Author Archive
Modern Family, Modern Social
Posted by: | CommentsI recently became a Facebook Fan of the new ABC hit show, Modern Family. Not only do I enjoy my Wednesday nights because this brilliantly written show is on, but I can’t seem to get enough of the Facebook posts that Modern Family shares multiple times a week. The Modern Family page is a perfect example of great social media.
The fan page engages their audience by including sneak peeks to that week’s upcoming show, scene photos with quotes, polls to see what was the best quote of last night’s show, favorite moments and more. With every post that Modern Family puts up on their page, thousands of people comment, expressing their love and excitement for new and past shows. This sitcom has created a great name for itself through T.V. promotion, but more importantly by using social media as a FREE outlet to support and share their great success. This is how you utilize social media.
Launching in a Big Way at the Oscars
Posted by: | CommentsThis past weekend I was fortunate enough to represent one of our clients at the GBK Celebrity Gift Lounge for the Oscars in Hollywood. Since working at RKPR I’ve definitely assisted with my fair share of events. However, this event seemed to be quite different than previous ones that I’ve experienced. While I had overwhelming help for the preparation of the event from the RKPR team, it was just me and the client when it came down to the actual event. Travel, event set up, media and celebrity interaction and representation of our product, it was all up to me and our client.
Prevennia, a dietary supplement that is scientifically proven to block the initiation of breast cell mutation, was the client I was representing. Each celebrity and selected media outlets were gifted with a one year supply of Prevennia, a $550 value. While other event sponsors were promoting fun products including eyelash extensions, skin care lines, clothing, food and beverage products, we were there educating guests about a very important issue that affects everyone in some form or fashion – cell mutation. It is a serious issue and reaching out to the public to insure awareness was much harder than I had anticipated.
Nearly every Hollywood star and media outlet that visited our booth was totally onboard with what we had to share. They showed genuine and positive interest about learning more and seriously investigating Prevennia for their use.
Comments about passing the word along to loved ones and the product being a GBK Oscar Gift Lounge favorite is what made Prevennia be the talk of the event. With as much time and effort being put forth prior, during and post event, it is such a rewarding feeling to know that RKPR’s efforts may someday change the lives of millions.
Check out our Flickr gallery to see who we met with and what they had to say about Prevennia.
Social Media Skeptics
Posted by: | CommentsI still find it funny that there are people out there in the marketing world who just don’t understand the purpose of social marketing and how it can really benefit a business or organization. Just the other day I was at a meeting where I explained our launch strategy into the social media aspect of the campaign, and about 95 percent of the people in the room began to talk about how they “don’t understand the hype of social and why it’s so vital to spend time on this ‘resource.’”
Well let me tell you something, social media is just getting started and it’s here to stay. I explained the importance of strategizing and why some businesses fail and others prevail in social marketing…they still didn’t seem convinced.
These particular social media skeptics are event planners and organizers who are being greatly affected by the economy, forced to make lay-offs and have very little funding for advertising or paying for events. Their organizations are the ones that would flourish with the help of social marketing.
I continued to explain about the engagement of fans and followers and that if a business is really “doing it right” more than a few hours, daily should be dedicated to social outreach. It isn’t as simple as posting a comment and then walking away. There is tracking, researching what people are saying about your organization and then creating conversations with them, posting and uploading video and photos, engaging your audience by not just telling them what your mission is, but showing them.
As the meeting continued on and into different items, it was circled back around to social marketing by one of the skeptics, which led me right through the open door to explain how social media would play a crucial role in an event like the one that was being explained.
I think it was right then, that the 95 percent of skeptics in the room went to about 5 percent. This is a FREE outlet to reach a wide variety of audiences…USE it people, learn it and embrace it!
Finally Putting Our Skills to Good Use
Posted by: | CommentsFor more than a year now I’ve been playing on a very competitive kickball and dodgeball team called the Incrediballs. Involved in both the Reno and Sparks leagues, our team has ended its seasons placing anywhere from first to third place. While getting a T-shirt at the end of each season is great (no matter what place you get), the Incrediballs have always been striving for something more. Well we found it!
On Saturday, Feb. 20 we are playing in the 1st annual Dodging Diabetes Dodgeball Tournament, in support of the Northern Nevada Chapter of JDRF. Not only are we getting to do something we love, but we are doing it for a great cause.
Since working at RKPR and dating my boyfriend, Greg (who I happened to meet playing kickball) I have become very familiar with this non-profit organization and this disease that effects the lives of millions. As a pro-bono client of RKPR’s, the Northern Nevada Chapter of JDRF has become one of my favorite clients to help promote. In addition learning about Type 1 diabetes and its impact, I have also learned a great deal from Greg’s dad who has battled Type 1 diabetes since his early 20s.
You can bet that we, the Incrediballs, are going to give it our all on February 20 and will do what it takes to bring home the gold, in honor of the many families who are fighting against this deadly disease.
Volkswagen’s Fun Theory
Posted by: | CommentsRecently, I stumbled across a video (thanks to Facebook) that tested “the fun theory.” The video shows the everyday use of an escalator compared to the use of a stagnate staircase located right next to the escalator. It’s very apparent that more people chose to use the escalator in their daily paths. However, the idea was to test the theory that if an ordinary staircase was turned into something more fun people just might choose to take the stairs over the escalator.
Overnight, workers gathered materials and morphed the normal staircase into a piano staircase that, not only looked like a piano, but actually played music. The result was 66% more people than normal chose the fun piano stairs over the escalator.
The video is from a contest that Volkswagen is currently running to test the theory “that fun is the easiest way to change people’s behavior for the better.” In this case by using the staircase, 66% more people than normal are getting added exercise.
This contest is the perfect example of a PR stunt. Volkswagen is getting their name out to the public solely through viral buzz. The contest deadline is November 15 and contestants must come up with their own ideas that will change people’s behavior for the better whether that’s through themselves, the environment or some other entity…all in the name of promoting Volkswagen. Now that is great PR!
Texting while driving PSA…too harsh?
Posted by: | CommentsA few weeks ago, I stumbled across this CNN newscast regarding a British PSA about texting while driving. I watched this video and then sent it out to all of my friends and family knowing how hard it would hit all of them.
This PSA is graphic to say the least and frighteningly realistic. The big question is, did they go too far with this video and is this a message that we should send out to, not only teen drivers, but all drivers?
Did you know that if you put a 20-year-old in the car with a cell phone their reaction time is the same as a 70-year-olds reaction time?
Under Pressure
Posted by: | CommentsOne of my favorite college professors once made a bold statement that has stuck with me since my freshman year of college. He said, “you have all chosen Journalism as your major for two reasons; one, you hate math and are horrible at it. And two, you are procrastinators and love to work under pressure.” At the time I laughed at the irony of the statement and thought to myself “wow, I’m not the only one.” The first part of that statement couldn’t be more accurate. When I look at numbers or am forced to do a math problem I immediately get anxiety and do my best to steer clear. The second part of that statement, however, has made me think more than a few times.
When I was 18-years-old and analyzing that comment, I figured that it was just something I would grow out of. I was wrong. The pressures of work and just life in general make me get things done. If I don’t have a deadline, the project drags on. If I do have a deadline, the project drags on until the day of or just hours before it’s due. As I breakdown that concept today, I ask myself if that’s a good trait to have or a bad one.
Everyone works under pressure but in the PR field deadlines and the ability to multitask is a MUST. If you don’t meet a deadline, you lose your chance for coverage. If you can’t balance the ability to talk on the phone, write an email and text all at the same time, get out, there’s not enough room for you. Ok, so maybe that’s a little dramatic but you get the point.
Some days, the pressure of everyday life and workload excite me and I am able to not only meet my goals, but excel at them as well. But, then there are the days that are few and far between where the deadlines seem to build up and that’s when the pressure builds as well.
When the pressure increases, the everyday tasks get lost and mistakes are made. Is this normal? Is working under pressure and constantly needing a deadline a good trait to have or is it something I have become too dependent on?
40 Days and 40 Nights – Give Up or Give Back?
Posted by: | CommentsLent is a Christian tradition that stems from the 40 days that Jesus fasted prior to his crucifixion. Beginning Ash Wednesday and concluding on Easter Sunday, observers of Lent are to celebrate and recognize the sacrifice which Jesus made for his people. Growing up in an Italian Catholic home my family observed the Lenten season by not eating meat on Fridays and attending mass every Sunday. Another tradition in the Catholic Church is to give up an item or habit that is often times abused or over consumed. For example, when I was younger I gave up chocolate for 40 days. As time passed I continued giving up things like soda, cursing, alcohol and most recently eating out.
This Lenten season it was my goal to give up spending money dining out…allotting me three outings a week. Some might say I am cheating the system because I’m giving myself a “cushion” of three outings. However, on a weekly bases I was buying a bagel and coffee every morning at a local muffin shop, getting a sandwich, soda and chips for lunch and then heading out every now and again for dinner. So, I set my goal to be as realistic as possible by allowing myself this “cushion.” One day I sat down and calculated what I was spending weekly on my little “dining adventures” and I averaged $100 a week, which means I was spending about $400 a month on food outside of the groceries that I bought for my house. Oh, and these totals did not include nights out with friends on the weekends.
People automatically assumed I was giving up dining out for health reasons, but I was actually more concerned about my wallet and bank account than my health. As I thought about what I was giving up I realized how selfish what I was doing, sounded. In fact it brought up a number of different questions: 1) Are my spending habits affecting anyone but me? No not really, except that now the muffin shop and delis are losing a small profit. 2) Is what I’m giving up really a sacrifice or is it something that should be practiced regardless of the Lenten season? 3) Is it fair that I am totally benefitting from this? According to the Bible Jesus sacrifice himself for us. My giving up spending money doesn’t directly affect anyone but myself. I debated with a co-worker about these thoughts and she brought up the argument that sometimes it’s okay to do something for yourself and that sometimes we don’t focus enough on ourselves. While I think that is a valid argument, I still feel like I am doing something wrong.
Giving up chocolate as a child, practicing not cursing as a teenager or giving up alcohol as a college student is just fine when you’re that age. However, as a grown adult who now has the opportunity and means to give back, I’ve decided that, I will no longer practice the Lenten season by giving up an abused or over consumed item or habit, but I will do something for someone else. I will donate my time, my knowledge and my experiences with those who can benefit from them. Throughout the year I will do my best to recognize my abused habits and fix them as I go, so when the next Lenten season rolls around I will be able to focus on someone other than myself.
My First Week as a New Mommy!
Posted by: | CommentsA little over a week ago I became the mother of a beautiful blonde haired, brown eyed Golden Retriever named Cooper. While most people adopted puppies when they’re around eight weeks; I got Cooper at just six (finding out that those two weeks can make quite the difference). In the last eight days I have received an average of six hours of sleep a night, cleaned up about 27 different piles of puppy pee with trailing puppy paw prints, five steamers and have, luckily, only stepped in one pee puddle.
With warnings coming from family, friends and co-workers about the time commitment and responsibilities that come along with getting a puppy, I refused to believe that I couldn’t handle it. Well, one morning after cleaning up the kennel for a third time between 3 and 7 a.m., I thought I was going to lose it. I called my boyfriend nearly in tears, telling him how much I regretted getting Cooper. After about five minutes of my boyfriend calming me down and reassuring me that I didn’t make a mistake, it was then that I realized my frustrations stemmed from fear. Not only do I have to worry about bathing, feeding and exercising myself (which can be a difficult task at times), I now have puppy to look after and keep alive. Who would’ve thought that at the ripe age of 23 I, Emily Stratton, would be a college graduate who has successfully started my career, bought a house and is now a mommy?! If it scares some of you, don’t worry because it scares the heck out of me!
