Greetings from Caroline and Elizabeth, summer interns at The Wyche Group. From press releases and media lists, to client meetings and beyond -- we have certainly cut our teeth on plenty of real world public relations.
Looking back on these past few months, we would like to present our top 5 ‘Lessons Learned’ alternately titled:
PR Is Not For Sissies: An Inside Look Into The World of PR Through The Eyes of Two Interns
1. Make or Break- Becoming a PR professional is to master the art of relationships. Relationships with clients, partners, and especially media outlets will define a career in PR. At TWG our focus is, “PR with a Purpose.” This applies to the clients we serve, the employees we hire, and the way we conduct business. In every facet, we seek to create bonds that will better our business and the community, in some way.
2. People Pleaser- An armor of intelligence, strategy, and creativity are essential to PR, but they won’t protect you for long in this industry. Being a PR professional calls for even more. The key to PR is personality, flare and charm, and essentially being a people person. The ability to build and maintain relationships is a crucial aspect of PR that can only be built upon trust.
3. The Royal Treatment- Upon being approached by potential clients, the first step TWG takes is to sit down with the client and understand and identify their wants and needs. We then create a PR plan that is tailored to meet those specific goals. We have learned that in PR, as in much of the business world, the client is always the number one priority. When a client is happy, we are happy!
4. The Devil is in the Details- When working on a PR campaign, it is crucial that every detail is correct for both the reputation of the client, and TWG. As a PR firm, we present our clients to the public. They have to be presented with integrity and poise. Materials for a client must be reviewed, rewritten, reviewed, rewritten, reviewed, and rewritten, until the text has been transformed into something completely new, bettered each time by small details and careful editing. We strive to only put out the best work possible, down to the last detail.
5. Stick to your Guns- Every business has a slogan: “Just do it”, “Quench your thirst”, “Taste the rainbow”, to name a few. Branding is serious business for the PR world, and The Wyche Group strives to live by its own motto: “PR with a Purpose.” From creative approaches that solve client problems, to tireless customer service, there is true purpose in all that we do.
From Day 1, we were expected to share ideas, speak up in meetings, and above all TAKE INITIATIVE. After spending the summer interning at The Wyche Group we leave with a bit more spring, a bit more business savvy and most importantly, a bit more “purpose” in our steps.
Friday, August 6, 2010
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Catch up or Catch ya Later
In 2009 we saw exponential growth of social media and 2010 is proving to be no different. Since January, social media has become even more popular, more mobile, and more exclusive. Headliners are currently Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, and the emerging Foursquare. If you aren’t familiar with at least one of these, social media is leaving you in the dust.
It seems to be an impossible feat to stay on top of social media trends these days, and many wonder: “How can I keep up?” Here’s our answer: you can’t. Once you accept the fact that the world of social media spins way faster than your own, you can start choosing technologies that support the goals that matter most to you and your business.
Before you devise a social media strategy, you’ll need to know your choices. While the options are seemingly endless, we offered a quick briefing back in march of 2009 to get you up-to-speed. http://thewychegroup.blogspot.com/2009/03/social-media-and-ever-changing-face-of.html
Today, experts are buzzing about the following six trends as the future of social media:
1. Social media begins to look less socialWith groups, lists and niche networks becoming more popular, networks could begin to feel more exclusive.
2. Corporations look to scale
There are relatively few big companies that have scaled social initiatives beyond one-off marketing or communications initiatives. Best Buy's Twelpforce leverages hundreds of employees who provide customer support on Twitter. The employees are managed through a custom built system that keeps track of who participates.
3. Social business becomes serious play
Relatively new networks such as Foursquare are touted for the focus on making networked activity local and mobile. However, it also has a game-like quality to it which brings out the competitor in the user. As businesses look to incentivize activity within their internal or external networks, they may include carrots that encourage a bit of friendly competition.
4. Your company will have a social media policy (and it might actually be enforced)
If the company you work for doesn't already have a social media policy in place with specific rules of engagement across multiple networks, it just might in the next year.
5. Mobile becomes a social media lifeline
With approximately 70 percent of organizations banning social networks and, simultaneously, sales of smartphones on the rise, it's likely that employees will seek to feed their social media addictions on their mobile devices.
6. Sharing no longer means e-mail
The New York Times iPhone application recently added sharing functionality which allows a user to easily broadcast an article across networks such as Facebook and Twitter. Many websites already support this functionality, but it's likely that we will see an increase in user behavior as it becomes more mainstream for people to share with networks what they used to do with e-mail lists.
For more information please visit http://mashable.com/– currently the world’s largest blog focused exclusively on Web 2.0 and Social Media news.
It seems to be an impossible feat to stay on top of social media trends these days, and many wonder: “How can I keep up?” Here’s our answer: you can’t. Once you accept the fact that the world of social media spins way faster than your own, you can start choosing technologies that support the goals that matter most to you and your business.
Before you devise a social media strategy, you’ll need to know your choices. While the options are seemingly endless, we offered a quick briefing back in march of 2009 to get you up-to-speed. http://thewychegroup.blogspot.com/2009/03/social-media-and-ever-changing-face-of.html
Today, experts are buzzing about the following six trends as the future of social media:
1. Social media begins to look less socialWith groups, lists and niche networks becoming more popular, networks could begin to feel more exclusive.
2. Corporations look to scale
There are relatively few big companies that have scaled social initiatives beyond one-off marketing or communications initiatives. Best Buy's Twelpforce leverages hundreds of employees who provide customer support on Twitter. The employees are managed through a custom built system that keeps track of who participates.
3. Social business becomes serious play
Relatively new networks such as Foursquare are touted for the focus on making networked activity local and mobile. However, it also has a game-like quality to it which brings out the competitor in the user. As businesses look to incentivize activity within their internal or external networks, they may include carrots that encourage a bit of friendly competition.
4. Your company will have a social media policy (and it might actually be enforced)
If the company you work for doesn't already have a social media policy in place with specific rules of engagement across multiple networks, it just might in the next year.
5. Mobile becomes a social media lifeline
With approximately 70 percent of organizations banning social networks and, simultaneously, sales of smartphones on the rise, it's likely that employees will seek to feed their social media addictions on their mobile devices.
6. Sharing no longer means e-mail
The New York Times iPhone application recently added sharing functionality which allows a user to easily broadcast an article across networks such as Facebook and Twitter. Many websites already support this functionality, but it's likely that we will see an increase in user behavior as it becomes more mainstream for people to share with networks what they used to do with e-mail lists.
For more information please visit http://mashable.com/– currently the world’s largest blog focused exclusively on Web 2.0 and Social Media news.
Monday, June 28, 2010
World Fitness Day
The Wyche Group helps launch World Fitness Day!
In collaboration with Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention (G-CAPP) and Jane Fonda, The Wyche Group spearheaded the PR campaign for the inaugural World Fitness Day held in the Georgia Dome on May 1, 2010. While managing all local media relations, The Wyche Group also supported national media efforts and handled celebrity scheduling for interview and media opportunities for the launch of World Fitness Day 2010. Efforts resulted in over 121, 844, 144 media impressions from March 21, 2010 through May 4, 2010 alone.
On March 21, 2010, People.com released the exclusive announcement of the launch of World Fitness Day. That same week, Jane Fonda's appearances on Good Morning America and Larry King Live were key to projecting the story across the country. Coverage included CNN, Good Morning America, Extra, Entertainment Tonight and local media outlets, such as Atlanta Journal Constitution, Best Self, and WAGA, WXIA and numerous radio stations.
World Fitness Day
On May 1, led by Jane Fonda and celebrity trainers Richard Simmons, Billy Blanks, Denise Austin, and Debbie Allen, more than 1,500 workout participants converged in the Georgia Dome for the First Annual World Fitness Day. Thousands more viewed the workout remotely online. Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Ludacris and the Pointer Sisters all promoted and energized the event in the name of a healthier world. Inspired by Fonda's fitness legacy, the event was conceived to be an important call to action to motivate the masses to commit to good health practices.
Celebrating the benefits of good health, World Fitness Day provided a platform to bring attention to the important role of health and wellness and its connection to teen pregnancy prevention. The inaugrual event kicked off the month of May, which is also Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month and National Fitness Month. The World Fitness Day workout benefitted the Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention (G-CAPP). Sponsors included
World Fitness Day proved to be a tremendous success, both through the media hits garnered, and the critical message spread by the event. The Wyche Group bolstered this spectacular exhibition of fun, high energy and entertainment through its PR and media knowledge.
You can learn more about G-CAPP and World Fitness Day by visiting www.gcapp.org
In collaboration with Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention (G-CAPP) and Jane Fonda, The Wyche Group spearheaded the PR campaign for the inaugural World Fitness Day held in the Georgia Dome on May 1, 2010. While managing all local media relations, The Wyche Group also supported national media efforts and handled celebrity scheduling for interview and media opportunities for the launch of World Fitness Day 2010. Efforts resulted in over 121, 844, 144 media impressions from March 21, 2010 through May 4, 2010 alone.
On March 21, 2010, People.com released the exclusive announcement of the launch of World Fitness Day. That same week, Jane Fonda's appearances on Good Morning America and Larry King Live were key to projecting the story across the country. Coverage included CNN, Good Morning America, Extra, Entertainment Tonight and local media outlets, such as Atlanta Journal Constitution, Best Self, and WAGA, WXIA and numerous radio stations.
World Fitness Day
On May 1, led by Jane Fonda and celebrity trainers Richard Simmons, Billy Blanks, Denise Austin, and Debbie Allen, more than 1,500 workout participants converged in the Georgia Dome for the First Annual World Fitness Day. Thousands more viewed the workout remotely online. Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Ludacris and the Pointer Sisters all promoted and energized the event in the name of a healthier world. Inspired by Fonda's fitness legacy, the event was conceived to be an important call to action to motivate the masses to commit to good health practices.
Celebrating the benefits of good health, World Fitness Day provided a platform to bring attention to the important role of health and wellness and its connection to teen pregnancy prevention. The inaugrual event kicked off the month of May, which is also Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month and National Fitness Month. The World Fitness Day workout benefitted the Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention (G-CAPP). Sponsors included
World Fitness Day proved to be a tremendous success, both through the media hits garnered, and the critical message spread by the event. The Wyche Group bolstered this spectacular exhibition of fun, high energy and entertainment through its PR and media knowledge.
You can learn more about G-CAPP and World Fitness Day by visiting www.gcapp.org
Womenetics POW! Awards
The POW! Awards provided a powerful message - of inspiration, change and aspiration-while celebrating and endorsing women's leadership. As more women enter the workplace every day, a few key, 'forces-of-nature' are changing the landscape of business. These women trigger change from within as they challenge the status quo. Fresh ideas and the ability to inspire put them at the forefront. They transform vision into the language of action. These women are about dynamic growth; they surmount challenges, break down barriers, and have attained success in the workplace. They bring the "POW!" factor to everything they do. These are the women that were honored April 21, 2010 at the Loews Hotel Atlanta at the first ever POW Awards.
With Jazz singer Anna Wilson to stir the crowd with toe tapping songs, and the empowering keynote of Anita McBride, former Chief of Staff of First Lady Laura Bush, the POW! Awards were unlike any event Atlanta has seen.
The 2010 POW! Winners:
Becky Dowling
Director/Founder, "Just" People Inc.
Cathy CoxPresident, Young Harris College
Dr. Dorothy Mitchell-Leef Partner, Reproductive Biology Associates
Emily Ellison
President/Executive Director, Literacy Action
Helene Lollis
President, Pathbuilders
Jacqueline "Jackie" Yeaney EVP/CMO, Pgi
Kate Atwood
Founder, Kate's Club
Kathy Betty
Owner, Atlanta Dream
Leticia Maspons Willis
President, Willis Mechanical
Marilyn Midyette CEO, Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta
Mary Parker President/CEO, All (n) 1 Security
Richelle (Shelly) Patton President, PRI Development
Rilla Delorier EVP/CMO, SunTrust
Robin H. Sangston
VP/Legal Affairs, Cox Communications
Sally M. Davis VP Institutional Advancement, Morehouse School of Medicine
Wendy Clark SVP Integrated Marketing & Communications, The Coca Cola Company
The Wyche Group provided key messaging, strategy and logistics for the POW! Awards – creating a turnkey event for our client – while ensuring a platform for purposeful women to be honored.
Special Thanks to the Loews Hotel Midtown Atlanta, Swank Audio Visual, Associated Planners of Georgia and Parties to Die For.
You can learn more about Womenetics at www.womenetics.com
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Atlanta Ballet's Nutcracker Tea
Atlanta Ballet’s 50th Anniversary of Nutcracker and the Nutcracker Tea
In 2009, Atlanta Ballet asked The Wyche Group to create a campaign to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Atlanta Ballet’s Nutcracker and to raise awareness and funds to support Atlanta Ballet programs. The public relations campaign and the creation of a celebratory event served as a platform to engage new sponsors, to draw in families not previously involved with the Ballet, and to build a broader opportunity for publicity surrounding the 50th anniversary.Through a targeted public relations campaign, The Wyche Group generated over 11 million media impressions to create excitement and public interest for the 50th season of Atlanta Ballet’s unique Nutcracker. Public relations efforts —utilizing creative pitching and experienced media relationships—resulted in hits with Delta Sky and Southern Living, covers and articles in Southern Seasons and WHERE Atlanta, and multiple local TV and print stories. Coverage was diverse and widespread. The Nutcracker campaign not only raised awareness about the celebratory season, but also served to reach and meet sales and tickets goals.
Atlanta Ballet’s Nutcracker Tea
On December 19, 2009 Atlanta Ballet celebrated 50 magical years of Nutcracker, with Atlanta Ballet’s Nutcracker Tea, sponsored by Belk. From May to December of 2009, The Wyche Group managed the creative process and creation of the new event. From working with sponsors and patrons, collaborating with Atlanta Ballet staff and Nutcracker Tea Co-Chairs and volunteers, to strategic and tactical planning with partners, The Wyche Group provide a turn-key event unlike any in the Atlanta market.
Children and adults were enchanted as snow fell inside the grand ballroom of the Ritz-Carlton, Buckhead and characters from the Nutcracker were brought to life. Atlanta Ballet’s Nutcracker Tea was a feast for the eyes and for the holiday senses. The highlight of the afternoon was a fashion show by Belk that not only included professional models, but also 40 very lucky children of patrons who were tapped to strut down the runway and have a holiday moment in the limelight.
Through the combined efforts of public relations and a unique event that told the story of 50 magical years of dance and community history, The Wyche Group helped to create a season of celebration for Atlanta Ballet.
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