Did you know that more than 144 billion emails are sent each day? Talk about volume! It also serves as a reminder just how important it is to craft effective, eye-catching emails.
For this installment of On the Record, I put together my top three tips for crafting the perfect email.
What tips and tricks do you use to help cut through the clutter? Share your tips on our Facebook page.
McGavock Edwards, strategic communications director at Eckel & Vaughan, is a seasoned PR practitioner with years of experience juggling work, family and travel schedules. I had the pleasure of working with her for more than a decade and was able to see firsthand how well she balanced a demanding career and family time. I recently caught up with McGavock and she shared a few of her secrets to success, as well as some of her favorite Raleigh hotspots.
What is your occupation?
Strategic communications director at Eckel & Vaughan, a strategic communications agency located in Raleigh, NC.
What about the field of PR excites you the most?
It’s funny, really. I’m a gal who loves structure, routine and order. But, my favorite thing about PR? A day is never the same. Whether it’s learning about a new challenge begging for effective communication principles, studying the ever-changing communication landscape, or the questions that arise when a field changes so often, the ebb and flow of PR thrills me. Everyday. All day.
How has your career/professional life changed since becoming a mom?
When I first became a working mom, it was tough. I yearned for that perfect work-life balance. I always felt like I was cheating someone. Work suffered if I was focused on my child. And, I felt guilty being at work instead of at home. But, now that I have a few years under my belt, wisdom (and peace) have settled in. There is no such thing as work-life balance—at least not with a 50-50- split. Life is messy. Being a working mom is messy. It’s a struggle, but it’s also wonderful to be able to feel fulfilled in all aspects of my life. The key for me? Be as present and focused on the person or task in front of me for as long as it takes, and let any guilt roll off my back. Everyone and everything gets the best from me. Well, for the most part.
Any tips for juggling work and motherhood?
Don’t let guilt consume you; it’s a waste of energy. Find an employer who appreciates the value you bring, not only the hours you put in. Keep to-do lists and check them often. And, keep your calendar up-to-date and with you at all times.
Most important thing motherhood has taught you…
Focus on the moment you’re in. Once you have a child, life does truly fly by.
What do you enjoy doing when you have down time?
I’ve always liked to read, but lately I’m lucky to get through one Vanity Fair article, much less a whole book. Recently, I’ve indulged in the adult coloring fad. I know – so “basic” of me. But, I’ve found that after day of words, colors soothe my soul.
What are your favorite Raleigh hotspots?
For Your Convenience is a fave to stop by during lunch when I need a gift or a treat for myself. I love Salt + Lime for dinner with the girls. Uniquities in North Hills is my go-to for a cute new top. Millbrook Tennis Center is where I take my aggression out (on a little yellow ball).
What are three of your “faves” right now?
1) The Blackberry Smash from Salt + Lime in North Raleigh is delish. It’s not on the menu anymore, so it requires the right bartender and some sweet talk.
2) My favorite TV show is Scandal. It’s dramatic, current and smart.
3) Postmates and Amazon Prime save so much time!
To read about other inspiring mommas like McGavock, check out our previous Oh Momma Monday posts.
A few days ago, Facebook released a new way to share your emotions on posts. You can now select from five emojis ranging from love to sad. CEO Mark Zuckerberg claims that the Facebook community has been asking for a dislike button for years, but he wanted to showcase a variety of emotions. To see the new reactions options, hold down the like button and then tap either like, love, haha, wow, sad or angry.
How do you feel about Facebook’s newest change? Were you really hoping for a dislike button, or do the new additions have you seeing the heart-eyed emoji?
What does this all mean for emoticons? Well, nothing. That’s because emojis and emoticons are two different things and using the two terms interchangeably in conversation isn’t correct. So what’s the difference?
Emoticons
According to The Guardian, an emoticon is a facial representation used to convey emotion in a text only medium. The last time I remember using an emoticon would have to have been in high school (okay, maybe my freshman year in college before I morphed into an iPhone-carrying, FaceTime-obsessed diva). No one is just smiling 🙂 anymore.
Emojis
Instead of showcasing only facial expressions, emojis are actual pictures, ranging from people and families to cars, trucks and specific flags of different countries. Emojis are the colorful, playful characters that make our text conversations a tad bit juicier. Seriously, why settle for a few combinations when you can scroll through what seems like thousands of choices to describe your mood, location and even the food that you’re nibbling that day?
As PR professionals, we have to make sure that we are always sensitive to dialects, trends and different generations’ perspectives on communication. Since emojis and emoticons are a language of their own, they may be able to break down language barriers and even assist in awkward conversations. As social media continues to grow, pictorial representations of feelings play a huge role in our communication. However, we should be mindful of the usage of emojis in business settings. Sending the kissy face to clients may not be the best choice in the professional world.
What do you think about using emojis and emoticons in our industry? How often do you use them? Comment to us on Facebook!
Crisis communications is a vital element to any PR plan. However, all too often it’s more of an afterthought than a key component of the strategy. I sat down with Stephanie Llorente, founder of Prep Communications, who says crisis communications is all about preparation, preparation, preparation.
How do you prepare for crisis incidents? Connect with us on Facebook.
Today’s post is written by Clairemont intern, Emma Kirkpatrick.
We’ve all heard it – chatter that Facebook is slowly dying and is doomed to become the next MySpace. But before you go and break up with Facebook, consider this. Yes, more and more users, specifically young teenagers, are trading in their Facebook accounts for newer social media platforms, such as Instagram and WhatsApp. But let’s not forget who owns these apps—Facebook.
And why did Facebook decide to buy these apps? With its steady user base and enormous funds, Facebook is changing and adapting to the new social media environment where it is not the only social network anymore. In more recent years, an average social media user navigates between multiple platforms, including Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat.
But what makes Facebook different from these newer platforms? Channels like Snapchat allow users to post pictures that will disappear and be forgotten after a few seconds or hours. On the other hand, Facebook aims to allow users to post photos designed to be remembered, such as weddings, graduations and family reunions. Each platform’s goals and functionalities differ, helping to further distinguish them.
Teenagers might say that Snapchat, Twitter and Instagram are the “in” platforms and Facebook just isn’t cool anymore. But according to Business Insider’s article in 2013 when Facebook seemed to be diminishing, Mark Zuckerberg said, “People assume that we’re trying to be cool. It’s never been my goal. I’m the least cool person there is! We’re almost 10 years old so we’re definitely not a niche thing any more so that kind of angle for coolness is done for us.”
Instead of trying to be the trendy site that relies on the cool factor to attract users, Facebook is trying to build a lasting product to compete in the same market with platforms such as Google.
Recent data shows that Facebook continues to squash the competition in social media traffic referrals. This may be because businesses and companies still rely heavily on Facebook for marketing strategies and endorsement activities.
So even though there are new channels, tools and platforms popping up daily, Facebook isn’t dying anytime soon.
How do you feel about Facebook? Connect with us on Facebook and let us know!
