Fashion PR No-No’s for the Rookie

We think it’s all glamour, lights, free goodies and celebrity events, but in reality, the fashion industry is much more. There are young ladies, and gents, across the nation looking to get their big break into the industry. While it is a very demanding and competitive field, Fashion PR can be very fun and exciting. 

However, there are many things you should not do when entering the field. While it is best to make an impression quickly in the industry, here are some tips on how to avoid common mistakes. 

• Make It Personal: Media want to feel exclusive. The worst mistake is to mass e-mail all media contacts with the same message. Take the time to address each outlet personally. They will be more likely to show interest in your alert. 
• Avoid Lagging:  Most media are on very strict deadlines. Taking a long time to reply is never a smart idea. Both industries are fast pace and require quick action. The sooner you get back to questions and concerns, the happier your clients will be. 
• Don’t Be Dull: Fashion is such a creative and fun industry. Use your creativity and stellar writing skills to draw in your audience. Avoid cliché terms and phrases and take the time to think of different ideas that will benefit the brand. 
• Be Relevant: Avoid sending pitches to outlets that have no interest or relation to the product. There is nothing worse than getting a pitch about women’s hosiery when you work at for a men’s shoe company. Keep it relevant and of interest to the reader. 
• Don’t Be A Grump: No one likes a negative publicist. It is your job to keep the energy and enthusiasm at all times. After all, you reflect your client and you want to be very personable and approachable. 

This guest blog post was written by PRowl Public Relations staff member Andrea Jordan.

Perfecting the PR Assistant Role

As the graduating class of 2013 anxiously thinks about where they will be a year from now, it is important to be knowledgeable of the entry-level positions most college graduate will begin next summer. While we would all love to be account executives or coordinators, the majority of us will most likely fall into the PR assistant role. Even if this isn’t the ideal position for you, remember to be the best PR assistant you can be. No role should be taken lightly. Today’s assistants are tomorrows account directors. Here are a few things to remember when trying to be the best assistant you can be:

• Be Proud—Assistants often get the grunt work or the work that the higher ups would rather not do, and that’s okay. It is important to take any and all assignments as if the company depends on it. When higher level employees see you take the tedious assignments seriously, they will be more open to giving you bigger projects.
• Be Indispensable—As an assistant you will work under the whole firm. There will be many people expecting things from you and it is important to act as if you can manage tasks from everyone. When someone asks you for a task, never say no. Make sure the entire staff knows who you are and understands that you are open and willing to help. 
• Be Knowledgeable—Since most assistants are young and fresh out of college, you’ll have knowledge of the industry from a different perspective. When you’re invited to important meetings or see that your boss needs help, think creatively about how you can add insight to the project. Use your skills and knowledge to present fresh ideas to the older executives. In the long run, they will notice that you have been very insightful and will be more likely to promote you when the time comes. 
• Be Energetic—It is easy to get flustered and overwhelmed as an assistant. Remember to smile and be happy. Positive energy will draw people to you and will lighten up the mood on a hectic day in the office. 

This guest blog post was written by PRowl Public Relations staff member Andrea Jordan.

Why Start a Blog?

In this digital-age, everyone has a blog. Blogs come in different styles, types and formats. As a hopeful PR professional, a blog can help jump start your career. While they take time and dedication, the end result is well worth it. Here are a few benefits to launching your own blog. 

• Writing Examples: As long as your blog showcases a professional writing style, your personal blog can be used when applying to jobs and internships as writing samples. Choose the posts that have the most views or comments and it will be sure to impress your employer. 
• Showing Knowledge: Your blog should discuss a topic or multiple topics that you are knowledgeable of and have experienced. If you aren’t familiar with the topic, be sure to include research to prove your points. 
• Building Relationships: Blogs help bring like people together. If you’ve met someone who blogs, build a relationship with them and learn from each other. Blogger friends can help increase website traffic and connect you to other opportunities in the business. 
• Resume Enhancer:  Blogging looks great on a resume. Most employers are attracted to candidates who blog and are digital-savvy. Make sure you discuss your blog when talking to other professionals in the industry. 

This guest blog post was written by PRowl Public Relations staff member Andrea Jordan

New Standards to Revitalize the Future of Internships

With the recent scandal of an intern suing their employer for working the hours of a full-time employee without any pay, many internship companies are developing better internship programs to ensure that all students receive the most out of their learning experience. Here are some changes you should expect to develop in many internship programs over the next year.

• Time to Get Paid: Because interns are now responsible for more work than years past, many companies are offering small stipends for interns to supplement their hard work and dedication. While not all companies will offer hourly wages, some will include daily stipends or monthly stipends to their interns.

• Mentor Me: Internship mentors are essential to getting the most out of the internship. Companies want to make sure you are able to grow during your internship period and some are offering mentorship programs where students have the chance to interact with professionals on different levels within the business. This is a great way for interns to network and ask any questions they have about the industry.

• No More Resume: Some companies in the market for such creative interns that they are requiring video submissions instead of resumes for the application process. Not only does this application process take time and creativity, it gives students a chance to show their personality and assets they would bring to the business.

• Work from Home: More and more internships are becoming virtual. This type of internship can seem tricky, but is a great way to add onto a resume while balancing a busy schedule. Virtual internships are challenging because your only interaction with the management is via e-mail or telephone, but it is a great way to get experience while monitoring yourself instead of the employer.

Some of these changes may seem scary, but many businesses internship programs are developing because of them. Remember, as an intern it is important to be open minded and ready for any sudden change. In the end, these internship programs will benefit students and prepare them for the work industry.

This guest blog was written by PRowl Public Relations staff member Andrea Jordan.

How Youtube Can Help Launch Your Career

We all know the Youtube world is growing rapidly. It has become the go-to site for visual how-to’s and entertainment. There have been many youtubers whose careers have launched because of their channels, and it can help public relations professionals as well. Below are ways that Youtube can help launch your PR career.

1. Promote Yourself: Youtube is not only for aspiring singers and songwriters. Let your audience know your career goals and show that in all of the videos. Be sure to remind the viewers that you are a young PR professional throughout your Youtube career. Many professional companies watch Youtube and contact gurus to represent their companies.

2. Tailor Yourself: Tailor all of your videos to fit one type of genre. As a hopeful PR professional, look into angles that you can take that will help you in your future. For example, if you’re interested in beauty-related PR, make videos of beauty product and company reviews.

3. Build Up Your Audience: When Youtube gurus have a significant amount of subscribers, it shows their knowledge of the genre they are covering. Telling a prospective employer that your Youtube presence was successful with thousands of followers will be sure to impress.

4. Expand Your Network: Once your presence on Youtube grows, begin to build relationships with companies that contact you. Once they know your name, make sure they don’t forget it. It will open many doors of opportunity for your future.

Inspired yet? To get started, brainstorm an idea, open a Youtube account and start filming!

This guest blog was written by PRowl Public Relations staff member Andrea Jordan.

Cover Letter Cues from RKPR

We constantly hear professionals complaining about the horrid cover letters they receive during hiring time and it’s not something us young professionals should be proud of. Many very qualified students don’t get opportunities they may be fit for solely because of easily corrected errors in the application process. San Diego PR Professional, Rachel Kay CEO of Rachel Kay Public Relations, vents about the careless mistakes she sees on internship cover letters and how to fix them. Here are a few of her tips to take with you:

1. Know The Contact—Yes, sometimes companies do not list direct contacts for who specifically hires the interns, but stating, “To Whom It May Concern” or “Dear Hiring Staff” is not acceptable. If you don’t know a specific name, write to the company itself. “Dear RachelKPR team” would be a great way to personalize the greeting. Take advantage of the information that is already known.

2. I’m Applying Because I Need A Position, Any Position—We all have times when we are desperate for any job that may come our way, but it isn’t appealing to let a company know that. It is important to prove that you are fit for the position and you are interested in what the company does. The average Joe would write, “I saw your ad for interns and I’m very interested in the position. I haven’t worked in PR previously, but I have experience in other departments.” The more appropriate answer would be, “I’d be a great fit for the company. While I haven’t worked directly in an PR function, as hostess at Malone’s I was responsible for serving as each customer’s first impression of the company, which enabled me to cultivate my communication skills.”

3. Don’t Regurgitate Your Resume—A cover letter is a chance to show your knowledge of the company and why you would be a great addition. As Rachel says, it’s your chance to show you know their business, not the business. Instead of restating your experience in your resume, talk about the company, their clients, and what they’ve been up to lately. Let the professionals know that you keep up with the company and your common interests would be a great addition to the team.

4. Be Relevant—It is always impressive when prospective interns are in the know about what the company has been up to lately. It’s even more impressive when interns offer ideas that they can bring to the team if asked to come on board.

5. Enough About You Already—It’s easy for students to want to talk about all they’ve experienced, but cover letters that discuss the employer show that solid interest and knowledge of the company which can be more impressive than someone with tons of previous internship experience.

6. Edit, Edit, Edit—We hear this time and time again, editing is the most important step. It’s easy to miss tiny mistakes when you’ve been reading the same letter over and over again. Send your cover letter to a friend or a professor to look over before sending it out. That extra step could make the world of a difference in the end.

This guest blog was written by PRowl Public Relations staff member Andrea Jordan.