I might sound like a broken record but without an objective, supported by a strong strategy, tactics are meaningless. As PR people, it is really important that we remember this when incorporating social media into our client plans (and our own promotional strategies). You ask, “Why is Clairemont just now setting up a fan page on Facebook when you’ve been helping clients with Facebook since the day you opened your doors?” It’s all part of the plan my friends… part of the plan.
Year: 2010
Happy 30th Anniversary Post-It!
When putting together Clairemont’s internship program, three areas of concentration emerged as we built the curriculum to focus on the professional growth of our interns: team, learning and career. That’s why we call it the TLC Intern Program, and today’s post is brought to you by the letter T!
As a team assignment, Clairemont’s TLC interns were asked to have fun with Post-Its in honor of the product’s 30th anniversary. (And Rachel even knew the answer to my question of, “In what movie did best friends pretend to be the inventors of the Post-It?” I was quite impressed.)
Despite the fact that this was one of the days the A/C was out in the office, I think the photos show they worked well together. More on our Flickr page. Enjoy!
Reflection, Risk & Rewards
Seven months ago today — on January 4, 2010 — I walked in and resigned from my position as SVP at the world’s largest PR agency. With no staff, no clients, no office space and no financial backers, I suppose you could say I left to start the world’s smallest PR agency.
I’ve read many times that the definition of success for a small business in the start-up stage is simply survival. There are days when the A/C in our office (in a lovely historic building) isn’t working again, and I’m in the floor trying to put together a fan, cursing at the screws that seem to be too short, that seem like mere survival. But those are the exception. Most days, I feel on fire in a way that has nothing to do with the broken A/C.
A part of the Clairemont vision from the very beginning has been to blend traditional communications and social media as part of an overall strategy focused on the client’s objectives. As an early mark of success, all ongoing Clairemont accounts have a mix of traditional and social tactics in the plans we have built and are executing for them. We have also been selected for social media projects, including an in-depth social media audit for UNC Kenan-Flagler’s School of Business. (More on that soon.)
The Clairemont team continues to grow which is absolutely thrilling to me! We don’t plan to be a small agency forever! Our summer TLC (team, learning, career) interns are amazing & have formed a great team with each other, and I’m interviewing for full-time positions.
What I’ve learned in these seven months (in addition to things such as get business insurance before signing a lease, how not to pull my hair out while using QuickBooks and that I have no future as a fan assembler) is that when you own a business, you have to take risks every day. Each day. I guess I thought before that the leap in starting the business was the risk and then somehow, voila, all would fall into place. Nope. I’m also learning — through experience and with the help of my executive coach, when I put an analytical evaluation behind my intuition and gut instincts, most risks yield rewards.
Last week, an interview candidate asked me why she should consider leaving her steady job to join a new agency and how could I reassure her that Clairemont will survive. Great question. I’m not interested in how to survive. Only how to thrive. I changed my life because I know that Clairemont will be widely successful and will bring me and my team members much joy in the process. Otherwise, January 4 would have just been another day at the office.
Please Welcome Clairemont TLC Interns
Clairemont’s intern program is built around three areas: Team, Learning and Career. More on each of those soon, but first, let’s meet the newest Clairemont TLC interns! One of their first assignments was to interview each other and write bios…
Bridget Wells graduated with a Bachelors degree in Communication at Tulane University in New Orleans, LA. With an interest in communications, and a minor in psychology, Wells is passionate about her work, aspiring to a career in public relations. In addition, Wells was a part of Tulane’s NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball team. Her commitment and drive towards her passion instilled commitment, leadership, teamwork and ambition, creating the perfect platform to begin a successful career. Wells was previously employed as the coach for Newman Volleyball, as well as a counselor for the Newman After-Three Program. In addition, volunteer work has continually remained an extremely important part of her life. In New Orleans, she spent time with “Girls First,” helping underprivileged girls in New Orleans through camps and various recreational activities. Wells also helped restore New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina by aiding organizations such as Outreach New Orleans and Habitat for Humanity.
After spending five years in New Orleans, Wells is returning to her roots in Raleigh, having spent her childhood in North Carolina. She is looking forward to a successful career, and is excited to be a part of such a vibrant and passionate team at Clairemont Communications. Her intelligence and experience in teamwork, combined with leadership, will be a vital asset for client service and media relations.
Rachel Cagan, a new intern at Clairemont Communications, is excited to put her promotional experience to work. Working with Relay for Life for her latter three years of college, Rachel served on the public relations committee throughout her senior year, where she promoted the organization as well as planned promotional events. This was not Rachel’s only involvement with public relations, as she acted as an intern for Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) in the summer of 
2009. Rachel put her promotional skills to work, in addition to advancing her skills in public and media relations to get the word out about MADD.
A proud graduate of the University of Georgia, Rachel studied speech communication with a minor in sociology. On the executive board of Sigma Delta Tau, this active intern was named the New Member Educator of her sorority in the spring 2008, scheduling activities and events for the pledges and making herself available to her new “sisters” at all times. Rachel’s promotional and interactive experience gives her a comfortable advantage when it comes to event planning and promoting client initiatives for Clairemont Communications.
When she’s not working hard for Clairemont, you can probably find Rachel trying out a new food dish or spending playful moments with her adorably chubby pug, Mugsley.
Michelle Clark, a summer intern with Clairemont Communications, brings her enthusiasm for fashion to the agency. Having worked as an intern for a New York City-based stylist, Michelle has learned the importance of marketing and branding. Inspired by photography and art as well, Michelle’s creative mind contributes to her fresh and exciting vision of the public relations industry.
As the oldest of four sisters, Michelle knows how to stand out and make an impact. A student at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, Michelle is majoring in fashion merchandising management. While at FIT, she has worked with the Merchandising Society as a student designer buyer, and has also been involved in a variety of fundraising events.
A (Non)Typical Day in PR
People often ask, “What’s a typical day in PR?”
If you haven’t worked in the industry, it might appear that it is more glamorous than it really is. And the funny thing, the days I call glamorous (like the one in the video) might be what other people call boring. I can tell you that the things that seem glamorous usually aren’t. Like the time I hosted a client event on a yacht in the South of France during the Cannes Film Festival. I can assure you there was nothing glamorous about instructing guests to remove their shoes before coming onto the yacht or tending to a seasick spokesperson.
If you love PR agency life (I do!), you love it for the variety. From building the strategy to the mundane tasks. That’s what makes it fun! For me, getting to go on-location with highly-creative people to a beautiful home in North Carolina for a client catalog shoot to capture fodder for the client’s social media outreach is great fun and a wonderful day!
