Business
R Public Relations Firm has been recognized among the 10 best Public Relations Firms in Austin, New York and San Antonio in 2021 by DesignRush Marketplace.
After evaluating and analyzing RPR’s performance with some of the most prominent brands in the US, the online platform gave the company a spot among the most reputable agencies in San Antonio.
R Public Relations (RPR) was founded in 2008 by Emily Reynolds Bergh, an experienced and seasoned publicist who has worked with top name media companies and secured press in The New York Times, Food and Wine Magazine, LA Times, Esquire Magazine, Texas Monthly, Garden and Gun, Southern Living, and more! RPR has achieved a 90% client retention rate, thanks to the relentless pursuit of opportunity and optimization efforts, and prides itself on being a part of every client's internal team.
In 2020, despite a global recession caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the company had no layoffs or pay cuts, adopting an “employee first'' policy, and was able to surpass a growth rate of over 200% from the previous year. RPR’s presence has grown from the US into Europe and continues to expand.
DesignRush is a reliable online guide to finding the best professional companies and agencies, categorized according to vertical and area of expertise.
DesignRush evaluates thousands of agencies and is committed to helping brands find the best solutions for their needs. The platform has a listing that allows users to search partners based on clients, portfolios, reviews, pricing structure, and testimonials. This recognition to R Public Relations is one of many that distinguishes the agency and claims its excellence.
DesignRush has also ranked R Public Relations as a Top PR Company in New York and Nashville.
R Marketing Plan Steps for a Successful New Year
It's a new year and that means you should be doing your marketing planning NOW. With last year fresh on your mind and the promise of this year ahead, this is the perfect time. Plus, most businesses are slower at the beginning of the year giving you more opportunity to reflect and plan. Not to mention trying to play catch-up later in the year can really limit your options for business growth. So, with all systems go, R tips can help you successfully map out your marketing plan steps.
Marketing Plan Steps to Include
Throwing it against the wall to see what sticks is as bad of an idea for spaghetti as it is your marketing. You must be strategic, or much like the spaghetti, you’ll just have a mess. Instead, R marketing plan steps include:
- Know who you are – We’re talking about your brand as it’s the foundation from which you will build your plan. Be able to answer these questions clearly: What do you do? What are your products/services? Who is your target audience? What is your promise to customers (value proposition)? What sets you apart (your positioning)?
- Identify what you want to do – With your brand identity firmly cemented you can begin identifying marketing objectives. Drive leads, convert more leads to customers, increase awareness, upsell or cross sell customers, launch a new product or service, and/or increase customer satisfaction are common ones, but here’s the key: you have to make it quantifiable to be able to measure success. Here’s another key: you can’t do everything, pick two or three to focus on.
- Take stock – This is an often-overlooked step but before you begin any new marketing campaigns, it’s important to take stock of what you’ve already done or are doing currently. Look at your social media, content marketing, SEO, ads, and public relations activities with the goal not only to avoid duplication of effort but also to see what you might improve. Also, make sure to perform a competitive analysis to get a good handle on your competitors’ strengths and weaknesses.
- Determine how you’ll get there – Now for the fun! What tools will you use to achieve your marketing goals? There are endless options available, but this is where a solid understanding of your target audience(s) comes in as quite simply, you need to be where they are. What’s more, keep in mind those tools may change throughout the sales cycle. For example, social media may pull in leads while email helps you to nurture them. Your content will likely also need to change throughout the sales cycle so you’ll need to flesh out what message to promote when.
- Find out how you did – We talked about the importance of quantifiable goals above and this is where that really comes into play. Google Analytics and Search Console are ideal to measure website traffic; where it’s coming from, visit length, and conversions. You can measure social media through the individual properties (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.) and can measure email metrics through your platform too. Or, tools like Hubspot can bring it all together. For PR, media impressions are key.
More on Measuring Your Goals
Not only is it important to measure the results of your marketing plan based on your goals, but you need to do it on an ongoing basis! So many businesses neglect this step. A marketing plan isn’t something you can set and forget. Success depends on your ability to optimize throughout the year as you learn more about what works and what doesn’t.
Leave it To the Experts
This can be overwhelming - we get it! Not everyone has a dedicated marketing department to take this on and for many of our clients, marketing is not their area of expertise. You want your marketing dollars to pay off, but not at the expense of what you need to be focusing on – running your business! That’s where we come in!
R goal is to help clients in industries such as restaurant, hospitality, retail, health and wellness, business, non-profit and more to achieve theirs through:
- Marketing Strategy and Campaign Creation
- Public Relations
- Social Media
- Event Management
- Content Marketing
- Creative Services
- Analytics
For R help your marketing plan, click HERE to schedule a FREE Discovery Call today!
R Favorite Things 2020 Edition!
2020 has been a doozy, hasn’t it?! In the midst of the global pandemic, we have grown as a team to further appreciate the way words can change the course of a mindset and the way relationships really keep people and places afloat. We have grown our chapters in cause marketing and crisis management further than ever imagined and in the midst of it all, have furthered our appreciation for the shop-small mantra—being that our mission is to serve YOUR business as R own, we really take being locally minded to heart this holiday season, more than ever before. That being said, here from R client picks to R staff picks is R favorite things 2020!
Thank you for reading and being a part of R family,
Emily + The Amazing RPR Team
First and Foremost R Clients; As they R always our favorites
The Bookstore Plus, get an e gift card and stock up on The New York Times bestsellers or perhaps spend some holiday money on art supplies, either way, this local indie bookstore has it all and we heart yees them real big!
Robin Haley Jewelry: Seen on some of our staff picks list but for real these handcrafted fine and fashion pieces of art are like the gift of owning a gallery that is pocket sized and sparkly, not to mention Robin has a story for each and every piece sold!
Hearne Dry Goods, a company with a cause, all locally made and the treat of popping on a pair of ear bobs to make lasagna at home for the 100th time just adds the spice needed to keep on keepin’ on!
(Photo; bonfire studs by Hearne Dry Goods)
Peg Leg Porker: As we say in the office, ‘Santa Baby... back!” Give the gift of ribs and some special sauce—no one has complained from getting a giant package of tried-and-true southern BBQ. And if you aren't into meat (why are we friends?), but really, the recently released 15-year bourbon is worth its weight in gold!
Goldbelly: https://www.goldbelly.com/peg-leg-porker
In Nashville? Order directly here: https://peglegporker.com
(photo: Peg Leg Porker Bourbon)
Liquor Lab: Virtual cocktail classes and incredible cocktail kits for the boozy babe in your life!
Las Palmas is having an incredible gift card sale ALL of December! And we certainly aren’t complaining about the extra reasons to dip the chip in our fave cheese dip in Tennessee. https://www.laspalmasnashville.comThe
Tennessee Whiskey Trail: Virtual tastings and Trail merch never go out of style! But there is really nothing better then the gift of whiskey! https://www.tnwhiskeytrail.com
Boudros Texas Bistro: After over 35 years of being open 7 days a week, they had to shut their doors due to Covid in April and have since re-opened, it has been challenging, give them a like on Facebook or visit them next time you are in San Antonio!
Bambinos: Something for baby is also something for mama https://bambinosboutique.com
Speaking of R family, give the gift of a wine drop from R founder’s famous wine brother, Grant at Parcelle Wine in NYC. They deliver all over the USA, and this gift has both free shipping and gets you 3 bottles for a flat fee of $95. Add his newly published book too and make it a gift bundle! Wine Drop HERE
Now that we have bragged about R clients and family here are R favorite things 2020 staff picks!
Madison Baber: R Brand Ambassador Angel
Herb Planter Stop overbuying herbs, and get an indoor herb garden and grow your own! If you don't quite have a green thumb, it's cleverly designed to be self-watering so you don't have to worry about over watering or killing your precious plants.
Glossier Makeup Set Even while hunkered down at home, a little makeup can add some pep to your step! This easy-to-apply essentials kit from Glossier comes with a brow pomade, buildable cream blush, and mascara for a fresh-faced look.
Silk Pillowcase Because (sleep!) If you are looking to treat someone to a bit of luxury, this silk pillowcase will be the perfect addition to your sleep schedule. Plus as an added bonus, studies show that silk pillowcases create less friction causing fewer wrinkles and prevent bedhead!
Bala Bangles Sweat with style with these bangle weights that adds a constant but comfortable resistance to your workout. They can be worn on wrists or ankles and come in a bunch of different colors.
Tracy Howard Garton R Content Consultant Queen!
Claws Out Nailpolish It's activism in a bottle! We get to gussy up and do some good with these pretty, Portland, Oregon-made nail polishes that donate a portion of their proceeds to causes that affect women worldwide.
Stainless Cocktail Picks For some reason, cocktails just feel fancier when the garnish comes skewered on one of these polished cocktail picks.
Robin Haley Narrow Montana Sapphire Band Forget Santa—we're treating ourselves to exactly what we want this year, which is this stunning Montana sapphire band from Nashville's Robin Haley Jewelry.
Parachute Cloud Cotton Robe (photo above) If your 2020 has been anything like ours, you're practically living in loungewear. Which is why this cool, cottony robe from Parachute is at the top of our wishlist this year.
Kosas Lipstick in Rosewater Go pretty in pink during those WFH Zoom calls with this color-kissed lipstick from Kosas. It's ultra-hydrating thanks to its blend of jojoba oil, rosehip seed oil, and mango seed butter, with color (that in our experience) manages to stay put for most of the day.
Julia Heffelfinger: R R-ecipe Developer Extraordinare
Sabah Shearling-Lined Slippers There are no rules in 2020. That means wearing your slippers to walk the dog or run to the grocery store is completely acceptable. Especially if you have these super-chic Turkish slippers lined with shearling and finished in emerald green leather.
Italian Nick & Nora Glasses (set of 4)(photo above) I've developed a bit of an Italian amaro habit this past year. It's the perfect low-ABV sip after a long work day. These delicate Nick & Nora glasses would really take cocktail hour to the next level.
Siblings Candles Scent No. 4 I have a bit of a candle addiction. My next quarantine project is to cut down on extra waste and start making my own with these clever DIY kits from Siblings. Scent No. 4 has eucalyptus and evergreen and will be perfect for the holidays.
Sézane Shirt Jacket (photo below) Winter is my favorite wardrobe season because it's all about the layers and outerwear. This cerulean blue shirt jacket is top of my list: I can throw it on for a warm winter day, or layer it under my parka when the snow is coming down.
Chile Crunch Party Jar Forget hot sauce, I am putting this crispy, garlicky chile crunch on everything. Made by a small maker in Colorado, I easily go through a jar every month. I've decided 2021 is the year I upgrade to the PARTY JAR.
Capabunga Market Tote This classic cream canvas tote is exactly what I want for my weekly farmer's market runs. There's even a strap for your fresh flowers!
Sarah Williams R Digital Guru with Food and Bev Clients:
Sarah says this is the year of self-care and all she wants for Christmas is some peace and quiet and bath bombs (and maybe a little wine too)!
Scalp scrub, because we all have a headache after 2020… Lip and cheek balm, because under this face mask is a glowing gals face!
Dry shampoo—because, well because! ‘R-ENEW’ YOUR INNER PEACE: Get Cozy with this Faux Fur Throw
Snuggled with by the fire with THIS book ( from The Bookstore Plus, of course)
And a cup of tea with THIS monthly tea subscription: (photo below)
‘RESTORE’ YOUR BODY WITH SOME KITCHEN LOVE: THIS Kitchen Glow-Up with this Cookbook And Mortar & Pestle will do the trick !
Emily Reynolds Bergh: R Fearless Founder!
My list this year is all about local love! And if I have learned anything about this year it is truly that there is “NO PLACE LIKE HOME!’ My mom named me after Auntie Em and I am totally in love with my hometown this year, like never before!
My favorite store to shop in upstate NY is The Birch Store. It’ a locally owned boutique and the owners actually styled Jon Bon Jovi (I am pretty sure that is the rumor) so each piece from a keychain to a notecard is thoughtfully picked out. I am digging THIS Hobo bag (photo below):
Also, because I have a daughter named Opal I am now obsessed with all things Opal. This little shop in Oregon is a wholesale client for Robin Haley and I love, love, love their Instagram and found these super cute and affordable Opal earrings (photo below).
I want to chop away at the New York Times bestseller list, so I am asking for an e-gift card from my favorite local bookstore, The Bookstore Plus. I literally cried happy tears and danced a happy dance when we confirmed them as a client this year. I truly love them so much! https://www.thebookstoreplus.com
Found this cool shop on Etsy that is also founded in The Adirondacks—I am really crushing on this ADK pendant and really want it in my stocking (photo above)!
Julie Cohen R In-House English Teacher
This year is all about being comfy and cozy in my home because that’s just about all we can do!
Dr Teals® Pink Himalayan Epsom Salt Scrub smells SO good. This is a perfect stocking stuffer, and I recommend this scent in any of Dr Teals products.
Okay, bear with me here. I have never been into the idea of matching my children or my husband or … anyone for that matter. But last year I jumped on the family jammie train, and I’m never gonna look back. There’s something about matching in our cute jammies that makes being stuck at home on quarantine a little more bearable. Also, when everyone is driving me insane, I’m reminded that hey, we are on the same team. We can do this. This year, I’ve had my eye on these LC Lauren Conrad ones for Kohls.
This year is all about searching for serenity in absolute chaos, amiright?? I love Boss Babes, a feminist coloring book, created by my buddy Michelle Volanksy. Pour yourself a glass of wine and relax coloring in Beyoncé, Meryl Streep, Malala, Ruth Badar Ginsburg, Adele, and all your other favorite queens.
Since I’ve spent so many hours staring at my walls, I’ve finally gotten around to framing some stuff, but now that I’ve started, I want more and more! Lately, I am loving the art by Vidhya Nagarajan. This season, I have my eye on her Foodie Alphabet. (photo above)
I’m in love with these Paper for The People paper art creations by Alexis Viele. Just listen to her mission: “This project was created in celebration of the good that exists within the tremendously difficult, and the incredible humans who inspire others to daily seek joy and find power within.” The portraits she creates are amazing!
Thank You and we all wish you the happiest of holidays!
The R Public Relations Team
R Checklist for Creating Top Virtual Events in Nashville
It’s pretty much inevitable at this point that if you’re planning to host an event anytime soon, you gotta go virtual. But it’s not as easy as it sounds. Unless you have R checklist for creating top virtual events in Nashville, of course!
A Virtual History Lesson
We get it; nothing truly replaces the experience of meeting face-to-face with prospects, clients, and colleagues, but since COVID-19 began virtual events have been as much of a necessity as our daily coffee fix. In fact, virtual events have been around for longer than you may think for that very reason. The first webcam was actually created in 1993, by University of Cambridge computer scientists who were too ‘busy’ to physically check to see when the coffee, located in another lab, was ready. So, they created a webcam to livestream its progress. Priorities, right!?!
Virtual Events Today
In all seriousness, today’s virtual events can range from small groups to thousands of attendees, and the most common types of events include:
- Question and answer sessions
- Tutorials and/or classes
- Training
- Tours
- Interviews
- Performances
- Conferences
- Networking events
R Top Virtual Events Checklist
Anyone who’s ever planned an event knows how much goes into it. Success doesn’t come easily with virtual events either, but that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t look seamless! Here’s how:
Get a Game Plan – And start early! Think about:
- What you want to achieve
- Who your audience will be
- The experience you want to offer
- What content would be relevant to them, whether you want a live or on-demand event or both
- If you’ll require registration
- If you want to partner with advertisers and/or sponsors, as well as how you define success and how you will track those metrics.
And don’t forget to create an event budget.
Work Out the Right Time – From working out time zones to ensuring you’re not competing with other similar events to doing some research on when your audience is typically online; choosing the right time and date is much more important (and much more involved) than you may initially think.
Pick the Right Platform – This really depends are what type of event your hosting. For live-tweeting events, you might use Reddit or Slack (don’t forget the hashtag!). Webinar platforms include Zoom, as well as Livestorm and YouTube Livestream. Social livestreams include Instagram Live, Facebook Live and LinkedIn Live. For conferences there’s 6connex, HeySummit and Run the World.
Promote, Promote, Promote – There’s so much competing for your audience’s time, including other virtual events. So, make sure potential attendees know the details and WHY they should attend. Then promote far and wide using email, social media, and on sites like Eventbrite. What’s more, ramp up your efforts starting 2-3 weeks out as many won’t commit until then. And don’t forget to enlist speakers as ambassadors for the event in addition to creating an event hashtag and a dedicated landing page.
Test Things Out – Rehearsals are super important because it’s far too easy for attendees to bail if your virtual event is a pain. Test internet connections, prepare backups of presentations, and make sure your speakers are comfortable with the platform. Depending on the size of the event, you might even have some tech support available for attendees should they run into trouble.
Create Opportunities to Engage – Of course we’ve never done this ourselves, but we’ve all ‘heard’ of multitasking or social media surfing during a virtual event. Gasp! The easiest way to avoid people tuning out is to keep them engaged by incorporating a poll or chat tool (make sure to have a moderator) and/or encourage live-tweeting. Don’t forget to ask for feedback at the end of the event so you can improve for next time too!
Virtual Events That Got It Right
With so many virtual events out there right now, there are plenty of hits and misses. But, here are some of R favorite successful events:
- Skift’s Online Summit - Travel's Path Forward – The first in their series of travel summits, the event had multiple speakers and guests had the opportunity to ask questions. Recordings of the series can be found here.
- Lululemon has been hosting a monthly online book club with live discussions on Instagram that feature the authors. Each book club pick focuses on a health and wellness topic and the discussions are moderated by one of their global ambassadors.
- Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood hosted a series of free livestream concerts on Facebook Live with the hashtag #GarthRequestLive where they played requests that fans put in the comments. We simply had to include a Nashville success story right?
- Silverado Vineyards came up with the concept of a virtual wine taste test to unveil a new product. They sent wines to their best customers and invited them to a virtual tasting while their experts discussed the wines.
- Washington Performing Arts Gala – Their gala was scheduled for March and instead of canceling it they turned it into a virtual livestream experience in only 3 days! And even created a webinar to document how it went!
Top Virtual Events in Nashville Coming Up
- Music City Bandwidth – 30 livestreamed concerts between September 14 – October 31
- R clients at Liquor Lab have gone full-on virtual with their cocktail events—that’s right, the happy hour you always dreamed of, without leaving the house or your PJs!
- Nashville Area Chamber and Partnership 2020 Annual Celebration – Tuesday, October 13
- Nashville Zoo Virtual Programs – Multiple Dates, October - December
- 2020 Revenge of the Bird Virtual 5k Turkey Trot – November 1 – December 12
- Nashville Public Library Literary Award Gala – Saturday, November 14, 2020
- Virtual Nashville Vacation Package - Not necessarily an event, but a virtual experience all the same. What a cool way to explore Nashville!
For R help in planning your virtual events in Nashville or beyond, click HERE to schedule a FREE Discovery Call today!
R is for R(e)-opening! 6 Tips to Help You Reopen Seamlessly
Raise your hand if you are a business owner who recently had your entire world turned upside-down? For us, we’ve been in the trenches with R clients as they’ve shuttered their doors, launched take-out menus, and now as many look to Re-open businesses, which in some cases, have been around for more than 20 years. Wow, things can change with the blink of an eye, can’t they? First, we want to say, whether you’re a client, a friend, or new to the RPR blog, we are here with you. Seriously, this is a time to band together and to be flexible, forgiving, and open to the new world we live in—a touchless, mask-wearing world. We see you and your pretty eyes in those masks, and we R here to help! Below, we’ve pulled together six tips to help you reopen and thrive in this ever-changing world.
Make a plan. For many of you, the new rules, regulations, and stages of reopening are hard to keep up with—they change daily, and just as you seem to catch your groove something new pops up. Deciding when to open, re-open, who to bring on board, and what to do with your furloughed staff can be mind-boggling, let alone thinking about your marketing messages during times like these. First things first, take a deep breath and sit down. Let’s write a plan—a new plan—here’s what we need to include:
- Dates and guidelines for your city, what you are going to do, and when you want to do it. Start with a projected date of opening at (25% 50% 100%) capacity and re-hiring (XXX) employees to get things up and going. Call your staff even if they are furloughed, most probably want to come back ASAP. They most likely miss you—and their jobs—too.
- Once you have a general outline, set up a Zoom call with your crew, review the plan you have and let them know, yes, things are changing so please be patient and flexible, and that you are, too!
- Share your plan with your staff. This may involve retraining them on new systems for cleaning, for customer service, for everything (it will be like you just opened!). We know it's frustrating, but take the retraining seriously as the last thing you want is a customer to video your staff NOT meeting new guidelines (if you need help in the HR department, let us know—we have resources to guide you).
Make a Plan B. If we can learn anything from the past few months, it’s that we all need a Plan B. There are a lot of what-ifs in the world of business right now, so be PROACTIVE vs. reactive, meaning prepare for things to continue to operate under a “new normal” and/or potentially even revert to stay-at-home orders, but this time you will be ready to make your business marketable!
Prepare for things to be touchless. Many places plan on keeping curbside shopping, free shipping, new website features for online ordering, and more from the past few months. We can say most of our lives are now MORE THAN EVER online, so get those online shops and websites up to snuff. (Psst: we can help here, too.)
Think outside of the box. Now is the time to offer up something new—to your menus, to your websites, to your business. We are seeing some make masks, some make new kinds of menu items (cue in family-style take-out meals), and some make new kinds of lemonade from these lemons. Perhaps this is the time your business thrives in a way it never has before, because, really, why not?
Take this time as a lesson on diversifying your offerings, adding merch, launching new product packaging, making your site shoppable … whatever it takes! Let us know if you need more suggestions or want help executing—we’re here to help!
And, as always, be patient and be kind. Your audience, clients, and customers are all in a state of unknown, and are adjusting, too! Have your social messaging be bright, informative, and positive. Remember your words have POWER, so use them accordingly!
5 Ways To Pivot Your Business Message Right Now!
As we enter a new “normal” in terms of our business world during the time of COVID-19, the word “pivot” has been thrown around as a big buzzword, particularly when it comes to businesses. For us as word-weavers, we want to help, as when you pivot internally and not externally things can go south. Meaning, if your messages are mixed, inconsistent or flimsy (which is easy to do considering the world has turned upside down in the past 90 days), your people may be lost as to what you really are offering and thus move onto another pasture, if you know what we mean. We R here to help with our 5 ways to pivot your business message to communicate your new normal.
1. Google your business and your top employees
Google your business and your top employees and see what has been written and what may be changing for you for the foreseeable future. If you are, for the foreseeable future, going to offer curbside pick-up, see if that is in your current online search messaging, and if not, hire a great SEO company to make it happen (we have friends we can point you to if you need it). People are online now more than ever and most people want to come back to you, but if they see the words “closed,” “temporarily closed,” “laid off,” “furloughed,” or whatever else has come up for you and others in the past month, they may be shy to buy, purchase, or stop by for a visit if you plan on reopening anytime soon. Make a checklist of where you need to re-message your message and get going on that ASAP.
2. Update your social media
Update your social media but know the who, the what, and the when before you do so.
3. Meet people where they are
Get masks, sanitizer, and so on for your establishment. We even have a client offering sneeze stations, no joke, and anticipate varying levels of comfort for guests. Some people are not going to want to get out of their cars for the foreseeable future even when governments open up. So be prepared for those who are ready to come in and those who want to be met outside.
4. Offer NEW purchasing options
You may want to update your websites (we are happy to help) and offer some additional items for sale. We have restaurant clients that are upping their merch and dry goods on their websites. Furthermore, we have online retailers offering free shipping as a long-term goal!
5. As always be kind!
This seems obvious but when you look at a Yelp review that slams you for whatever choice you may be making. As the world opens back up, be sure to answer when you have cooled off—a quick tweet, Yelp response, or what have you, can have a lasting effect.
If you need more tips, tricks, or help, schedule a FREE Discovery Call Today!
10 Ways To Help Small Businesses Right Now!
We are the behind-the-curtain folks, the weavers of words, the people that help share passion and spread good news! I am writing this as, like many of you and like most of the world, I want to save all the restaurants and bars, and help small businesses from the hardships being immediately faced. I feel like every morning I wake up and see someone else I care about posting about making a hard decision with their business, and it seems that although we are practicing things like “social distancing”—a phrase I never have used in my life as both an extrovert and a lover of people—we are also in the midst of times where supporting and giving services is needed more than ever.
As communications pros, we can be a beacon of hope during these strange and difficult times—we are the messengers to the media, we are the media, we move the needle from fear to fearless by being courageous and creative innovators in a time of great need! So I ask, HOW can we help—now? I’ve listed some of R teams ideas below on ways to help small businesses, and support clients, media friends, and most of all each other. Let us know what you’d add, too, we are here to bounce ideas, support, and help small businesses! Let’s do this!
1. Pick up the phone
Get off email and CALL your people—they need you. They’re reading the news and social media and seeing their friends close down and make difficult decisions—offer creative solutions that can help them weather this storm (an abbreviated but awesome take-out menu, clever delivery options, etc). Read this again, CALL and connect, it makes a world of difference—trust me.
2. Source ideas with other professionals.
If you are like me, you have been writing crisis communication plans, scraping all the content you planned for this month and next and next and gearing up for a daily swipe of your ideas—you need some creative support! Call, text, and email fellow communications pros! This is the time to give extra hours, time, and talents to each other to support the world of small businesses. THIS is our time to really support each other and get over any fear that someone will take your client or idea. In this case, we all need to save this sinking ship for EVERYONE and we are the answers.
3. Be a marketing genius
During the Great Depression, furniture stores offered free incentives called “Depression glass” (like a plate or a teacup) and people went wild shopping for furniture just to get the free glasses, even when they didn’t have much. Today a tiny Depression tea glass is worth $25-$75 (some more), and these were given out for free to our grandmothers. Who came up with that idea? A MARKETING GENIUS, that’s who. Us marketing pros are the people behind the curtain and we get to show off our most genius ideas—often in the most desperate times.
Just this week alone I have seen café owners delivering goods, celebrities reading storybooks online, museums offering free tours, and even Disney taking viewers on virtual rides. The internet is blowing up and our ideas are just waiting to take off and find value with our clients. So do what you need to be risky and wise and get someone to sign up for something they never thought they would—it WILL work!
4. Be calm + confident
Be confident, be collected, and know this too shall pass. If we hold our visions our clients will too, and we are the ones who help document and execute those visions. So it is up to us to be calm in the storm when they need to freak out because their business is taking turns they never imagined. Be confident. Know you were hired because you are smart, talented and clients can count on you to share their message—that’s you!
5. Be mindful
Be mindful of your words instead of “hard times” change that up for “things are constantly changing” instead of “closing” change that up for “we will open as soon as we can.” Words have power and now more than ever WE are responsible for encouraging clients and media to lessen the drastic language and fear and see things as a work in progress. As the truth is this is actually a golden opportunity to be creative with businesses. Those that know how to pivot and stay calm will be the ones on top after the storm blows over.
6. Be generous with your time
We need to write more blog posts, edit more press releases and help more than we probably ever have before—now is the time to get our boots dirty. It’s hard work, but so worth it!
7. Shop, shop, shop
Buy all the things—get merch, get gift cards, and practice what you are preachin’ sister!
8. Make your pitches short and sweet
And with all information in digestible deets—who, what, where, and website links—and nothing else! We don't want to make more work for our media friends who are getting more emails than ever right now.
9. Share other people’s creative work
Not just your clients! Ask and offer fellow comm friends ways you can lend a helping hand! Giving truly makes the world of difference in stressful situations.
10. BE KIND
Be kind to yourself included, take a bath, do an online yoga class, pour a glass of wine at the end of the day, whatever gets you to zen. You can’t save the world if you aren’t taking care of you and from there sprinkle out the good witch vibes and let people know they have had the power to change and shift and grow within them the whole time. (‘nuff said).
From friends in the comm worlds:
“Entertain and engage! This is the time to show your audience your brand value through digital marketing by giving them what they need the most right now. Something to do. You literally have a captive audience, so don’t waste that opportunity with your average content. Find creative ways to entertain and engage your audience. A great way to do that is through mixed media: video, graphics, motion graphics, email campaigns, etc. Create giveaways, quizzes, and games! The more your audience feels supported by your brand during this time, the more brand loyalty they will reciprocate when things go back to normal.” Sarah Wlliams (digital marketing guru)
Have something to add and help small businesses? Please share!
A Public Relations Checklist + Trends For 2020
So the year of 2019 is about to go by and here we are R-eflecting on all the fun openings, book launches, new businesses we supported, and clients and media we related to. PR at it’s finest but what have we learned from this year that we will bring into next? Here is our ultimate PR checklist—we are always happy to set-up a free consultation if you have more needs, wants or R-equests!
R words of advice
R words of advice for 2020 as far as public relations goes is:
- Stop sending press releases for things that are not immediate release or going to earn attention as “news.” There is a time and a place for all communication but press releases—unless it is breaking news—are a thing of the past. Customized-meets-personalized pitching is where things are headed, which means short, sweet, and to the point.
- Start investing in video—things are moving towards fewer written words, not more. I started blogging in 2010 and began doing vlogs shortly thereafter, as well as short videos that convey a message. YouTube is still going strong as an avenue to share and post videos + iPhones have made it super easy too!
- Speaking of short and sweet, keep your communications to media appropriate and short and sweet—not mass distributed. No one likes a mass email, especially someone who gets 100s of emails a day. This is one of the perks to hiring a publicist—we have ways to get the message to contacts without being pesky.
- Start posting in your social media stories NOW. General posts are moving towards a thing of the past, so have your social team post those stories and make them personal!
- Know what is a trend and what is an end! Avocado toast was so five years ago—things move particularly fast in the food and fashion worlds, so ask your PR team to help advise before making a product launch or new menu.
6. Invest in EVENT-focused outreach. Start sharing your brand with a party or collaboration. Being a solo-standing brand is becoming a thing of the past.
7. Do use professional photos in all situations. No more dark photos of parking lots—have your marketing/pr team help you put your best photo-foot forward.
8. Do sign up and/or post on Linkedin NOW. Trends revive and Linkedin is one of them, especially for B-to-B businesses.
9. Do sign up and/or start posting on Tik Tok NOW. This video streaming platform will be taking over Instagram in 2020, just you watch and see!
10. As far as social media goes, know your platform when sharing on digital media. As we say to clients, each social media channel is its own neighborhood, and not all work the same way—think art district (Instagram), up and coming (Tik Tok), hipster (Snapchat), old historic (Linkedin/Twitter), mom ‘n’ pop (Facebook). A good PR team will help you navigate this so you can maximize your efforts in all places or just focus on one neighborhood doing really well!
Onwards towards a new year and a R-fresh of your brand!
Emily + RPR
***Schedule a free discovery meeting with us today at http://www.rprfirm.com/schedule/
R Favorite Things 2019
Working as publicists and writers around the holidays is a busy time for us, there are holiday must-have lists, recipes, and private events to be shared. Offering R creativity daily is a fun full-time gig. However, sometimes we have to stop and smell the roses, take a minute or two for ourselves, so we can recharge for our clients and team. This season, in the midst of holiday buzz-building for others, I asked the RPR team to share their own favorite things. It was a true joy to see what everyone shared. Take a peek here, hopefully we inspire you, too from R team to yours!
Julie, International Consultant and Senior Editor
This cookbook, because potlucks are the best way to entertain!
This t shirt- because it’s so comfy and looks cute with any coat, cardigan and scarf.
And this fake awake eye brightening pencil (because kids).
Sarah, Digital Media Guru
Lush: Avo Bath Bomb (because we all need a good bath to relax at the end of the day)
Stila: Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick ( because oops lunch meeting new clients)
William Sonoma: Himalayan Salt Block for Grilling - salmon, chicken, you name it, it will taste better
Jamie Oliver: Mortar and Pestle (because needed)
Benriner: Mandolin Slicer ( watch those fingers but here comes some majorly good gratin)
Rifle Paper Co: Phone Cases ( because they are gorgeous)
Tracy, Senior Editor & Content Specialist
Yeti Wine Tumblers—Hellooooo, glamping!
Smith Teamaker's Meadow Tea—My favorite herbal tea, and a great stocking stuffer. Even the kids love it with honey.
Miir Camp Cup—My husband got me one last Xmas and we both love it so much I'm getting him one this year. It legit keeps my coffee hot for hours, and so far has proved indestructible. Plus, the company uses proceeds to help bring water to those without.
Sonora Candles from Paddywax—They look as good as they smell!
Tamyra Beanie from Prana—How stinking cute is this hat?!
Martha Stewart Spoonula—Nothing fancy, but it's seriously one of my most beloved kitchen utensils.
Condensation Ring—How pretty are these stackable bands from Portland-designer Seaworthy?!
Sukari Baby Facial from Drunk Elephant—The perfect at-home acid exfoliation.
Weighted Throw Blanket—Just me?? I'm totally asking for one this year.
Patagonia Fleece Mittens—Love that they open to fingerless gloves.
Venti Beach Tote—Look at how much it will hold!
Julia, R-ecipe Development, Senior Editor
Norden - Joshua Tree Ceramic Candle I love these! And I use the jars for flowers or a coffee mug when the candle is done :)
Sabre - Teak Butter Spreaders Classic, chic and great for entertaining, making your morning toast or as a prop in food photos!
Kerzon - Feuilles d'Eucalyptus I love things scented with eucalyptus! When I'm cooking all the time and washing my hands, I always need a good hand lotion. This one is thick and creamy and the shea butter is great during the winter.
Vintage Barware Jigger I'm always looking for cool vintage items for my bar cart. I think these mismatched vintage bar jiggers are my next purchase!
Everlane - Shrunken Cashmere Sweatshirt A little more expensive than the others, but I love Everlane cashmere. It's a good price and it holds up well. The cropped cashmere "sweatshirt" is my favorite and looks so cute with high waisted jeans. The red really pops in the winter!
Madison, Brand Ambassador
12-month planner from Bando - These are my favorite planners, I get one every year! Plus, they have cute stickers..who says you can't play with stickers as an adult.
Cotton smock apron from World Market - If you watch Bon Appetit on Youtube, you will notice a lot the editors wearing these. I have one, and I love it! It's a loose fit so you can comfortably wear it over chunky sweaters or sweats.
Beeswax wrap from Bees Wrap - I'm trying to reduce the amounts of single-use plastics I use, I've seen that these are a great replacement for plastic wrap
Minute Mimosa Sugar Cube Trio from Uncommon Goods - This looks so fun.
Copper Planter from West Elm - I love the metallic color of this planter! I have two dogs that are nosy and like to get into all my plants so having a planter that's elevated is a must in my apartment
In-shower body conditioner/exfoliator from Lush - This is one of the best in-shower moisturizers for the cold weather months. It exfoliates your skin while also moisturizing it. It's marketed as one of Lush's "naked" items which means it is packaging-free, again reducing the amount of single-use plastics!
While most of my Christmas faves revolve around my Bambinos Registry plus diaper genies and baby bathtubs, for my little love who is due Christmas Day. Yet, for moi I would choose these beauties:
Pick A Pom hat from Anthropologie: I honestly tell my husband and family - pretty much you could get me a sock on sale at Anthro and I would like them, but I really do love this “change the pom pom” idea for this hat. It’s less than $40 (which for Anthro is pretty much a steal). Speaking of stealing I am sure my tween daughters will steal these from me, but it still would be fun!
The grandma in me is craving flannel sheets, these houndstooth babies are so pretty and pink and on sale!
For the kitchen- I need/want a new cutting board or two, and these are so pretty.
These are essential for me, and I truly love, love love this company. If you don’t have these wooden spoons, then I suggest you put these on your list, they are the best for cooking , stirring and pretty much everything, I have my whole family hooked on them. I also love this mission and family run operation- people who quit day jobs to build spoons are my inspo!
Because I love our R clients, I love these earrings from Hearne as my final pick. Bonus, by buying these, I will likely help a baby in Africa get some diapers and immunizations with the purchase too: Another bonus: I may still be pregnant on NYE but these pretties with an extra large maternity sweater will make me feel like I am a supermodel!
Tammy, R Accounting Guru:
“Save your money and make something and write a nice card (RPR accounting)”
R New Year's Eve R-eservation R-ecs
R New Year's Eve R-eservation R-ecs
Still haven’t locked in your New Year’s Eve plans? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. With clients across Nashville, Austin, and San Antonio offering a wide range of unique, inventive holiday experiences, we’re having a hard time deciding what city to spend the night in R-selves.
Take Nashville, where Sea Salt is offering a four course dinner with entrées ranging from surf & turf to scallops & grits. For desert, top it off with your choice of almond cream cake or butterscotch pudding (limited reservations still available). Or how about enjoying five courses at Foreign & Domestic in Austin, where they’re featuring dry aged rohan duck (limited reservations still available) Move over to San Antonio, where you could count down the clock with a sidecar in the bar at Bohanan’s, or snag a reservation to enjoy one of their unbeatable signature Akaushi beef steaks. How does your choice of a four or five course dinner and live jazz at Biga on the Banks sound? Or maybe a wood grilled filet mignon and butter poached lobster tail from Boudro’s? Want something a little more intimate? Zinc has you covered with a dinner and wine pairing served in their beautiful wine cellar. Don’t want to celebrate in the city? Enjoy some live music and delicious comfort food at Peggy’s on the Green in Boerne. Are you hosting the countdown to midnight at your house? Make sure you grab a pound of brisket and a couple sides from Davila’s BBQ in Seguin. See why it’s a tough choice?
Sea Salt Nashville
ADDRESS/PHONE
209 3rd Avenue North
Nashville, TN 37201
615.891.2221
HOURS
New Year’s Eve - 5 p.m to 12 a.m.
WEBSITE
GET SOCIAL
Facebook: @seasaltnashville
Instagram: @seasaltnash
Foreign & Domestic, Austin
ADDRESS/PHONE
306 East 53rd St.
Austin, Texas 78751
512.459.1010
HOURS
New Year’s Eve - 5 p.m to 11 p.m.
WEBSITE
GET SOCIAL
Facebook: FNDaustin
Instagram: @fndaustin
Bohanan’s
ADDRESS/PHONE
219 E. Houston St.
210-472-2600
HOURS
New Year’s Eve - 5 p.m - 11 p.m. Bar 5 p.m. - 1 a.m.
WEBSITE
GET SOCIAL
Facebook: @bohanans
Instagram: @bohanans
Biga on the Banks
ADDRESS/PHONE
203 S. St. Mary’s Street
San Antonio, Texas 78205
210.225.0722
HOURS
New Year’s Eve - 5:30 p.m - 10 p.m.
WEBSITE
Facebook: bigaonthebanks
Instagram: @bigaonthebanks
Boudro’s
ADDRESS/PHONE
421 E. Commerce, San Antonio, TX 78205
210.224.2900
HOURS
New Year’s Eve - 11 a.m - 12 a.m.
WEBSITE
GET SOCIAL
Facebook: @boudrostexasbistro
Instagram: @boudrostexasbistro
Zinc Bistro & Bar
ADDRESS/PHONE
207 N. Presa Street San Antonio, Texas 78205
210.224.2900
HOURS
New Year’s Eve - 3 p.m - 2 a.m.
WEBSITE
GET SOCIAL
Facebook: @ZincSA
Instagram: @zincbistrobar
Peggy’s on the Green
ADDRESS/PHONE
207 N. Presa Street San Antonio, Texas 78205
210.224.2900
HOURS
New Year’s Eve - 5 p.m - 12 a.m.
WEBSITE
http://www.peggysonthegreen.com/
GET SOCIAL
Facebook: @peggysboerne
Instagram: @peggysboerne
Davila’s BBQ
ADDRESS/PHONE
418 W Kingsbury St, Seguin, TX 78155
830.379.5566
HOURS
New Year’s Eve - 11 a.m - 4 p.m.
GET SOCIAL
Facebook: @DavilasBBQ
Instagram: @DavilasBBQ