Skip to content

615-294-1886

d@clairemontcommunications.com

Clairemont Communications

Clairemont Communications

  • About Us
  • Awards
  • Blog
  • Our Work
  • Services
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
  • Awards
  • Blog
  • Our Work
  • Services
  • Contact Us

Tag: business relationships

Networking in the Age of the Internet

Networking in the Age of the Internet

May 16, 2019January 31, 2023 Kelli FletcherBlog, Professional Development, Public Relationsbusiness relationships, making connections, networking

Networking is about collecting relationships with interesting or influential people regardless of the immediate benefit. If you have social media, you’re already good at this. After all, you collect friends and followers on all platforms. You post to get their approval through “likes” and “comments.” You use hashtags to make yourself and your content easily searchable, and you seek others to follow who will add something interesting to your feed.

But, ask yourself: when was the last time you met an acquaintance for coffee midday or drinks after work? How long has it been since you slunk into a room of professionals, put your name on a sticker and mingled in search of (cringe face) … small talk? Yeah, it’s been awhile for me, too.

Which begs the question, has our evolved technological communication actually devolved our personal interactions? Because of this, is the age-old art of networking dying in the Internet age?

With numerous articles crediting “Millennial Burnout” (is it even just Millennials?) to our constant connectivity, it’s almost impossible to remember that tuning out and turning off is something that must be done from time to time.

And networking just may be the thing for which to stop scrolling and start shaking hands. While there’s a lot to like about curated feeds and pumped-up LinkedIn profiles, there’s something quite nice about building relationships with actual people, which is the whole point of networking. And today, it’s more than matching a face with a name. Matching a personalized interaction with a face still matters.

So, get up and get out there! Make the most of meeting new people and networking in your city. There’s no doubt that opportunities will come from it – even if it’s just keeping your communication skills honed! As you mingle, here are some tips to keep in mind:

Don’t limit your network.

It doesn’t necessarily matter if someone is inside or outside of your industry, if they are influential, commit to connecting with that person. Often, a third party can offer fresh perspectives and make new introductions.

Go for quality not quantity.

Don’t just shake a bunch of hands and collect cards. Take time to have a real discussion. In the middle of a great conversation with someone? Don’t feel the need to move on so quickly. While you should be aware of their time (and your own), don’t be afraid to become engaged. The goal is to make meaningful – not numerous – connections.

Listen, then show them you heard.  

When first joining a group of people, take a few minutes to listen and then enter the conversation with a comment that adds to the discussion. Nothing will stop a conversation faster than focusing on yourself.

Follow up!

Don’t miss the opportunity to follow up! Send a note to each person with whom you exchanged information and remark on your interaction. Mention something specific to make the connection personal. Follow through on offers made to connect them and/or scheduling lunch. Keep the momentum going.

Want more tips on how to make important business connections? Check out our video post!

Read More
Faith, Trust and Pixie Dust

Faith, Trust and Pixie Dust

March 8, 2018January 31, 2023 Clairemont InternBlog, Public Relations, Raleigh PR Agencybusiness relationships, clairemont intern, client relations, communication, PR Agency

Trust is the glue that holds relationships together. It’s the stuff that builds friendships and, coincidentally, great business partnerships.

In 2014, Rubin Postaer and Associates partnered with USA TODAY to conduct a survey on the current state of the client/agency relationship. What is the one factor they found that fosters the most success for both the client AND the agency? “Clients trusting their agencies.” It’s the naked truth.

Of course, it can take a while to get to that point, right? Strong, trusting relationships don’t develop overnight. It takes an intentional effort to get to know your clients and a true desire to solve their needs. Putting in the extra effort will pay off in the long run, though, and will likely result in more business on both sides in the future.

How to Make That Magic

When I worked with Disney, I learned the true meaning of a mutually beneficial relationship. I had to establish trust with my potential customers before I even began to sell them their best-fit ticket. The same principles that applied to my job as a vacation planner are the same ones that we use at Clairemont to build our long-standing relationships with clients. Here are some cornerstones of a solid agency-client relationship.

  1. Listen (actually listen) to their concerns. This doesn’t mean to smile and nod and start planning your reply the second the other person starts talking. Above all, the purpose of PR is to serve clients’ needs. So, be ready to actively listen, ask questions and confirm with the client before your brain starts running a mile a minute.
  2. Don’t promise something that you can’t deliver. If a client request is impractical or unlikely to succeed, be honest about it and suggest an alternative. Transparency, even when it involves sharing bad news, is infinitely better than promising something that never gets done.
  3. Be consistent. Communicate deadlines with your client and meet them with exceptional work. Return phone calls. Show up to meetings prepared and on time without fail. A series of small steps adds up to one giant leap towards a strong, trusting relationship.
  4. Constantly communicate. Throughout the project, the most important thing you can do is check in with the client. Is he or she getting the desired results? At the end, what did he or she wish had gone differently? What will you specifically adjust now or in future campaigns?
  5. Go the extra mile. Always. Do the extra work, the hard work, the creative work. Take genuine interest in them as a person (which we do!). As the saying goes, you’ve gotta be a friend to have a friend.

Itching for an agency you can trust? Let us show you how it’s done.

Written by Jessica Winesette, a senior at UNC-Chapel Hill.

Read More
On the Record: Networking

On the Record: Networking

April 20, 2016January 31, 2023 Sarah HattmanBlog, On the Record, Professional Developmentbusiness contacts, business relationships, connections, Marketing, networking, PR, Public Relations

Networking is an essential part of any business. It’s all about who you know as well as who they know, but if you think a deep Rolodex or a robust LinkedIn profile is the key to success, think again.

For this installment of On the Record we’re talking with networking expert Brian Hoyle of Hot Air Marketing who offers his tips for making important business connections.

 

https://clairemontcommunications.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Networking-2.m4v

 

How do you approach networking? Connect with us on Facebook to share your tips!

Read More

Categories

  • APR
  • Awards
  • Blog
  • Case Studies
  • Clairemont Client News
  • Copy Cat
  • Counselors Academy
  • Entry-Level PR Job
  • Fashion
  • Free Advice
  • Furniture PR
  • Hiring a PR Firm
  • In Our Community
  • Inspirational
  • Internal Communications
  • Marketing
  • Oh Momma Monday
  • On the Record
  • Our Work
  • Owning a Business
  • Photo of the Week
  • PR People
  • Professional Development
  • Public Relations
  • Raleigh PR Agency
  • Real Estate PR
  • Restaurant PR + Hospitality PR
  • Social Media + Influencer Engagement
  • Starting a business
  • Sustainability
  • The Clairemont Team
  • Travel
  • Trends
  • Wonderfully Random

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!
Follow on Instagram
  • 2023
  • 2022
  • 2021
  • 2020
  • 2019
  • 2018
  • 2017
  • 2016
  • 2015
  • 2014
  • 2013
  • 2012
  • 2011
  • 2010
Proudly powered by WordPress | Theme: realy-store by inverstheme.
Cleantalk Pixel