Tag: Raleigh PR

Cool Bats: Internet Summit 2017

Cherith AndesBlog, Marketing, Photo of the Week, ,

Eery, mysterious, hanging from their toes by sheer will. Turn the picture upside down, though, and the interpretation of these night creatures shifts. As Seth Godin — keynote speaker — said, “now they’re just cool bats.” Bats breakin’ it down, whipping out the moves to some silent disco tunes.

The Internet Summit 2017 brimmed with entertaining quips like these, along with a host of data-rich sessions featuring marketing industry leaders. From social media strategy and “Monty Python marketing” approaches to creating data-driven customer experiences and retargeting B2B digital ads, the Clairemont team spent two days geeking out on our favorite marketing and communications topics.

And for fun, one of our sessions utilized Beyonce’s moves to inspire marketing strategy. We didn’t hate that.

Want to collaborate on something cool for your company? (We can’t promise Beyonce-style dancing.) Give us a holler!

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The Branding of You

Clairemont InternBlog, Professional Development, Social Media + Influencer Engagement, , , ,

A short five years ago, life presented a different picture. The change in scenery sprang from the rapid progression of society’s dependence on social media.

Just a short time ago, people weren’t stressing over their Instagram aesthetic, and Snapchat stories didn’t exist. With the growing popularity of social media comes new techniques, like self branding, that allow people to connect with potential employers and opportunities. Employers also have another window to reach potential candidates.

Consistency is Key

A CareerBuilder survey from 2016 found that 60 percent of employers examine social media accounts to learn more about job candidates. With that said, it’s becoming increasingly more important to make sure that more than just your resume adheres to what you want employers to understand. 

Self branding on social media is anything from Twitter bio content to your Instagram aesthetic. Maintaining a polished and positive self brand across accounts can show employers more about your personality than a resume or cover letter can.

Your social media content should always be consistent. If one social media channel is showing off a different side of you than another, employers may not perceive you as a stable — or transparent — job candidate. Forbes.com further emphasizes the importance of consistency across social platforms, because “presenting yourself in a consistent manner helps you control their perception of your personal brand.”

A College Student’s Perspective

Self branding on social media as a college student is challenging, specifically because university life includes so many different types of activities and lifestyles. From academic settings and social gatherings to professional events, a college student’s day-to-day life may include a wider variety of experiences than the average person. Figuring out what to post to promote yourself as a young professional while showcasing distinct qualities of your personality is not a simple task.

Many of my college professors are tailoring their class content and the projects they assign to better prepare students for employment. Whether it’s designing an online portfolio or simply promoting your work on social media, they make it clear that perfecting your self brand online will differentiate you from other potential job candidates.

Along with that, professors have explained that a healthy balance of professionalism and personality is valuable for employers to see throughout social media channels. Showing a well-rounded life proves to employers you adeptly prioritize both professional life and the activities that make up your personality.

Self branding goes hand-in-hand with the social media revolution that defines much of modern-day life. Although sometimes it may seem tedious or unnecessary, everything you post on social media is a direct representation of your lifestyle, values and personality, all of which define the branding of you.

For more tips and tricks to amp up your social media, check out the the Social Media category of our blog!

Written by Clairemont intern Lindsey Hoover, a junior at UNC-Chapel Hill. 

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3 New Hacks for Social Storytelling

Cherith AndesBlog, Marketing, Social Media + Influencer Engagement, , ,

Major social media updates, such as Facebook Livestream, top headlines and spur chatter in the industry. But smaller tweaks that might go unnoticed can also play a big role in your social strategy. Here are three surfacing tools that can boost your brand’s online presence.

1. Location, Location, Location!

Location Stories on Instagram
We’re all used to searching for posts by location, but searching for Instagram stories by location? It’s social media’s continuing nod to the sharing culture, another way to co-create experiences, memories and — in a way — the identity of a location. Instagram pulls stories from users who have included location stickers in their stories. Right now, it appears that these features are limited to larger locales, such as a city (rather than a shopping complex or specific store). While we’re waiting for this feature to be (hopefully) available for individual locations, utilize the opportunity to have your story featured by the location; include shots of your business or product to integrate your culture with the larger narrative of the area.

2. Go Live! (Or at least fake it).

Live Photos on Instagram
Launched with the iPhone 6s, the Live Photo feature captures the context of a still image, unveiling a little more background to the story. There’s now a work-around to be able to share these glimpses on Instagram. With the surging popularity of video, this provides yet another tactic to share your business’ story with your audience.

3. Let Me Take a (Filtered) Selfie.

Alright, this one hasn’t quite launched yet, but here’s a sneak peek — via Mashable’s infinite wisdom. Give your selfie a face lift…with someone else’s face! Slated to be unveiled later this summer at the SIGGRAPH conference, this new photo stylization technique imposes the style of a painting, artist or statue onto your selfie. No need for self-tanner; just choose a face from a bronze statue.

Looking for other tips to beef up your Instagram? Oh, yeah. We got ‘em.

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PR People: Anna Menagias

Sarah HattmanBlog, PR People, Public Relations, , , , , ,

Anna Menagias

Job title and function: I’m a communications analyst at Kimley-Horn, where I focus on social media, events, website content, culture initiatives, internal stories and public relations.

Most rewarding thing about working in PR today: I love the variety of projects in PR, but what I’m most passionate about is advocating for a client or cause. I’m fortunate to work with a group of talented and caring people (we were named one of PEOPLE’s 50 Companies That Care this year), so it’s very rewarding to see them recognized by others outside of the firm.

Craziest/most challenging thing you’ve done in PR: I used to worked in nonprofit event management and helped plan a gala themed after “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory“— complete with a larger-than-life boat, six-foot tall lollipops and about a lifetime’s worth of candy. It’s all in the details!

Advice for new PR pros: Don’t be afraid to try new things! PR is an expansive field, so diversify your skill set, take on new opportunities, find what you’re passionate about and go for it!

Are you interested in being featured in “PR People?” Send us a message on Facebook to share your story!

Sarah Hattman, APR is president-elect for the North Carolina chapter of Public Relations Society of America and has been working in PR since she left television news. She grew up in North Carolina and was excited to move back to her home state in 2012 and join Clairemont Communications, a Raleigh PR agency. 
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Clients Leading Summer Reading

Cherith AndesBlog, Clairemont Client News, Public Relations, , , ,

Summer reading isn’t for just for kids anymore. Both national corporations and local businesses — including two Clairemont clients — have launched reading programs to foster a sense of community while encouraging adults to explore, learn and grow.

Talbots

Image courtesy of Talbots.

In May 2017, Talbots and Random House Publishing unveiled “Give a Book. Get a Book,” its inaugural summer reading program and the largest underground lending library in America. Customers are asked to drop off a much-loved book that has impacted their lives at their local Talbots and pick up another book someone else has loved, learned from and recommends.

Festive bookplates are also provided in store to encourage customers to write a note about why that book is a favorite before it is passed along to the next reader. And customers can come back all summer to share and pick up new books. At the end of the summer, any books remaining in stores will be donated to local organizations, allowing these novels to impact communities on a larger scale.

Vita Vite

What pairs with a summer rosé better than a summer read? Vita Vite, a wine bar and art gallery in the heart of downtown Raleigh, kicked off its monthly book club in June of 2017. Guests were invited to snag a glass of wine and enjoy tasty bites while chatting about the month’s selected novel, The Seven Sisters. Friends gathered for an evening of pinots and pages. For information on future book club dates, check out VV’s Instagram.

Interested in getting out and about more? Our clients are always launching fun and creative events, like the Wendell Falls Farmhouse Jams outdoor concert series!

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