Tag: Clairemont Communications

Meet Alex, Clairemont Intern

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The Search for my Unicorn

Walking onto the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s campus four years ago, I was determined. I was in search of an elusive “passion.” I had no idea what I wanted to do. Much like the mythical unicorn, a “passion” to study seemed just out of reach, improbable of being real. I wanted to walk into a class and realize, “This is it; this is what I want to do with my life!” I envied my friends who had concrete dreams and career plans of being a doctor or a high school teacher. I knew that I loved people, writing and embracing my creative side, but I couldn’t figure out how to translate that into a major.

My academic advisor came to know me well, as I switched my major from English to Pre-Business to Management in Society. With each new major I declared, I found bits and pieces of things I enjoyed, but it still felt like something was missing. As the end of sophomore year came around, I decided to sign up for a class in one concentration I hadn’t considered: public relations.

It was an Introduction to Advertising and Public Relations class. I only vaguely knew what PR entailed at the time, but I figured, why not?

My Light Bulb Moment

That class was a game-changer for me.

I realized I could have a job that encompassed so many of my interests. I could tell a client’s story through writing, brainstorm creative campaigns and engage with people in a field of work that was constantly evolving. Working with real-life clients was especially exciting, since I could see the tangible effects that my work had for different organizations.

As I worked my way through various PR classes, I finally found what I had been looking for at UNC-CH. It wasn’t a single light bulb moment or a swift discovery. The more I learned, the more my interest in PR turned into passion. I enjoyed the fast-paced environment and the creative side I got to use.

What Comes Next?

I wear a lot of different hats: writer, people-person, adventurer … even competitive jump roper and fitness instructor. With PR, I have found a concentration that allows me to engage with everything I love. I can do videography for my jump rope club, I write blog posts about my travel and fitness goals, and I can help others tell their stories, too.

I am looking forward to continuing my learning as an intern at Clairemont Communications this spring. As I finish up my last semester of classes at UNC and get ready to enter the “real world,” I am unbelievably excited for what comes next.

Written by Clairemont intern Alex Davis-Isaac, a senior at UNC.

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Thanksgiving at Clairemont

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There’s a lot Clairemont has to be thankful for this year—our creative, hardworking team, beautiful home office space in the heart of downtown Raleigh, award recognition from both the Public Relations Society of America and the Raleigh Public Relations Society, and most importantly, our amazing clients.

While all of us here at Clairemont are thankful for many similar things, we each have a few aspects special to us that deserve recognition.

Anna

“I’m thankful for this amazing internship opportunity at Clairemont. Over the past few months, I have learned a great deal about the PR and communications industries through various projects and by working directly with clients. I have had the privilege to work with and learn from an incredible group of energetic and fun women who are extremely talented at what they do. I am also thankful for the Clairemont porch that has doubled as my creative thinking hub on beautiful fall days and for the Clairemont candy jar (and a team who never judges me for eating way too many Jolly Ranchers).

On a more personal note, I am thankful for my friends and family who always support me. I am grateful to be spending this Thanksgiving with my loved ones, even though they somehow convinced me to run a turkey trot race.”

Kaitlyn

“This year I’m thankful for new opportunities. At Clairemont, I’m actually getting to write and create for clients. I really feel like I’m a part of the team and getting to leave my mark. I also like being the first one in the office twice a week. It feels like a fresh start and a new opportunity to help clients and Clairemont as I unlock the door, get all the lights on and put on a pot of coffee. It seems small, but it’s refreshing. I’m grateful to start each day with optimism and enthusiasm.

I’m also grateful for my many nieces and nephews who make me laugh, build my patience and enjoy sweets as much as me.”

Cherith

“What am I thankful for this year at Clairemont? That chalkboard wall in a little room we call “The Pitch Parlor.” Truthfully, it owes its name to our love of alliteration at Clairemont, and we imagined we’d retreat into its cozy ambience — complete with heart-shaped chairs — to make media calls. It since has taken on a rather jack-of-all trades function, but it still sports its hallmark chalkboard wall. I’m thankful for what this wall represents. It almost begs to be covered in drawings — ideas, musings, brainstorms. There’s a sense of exciting possibilities and an encouragement for exploration. This quality mirrors the atmosphere at Clairemont — a team eager to spin new ideas, explore new paths, encourage bright ideas and make great things happen together. For that, I am thankful.

Personally, I’m thankful for Oreo Truffles. I’ve had some good ones. And I’m eternally grateful for a family that never quits.”

Tracy

“First and foremost, I am thankful for my family. I have a loving husband who is truly a best friend and partner, two amazing children and an extended family that I love dearly. I also thank God every day for a profession that continues to inspire me, a job that I love and that I have the pleasure of working with the most outstanding women. Friends that are family are also at the top of my list. It takes a village to raise a family with our busy schedules, and we are blessed to be raising ours alongside our oldest and dearest friends. And last but not least, I am thankful for Amazon Prime. Quite simply it just makes life easier. Especially at Christmas time 🙂 Rather than running all over town, anything I need can be delivered to my doorstep. Sometimes it’s all about the little things that make our life a little less hectic.”

Kelli

“There’s so much to be thankful for! This year, we bought our first home, moved back to our home state, started new jobs and celebrated our second kid’s first birthday. We couldn’t have done any of these things without the full support of our amazing family and friends. They helped oversee home inspections and renovations when we lived 1,000 miles away. They helped us find daycare for our kids. They helped us pack up in Massachusetts and unpack in North Carolina. They housed us, fed us, watched the kids, watched our cat and even got/gave us jobs. When we called upon them (and even when we didn’t) they stepped up and asked: ‘What do you need? What can I do?’ As I come up on Thanksgiving this year, a year that held just as many challenges as it did joys, I’m overwhelmed with the love that so many people showered over us this year and I can honestly say, I’ve never been more grateful for anything.”

Dana

“I am thankful for my son and his fearless creativity! He is a prolific artist, skilled videographer and overall talented creator. I’m always amused by how quickly he executes an idea, and I love hearing about what’s next. For example, the other night he recorded several songs that he ‘wrote’ as he was recording them. I’m so grateful that he is never afraid to explore and express his creative passions.

I am thankful for all the Clairemont team members. I’ve always heard that the key to success for a business owner is to hire people smarter than you. I have done just that! I love working with the smart, experienced, dedicated and kind people who bring their best to our clients each day.

I am thankful for having a beautiful place to work in our lovely City of Oaks. The Clairemont House, located in downtown Raleigh, has been home to Clairemont for about five years. Whether we are cranking out ideas in our ‘crank room’ or gathered around the kitchen island brainstorming ideas for a client, we find the character of this historic home to encourage positive energy and productivity.”

We certainly have a lot to be thankful for at Clairemont this year. We are looking forward to spending the holiday season with our loved ones at home and at work. Here at Clairemont, we begin each day with smiles on our faces and an optimistic outlook knowing that we will inevitably find one more thing for which to be thankful.

Happy Thanksgiving from our team to you and yours!

Written by Clairemont Intern Anna Ostrowski, a senior at UNC.

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Meet Anna, Clairemont Intern

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From Pre-Med to PR

As a freshman, I came to college with a lot of uncertainty in regards to what I wanted to spend the next four years of my life studying. I thought for sure, however, that my degree would be in the field of science. Perhaps I would earn a Bachelor of Science in biology with plans to go to nursing school, medical school or dental school. Four years later, I’m a senior at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill majoring in advertising with a minor in cognitive science. What happened, you ask?

The Transformation

After taking an introductory biology course paired with a lab and a statistics course my first semester, I soon realized that science wasn’t for me. I learned the hard way that college level science courses were a bit more advanced than the standard high school curriculum. Hoping to find a subject I was passionate about, I spent the following semesters taking various classes to fulfill my general education requirements. I found psychology interesting and picked up a cognitive science minor along the way. By the end of my sophomore year, I still wasn’t sure what vocation I wanted to pursue. Naturally, I was confused and began to panic.

Soon after, I walked into academic advising to declare my major to advertising through the UNC-CH School of Media and Journalism on a whim, not having taken a single class within the discipline. I heard great things about the program and the professors, but I simply hoped for the best.

The Transformed

The rest was history, and the best came. I have highly enjoyed all of the courses I have taken and the skills I’ve gained during my time as a journalism student. From working with Cartier in a creative advertising course to traveling to China on a global immersion program to learn about how the advertising, PR and journalism industries function in a communist country, the experiences I have gained will prove useful in all of my future career endeavors.

Not only do I have my professors to thank but also my internship opportunities that have provided me with real-world experience within the advertising, PR and marketing industries. As an intern at Clairemont Communications, I hope to expand upon my knowledge in the PR industry by working closely with clients to help them achieve their business goals. From creating social media campaigns to delivering media pitches and assisting with long-awaited grand openings of businesses, I am excited to meet new people and learn new things.

As they say at UNC-CH, “The ceiling is the roof.” At Clairemont, I hope to achieve new heights.

Written by Clairemont Intern Anna Ostrowski, a senior at UNC.

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Meet Kaitlyn, Clairemont Intern

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The dream job

Bakery owner. First-grade teacher. Founder of a dog and cat rescue. Novelist. If you asked me today what my dream job is, I would probably say one of these or something similar to it — without much thought or consideration mostly because these jobs are simple to define and palatable. Additionally, each job caters to big loves of mine: desserts, kids, animals and writing. However, it wouldn’t be entirely true of me to say that my dream job was a bakery owner or novelist.

Within a few years of any one of these jobs I would be bored. That’s not much of a dream job, is it?

How I found it

Early in my sophomore year at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, I started to have doubts about the degree in global studies I was pursuing. It was too similar to my political science major, and I felt limited both creatively and in the opportunities available to me. I decided to take two classes in the School of Media and Journalism just to see if I would like the material — and I loved it. I was immediately captivated with public relations, in part because the classes and faculty offered an environment where I felt valued and truly learned, but even more so because I finally realized that my true dream job is in communications. In May of 2019, I’ll graduate with a bachelor’s degree in media and journalism and a bachelor’s degree in political science.

As a public relations practitioner I could work on a bakery’s grand opening or do media relations for an elementary school getting state-of-the-art technology. I could work on the website and newsletter for an animal shelter or arrange readings for a novelist at smaller, intimate bookstores to debut their books. Essentially, in public relations, I would have the opportunity to put on a new hat, work with new people and tackle new problems every day.

How I’ll get it

Despite spending much of the past few years in a classroom or library, I’ve always had a fascination with life and an eagerness to see as much of the world and meet as many people as possible. This has fueled my love of traveling — most recently to London — and my love of books that share exciting stories and ideas. It also makes coming home to my family and friends in the western mountains of North Carolina that much sweeter.

I hope to bring that fascination and eagerness to Clairemont, putting life and energy into each of my projects. I know that my time at Clairemont will be full of learning opportunities, new people and new ideas — just some more of my favorite things. I am excited and humbled to be working at an agency that can give detailed care to its clients, and I can’t wait to see what we accomplish at Clairemont in the months ahead. I know this internship will better prepare me for my dream job in public relations.

Written by Clairemont intern Kaitlyn Karcher, a senior at UNC.

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Boost Your Blog

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Inception warning: we’re writing a blog on blogs.

You’ve spent hours researching, writing and editing your blog post. It’s perfect. You want the entire world (well, your key publics) to read and love it.

Clicking the publish button isn’t the end of the blog’s journey, though. Ensure that your post doesn’t just live on your website by tapping into other communication mediums to expand reach and boost engagement. To accomplish this, here are four tactics on our radar:

Instagram Story

Example from Sugar & Cloth on Instagram.

If your business page has more than 10,000 followers, you can embed a link in your Instagram Story. With a simple swipe, followers are whisked directly to your website to read the blog. In your story, entice viewers by announcing the blog’s topic and including a CTA like “Swipe up for the full post!” On the Social Media Examiner podcast, Sue B. Zimmerman recommends creating a “Blog” highlights folder where all of your blog-related stories can live forever. (Check out our previous post for more info on Instagram Highlights and why they’re important.)

For an advanced social media move, try going live on Instagram to talk about the post. Sue goes live for 45 minutes the same day she releases a blog post to talk in detail about the topic and bring in guests. Her efforts create an engaging, exciting experience of each post for viewers.

Infographic or Visual Graphic

Itching to show off your creative side? Turn words into pictures through a graphic. Visuals are not only more interesting to look at than long-form text but also easier to share with others.

Is there a piece of info in your blog post that could be depicted visually? Share the graphic on social media to hook viewers and accompany it with a link to the full blog.

Podcast Episode

This ever-growing audio platform was made for the multitasker. Listeners tune in while making their morning commute or evening dinner, which drives deep engagement because there’s less effort needed. Repurpose your written content into an episode that expands on the topic and brings in guests.

Does it seem daunting to take the mic? Check out “How to Start a Podcast” for an in-depth guide by The Podcast Host.

Social Sharing Schedule

This tactic is shorthand for publishing your post more than once on each social media platform. Garrett Moon with Kissmetrics defends the blog repost because it provides your audience the value you promised them. Sharing the blog a second or third time captures the viewers who missed your initial post, and it demonstrates that your content is still relevant weeks and months later.

Garrett cautions against becoming a spammer to your audiences. In his step-by-step guide to create a social sharing schedule, he recommends varying how often the blog is shared on each platform and switching up the message to create different hooks.

From Blog to Brand

These tactics drive traffic to the mother lode: your website. When audiences arrive at your blog post from an Instagram story, Facebook infographic or podcast episode, they may stick around and explore everything else your website has to offer. The boost to your blog will translate into overall brand strength as your activity across all platforms builds a central brand identity.

What do we love more than our own blog posts? Those of our clients. Drop us a line to see how we can help you get the most out of your blog content.

Written by intern Elizabeth Comtois, a senior at UNC-Chapel Hill. 

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