Tag: PR tips

Tackling TV: The Power of Broadcast

Kelli FletcherBlog, Clairemont Client News, Public Relations, ,

When client WGU North Carolina partnered with the USO of North Carolina to offer $20,000 in scholarships for the state’s military community, Clairemont wanted to spread the word far and wide. Targeting multiple online and print media outlets, Clairemont tackled both small-town and big-city papers in an effort to reach audiences across the state. While Clairemont secured coverage in rural publications – a target market for WGU North Carolina – our team wanted to take coverage to the next level and score a top-tier broadcast hit for our client.

Image from WNCT-TV’s coverage.

While Clairemont had client assets ready to offer stations on the spot, including a news release and a video of WGU North Carolina’s chancellor speaking about the partnership, we knew we needed more. To give us a better shot, our team went back to the drawing board to tailor our original pitch to TV. What resulted was a powerful, timely angle that grabbed the attention of multiple reporters at TV stations in different markets. We secured two traditional TV coverage opportunities as well as an in-depth piece on Spectrum News. Spectrum’s coverage highlighted WGU North Carolina’s partnership with the USO, showcasing how the university was helping solve a critical problem – the reintegration of veterans into civilian society. The piece included interviews with WGU North Carolina Chancellor Catherine Truitt, a rep from the USO of North Carolina, and a veteran who was also an incoming student at WGU North Carolina and could speak to education as an important part of his reintegration. The complete story was shared across reporters’ Facebook pages and online, and also aired multiple times throughout the day in both Raleigh and Charlotte. Needless to say, our client was thrilled with the results and is still able to leverage the coverage to this day.

Image from Spectrum News coverage.

Whether a short segment or an in-depth interview, securing a TV story for a client is always a win. And while it can often seem daunting and even intimidating to pitch broadcast media, the Clairemont team has refined our pitch process to a T.

Want to hear more about how we may be able to secure TV coverage for your business? Drop us a line!

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3 PR Tips from a Rising Star

Clairemont InternBlog, Professional Development, Public Relations, , ,

Written by Casey Moore, senior at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Throughout my time at UNC-Chapel Hill, I have been lucky to enough to learn from established professionals within public relations. I have taken courses in Crisis Communication, PR Writing, Marketing, Case Studies and PR Campaigns. Despite this robust selection, I still believe I’ve learned many valuable communication lessons outside of the classroom. I spent time as a Media and Journalism School Ambassador, the marketing manager of an improvisational comedy group and a multi-media leader for Relay for Life, among other things. With these groups, I have walked away with a few  “aha” moments.

1. You can’t please everyone.

Sometimes it is best to trust your instincts rather than ask for a vote on campaign items. Crowd-sourced design or writing can be hard to manage, and there will also be things various voices wish you had done differently. That being said, it is better to turn in the creative deliverable on time than worry about getting it “perfect” according to every party.

2. Wacky Can Work.

Crazier marketing material can garner significant online traction! Due to the fact I was often promoting comedy shows, I had freedom to get sillier. My team used guerilla tactics on campus to nab attention. For one show, we staged a milk and La Croix chug in the center of the university. Approximately 50 students gathered around to gape at the showdown, and hundreds watched the video via Facebook Live. Another comedic venture was “Fall for Chips.” Several teammates decided to stage fake tripping incidents on campus, causing a ruckus in the library and in lunch halls. They filmed passerbys’ reactions, creating a hilarious video was viewed more than 6,000 times on Facebook.

3. Timing Matters.

While every millennial seems to be on her phone throughout the whole day, there are certain times where more college-aged people will see your post. In Relay for Life, we carefully strategized when to announce updates or post on Instagram. Most people scroll through their entire newsfeeds first thing in the morning and right before they go to sleep. While you may be eager to post an exciting design or picture, post in these windows of opportunity.

Check out Casey’s other tips on how to keep your audience’s attention!

 

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