Tag: Public Relations

On the Record: Martin Waxman

Sarah HattmanBlog, On the Record, Public Relations, , , , , , , ,

Can you imagine a life without Google? Think about it. How many times a day do you Google something? You probably know that Google is the largest search engine, but did you know that it owns the second-largest search engine, too – YouTube?  Today, we’re talking with PR guru Martin Waxman about this search engine powerhouse and how Google search is impacting PR and marketing.

 

Check out Martin’s monthly column in Marketing Magazine to get his take on current trends and topics impacting the PR and marketing profession.

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On the Record: Stan Phelps

Sarah HattmanBlog, Marketing, On the Record, , , , , , , , ,

As PR practitioners, we are always working to learn what’s new in our ever-changing industry and advance the profession. We are also known to be very social, collaborative people. So it’s no surprise that we like to share insights and practices among our colleagues – which lead to the creation of On the Record hosted by me, Sarah Hattman, APR.

On the Record is a video blog series designed to explore emerging trends, PR tactics, best practices and all things PR. We’re kicking it off with and Stan Phelps of 9 Inch Marketing as he explains how to create an excellent customer experience.

 

Want to learn more from Stan? Follow him on Twitter. Want to meet some of our other favorite communications experts? Check out our blog posts featuring members of PRSA’s Counselors Academy.

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What is PR? Ask Abbie’s Mom!

Dana PhelpsBlog, Oh Momma Monday, Public Relations, , , 1 Comment on What is PR? Ask Abbie’s Mom!

Public Relations is possibly the most misunderstood profession. If you are still wondering what people who work in PR do, go ask your mom. Better yet, ask Abbie Fink’s mom.

My dear friend and fellow PR pro wrote my favorite post about PR for the HMA blog four years ago. I still think about it when people ask me to explain my chosen career path. With Abbie’s permission, below is public relations as explained by Abbie’s mom, and you can view the original post here.

“What is…Wednesday” – What is Public Relations? My Mom’s Take

Abbie and MomNow I know all of us in public relations have tried for our entire careers to explain what it is we do. And if you are like me, you’ve always been sure your parents really have no clue, “but as long as you’re happy, we’re happy.” Right? We were in Minneapolis for a family wedding. My 85-year-old cousin asked my mom “just exactly what does Abbie do for a living.” And this is how my mom explained it:Let’s assume you are a lettuce farmer. (The salad had just been set so it was the best she could do.) And you want everyone to know about your crops; well, you hire someone like Abbie to tell the newspaper and television reporters how great your lettuce is. But maybe you have a bad crop one year, but thanks to the work that Abbie does, she’s able to tell the reporters about that and also tell them some of the other great things you are doing at the farm.He goes on to ask, “how does she do that?”

She makes it a point to know all the reporters and editors at the different newspapers and television stations. You know she’s quite the busy-body so this is perfect for her. (yeah, I know, my mom has that part dialed in 🙂 )

So then he asks my mom if “Abbie does the Twitter thing.” And to that she says:

Yes, she does all that social media stuff. She uses the Facebook and the Twitter thing all the time (I’m sure there was a big emphasis on ALL and she probably rolled her eyes a bit as well.) She even teaches other people how to use it.

Not bad, right? So after 25+ years in business, I guess my parents really do know what I do.

About Abbie S. Fink

Vice President/General Manager Abbie has been doing public relations her whole life…from organizing a picket line in 6th grade to organizing client communications today. She’s passionate about a lot of things, you’ll see. Check out Abbie’s full bio.
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Thanks for allowing us to share, Abbie! Want to meet some of Clairemont’s other favorite moms? Click here to read our Oh Momma Monday posts.
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What Does Mom Do at Work Anyway?

Tracy LathanBlog, Oh Momma Monday, Public Relations, , , , ,

Everyday millions of moms across the country kiss their babies goodbye and head to work. But do our children really have any idea what we do when we get there? No need to wait for Take Your Kids to Work Day to show them what mom is up to all day.

Clairemont client and friend, Shannon McSwiney, is a marketing director for Newland Communities and the mother of two. She recently took her kids along to the Pepper Festival at Briar Chapel, where Shannon’s main office is located. As you can see, they had a blast and her son, Sean, says his mom works at the coolest place ever.

shannon 2

When you get home tonight ask your kids what they think you do when you are at work. We would love to hear what they have to say!

 

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Five Commuter Essentials

Clairemont InternBlog, Raleigh PR Agency, , , , , ,

Travel is a staple in the world of PR. A perk of small town living is the lack of a commute in the morning. For four years my commute was a grand total of two minutes (four if I hit the one red light). Never did I expect to come face to face with the challenges of being a commuter until this summer.

My work commute should take exactly 40 minutes, but with traffic 40 minutes quickly becomes at least an hour. Now that I’m a pro at commuting, I’ve discovered five simple yet essential items that keep the trek enjoyable and maintain my sanity amidst a 30-minute traffic jam.

  1. A good playlist. Nothing helps me to unwind after a day at work quite like music. The popularity of applications such as Spotify is on the rise because listeners can tap into frequently updated playlists to get their fill of new music. I recently came across this Buzzfeed list that suggests 40 “must-have” summer songs, and just like that, I had 40 new entertaining tunes, most of which were new to me. The variation to my library adds a new spice to my ride and staves off boredom with my current music collection.
  2. A solid hairband. Car rides for the commuter can feel like a journey, and one thing that I find myself doing a lot during this journey is messing with my hair. I have to be able to pull my hair out of my face or it distracts me the entire car ride. And if you live anywhere with an intense summer (I’m looking at you North Carolina Piedmont), you’ll want a hairband to speed up the cooling process.
  3. A water bottle. Hydration is important, whether you are living in 97-degree heat or in the dead of winter.  Indestructible, non-sweating or just a quirky design, find a water bottle that you will use and make sure that it is full before you begin your trek.
  4. A big bag. If you are toting all of these items, you are going to need a bag to fit it all. I recommend a bag that is durable and made from fabric that you can easily clean. The versatile, easy-to-clean Longchamp is one of my favorites. Your bag should be able to hold your laptop, water bottle, agenda and a possible change of clothes. (You never know!) It’s a hefty task for one bag, which is why finding the perfect one is key; the last thing that you need during a long commute is to be rifling through multiple bags while driving.
  5. And finally…The last and possibly most important item that you must have is patience. Yes, drives home might take you over an hour, but losing your cool only makes it miserable. It doesn’t actually speed up the process. (Take it from me). Focusing on your breathing during traffic delays can take your mind off of the constant breaking of the driver in front of you. Use this time as a reflection to think about your day, your accomplishments, your challenges and how you can improve for the days to come. A few of the items on this list are made specifically for driving, which is an added bonus. Patience is the key to having a pleasant commute.

What keeps you sane while driving?

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