Author: Dana Phelps

A (Non)Typical Day in PR

Dana PhelpsBlog, Public Relations, Raleigh PR Agency


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!

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From BusinessWeek: Twitter, Twitter Little Stars

Dana PhelpsBlog, Social Media + Influencer Engagement

I just read a great article from Bloomberg BusinessWeek called Twitter, Twitter Little Stars. Props for the title and for using the word boomlet in the story. My absolute favorite part comes from another PR person. Check this out:

A long professional track record is not necessarily a prerequisite. Curtis Hougland, the founder of Attention, a New York-based specialist in social media PR and marketing, says the supply of seasoned candidates has failed to keep pace with demand. As a result, a swarm of self-proclaimed social media rainmakers has appeared at job interviews, aiming to parlay a high number of Facebook friends or Twitter followers into salaried positions with benefits—all of which is vaguely reminiscent of the frenzied hiring during the first Internet boom in the late 1990s. “There’s a tremendous amount of B.S.,” says Hougland. “The company hiring may not have the sophistication in social to verify the person’s experience. They may be personally really active on Twitter and have a great blog, but it doesn’t mean that they understand how to apply it to a business context.”

Amen, Curtis. Sometimes the only thing more preposterous for some of those making the self proclamation is the titles they give themselves. Guru is obviously pompous, yet I will say confident. On the other hand, when did taking a word with a negative connotation and using it as a self-descriptor turn said word into something cool? (But presumably less pompous.)

While I seek candidates with combined traditional communications and social media/emerging communications experience, I’d like to add the following disclaimer: Geeks, nerds and ninjas need not apply.

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To APR or Not to APR?

Dana PhelpsAPR, Blog11 Comments on To APR or Not to APR?

There’s a fungus among us. Okay, there isn’t a fungus among us but there is a healthy debate going on in the PR industry. Not in the biz? WAIT! Don’t click away, I want your opinion on this, too.

Here are the background facts:

APR stands for Accredited in Public Relations. It is the PR industry’s only certification program. Think of it as a voluntary CPA for PR people.

How do you get it? From what I understand, the process is rigorous, and most folks I know who go through it, study for 6 months to a year. Continue reading “To APR or Not to APR?”

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Available PR Jobs

Dana PhelpsBlog, The Clairemont Team1 Comment on Available PR Jobs

Clairemont Is Hiring!

Clairemont Communications takes a tactics-agnostic approach to devising PR and marketing strategies using both traditional — media relations and event planning, for example– and emerging tools such as social networking. The difference? Product sketches that turn into top sellers. Campaigns that move consumers from couches to action. Jump starting a start-up to make it a recognized brand. Upholding the reputation of a tried and true company so shareholders continue to hold a special place in their hearts for it year after year.

Clairemont leads on QUALITY — quality of service, quality of experience and quality of the deliverables. We have a relentless obsession to devise the most strategic plans and provide the highest quality execution, hands-on involvement and support available. We cherry pick clients who are motivated, passionate, focused and respectful. It is our promise to work as hard, if not harder, than our clients in achieving their business objectives through communications and improving the strength of their brands.

Clairemont is currently seeking smart, responsible, creative and hard-working people who are ready to tackle any assignment and join a highly-motivated, growing team of communications professionals who share in the passion of delivering quality client service while enjoying the collaboration and co-learning of a team environment. We are currently interviewing for the positions of intern, account coordinator, assistant account executive and account executive. Abbreviated job descriptions are as follows: Continue reading “Available PR Jobs”

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