The 10 Most Over-Publicized People of 2009 expertly compiled by Kathryn Kates, CEO of Oakville, Ontario based Kathryn Kates Public Relations.

10. Paris Hilton. From a sex tape, to a lost chihuahua, to an infinite number of boyfriends and fiancées, a fight with her TV co-star, a search for a new BFF and endless product endorsements…is Paris the City of Lights, or the Girl in the Limelight?

BY KATHRYN KATES

When I was a little girl, I knew that Christmas wasn’t coming to our house. We celebrated Chanukah. However, I truly believed and still do, if you are good girl or boy, no matter what your religious beliefs, you too, could sit on Santa’s lap at the mall and invite him to drop by for milk and cookies on Christmas Eve, in hopes of having your stocking filled.

1. Public Relations is not a nine-to-five profession. While it's crucial to pace oneself to avoid burnout, when involved in a campaign, one must "breathe" the product. A blasé effort results in a blasé campaign.

2. It is not enough to create an attention-drawing promotion. An "angle" needs to be packaged and presented to the media. The publicist must understand what makes a good accessible story.

3. Integrity is crucial. It is vital to develop a rapport with the media by being straightforward and honest.

Is social media the new golden age of communicating or the end of the golden rules of etiquette?

Social media allows our points of view and discussions to leave the room or the office and travel to far reaching places through cyberspace--allowing us to teach, learn, and share on a huge scale.
Or, does the popularity of social media mean the decline of socialization? Are we gaining a way to connect on social networks like Facebook, at the expense of face-to-face communication.

During this recession a little self-promotion goes a long way. Don’t Despair…Kathryn Kates Public Relations helps entrepreneurial do-it-yourselfers businesses, products and themselves with expert guidance from us. Here are five tips to get noticed…let the conversation begin!

1. Use Technology. Get the word out by joining social networks like Twitter, Facebook and My Space, or create your very own website.

2. Nurture Relationships. Join groups and associations, volunteer in your community, contact old and new friends and network, network and network!

Is there a right time for public relations? Well, often it is when it feels most like the wrong time.

By that we mean, when you can least afford it may very well be the best time. Even if you've spent all your cash on developing your product.. that branding and promoting is now an added luxury that you can't think about, especially during this recession. This is understandable, however...this is the exact time that you should be reaching into the coffers and promoting like heck.

Many individuals and businesses feel they can't afford public relations during these recessionary times. At Kathryn Kates Public Relations, a boutique firm...we feel public relations is something you can't afford not to have.

Like other firms, we offer full-blown public relation campaigns, but for those who are on a budget or get a charge of of being PR DIY'ers...we are here for you too. With our piecemeal PR offerings, we help our clients fill in the gaps.