A PR Pro's Guide to Working with a Graphic Designer

Our world today is fueled by digital and visual content. As a soon-to-be public relations professional, it is likely you will be creating visual content to develop a relationship and engage with your client or company’s audience. However, you might not be an expert in design software, such as the Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign). It is likely you will have to work with a graphic designer to reach your creative goals.

Source: Stocksnap

Know your objective. What do you want to achieve through this visual content? How do you envision the graphics? Know what you want so you aren’t wasting your time or your graphic designer’s time because we all know time is our most valuable resource.

Be able to describe what you want, but give the designer some creative freedom. Before meeting with your graphic designer, write down what you want to you can easily explain what you would like to see in the design. However, remember that the graphic designer is the expert. You should give him or her some creative freedom because the designer knows what will look best and may even create something better—something you may have never imagined yourself.

Send the right files. Ask the graphic designer about the specific files he or she needs to start creating your graphic. By asking first, you will eliminate unnecessary back-and-forth emails.

Do not underestimate the time it will take them to complete the project. A graphic is just like any other piece of art. It takes a lot of time to make. Even the simplest tasks may take more time than you think. Be patient and understanding because you don’t want the final product to look rushed.

Take an introductory course in graphic design. Even if you aren’t an expert after taking an introductory course, it will help you understand the programs that graphic designers use to create your content. You will be able to understand graphic design jargon, making it easier to communicate with your graphic designer. Also, you will learn the difference between vector and pixel-based graphics. Especially when dealing with logos, you will understand that vector-based images can be resized without damaging the quality of the image.

Graphic designers and public relations professionals are both creative in their own ways, and we have one thing in common – we both communicate with our content. By knowing how to work with a graphic designer, you will be able to complete your job more efficiently, while making your client or company happy at the same time.

This guest blog post was written by PRowl staff member Megan Healy. 

Increase Your Shareability

Social media fuels the world we live in. We love to share content that defines ourselves, entertains us, develops relationships and gets the word out about causes and brands we support. In order for your content to stand out amongst the millions of other voices in your social media and communication channels, it is important to make your content as shareable as possible.

Create reactive content. Shareable content evokes strong emotions, such as excitement, astonishment, awe, anger and frustration.

Create useful content. People like to read posts and articles with information that makes their lives easier or benefits them in some way. Share content that enriches the lives of others. An easy way to share useful content is to create “how to” articles or lists of tips and tricks.

Share relatable content. Be genuine and share content that reflects who you are to your readers, followers and friends. People are more likely to share content that represents who they are and shows others what they care about.

Use subheads, bullets and lists. Now more than ever, people have low attention spans and like to scan, rather than read things word-for-word. It is important to make your content scannable with a clear direction for your reader. Don’t make the design or layout complicated, and choose a font that is easy to read.

Incorporate visuals. Visual content is becoming a norm in the social media, public relations and marketing worlds because visuals help tell your story in two seconds or less. Incorporate videos, photos and infographics into your content to increase your shareability.

Use nostalgia. Think about your customers and what they might miss or may have forgotten. Share content that creates nostalgia because it helps build a relationship with your customers who share the same emotional reaction. For example, you can participate in “Throwback Thursday” by using the hashtag #tbt on social media to remind your audience of a specific moment in time.

By thinking about your audience and using these tips, you will increase your shareable content for either your own personal brand or for your client. Do you want to learn more? Check out the infographic below:

 Link to infographic: https://www.marketingtechblog.com/make-content-shareable/ 

This guest blog post was written by PRowl staff member Megan Healy.

Branding Yourself Through Business Cards

This weekend is the Public Relations Student Society of America’s National Conference. Thousands of PR students and professionals will meet in Washington D.C. to develop their skills through workshops, presentations, and networking. Meeting others, especially in a large setting, can be overwhelming, but networking in the industry is necessary for your future success. In preparation for National Conference, I designed personalized business cards to help me network with others and stand out among the crowd. Business cards start a conversation. When designing your own cards, you may want to consider the following:

What kind of customer are you trying to attract?  Whether your business cards are for your company or for your personal brand, think about your audience and what you want to highlight about yourself.

Be visual. People are more likely to remember you through pictures, colors, and designs. Original pictures are always better than clip art. If you have a background in graphic design or art, put your own artwork on the back of your cards. It is a great way to show off your portfolio by giving them a piece of your work.

Inspire curiosity. Stand out by showing people you are unique. Give them a reason to contact you. I have seen people design business cards that are not cards at all. Some have made business cards out of plastic, wood, or cloth. Others have made foldable or pop-up cards, as well as personalized coins. It is up to you to decide what makes you different from the rest and what kind of impression you want to leave people with.

Where do you engage the most? Your home address takes up a lot of space. Think about the best way for others to contact you. If you primarily use email, then put your email address. If you want others to engage with you on social media, add your Twitter and Instagram handles. Provide people with the contact information you use the most.

Use a Quick Response code. QR codes are barcodes that your smartphone and other machines can scan. They redirect others to a link of your choice. Maybe you want to use a QR code to link your business card with your LinkedIn profile or personal blog. QR codes can help you share more information about yourself without taking up a lot of space.

To stand out, you do not need to be extravagant. One way I made my business cards unique was by using a non-traditional shape; my cards are square. Whether you are going to a conference or networking event, or simply want business cards for everyday use, these tips will help guide you in the right direction. How will you stand out through your business cards?

This guest blog post was written by PRowl staff member Megan Healy. 

My Mission Trip to Ireland And The Importance of CSR

This past July, I went on a two-week mission trip to Ireland with an organization, Adventures In Missions.  Along with 23 other members of my team, we partnered with a local church to help run programs for the youth, where we made crafts with the younger children, played games, and spoke about our experiences in the U.S. We also went door-to-door in the local village to hand out invitations for the youth programs and various events at the church. We also had time to visit a local university, where we got to speak with several international students and university staff. In between running the youth programs and helping the local church, we got to travel to the homes of some of the elderly people in the village. Through these experiences, I got to give back to the local community and develop meaningful relationships with the people in Ireland. Every time you travel, near or far, you have the opportunity to network, and I am happy to say I have connections in Ireland. 

Returning from my mission trip, I had a better understanding of the importance of corporate social responsibility. CSR is becoming more important to corporations as a way to give back to the community and develop relationships with their publics. When corporations implement CSR, employees feel more engaged within the company. It gives employees a sense of purpose and motivates them to do their best work. CSR is also a great way to show your customers how you are giving back.

More and more, companies are looking for employees who have a desire and willingness to volunteer and give back to the community. Any time you are able to volunteer and give back some of your time to people in need, go for it. You’re not only helping others, but you are giving yourself opportunities and experiences to learn from, which will in turn help you land your next internship or job!

This guest blog was written by PRowl staff member Megan Healy.

Understanding Leadership in Your Workplace or Organization

This past May, I attended the LeaderShape Institute with Temple University, a six-day long leadership retreat. On the second day of the program, we talked about leadership styles and took the DiSC Classic Personality Test. This test helps you understand yourself and others by giving you a framework for understanding human behavior. DiSC stands for dominance, influence, steadiness, and conscientiousness. After completing the test, you find out the strength of these qualities are in your own personality. 

I found out that I am a “C,” which places an emphasis on work that ensures quality and accuracy. After taking the test and finding out which letter each of us represented, we found that our different strengths in our leadership styles, when combined, are beneficial, especially in your organization or workplace.  Whether you represent dominance, influence, steadiness, or conscientiousness all four of these qualities are needed:

Dominance (D) – This type of person likes getting immediate results, shaping the environment, making quick decisions, managing trouble, solving problems, and questioning the status quo. A person with a dominant personality needs others who use caution, weigh pros and cons, research facts, calculate risks, and recognize the needs of others.

Influence (i) – This type of person likes contacting people, being articulate, creating a motivating environment, generating enthusiasm, and entertaining people. An influencer needs others who respect sincerity, develop systematic approaches, take a logical approach, concentrate on the task, and seek facts.

Steadiness (S) – This type of person enjoys performing in a consistent, predictable manner, demonstrating patience, helping others, showing loyalty, being a good listener, and creating a stable, efficient work environment. A person with this personality needs others who react quickly to unexpected change, apply pressure on others, work well in an unpredictable environment, and are flexible in work procedures.

Conscientiousness (C) – This type of person likes being diplomatic with people, critically analyzing performance, concentrating on details, approaching situations systematically, and weighing pros and cons. This person needs others who delegate important tasks, encourage teamwork, use policies as guidelines, and make quick decisions.

Whichever letter you represent, you bring value to your workplace or organization. You may even have qualities from two or more DiSC areas. As you can see, you need others with different strengths and leadership styles to help make your workplace or organization the best it can be. What type of leader are you? 

This guest blog post was written by PRowl staff member Megan Healy. 

Has the Doctor Diagnosed You With FOMO?

We are the generation of social media. We are constantly sharing and receiving content like it is our job (and sometimes it is). However, our dependency on social media is a double-edged sword. Our generation has been diagnosed with FOMO: the fear of missing out. A study by Harris Interactive and MyLife found that two out of every three people experience some sort of anxiety or fear of missing important events or status updates on social media. From Twitter, to Instagram, to Facebook and beyond, we fear that we are missing out on visiting the best vacation destinations, achieving the greatest success, and attending exclusive events. Some of us even fear that we will miss out on using the latest trending hashtags.  There is a lot of pressure to share the latest and greatest content on social media and keep up with everyone’s business, but there is no need to worry. There are ways to combat FOMO:

• Accept that you cannot be everywhere all the time.  You might scroll through your Twitter feed and read about all the fun things your followers are doing while you’re procrastinating from doing your homework. Everyone has different schedules and different responsibilities. There is only so much time in the day, and you must determine what is most important. 
• Schedule your time on social media.  Five minutes on social media can become an hour without you even realizing it. Schedule specific times in the day to check your social media. This will relieve the anxiety and stress of constantly checking social media for updates.
• Make your own plans. If you’re tired of scrolling through your followers’ tweets and Instagram posts as they enjoy a relaxing vacation on the beach or eat at a famous restaurant, make plans so that you can create your own experiences (and share them on social media if you would like).
• Live in the moment. Instead of being glued to your phone, take a break and enjoy your surroundings. There is a difference between tweeting about an event and actually experiencing it.

People only share what they want others to see on social media. Go out, get involved, and make memories of your own! Although social media platforms are helpful tools to share and receive information, they shouldn't dictate how you live your life.

This guest blog post was written by PRowl Staff Member Megan Healy.