU’s Parma Payne Goodall Alumni Center. The 2011 Symposium is designed to help attendees learn to listen to the social media dialogue, engage audiences in conversations and energize their most loyal fans.

The one-day event will feature an amazing keynote speaker – Peter Shankman, a social media leader, author and founder of Help a Reporter Out – and panels on topics previous attendees told us are most important to them. Topics include:

• How to Identify and Energize Your Most Loyal Fans
• Beyond “Listening”: Using Social Media to Make Real Changes to Your Business
• Social Media Case Studies: What Worked, What Didn’t
• What’s Next in Social Media – From New Technologies to New Trends

The event will also feature a working lunch, providing attendees the opportunity to discuss and share ideas on a wide range of social media topics. Check out the day’s agenda.

Attendees who register by Dec. 31, 2010, will receive the early bird discount of $99 per person; starting Jan. 1, 2011, ticket prices will be $129 per person. PR Newswire and WestGlen are sponsoring the event.

You can also join the conversation about the symposium by using #sdsms. We hope to see you there!

Last night the Nuffer, Smith, Tucker team was proud to join local PR professionals and long-time friends from throughout San Diego at the annual San Diego/Imperial Counties Chapter Public Relations Society of America Edward L. Bernays Mark of Excellence Awards.

Happily seated at the “Journey” table during the rockstar-themed ceremony at Hard Rock Hotel San Diego, the NST team took home three prestigious Bernays Awards, which recognize superior public relations efforts of the past year.

A Bronze Award of Excellence was awarded in the category of Media Relations, Associations/Non-Profit/Government, for NST’s execution of the 2009 California Citrus Research Board Asian citrus psyllid ground media tour. NST also received a Bronze Award of Merit in the Website External category for its website re-fresh for client Ocean Mist Farms, and in the Direct Mail/Direct Response category for the Chicken of the Sea International Mermaid Birthday Club outreach.

A big congratulations to each and every one of my fellow NSTers for the exceptional work on the above mentioned campaigns, and the dedication and hard work you give to all our clients, day in and day out. Evenings like last night remind us how lucky we are to have found a profession we love, and the ability to work beside colleagues and friends we admire.

Congratulations, Team NST! Cheers to another great year of work!