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Category: Blog

Journey to the Center of Ali

Journey to the Center of Ali

February 21, 2022January 31, 2023 Clairemont InternBlog, The Clairemont TeamPublic Relations, Raleigh PR Agency

During these times of uncertainty, I am positive that being an intern at Clairemont Communications is the right fit for me. Here is a little about who I am and what makes me, me. 

Daughter: 

I am a daughter to three, my dad, my stepmom and my mom. Each of these people are mentors to me and for a while, I placed most of my success in what they thought of me. Both my stepmom and dad served in the military, which taught me discipline and organization. To this day, I value their opinions more than anyone else. They have sacrificed for me, and I’m always trying to make them proud, and I think I have.

The older sibling:

My sister is two years younger than me, therefore I grew up often “taking care” of her. This is how I learned responsibility from an early age. My parents’ divorce also made me grow up quickly. By high school, I was a pro at navigating communication between my parents and at getting my sister and me to and from each home. 

Christian: 

My hometown church, Snyder Memorial Baptist, holds a special place in my heart. Many of the youth group leaders at church are some of my best role models and have helped me grow into the person I am today. My faith is one of my priorities, and I’m humbled by the love and grace God continues to show me each day. 

Amateur Athlete: 

Especially during warmer months, I can be found running or exercising outside. I’m embracing my youth and trying to take advantage of the strength I have while I have it. In May, I am running in the Cincinnati Flying Pig half marathon. I am also the Ambassador of Changing Health, Attitudes and Actions to Recreate Girls (CHAARG), a national health and fitness community for college women, at NC State and attend weekly workouts at local studios. Being active improves my well-being, including my physical, mental and spiritual health. 

Student: 

Currently, I’m a Junior at NC State. I was originally deferred from NC State. Although discouraging, it gave me the opportunity to study abroad in Prague my fall semester freshman year. Studying abroad taught me independence like no other and helped me understand the importance of communication, especially cross-culturally. Once on campus, I took interest in the communication program and later found the public relations concentration. After taking a few classes and learning about PRSSA on campus, I dove into the field and saw PR as my future career. This past year I joined the board of PRSSA to further my knowledge and it has helped me grow! Because of my interest in events and public leisure activities, I also added a minor in parks, recreation and tourism.  

Overachiever: 

At the core of my being, I want to be the best version of myself. I am always looking for new opportunities to learn and improve. Some may say I am an overachiever, but at the heart of it all, each endeavor I pursue teaches me something new and that motivates me to branch out and push myself even more.

Intern: 

All these factors of my life brought me to Clairemont Communications. My upbringing has taught me the importance of communication, creativity, hard work and relationships via networking. This is why during uncertain times, I am positive that being an intern at Clairemont Communications is the right fit for me. I am determined to make an impact and am excited to show what I can bring to the team!

By Clairemont intern Ali de la Vega, a Junior at NC State.

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2022 recent Instagram updates

2022 recent Instagram updates

January 27, 2022January 31, 2023 Olivia NolesBlog, Marketing, Social Media + Influencer EngagementInstagram, instagram marketing, Public Relations, Raleigh PR Agency, Social Media

Instagram is constantly changing and evolving to compete with other social media platforms and meet all the wants and needs of its users. As the app continues to change, your strategy needs to continue to change as well. Keep reading to learn the 2022 recent Instagram updates and how your strategy should change.

Instagram updates app to have multiple feeds

A recent Instagram update that will launch in 2022 is multiple feeds, similar to the layout that TikTok uses. The Instagram feed options include: “Following,” “Favorites” and “Home.” Following includes only accounts users actually follow and is chronological, a setting users have been begging Instagram to bring back. Favorites is a smaller, more curated feed that includes only accounts users have gone through and personally favorited. Home is “the Instagram you know today,” meaning all of the above along with Instagram’s recommended content for you, like curated ads and suggested users.

Shoppable posts take priority in the Instagram algorithm

Instagram wants the app to be a one-stop shop. Users find the product on the app, then they can immediately buy it on the app. Instagram is adding additional incentives to shoppers, such as discounts and money off to encourage users to shop in the app.

If you are a business that sells products, look into utilizing the shoppable posts feature on Instagram. There are pros and cons to this feature, but a major pro is that the algorithm currently pushes shoppable content more than non-shoppable content.

All accounts can use the link feature

Another recent Instagram update is allowing all accounts to have the ability to link on stories. When Instagram launched the links feature, it was only available to users with 10k followers. Now, all accounts can link to external sites on Instagram stories.

A business should use Instagram stories to link to any external content it wants its audience to see. For example, blogs, websites, products, menus, reviews, events- the list goes on and on.

You can now search for content on Instagram

Like Pinterest, Instagram has rolled out the ability to search content based on keywords rather than just hashtags, locations and users. That means that when writing captions, you need to consider which keywords you are factoring in along with your hashtag strategy.

Instagram is primarily focusing on video

As mentioned in a previous blog post, Instagram has announced that it is no longer just a photo-sharing app. Since this announcement, Instagram has prioritized Reels by pushing them to new audiences and adding a monetization option for creators.

Reels is currently the best way to grow on Instagram. Any time Instagram launches a new feature or content format, the algorithm pushes that content to follow the agenda Instagram has. Because of this, businesses and creators trying to grow should use new features, like Reels, whenever possible.

Tips for growing on Instagram via Reels:

  • Use trending sounds: Trending sounds are those with an arrow beside them in the Instagram app. Some business accounts may not have access to all trending sounds due to usage rights.
  • Content trends: If you cannot use trending sounds, try trending styles of content instead. Finding current trends requires spending some time consuming short-form video content. When you see a common theme, think of how you can spin it to your niche.
  • Play around with how you post Reels: There is a theory that Reels posted only to the Reels page are pushed to new audiences while Reels posted on your feed are pushed to your followers. Another theory is that Reels are discoverable for a longer period of time when sharing to the feed, and that Reels shared only to the Reels tab experience a spike in reach that ultimately levels off and gets no views after roughly an hour. We recommend testing out both options over a period of time and seeing what works best for your account.
  • Share Reels on Facebook too: When posting a Reel, there is an option to also post the Reel to Facebook. Just like the other posting options, we reccomend playing around with this feature and seeing what works best for your account.

Instagram is adding Reel features similar to TikTok

Instagram has added the ability to respond to a comment with a video on Reels. The comment will appear as a sticker on the new video, and the new video will be pinned in the comments of the original Reel. This is a very popular feature on TikTok and a great way to earn more views for both videos since viewers that have only seen the comment response will wonder what the original post was.

Need help launching your own Instagram account for your business or organization? Reach out to us; we’d love to help!

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Neighborhood News features Wendell Falls and Workbench Roasters

Neighborhood News features Wendell Falls and Workbench Roasters

January 20, 2022January 31, 2023 Olivia NolesBlog, Clairemont Client NewsPublic Relations, Raleigh PR Agency, wendell falls, Workbench Roasters

Clairemont client Wendell Falls is a master-planned community in Wendell, North Carolina. Wendell Falls is home to Mike Carty and where his coffee business, Workbench Roasters, was born. 

In 2020, Mike Carty was “in search of the ultimate coffee” and in need of a new hobby. He started experimenting with roasting his own coffee beans and soon began driving around Wendell Falls in his golf cart, delivering coffee to friends and neighbors. When his neighbors kept asking for more, he decided to start Workbench Roasters.

Clairemont recently secured coverage for Wendell Falls and Workbench Roasters in Neighborhood News. In the December issue, Mike shares the story of how Workbench Roasters came to be, the process of sourcing and roasting the perfect coffee bean and what he loves about Wendell Falls. 

Read the full article in the Neighborhood News December Issue and check out other recent Wendell Falls features. 

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How TikTok took over: using short-form video for business

How TikTok took over: using short-form video for business

January 14, 2022January 31, 2023 Olivia NolesBlog, Marketing, Social Media + Influencer EngagementPublic Relations, Raleigh PR Agency, short form video, Social Media, tiktok

For the past few years, short-form video has been taking over social media. The algorithms built around these videos give creators the opportunity to go viral overnight. Read how TikTok took over and our tips for using short-form video for business.

How TikTok took over:

TikTok, a short-form video platform that currently has 1 billion active users worldwide, is at the head of the short-form video.

TikTok’s short-form video platform combines the successful features from other apps, such as the music library and lip-synching feature of Musically and the inside-joke culture around Vine, a short-form video app that thrived in the beginning but ultimately failed.

TikTok combined these loved features of previous apps with an algorithm that made creators and businesses blow up overnight. Unlike any other before, the TikTok algorithm rewards content above all else. It no longer matters how many subscribers or followers you have. Any valuable, quality content has a chance of going viral.

Other reasons TikTok has become so successful is because it is easy to use, the library of sounds creates a community, the short-form video caters to humans’ short attention spans and the custom “For You Page” shows users content they enjoy.

using short-form video for business

Since TikTok’s success, short-form videos and similar formatting and algorithms can now be found across nearly all social media sites. Instagram has Reels, Reels can be seen on Facebook and YouTube has launched YouTube Shorts.

You may be uncertain about the longevity of short-form videos because of Vine. Today’s platforms are different than Vine and more likely to succeed because the apps offer monetization options for creators and are pro-business. With how easy it is to reach new audiences, you should be using short-form video for your business.

How should I use short-form video for my business?

TikTok:

TikTok may be right for your business if your target audience is younger (16-30). It’s a great platform to invest time in because the algorithm shows users content they are likely to enjoy, making your viewers more likely to be interested in your product or service.

To increase the chances of having a video go viral, use trending songs, content styles or jokes, and hook the viewer at the beginning of the video.

While consistent, organic content is a strategy we recommend for any social media platform, TikTok also offers many beneficial advertising opportunities through its TikTok for Business platform.

TikTok for Business serves as a marketing hub for businesses’ accounts and gives businesses the ability to create five different types of ads:

  • TopView: ads that users see when they first open the app
  • Infeed Videos: ads that pop up in between user content
  • Brand Takeovers: allow brands to create images, GIFs and videos that link to webpages or promote hashtag challenges
  • Hashtag Challenges: allow brands to promote a branded hashtag that you can craft to increase engagement and awareness
  • Branded Effects: branded lenses that businesses can put in the foreground or background of videos

Instagram and Facebook:

Instagram has announced that it is no longer just a photo-sharing app and introduced its own version of short-form content called Reels. With a similar algorithm to TikTok, Reels is one of the fastest ways to grow on Instagram.

using short-form video for business

Tips for successful, organic Reels:

  • Share your Reel only to the Reels tab to reach new audiences  
  • Share the Reel in your feed to reach your followers
  • Enable the “recommend on Facebook” setting when posting the Reel to make it viewable on Facebook
  • Use trending sounds, or sounds with a small arrow next to them, to increase your chance of going viral

Ad content can also be created for Reels and will help businesses reach greater audiences. Instagram Reel ads are a feed style, meaning they show up in between organic reels on the reels tab, explore and traditional feed.  

YouTube:

If your business is active on YouTube, you may want to implement YouTube Shorts in your strategy. Shorts is a relatively new feature on YouTube, and there are currently some pros and cons with utilizing the feature:

  • Pro: Can reach new audiences through suggested content
  • Pro: Can increase channel views
  • Con: On the desktop, Shorts are shown with your typical videos, which can clog your page and distract from your long-form content
  • Con: can decrease watch time analytics
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We’re hiring! Seeking an account strategist

We’re hiring! Seeking an account strategist

January 10, 2022January 31, 2023 Olivia NolesBlog, PR People, Public Relations, Raleigh PR Agency, The Clairemont TeamClairemont Communications, PR Agency, Public Relations, Raleigh PR, Raleigh PR Agency

Clairemont is currently seeking smart, responsible, creative and hard-working public relations practitioners. We are looking for individuals 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 co-learning of a team environment for an account strategist position.

Ideal candidates work well in a collaborative environment and independently as self-starters. We are seeking high-energy PR leaders with the ability to build client plans and strategies while anticipating the needs of our accounts as well as our agency. Responsibilities include ensuring that work is delivered on time and satisfactorily, and that relevant team members are kept up to date on the status of accounts and assigned projects.

Versatile applicants who have a proven track record in pitching media, building social media strategies for businesses, writing effective media and marketing communications materials, executing successful client events and cultivating new business leads will be given first consideration.

The account strategist position responsibilities may include:

  • Ensuring that work is delivered on-time and team member are kept up to date on status of accounts and assigned projects
  • Building social media and PR strategies
  • Writing effective media and marketing communication materials
  • Pitching clients to media outlets
  • Executing successful client events
  • Cultivating new business leads

The qualifications are:

  • Bachelor’s degree in public relations, journalism or communications
  • Minimum of 5 years of PR agency experience
  • Strong writing, critical thinking and time management skills
  • Has proven, solid written and verbal communication skills
  • Project management experience and strong organizational skills
  • Motivated self-starter who can handle multiple projects and deadlines at the same time
  • Ability to work in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment
  • Proficient in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel
  • Video editing skills are a plus
  • Ability to communicate in multiple languages is a plus
  • Located in Raleigh, NC

To apply: Send your cover letter, resume and writing samples to Dana Phelps at d@clairemontcommunications.com or apply on LinkedIn.

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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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