Nailing The First Date

Sometimes the first date can be extremely nerve racking. You walk into a nice restaurant and there is your date patiently waiting for you to sit down. You wish you were at home binge watching Netflix, but now you’re here so you may as well make the most of it. The first date jitters are common for most, but for a PR pro, well, we are basically experts in the dating realm.

Check out these seven tips PR pros use every day when they are on their first meeting with a client.

Social Media Stalking

Don’t be afraid to stalk your client on social media to check them out to gather more information about them. Besides, you want to know who you are about to meet with anyway. You always want to know all of the positives and negatives of your potential client before…

The First Date

The first date is like the first meeting with your new client. The first date serves as the perfect opportunity to show your client all of your best qualities. It is your time to sweep them off their feet.

Dress to Impress

On every first date, and every date after that, you always want to look good! You want to be the best and trendiest thing they have ever seen, to really impress them. The way you present yourself really shows who you are as a person, so remember to always dress to impress!

Don’t Talk Too Much

On any date with any love interest, you want to avoid releasing too much information about yourself, so do the same with your client! Don’t ramble on about how awesome your PR firm is or how your hashtag was trending for two weeks, instead take the time to listen to them to find out what their interests are. You want them to feel special!

Be You

Don’t go out of your way to be someone you’re not. Show your personality, and don’t try to make someone like you because it’ll backfire on you. Be you! I’m sure they’ll love you anyway!

Have Good Etiquette

When you’re meeting someone for the first time, everything should be up to par so stay classy! Watch your language, and don’t talk with your mouth full.

Show Your Teeth

Don’t be afraid to show your teeth. Engage in the conversation with your client and don’t forget to smile. Make them feeling comfortable with your warm smile, but lead the conversation because after all, your end goal is to make them yours!

When meeting your client for the first time, make sure to keep these tips in mind. You’ll be sure to sweep any client off of their feet! 

This guest blog post was written by PRowl staff member Alissa Steele.

PR: The New Orleans Style

Chaos, colors, and craziness is exactly what you expect to find on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, Louisiana. Walking down the street you are bound to find every tourist wearing colorful beads with the famous Grenade drink in their hand, and psychics promising you the details to your future.

New Orleans is known for being one of America’s cities that never sleeps, so how do they keep up that reputation? Well, every public relations professional could take a tip or two from the small city in Louisiana.

Recently I spent a week in New Orleans before the annual Mardi Gras celebrations began. I jumped off the plane and immediately had purple, green and gold beads- I was ready to take on the chaos of the city. However what most people don’t realize is that New Orleans can be a pretty average city, especially during the day. The small town manages to maintain a calm and quiet atmosphere when the sun is out, but as soon as it goes down, the city comes to life at night. New Orleans runs exactly how a PR professional runs. Think about it, during the day PR professionals manage to not look stressed and they appear like everything is under control, but just like New Orleans, a PR professional has to have the crazy come out! However, this is not a bad thing because PRofessionals accomplish amazing things through our efforts and help to make our client's brands/products/services come to life, just like New Orleans does at night! 

Here are a few tips about how to keep your PR style the New Orleans style:

1. Always hold your composure! Even when there is craziness going on always keep your cool!

2. Stay colorful! Make yourself bold and stand out with colorful clothing, business cards, and lingo. Don’t get caught up in boring and bland colors.

3. Make your voice heard! When talking with a client don’t shy behind their words but make sure that your suggestions and opinions are heard.

4. Like a street performer performing for money, a little sense of humor is always good to have in this business!

5. Get creative! You may not be able to read someone’s tarot cards, but always work on coming up with new ideas for campaigns, events, slogans, logos, etc.

Just like the city of New Orleans, you want to give yourself a reputation that lets people know you are here for business but you have a colorful, electric and exciting side as well!

This guest blog post was written by PRowl staff member Alissa Steele. 

It's Not You, It's Me

Almost everyone has experienced the infamous “it’s not you it’s me” break up phrase in one way or another. If you weren’t listening to these spoken words, odds are you were in fact the one breaking your soon-to-be ex’s heart. But why do we say phrases like this? Is it because we are uncomfortable with a situation or that we really just don’t know what to say?

As public relations professionals one of our jobs is to simply make things understandable to the public. Fancy lingo, fluffed up words and exaggerated statements tend to be favorite tactics for ways of communication in the English language. People will constantly use jargon filled slogans when they don’t really know what to exactly say or are unsure of a topic. PR professionals need to always uphold a knowledgeable image for their reputation and their clients.

Language is key in this industry. Public Relations professionals are known for their exceptional writing skills so it is important that we constantly monitor what we were are saying when we write. The types of words and phrases that should be avoided include:

• Filler words such as "like" or "just" 
• Jargon 
• Make up words 
• Excessive use of trending words that aren't really words 
• Slang terms 
• Swear words 

PR professionals are supposed to be reliable sources, so filling up press releases and media pitches with unflattering terms will not get anyone anywhere. However, a study from Grammarly reports that people with strong writing skills tend to earn more money. Get rid of the overused words and bring in a new collection of vibrant, new, and creative terms. If you can make more money simply by cleaning up your language, why wouldn’t you drop a few slang terms and run down phrases?  

This guest blog was written by PRowl staff member Alissa Steele. 

Twitter Made Me Do It

Social media plays a big role not just in the lives of PR professionals, but in the lives of just about everyone. I’m constantly checking Facebook, tweeting about something, or scrolling through Instagram all day long.  I know that I am not the only one guilty of doing so on a daily basis!  It’s safe to say that people love social media, but have you ever thought about how you apply social media to your life? You obviously use it to stay in the loop of the lives of your favorite celebrities, have a serious case of FOMO when you see what your friends are up to, and to creep on your ex boyfriend or girlfriend, but have you ever noticed how often you blame social media for something?

Think about it this way: now-a-days most conflicts begin with a subtweet or a status that offends somebody else, in turn, creating an argument. Also, social media has managed to become people’s outlet for when they need to vent, again causing conflict. How about the excuse, “It’s just Twitter/Instagram/Facebook, it doesn’t mean anything…”? This statement can stir up a huge fight in relationships or create a stir in a business. Little do most people realize, social media is extremely powerful and it isn’t always just those 200 followers that see your tweets or posts. Your words on social media are often times more puffed up than what you meant for them to be and can be taken the wrong way in a split second. This is a very important fact for PR professionals to understand.

 In the PR industry, you absolutely cannot blame social media for the words that you put out, because after you hit that send button there is no turning back. So instead of blaming social media for your mistakes, try to remember these three rules.

 Don’t use social media as a crutch. Otherwise don’t use the infamous “I didn’t mean to post that.” STOP USING SOCIAL MEDIA AS AN EXCUSE FOR YOUR ERRORS!

Understand the purpose of social media. Social media was created to spread news in a faster and more efficient way. Your thoughts and feelings may not be headliners, but one slip of the tongue can turn you into the latest news.

Know your role on social media. This is the most important rule to follow. Know your role is simply knowing your place on social media. Before you go posting something take a minute to think about it, the meaning behind it, how you feel about the comment, if it’s offensive, and if it reflects you in a positive way.

Next time before you run off and start playing the blame game, think about what your actually using social media for in order to avoid all conflict. After all, if you’re in the office you won’t go off running blaming your mistakes on the guy next to you, so why blame social media?

This guest blog post was written by PRowl staff member Alissa Steele.

"When In Rome..."

If there is one piece of advice I could give to every student out there it would be to study abroad! Everyone should be exposed to the world around them because it will expand your horizons in so many different ways. Traveling will change you as a person both personally and professionally.   

As a future PR professional in the making, I have learned the importance of being able to connect and relate to people. This summer I decided to venture outside of my home turf in Philadelphia and study abroad in Rome.  It has been nothing short of an adventure and eye-opening experience. The Roman culture is so different, ranging from crossing the street to the right way of dressing, and I’ve come to realize that adaptability is extremely important in the PR field. I’ve also had to re-learn everything that I thought I already knew about communicating with people.

Being culturally well-rounded will allow you to be the secret weapon and most valued employee at any agency, company or business. By studying abroad at any point in your life, you are setting yourself apart from the crowd simply because you have international experience and companies are finding out that they will thrive with these types of employees. Having employees that are knowledgeable of the world are becoming a necessity in the work force.

From being in Rome, I have come to realize that many Americans don’t realize that there are so many different cultures and different types of people in the world. It is important for PR professionals to have an international experience because America is turning into a melting pot of different cultures. The best PR professionals are the ones who can stay on top of the latest cultural trends and know how to interact with those of a different culture. By going abroad you are training yourself to do just that while also gaining an international perspective. You’ll expose yourself to how news in other cultures travels, how specific target audiences are reached, and you’ll gain a set of foreign language skills that are lethal in any workplace. One day you could have a client who is Italian, German, Spanish, etc. and you will need to be able to form a relationship with them. Not to mention, people who have been abroad are more likely to get jobs in senior management levels that pay a lot of money for your expertise in other cultures and your willingness to be put into another culture.

Believe it or not, America isn’t that big, but the world around you is. Studying abroad is an adjustment, but one worth making. Go abroad and make yourself part of a different culture, don’t be afraid of standing out or attempting to speak the language. Try to fit in, talk to the locals, order in restaurants where you don’t understand the menu. There is so much to see, so much to do, and so many opportunities to take…after all “when in Rome, do as the Romans do.”   

This guest blog was written by PRowl staff member Alissa Steele. 

Please Touch Me - Tips for a Strong Subject Line

We see hundreds of emails in a week, at least a hundred in one day, and we are exposed to over 5,000 messages. That’s a lot to take in! So how do you get your email read instead of having it ignored? It all starts with the subject line! The subject line is no doubt the most important part of the email because it will decide your fate on whether or not it’s read or dead. Here is a list of tips to amp up your subject line!

1. Put the information or offer up front! 

Position is everything! Nobody wants to have search for the information or the main point of an email.They want to know right away what they are reading so present your point, or at least hint at it, right away in the subject line. Don’t turn the subject line into a guessing game for what the email is about, and definitely don’t leave it blank.

2. Keep your subject line short and sweet!

People are not attracted to lengthy subject lines and they want to see the point of the email right away. Also take notice to the fact that on mobile devices, subject lines get cut shorter than they do on desktops. Keep your subject line length to 8-10 words.

3. Give it a sense of urgency but make it personal!

People hate the thought of missing out on something good, so give your subject line a time constraint. Also, make it relatable to the reader so they feel they need to open it right away.

4. Check for spelling errors!

One single spelling error can make someone delete your email right away. It looks unprofessional, so double and triple check!

5. Most importantly, be clever!

Grab your reader’s attention! It’s found that having short and descriptive subject lines are more prone to being opened compared to cheesy lures. Subject lines can be funny, controversial, personal, or even just a single word.

Subject lines are so important when it comes to an email. If people are receiving hundreds of emails a day, there is a competitive edge to sending out an email. Use these tips to make yours stand out and beat the rest!

This guest blog post was written by PRowl Staff Member Alissa Steele.

 

What’s A Girl To Do?

What does it really mean to be Miss America? Is it all about the performance and having what appears to be a glorious crying session with perfect crystal clear tears rolling down your cheek, or is there something more to the pageant? Well this year the 2014 Miss America winner, 24 year old Nina Davuluri, proved that there is more to her than just a pretty face.

On September 15, 2013 Davuluri was given the title 2014 Miss America, and became the first crowned winner of Indian decent. She took in the crown and the titles with all smiles and glory, but some other Americans did not react in the same way.

Just seconds after Davuluri won the Miss America pageant, thousands of tweets flooded onto Twitter, with many of them targeting her racial heritage. The tweets ranged from anti-Arab remarks to Anti-Indian racism. Some tweeters called Davuluri a terrorist while others declared her as “Miss 7-11.” Other tweets even went so far as to call her an “Arab” and said “that the only reason she won is bc her people said they would lower gas prices.”

Many would take these comments to heart and be offended, but not Nina Davuluri. Davuluri said that she wasn’t surprised by the backlash and expected it. She handled it in the most professional way possible by simply going about her business and acknowledging that racism is still an issue in the country. Unlike most, Davuluri didn’t get on Twitter and start backfiring at tweeters, instead she held her head high. In today’s society people often act on emotion without thinking about the consequences of putting their inner thoughts out onto the internet. People in this century type without thinking and find social media to be a way of venting. In the way that Davuluri responded she showed that you don’t have to put every personal feeling out onto social media, causing her to be a role model to millions. 

This guest blog post was written by PRowl Staff Member Alissa Steele.