Tag: professional development

PRSA’S COUNSELORS ACADEMY MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: Q&A WITH Aaron Blank

Margot HorganBlog, Counselors Academy, Professional Development, Public Relations, , , , , , , , , 2 Comments on PRSA’S COUNSELORS ACADEMY MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: Q&A WITH Aaron Blank

Our very own Dana Hughens is the PRSA’s Counselors Academy Conference Chair for the 2013 conference June 9-11 in Austin, Texas. As conference chair, she has the privilege to work with other members of the conference planning committee, which consists of senior-level PR counselors and agency owners from across the United States and Canada. We caught up with these PR pros to find out their secret to success and what they love most about Counselors Academy.

Say hello to our next blog series guest — Aaron Blank, President at the Fearey Group in Seattle, Washington. Aaron has been with the Fearey Group since 2005 and supports the marketing team for the 2013 Counselors Academy Conference. Keep reading to find out more about Aaron and his PR experiences!

Getting to know you…
Name: Aaron Blank

Agency: The Fearey Group

Position: President

First job in PR: Asst. Account Executive, Edelman

Your insights…

Most loved thing about being in PR: Most loved thing is the fact that we can communicate messages to so many people at any given time. As for working for an agency, it is the mix of industries that keeps me going. I can be working in healthcare one minute, then real estate the next, and then a crisis for a publicly traded company comes in the door. Every day is different.

Best source for breaking PR news: Social media

Number one recommendation to new PR professionals: Gain experience at a public relations agency and get to know the ropes. Doing so will help you down the road.

About Counselors Academy…

Most valuable aspect of being a Counselors Academy member: The network of individuals who have gone through what you have or are experiencing.

Role on the planning committee: Support marketing efforts

Best thing about the Counselors Academy conference: The wealth of knowledge about running a firm or practice is priceless.

Most fun memory of a Counselors Academy conference: Eating turtle soup at Commander’s Palace in New Orleans while joined by CA colleagues from around the country.

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How to Capture Your Audience: Avoiding the TCP

Margot HorganBlog, Entry-Level PR Job, Professional Development, Public Relations, , , , , , , , , , 1 Comment on How to Capture Your Audience: Avoiding the TCP

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We have all experienced it – the boring, routine presentation that leads you to incessantly double-check your watch and meticulously count down the minutes until you are free to leave and go about your day. This kind of presentation can be categorized as a TCP: the Typical Corporate Presentation. While most can agree that public speaking is typically not at the top of the “favorite things to-do” list, it does not mean that you are incapable if giving a stellar presentation.

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I recently had the opportunity to attend a NCPRSA Professional Development luncheon, where Alan Hoffler, the executive director and principal trainer at MillsWyck Communications, spoke on the essentials for giving a successful presentation. The valuable tips shared can be applied to any type of professional or scholarly environment, and can even fine-tune your every day communication skills. But, you may ask, “What exactly defines a successful presentation?”

Essentially, a presentation can be deemed successful if the audience is able to repeat something discussed. At the end of the day, if people cannot repeat your message, it was not successful.

To improve your presentation and communication skills, check out the three main steps that will prevent you from giving that dreaded TCP:

Capture the audience’s attention – “You can’t lose what you don’t have!”
If you want to keep the audience’s attention, you must first have it. You must give them a reason to listen. Interacting with members in the audience, asking questions or sharing a relatable story can achieve this.

Give your audience a mental list – “You can’t repeat what you don’t remember.”

After you have the audience’s attention, tell them what you intend to tell them. This tool provides the audience with an easy to follow structure and lets the crowd know exactly what they will be getting out of your presentation. Your message should first be addressed and then expand on the topic from there.

Finish strong and briefly – “You can’t finish what never ends.”

Always, always, always finish strongly. Make sure you keep your ending brief and to the point, while giving the audience a call to action that they can take away from the presentation.

Have any other tips that have helped you give a successful presentation?

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NCPRSA vs. RPRS

Josephine ButlerAPR, Blog, Professional Development, Public Relations, Raleigh PR Agency, , , , , , , ,

Are you a public relations or communications professional? Then you probably realize the importance of getting out and networking! If you’re located here at a Raleigh PR agency or somewhere else in the Triangle, there are two great organizations you should consider joining: the North Carolina Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (NCPRSA) or the Raleigh Public Relations Society (RPRS). While I personally recommend becoming a member of both, if you had to pick just one, here are a few tips that will help you decide which group is right for you.

For starters, let’s take a look at what is offered by both groups:

  • Luncheons are held each month, where local PR professionals and industry leaders will share ideas and case studies.
  • Each group hosts an annual awards ceremony – NCPRSA hosts the InSpire Awards and RPRS hosts the Sir Walter Raleigh Awards – recognizing successful communications campaigns and tactics.
  • Members receive discounted rates on monthly luncheons and other events.

Now, let’s hone in on what NCPRSA has to offer:

  • This group is comprised of PR professionals with a broad range of experiences and leadership positions at every level. From CEOs to entry-level employees, there’s a lot of variety.
  • Each year, the organization hosts a PR & Marketing Seminar, playing host to both local and national communications experts.
  • On the website, members have access to the NCPRSA Job Bank, where local employers frequently post new job openings and leadership opportunities.
  • The North Carolina chapter of PRSA is part of the world’s largest network of PR professionals.
  • Within PRSA, you have the option to join one of 16 professional interest sections, putting you in touch with other members who share your expertise.
  • The organization offers the industries only accreditation program, Accredited in Public Relations (APR) program.
  • When you become a member, you’ll receive periodicals, daily news updates and access to research, articles, white papers and case studies.
  • Because of the larger network, dues are pricier than other local groups. National dues are $255 annually, plus a $65 initiation fee and the local chapter fee.

Now let’s take a look at what RPRS has to offer:

  • This group also features PR professionals at every career level, but has an especially strong presence of entry-level to account supervisor-level members.
  • In addition to monthly luncheons, this group will occasionally arrange tours at local media outlets.
  • Twice a year, the organization will host free networking socials at popular Raleigh restaurants.
  • An attractive economic option for members with a smaller budget, individual dues are only $75 annually.

Now that you’ve had a chance to learn more about these wonderful organizations, feel free to ask questions. Dana and Tracy both sit on the board for NCPRSA, while I (Josie) serve as publicity chair for RPRS. We’d love to help you decide which group (or if both groups) is right for you!

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My First 30 Days at a Raleigh PR Agency: Day 3

Margot HorganBlog, Entry-Level PR Job, Marketing, , , , , , , , , , , , 2 Comments on My First 30 Days at a Raleigh PR Agency: Day 3

Every job industry has its perks. People working for airlines can fly standby for free and those working in retail get an extra discount off their purchases. The perk of working at this Raleigh PR agency? Professional development. I’m only three days into the job and have already been asked to represent Clairemont Communications this September in Columbus, Ohio at Content Marketing World 2012, the largest content marketing event in the world.

http://www.contentmarketingworld.com/

At CMW 2012, I will be surrounded by some of the best and the brightest in the industry. Last year’s convention brought more than 600 marketing professionals from nearly 20 countries to Cleveland, Ohio to hear speakers such as David Pogue, personal technology columnist at the New York Times and Emmy award-winning correspondent for CBS News; David Meerman Scott, author of the best-selling New Rules of Marketing & PR and Real-Time Marketing & PR; and Heidi Bailey, senior brand strategist at LEGO, just to name a few.

This year, the speakers are just as notable. I will hear all the words of wisdom coming straight out of the mouths of industry leaders like Sam Sebastian, chief content officer at Google; Pam Didner, global integrated marketing manager at Intel; and Julie Fleischer, director, CRM content strategy and integration at Kraft Foods.

Content Marketing World 2012

As you can tell from the speakers listed above, this is an amazing opportunity – especially for an entry-level account coordinator on her third day of work. I am incredibly excited, but also a little anxious. I can get somewhat shy in networking situations, so this trip will definitely be a learning experience and a challenge for me in more than one way.

What am I most excited for? I can’t wait to hear Sam Sebastian give his talk, “Google’s Zero Moment of Truth” (We talked about ZMOT in my marketing class this past semester, but I was sick that day, so I can finally learn everything that I missed in class!). Also, anyone who knows me knows I love Pinterest, so the workshop, “How to Use Infographics and Visual Storytelling (ala Pinterest) to drive Demand Generation” is definitely one that I will be attending!

So, I’m looking for advice! What are your best networking tips? I would love to hear any tips and tricks on how to get the most out of my conference experience!

Here’s a sneak peak at what my schedule will include at Content Marketing World 2012:

  • “CTRL ALT DEL – How to Reboot Your Content For a Mobile World” – Mitch Joel, author, Six Pixels of Separation: One of the most sought-after digital speakers in the world, Mitch Joel is President of Twist Image — an award-winning Digital Marketing and Communications agency. His first book, Six Pixels of Separation, named after his successful Blog and Podcast is a business and marketing bestseller. His next book, CTRL ALT DEL, will be coming out in Spring 2013. You don’t want to miss this amazing presentation from one of the world’s best.
  • “Cut the Bull – Blog with a Purpose and Drive Your Business” – Jason Falls, CEO, Social Media Explorer
  • “Putting Social to Work: How to Rapidly Grow Your Fans, Your Prestige and Your Business” – Mike Stelzner, CEO, Social Media Examiner
  • “Understanding the New World of Klout, Social Sharing and Social Influence Marketing” – Mark W. Schaefer, best-selling author, Return on Influence
  • “Defending Your Content Marketing & Social Media to the C-Level: Two Proven Strategies” – Jenny Magic, CEO, Better Way to Say It; Brian Massey, The Conversion Scientist “
  • “Google’s Zero Moment of Truth” – Sam Sebastian, director, local & B2B markets, Google Inc.: Audiences initiate connections with a brand long before they make a purchase decision. These connections, which include search queries, reviews, site visits, video views and many more interactions with content, influence whether users eventually select a brand or a competitor’s brand. Google’s Sam Sebastian will discuss research and examples about what Google calls the Zero Moment of Truth and share fresh strategies of how Brands are winning and optimizing the Zero Moment of Truth.
  • “Distilling the Magic and the Mystery that is Content Marketing Success” – Marcus Sheridan, the sales lion and owner, River Pools & Spas. Put your seat belts on ladies and gentlemen, as Marcus Sheridan of The Sales Lion will take you on a content marketing ride full of learning and laughter in this keynote you won’t soon forget. Bursting with innovative ideas that you’ll be able to immediately apply to your business, this session will surely be a highlight of your Content Marketing World experience.
  • “Building Your Internal Publishing Department for Content/Social Success” – Brody Dorland, chief strategy officer, Divvy HQ
Jayme Thomason, CEO, Divvy HQ
  • “Twitter Will Win — And With the Right Plan of Attack, So Will You” – Nate Riggs, director of social business, The Karcher Group
  • “The Content Opportunity that is Google+” – Arnie Kuenn, president, Vertical Measures
  • “How to Use Infographics and Visual Storytelling (ala Pinterest) to drive Demand Generation” – Maria Pergolino, senior director, marketing, Marketo, Inc.
  • “Scalable Content Strategies for Facebook and LinkedIn” – Amy Porterfield, author, Facebook Marketing All-in-One for Dummies.
  • “How to Develop Amazing Audio and Podcast Content Marketing” – Pamela Muldoon, chief content officer, Next Stage Media
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