Year: 2017

Bourbon and Bonbons

Cherith AndesBlog, Real Estate PR, Restaurant PR + Hospitality PR, , , , , ,

At Clairemont, we don’t just spruce up a stalwart event. We love designing completely fresh approaches to target audiences, boost visibility and ultimately secure sales.

Last week, we had the pleasure of doing just that!

Clairemont and client Wendell Falls, the Triangle’s largest new-home community, hosted a VIP tasting soiree that leveraged hot culinary trends and popular local businesses to attract potential homebuyers. Hosted at the Wendell Falls Farmhouse, “Bourbon and Bonbons” rolled out the red carpet with a classy yet casual evening. We invited guests to preview some of the area’s finest bourbons paired with gourmet truffles from Videri Chocolate Factory, one of Raleigh’s beloved downtown artisans. Guests could then enjoy a spread of smoky hors d’oeuvres, live music and a glass of wine or beer.

Friends and fans from across the Triangle joined the festivities — many who were visiting the community for the first time! Cheers to some of Raleigh’s finest flavors and a wonderful event at Wendell Falls!

Cover photo courtesy of wonderful blogger and friend Raleigh Revealed.

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How to Keep People Watching

Clairemont InternBlog, Marketing, Public Relations, , , , , ,

Netflix, HBO, YouTube, Amazon and more. The world of basic cable is one of the past. With the click of a button, we find ourselves diving into hours upon hours of fascinating entertainment. More than ever, people can discover television that aligns with their preferences. Don’t like “Dexter?” Try “The Crown.” If reality television is your style, perhaps subscribe to Hulu and check out exclusive interviews for “The Bachelor.” The current generation is in the “golden age of television,” and we easily reap the rewards by watching premium content with a bottle of wine and a close companion.

So, where does this leave the older, nostalgic media?

One of the staples of traditional broadcast has been late-night entertainment. With the popularity of “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson,” the world entered a talk show revolution. The comedic, variety program has become a mainstay in current culture. Current hosts include Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers, Samantha Bee, Jimmy Kimmel, Conan O’Brien, James Corden, Stephen Colbert, Bill Maher, John Oliver and Trevor Noah. Most of these hosts deliver monologue jokes, interview guests and star in filmed sketches. With such a crowded environment, it becomes challenging to stand out from the competition.

Like public relations professionals, television teams are learning to adapt to current trends. In combination with lighter use of traditional media, shows are taking to the digital space to market and interact with viewers. As an intern and production assistant for Conan O’Brien this past year, I witnessed the way entertainment evolves constantly.

O’Brien’s team has grown to prove they are digitally savvy, incorporating Snapchat and Instagram into their daily communication. O’Brien also does YouTube exclusives, offering a chance for the younger generation to engage with his brand. Though millennials may not tune in to his Monday – Thursday show on TBS, they are more likely to watch his “Clueless Gamer” series on YouTube. To promote the live show in New York City from October 31 – November 4, “Conan” used:

  • Billboards and subway signs
  • Animated street signs
  • Snapchat filters
  • A “step-and-repeat” that was created for an Instagram background
  • Broadcast advertisements and YouTube advertisements

Though O’Brien hits middle ground when it comes to viewers on television, many of his online videos garner millions of views. Because of this success, The New York Post reported that YouTube has approached O’Brien to be the official host for their YouTube Red channel. It remains to be seen whether he will take the position. Regardless, one thing is certain. The longest tenured late-night host will be sure to mix the new and the old in a charming, hilarious way.

Looking for more adventures? Check out another Clairemont intern’s travels to Amsterdam!

 Written by Casey Moore, senior at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

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Instagram Slideshows for Restaurants

Clairemont InternBlog, Restaurant PR + Hospitality PR, Social Media + Influencer Engagement, , , ,
With the latest Instagram upgrade, users are now able to post “slideshows,” several images within one post where the next photo is accessed by sliding your finger across the screen. This feature gives restaurants a new and fresh way to present themselves on social media’s favorite app. Here are a few examples!

 

  1. Demo the Deliciousness

Have a fan-favorite dish? Restaurants have the ability to take their followers from start to finish of any meal using the slideshow feature. Since the app allows up to ten slides per post, users have plenty of space to show their followers exactly how their favorite dish is created. Giving them a sneak peek at all the fresh and flavorful ingredients and how they come together piece by piece will help to create some cravings among your followers and future guests!

  1. Recap an Epic Event

Saturday night’s dinner accompanied by a live band? Throwing a special event for the big game? Now you no longer have to pick the “best” photo or video to showcase the whole evening. Followers can relive the entire course of events rather than a snapshot of just one moment.

  1.  Highlight the Specials

Using the slideshow feature, you can advertise the entire night’s specialties (drinks, dinner and desserts!) in one quick and easy post. Note that the Instagram post represents the special for that specific night in order to create a sense of urgency and entice customers to head your way.

  1.  Show Off Good Customer Reviews

With so many consumers now relying on recommendations from others, such as Yelp, slideshows provide a perfect opportunity to highlight those great reviews. Take screen grabs from Yelp or use quotes from customers (even videos!) to create a post that radiates positivity for your restaurant.

  1. Capture the Entire Meal

Show off the three, five or seven course meals your restaurant has to offer! No longer are you limited to one picture or plate of food. Use a photo for each course in the slideshow, and by the end, guests want to know how to make a reservation. Hint: the link is in your profile.

Looking for other tips? Check out how to foodify your Instagram stories!

 

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PR People: Chris Cowperthwaite, APR

Sarah HattmanBlog, PR People, Public Relations, , , ,

Chris Cowperthwaite, APR

Job Title and Function: Manager of Communications and Outreach for the North Carolina Nurses Association (NCNA). I’m the entire in-house PR department, so I do a little bit of everything. Responsible for managing the Tar Heel Nurse, NCNA’s bi-monthly magazine; writing news releases; fielding media inquiries; assisting with legislative advocacy; shooting/editing videos; social media; overseeing all e-newsletters (Inside NCNA, APRN E-News, and all quarterly regional newsletters); and anything else that falls under the communications/PR umbrella.

Most Rewarding thing about working in PR today: I really enjoy digging into complex/important issues and figuring out the best way to explain them to people who might not be in the know. When we get the message out and it’s well-received, it’s rewarding to see the appreciation from my “clients” who understand the value of PR.

Craziest/most challenging thing you’ve done in PR: Craziest: Getting to wander around a gigantic solar array on top of a factory when I worked for Southern Energy Management. Most Challenging: A sustained legislative issue where our political opponents have had 10 times as many resources ready to deploy than we could ever hope to match.

Advice for new PR pros: Vigorously maintain your credibility in this era of alternative facts and “fake news.” Refuse to cut corners when it comes to ethics.

Are you interested in being featured in “PR People?” Send us a message on Facebook to share your story!

Sarah Hattman, APR is president-elect for the North Carolina chapter of Public Relations Society of America and has been working in PR since she left television news. She grew up in North Carolina and was excited to move back to her home state in 2012 and then join Clairemont Communications, a Raleigh PR agency. 
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Clairemont Clients Nab Business Awards

Cherith AndesBlog, Clairemont Client News, In Our Community, , , , ,

Hang the streamers, pop the bubbly and cut the cake! Little else gets us as excited as when we celebrate our clients’ achievements. We’re thrilled to congratulate Shannon McSwiney, marketing director of Newland Communities, and Lindsay Rice, owner of Vita Vite in downtown Raleigh, on their recent 2017 Women in Business awards.

This accolade recognizes accomplished and outstanding leaders in the Triangle renowned for industry innovation, community involvement, thought leadership and dynamic change. The panel of judges, comprised of some of the Triangle’s top business personnel, selected Lindsay and Shannon from approximately 100 other nominees. 

Wanna know a little bit more about our superstars?

Shannon McSwiney

Marketing Director, Newland Communities

As the marketing director for Newland Communities — the nation’s largest privately held developer, Shannon leads real estate growth and development across three master-planned communities in North Carolina. She researches, develops and implements marketing strategies for RiverLights in Wilmington, Wendell Falls in Wendell and Briar Chapel in Chapel Hill — overseeing everything from brand development to team development. Oh, and she’s also a mom of two fantastic kiddos, a former tap dancer and carries the title of Pepper Festival Pepper Queen from 2011.

Lindsay Rice

Owner, Vita Vite

Lindsay Rice, entrepreneur and founder of Vita Vite, is pursuing a lifelong vision to discover, curate and share hidden treasures and cultures from across the globe. In December of 2015, she opened Vita Vite, a wine bar and art gallery in the downtown Raleigh Warehouse District that features southern art, southern flavors and global sips. A mentor for the Boys & Girls Club of Wake County and a member of the Junior League of Raleigh, Lindsay also has a few hidden talents. For example, she’s an accomplished photographer who launched her own notecard line! Next time you stop by Vita Vite, be sure to ask her about her two pups, some of the cutest pooches in the Triangle.

It’s one of the wonderful things we get to do. We love partnering with our clients not only to position them as candidates but also to celebrate their well-deserved success with them.

Want to learn more about what we do as a PR agency? How about a barn raising, the chicken dance or an Instagram game of tag? We’ll stop at nothing to get results for our clients.

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