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Author: Kelli Fletcher

What Does a PR Agency Do? WGU Comes to NC

What Does a PR Agency Do? WGU Comes to NC

October 18, 2019January 31, 2023 Kelli FletcherAwards, Blog, Case Studies

Western Governors University (WGU) is a nationally recognized online, competency-based university designed for busy adults who must balance work, family and financial obligations but may not be able to attend a traditional brick-and-mortar university. In the fall of 2017, WGU prepared to launch WGU North Carolina, a partnership that was created through an agreement between the state of North Carolina and the nonprofit university. Since WGU is based in Utah, it hired Clairemont Communications to effectively understand the North Carolina landscape and to plan and execute a press conference that would officially launch WGU North Carolina.

Chancellor Catherine Truitt speaking at the launch of WGU North Carolina.

STRATEGY

Clairemont conducted research to better understand the public awareness level of WGU across the state. As suspected, general awareness of WGU in North Carolina was very low. Therefore, we knew the location of the press conference needed to have a big impact. We collectively decided on the North Carolina State Capitol building to send the message that this was not just another online university but a partnership with the support of state officials. Clairemont worked with WGU to establish the primary audiences we would be targeting to attend the press conference.

EXECUTION

In order to grab the attention of busy reporters and influencers, Clairemont’s strategy featured a high-profile media event rich with visuals, exclusive interviews and elite spokespersons. With less than a month to plan and execute the press conference, the Clairemont team had to employ creative and tenacious efforts to secure permits for use of the State Capitol building and grounds. We were also tasked with helping secure a strong lineup of speakers at the press conference with little notice.

RESULTS

Our team surpassed expectations of building credibility for WGU NC by securing attendance from three prominent politicians and key thought leaders, including the Lt. Governor, Speaker of the House and President of the NC Chamber. With the goal of five local stories including broadcast coverage, Clairemont exceeded the objective by landing 31 total stories and securing on-site attendance from two TV stations.

The work Clairemont Communications conducted in partnership with Western Governors University earned an Award of Excellence by the North Carolina Public Relations Society and a Platinum Award by the Raleigh Public Relations Society. We are proud that this campaign represents one of the 219 awards we’ve received since starting Clairemont in 2010.

To read more about the work we do with clients, please visit the case study section of our blog.

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Seventy and Stronger Than Ever

Seventy and Stronger Than Ever

September 24, 2019January 31, 2023 Kelli FletcherBlog, Clairemont Client News, Inspirational

In a recent article on The Fine Line, client Carrie J. Knowles talks about embracing the milestone of turning 70 years old. However, Carrie’s philosophies on ways to make the most of your time as you age are valuable tips for a person of any age!

A former Piedmont Laureate, Carrie has penned countless stories, published five novels and earned more than 25 awards throughout her 45-year literary career.

Read on to enjoy The Fine Line’s full article and then head over to WRAL’s Voter’s Choice Awards to vote for Carrie as Best North Carolina Author.

Image from FineLineMag.com

Old is hot. Hot flashes. Hot topic.

In “Can We Live Longer but Stay Younger?” Adam Gopnik raises an interesting question: What if modern medicine and aging research could hold the clock steady on being middle-aged, thereby allowing us to get older without growing old? Think of being 70 or even 80 without worrying about climbing a flight of stairs or apologizing for being forgetful.

In May, the New York Times published two articles about aging in the style section: “Vanity Is Not a Deadly Sin. It’s One of Life’s Last Vital Signs,” by Ruth La Ferla, and “We Made Gray Hair Even Prettier With Pastels,” by Crystal Martin. Both articles made growing old and going gray sound like an invitation to a dress-up party.

I’m all for getting older with a little style in my step. For the first time in my life, thanks to the miracle of double cataract surgery, I can see well enough without glasses to artfully apply eye shadow and draw on a smooth bit of eyeliner. And you better believe I intend to fancy on some makeup every day for the rest of my life. It looks great. Makes me feel a touch glamorous and, most importantly, well-armored to go out into the world and have my say. You see, getting older, is no longer the voice-silencing, invisibility-inducing sentence it used to be.

Seventy is about more than feeling and looking good. Seventy is the new outspoken. And it’s about time.

Seventy is a privilege. It’s a gift. It’s about time we embraced that gift and used our years of making mistakes while doing some things right to be something better, do something bigger, and live larger, as though we don’t have enough time left to do anything else.

You think being 70 is hard? Try being 18. Can you imagine? Have you ever known such chaos? Such uncertainty? The stock market is bobbling at every tweet and tariff. Unemployment is up, then it’s down. Getting a college education costs more than ever before, and many are left paying off student loans for decades after graduation, making it impossible to get ahead, buy a house, or start a family. There’s climate change riding the winds of terrifying hurricanes, tornados, and flooding rains. There are whispers of war here, there, everywhere. School shootings — and guns — don’t get me started.

Too much is happening for us to be silent, and those of us lucky enough to be 70 have the protection of age to speak up. It’s time for us to step up to the plate, be the elders, the wise ones, the ones who have lived long enough to speak truth to power.

It’s time to find new ways to “act your age.”

1. Be a mentor. Find someone who can use your expertise, your help. It won’t be hard. Have coffee with them. Talk. Listen; especially listen. Offer support, direction, whatever is needed. It’s that helping hand thing and it works. When was the last time you had a conversation? A real one that mattered? This is your chance.

2. Pick an issue. Dealer’s choice. The environment. Politics. School lunches. Classroom size. Money for the arts. Guns. Voting rights. Climate change. Transportation. Health care. Pick one; then, do something about it. Now.

3.  Find a new hobby. It doesn’t matter whether it’s baking cakes, planting a garden, building birdhouses, or writing poems. Share what you love with someone. That’s how we build stronger communities. Make new friends. Create a kinder world.

4. Take care of yourself. Exercise even if you have never exercised before. Exercise your body — and your voice. Be strong. Be focused. Raise a little hell. Have a little fun, and don’t ever think for a minute that there’s nothing you can do to change things.

You’re 70 or maybe 80 or — hallelujah! — 90!

You’re not old. You’re one of the warriors.

All those years of living have prepared you for this chance to make a difference. Step out, step up, and speak up!

You’ll be surprised who is waiting to hear what you have to say.

This article originally appeared on Psychology Today.

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Pitch Perfect

Pitch Perfect

September 3, 2019January 31, 2023 Kelli FletcherBlog, Professional Development, Public Relations#mediapitching, #publicrelations, #RaleighPR

For many in PR, pitching media is their one job. Here at Clairemont, we’re in the communications business, so we wear many hats! And one of them is indeed pitching media.

When I first started in public relations, pitching was like a weight on my shoulders. Most days I just couldn’t gear myself up for fear of rejection from media. But with plenty of practice and the right guidance, I conquered that fear and even perfected the process that best works for me. Since then, I’ve had many successes pitching media and securing stories for clients. Below are four things I’ve found that have helped perfect my pitch process.

Top Tips

  • Know your audience. First thing’s first: find the right contact. Don’t pitch fashion to a finance reporter. Use a mixture of tools and personal research to confirm the most current contacts and their beats.
  • Create a strong subject line. It’s the first thing a reporter sees when an email enters his or her inbox, so make sure yours hits the spot. Tip: Make it short and include major keywords up front.
  • Make it clear (and be concise). Get to the point – and quickly. What are you asking of the reporter? State what you are pitching and why.
  • Make it timely. Take note of what’s going on in the world and think about how it applies to your client. Using current events to your advantage can result in coverage and help position your client as an industry expert for future opportunities.

Success Stories

When the pitch is on point, the result can be, too. Take a look at the examples below of a few clients we’ve put in the spotlight through creative, timely pitch strategies:

  • Wendell Falls: To attract media to the community’s location, Clairemont ditched a standard pitch for a more playful angle, sending tangible invitations that included a “wanted” poster and a cowboy hat, which one TV reporter even sported on her station’s morning show! 
  • WGU North Carolina: To highlight a critical partnership for this client, Clairemont used a timely military angle to grab the attention of multiple reporters at TV stations in different markets.
  • Lincoln Apartments: Individualized, creative pitches piqued the interest of targeted media and secured on-site coverage at the Lincoln Apartments ribbon cutting (which was performed by a dog).
  • North Carolina Association of Fire Chiefs: The team landed a 24-minute iHeartMedia interview for several key leaders and volunteers of the NCAFC. The coverage was broadcasted across five major Triangle radio stations and helped to secure needed volunteer firefighters.

Have the perfect pitch all packaged up and ready to go? Make sure you don’t squash your chance of coverage by committing these six slapdash sins. Need help identifying and crafting the perfect pitch to tell your story?

Drop us a line!
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“OOO”: Working Remotely in Raleigh

“OOO”: Working Remotely in Raleigh

June 11, 2019January 31, 2023 Kelli FletcherBlog, In Our Community, Raleigh PR Agencydowntown Raleigh, Working remotely

One of the things we love most about life here at Clairemont is the location of our office. Nestled in downtown Raleigh, The Clairemont House keeps us in the DTR mix. Not only do we get our pick of places to saunter to for a bite or a brew (of the coffee OR beer variety), but we also get a pretty sweet view of the skyline from both our front and back porches. While there aren’t many reasons for us to escape beyond the walls of our downtown abode, sometimes we do like to switch it up, just for the sake of it! Whether it’s for the playlist, the java or simply the vibe, we’ve rounded up our favorite spots to set up shop when working remotely,

Third Place: Chances are you’ll catch a healthy number of Raleigh’s Who’s Who in this little Five Points shop, but for good reason. On top of offering a solid cup of coffee, the service is top-tier, and the owner knows almost all his customers’ names. Basically, it’s the Cheers of coffee shops.

Vita Vite: Yes, this is a wine bar. And an art gallery. The small menu of bites will keep your belly full, and the outdoor area is just as beautiful as the indoor space. Cozy chairs, power supply and even fireplaces (for when the chill hits) make Vita Vite a great spot to people watch in between emails and conference calls.

Transfer Co. Food Hall: The new kid on the block is open Tuesday through Sunday, and I’m here to tell you, the vibe is right. It’s spacious with great lighting, and hats off to the whomever is curating the tunes. The obvious bonus is the food. A variety of fresh, fast choices is at your fingertips.

The Morning Times: The OG. Are you even a DTR dweller if the Morning Times isn’t on your list? It’s consistently the best coffee in town, and we’re huge fans of the yogurt parfait.

Sir Walter Coffee: Not only do we love the playlist here and the steady stream of people that pop in for a quick caffeine fix, but the two walls of windows (with one opening up to a patio!) keep the space airy and bright.

Drop us a line to let us know your favorite spot to set up when working remotely.

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Getting Personal: Building Your Brand

Getting Personal: Building Your Brand

May 31, 2019January 31, 2023 Kelli FletcherBlog, Marketing, Social Media + Influencer Engagementbranding, branding tips, personal brand

In the digital age when everything from cars to cats has an Instagram account, a Facebook page and even a Twitter handle, it has become obvious that branding isn’t just for businesses anymore. Branding, it seems, is necessary for anyone (or anything) with a public presence.

Carefully cultivating your personal brand is important. It allows you to control your narrative both visually and verbally, which is critical in a time when first impressions are often in the form of a Google search. In fact, in a survey last year, it was found that a whopping 70 percent of employers use social media to screen candidates during the hiring process.

When you consider that big companies put a hefty amount of money and time behind establishing a brand, you may think you don’t have what it takes to create your own. But really, it’s a lot easier than you think. Simply put, your personal brand is what you do, how you do it and why. Which means, it’s nearly impossible to fake. And building your personal brand will do for you what it does for big businesses: make you stand out from the crowd.

We’ve rounded up a few easy steps that will assist you with establishing your personal brand and getting it up and running.

Know Yourself

Push past your passions to dig a bit deeper. What are your strengths? Values? What is your expertise? But keep in mind that (ironically) building your personal brand isn’t actually all about you. Think about your friends, family and coworkers – all the individuals in your circle. What are their needs and wants? What frustrates them? More importantly, how can YOU help, and how is it different from anyone else?

Know Your Audience

From their jobs to what brings them joy, study your audience. Where are they located? What makes them happy? But even more, get to know what they value and the challenges they face.

Once you identify them, reach out to connect to further explore what makes them tick. Begin creating content that aligns with each of these points to capture their eyes. Perhaps it’s an article with valuable tips on how to save time or money. Or maybe it’s simply a tell-all about your personal approach to an issue (anything from a design challenge to a parenting problem).

Know Your Message

Make it short. Make it simple. Make it strong. These things will make it memorable.

Position yourself as a person familiar with your audience’s interests, tastes and outlooks. Transfer this message across all your profiles – personal and professional. Most importantly, embody it in nearly everything you do. Doing this will help your message gain momentum and further make your mission clear.

Stay on Mark

Now that you have these three pillars in place, make sure you stay consistent with both your content and your cadence. Doing this will not only help you retain your audience (while also attracting new followers), but it will also keep you sharp and skilled, ready for interactions – on and offline.

Want to learn how we can help you build an authentic and strong personal brand? Send us a note!

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clairemontcommunications

Have you heard about Meta’s newest social media Have you heard about Meta’s newest social media platform? It’s called Threads, and it’s being referred to as “the new Twitter.” Read everything you need to know about Threads in our latest blog post - link in bio!
SNEAK PEEK! @dellthepig landed at @wendellfallsnc SNEAK PEEK! @dellthepig landed at @wendellfallsnc (client) today, and rumor has it that @blah2voila has already been hamming it up with Dell! We know you want a selfie with Dell to post on Pigstagram, too!
We are proud to represent Raleigh as a member of P We are proud to represent Raleigh as a member of Public Relations Consultants Group, allowing us to offer clients expertise and support across the country! Clairemont founder, Dana Phelps aka @blah2voila, recently attended the PRCG conference in Oklahoma City.
2022 has been a fantastic year for Clairemont Comm 2022 has been a fantastic year for Clairemont Communications! Visit our blog for the full 2022 year in review!
As communications professionals, we wear a variety As communications professionals, we wear a variety of hats to meet our clients’ needs.
 
We’re writers, social media managers, photographers, marketers, editors, content creators- the list goes on and on.
 
Check out our recent blog post to learn what @olivia.noles , account coordinator here at Clairemont, does on a weekly and monthly basis.
#communicationsagency #communicationsmajor #pragencylife #pragency #raleighpr
This Friday, Clairemont’s Dana Phelps, @blah2voi This Friday, Clairemont’s Dana Phelps, @blah2voila , will be speaking at the 2022 @nc_prsa Strategic Communication & MarCom Conference! Phelps is a repeat presenter at this annual conference, and this year she is leading a session called Growing from Communication Technician to Strategic Counselor during which she will share three of her coined concepts: knowcasting, morecasting and collabolighthing. Visit our blog for the link to register for the conference!
@clairemontcommunications and @yellowdogcreative g @clairemontcommunications and @yellowdogcreative go together like the bacon and eggs! And speaking of bacon and eggs, have you been to @therainbowluncheonette yet? YUM!
Later this year, Clairemont client @wendellfallsnc Later this year, Clairemont client @wendellfallsnc, a master-planned community just 15 miles from downtown Raleigh, will welcome @parksideraleigh, a Raleigh-favorite restaurant known for its fresh, made-from-scratch dishes, to the community!
 
Visit our blog to see the @trianglebizjrnl coverage and read the full feature in the TBJ to learn more about Parkside.
“What exactly does a PR Agency do?” Because we “What exactly does a PR Agency do?” Because we get this question often, we have a series on our blog where we dive into our recent projects to give you a look at what a PR Agency really does.
 
For example, a statewide resource for small businesses recently hired Clairemont to devise an executive visibility campaign to help position the organization and its director as the leading small business resource in North Carolina.
 
Head to our blog to read what exactly an executive visibility campaign entails and to learn more about our services!
So you say it’s National Coffee Day? We say let So you say it’s National Coffee Day? We say let us tell you about our new favorite @drink321coffee ! If you are in Raleigh, go see Paul, the other Paul, Emma  or whichever smiling faces are working today. We LOVE this place and the coffee! ❤️❤️❤️
Our client @wendellfallsnc, one of the largest mas Our client @wendellfallsnc, one of the largest master-planned communities in the Triangle, closed on its first age-eligible rental community plan, Arden at Wendell Falls, that will offer 140 open-concept units and exclusive onsite amenities!
 
Visit our blog to see the @trianglebizjrnl coverage and read the full feature in the TBJ to learn more about Arden at Wendell Falls.
Staying in Raleigh this Labor Day weekend? Stop by Staying in Raleigh this Labor Day weekend? Stop by client @vitaviteraleigh for good snacks and great wine!🍷 Both locations are open normal hours Friday-Sunday and closed on Monday.
You never know who might be hanging out at The Cla You never know who might be hanging out at The Clairemont House. Thanks to @yellowdogcreative for helping save this buddy. Notice that we speak lizard. Or skink. Or gecko or whatever he is. Or maybe it’s the extra caffeine before our client presentation.
Yep, our town is pretty cool. #raleigh Yep, our town is pretty cool. #raleigh
Who wants to have a Friday afternoon porch meeting Who wants to have a Friday afternoon porch meeting?
Congrats to our new neighbor on Bloodworth Street Congrats to our new neighbor on Bloodworth Street South @raleighwineshop ! @blah2voila was there today representing Clairemont at the grand opening festivities and enjoying the @grandchamphospitality sandwich pop up. Yum! 🍷🥪
It’s National Volunteer Month, and volunteers ar It’s National Volunteer Month, and volunteers are needed more than ever! Many organizations with scarce resources rely on volunteers and would not exist without them. Visit our recent blog post to read about the organizations Clairemont has supported and how you can make a difference in your community!
Authenticity is trending, and research shows that Authenticity is trending, and research shows that consumers are 2.4 times more likely to view user-generated content as authentic. Read our recent blog post to learn about UGC, how it can benefit your brand and how to use it in your marketing strategy.
From social values to behavior patterns, COVID-19 From social values to behavior patterns, COVID-19 has left an impact on every sector of life, including marketing. Read our blog on marketing in a post-COVID world to learn how things have changed and how that should impact your business strategy.
We are so excited to share that Clairemont earned We are so excited to share that Clairemont earned eight awards, five gold🥇and three silver🥈, at this year's Sir Walter Raleigh Awards hosted by the Raleigh Public Relations Society!🎉 We are beyond grateful to work with so many amazing partners, clients and industry friends!
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