Business
What Crisis Management Is and Why You Need a Publicist ASAP
Crises happen so often in the business world that there’s an entire subset of public relations devoted to them known as crisis management. Given that how you respond to a crisis can either boost your brand or damage it significantly, crisis management is as essential to your business as the Keurig your team relies on to function. Or is that just R team? In all seriousness, the right publicist can be the key to effective crisis management. Here’s how.
What is Crisis Management?
The word “crisis” is defined as a time of intense difficulty, trouble, or danger. While that may seem ominous, a crisis for your business is really any unanticipated event that could disrupt your operations and/or cause potential harm to your brand reputation including:
- Product recalls
- Customer injuries
- Employee misconduct
- Security breaches
- Natural disasters
As such, crisis management is the art of not only responding effectively to events that have occurred, but also your strategic approach in anticipating crises.
How Can a Publicist Help?
A publicist can help with both aspects of crisis management. For example, R team is specially trained in the communication tools and techniques necessary to react promptly and strategically in a crisis as well as in identifying any potential vulnerabilities proactively. What’s more, because of our experience in the restaurant, hospitality, retail, health and wellness, business, and non-profit industries we’re uniquely equipped to help lifestyle brands with crisis management. Specifically, the benefits of partnering with a publicist include:
- Peace of mind – When a crisis hits, panic often ensues and that’s when mistakes happen. Likely this isn’t something you or your team deal with every day so it’s natural to be overwhelmed and not sure what to do. A publicist can take that worry off your shoulders, acting swiftly and surely on your behalf to protect your brand in the public eye.
- Freeing you to focus on the crisis – Realistically, you’ve got much more to worry about in a crisis than public relations alone. Having to split your focus between what to say in public as well as to your customers while also working to resolve the crisis itself is anything but ideal. With a publicist handling the media and your message, you’re free to focus on where you’re needed most.
- Controlling the narrative – Speed is everything in a crisis, particularly how fast you communicate about it. It’s so much harder to change perception once it’s in the news and/or on social media than to drive the message initially. While you’re wondering who to contact and what to say, things can quickly spin out of control. You avoid that entirely with a publicist because they can help you get the right message to the right people right away.
- Making the most of the situation – Often it’s just as much about how you say something as it is what you’re saying. A publicist has the training and the finesse to get your message across in a way that puts your brand in the best light. Yes, you want to be authentic, honest, and transparent about the crisis, but you also want the media as well as your current and potential customers to see the bigger picture. One crisis does not have to define your brand, and with effective crisis management, it won’t.
To learn how R team of publicists can help your brand with crisis management, schedule your FREE discovery call today!
R Publicists Favorite Things 2021!
As publicists, writers, idea sourcers, word weavers, and people who like to stay ahead of trends, we are all about the season of gifting and making lists. In fact, some may call us experts! Plus, who doesn't love to get some presents?
This year we chose things that are all under $100 and that we think should be on all of our wish lists.
Happy Holidays, from R team to yours!
Emily and the RPR firm crew
Meet Bridget Lewis: R cool as a cucumber content marketing Queen Bee.
1. Puremotion Shoes:
When I am not working I am moving, or want to, so these kicks are on my list! ($56)
2. Stacking Rings:
Because I type all day, I’m always looking at my hands and I heart these stacking rings. ($57)
3. YETI Bottle:
Because...coffee! I need this. ($50)
Meet Ainee Hamza: R incredible, uber-organized cat-loving campaign assistant.
1. Planner Pads:
I still stick with paper for planning as it's always on my work table in front of me and always opt for these organizers. ($18)
2. Mi band 6:
For tracking my activity, I love Mi band 6. ($99)
3. Marble Lazy Susan:
This is another favorite because I love to cook. ($99) I also have my eyes on this Target Electric Griddle! ($26)
Meet Queen Bree: R in-house BBQ expert, punny social media caption creator, and all things clever when it comes to content!
1. Giant Glass Jar Candles:
I’m addicted to these candles from Anthropologie; they’re the perfect mix of berries, cinnamon, and vanilla. They come in beautiful designs and different sizes. I have them throughout my entire apartment. ($68)
2. Cloud Cotton Robe:
As we enter the colder months, the only thing that’s on my mind is being as cozy as possible and I love a good robe to wear when snuggling up on the couch with a hot drink and book. ($99)
3. Fujifilm Instant Camera:
“Shake it like a polaroid picture!” This camera gives you vintage keepsakes in less than a minute, and they come in fun colors. ($79)
Meet Madison Baber: R account manager and media maven.
1. Wild One Harness Walk Kit:
Perfect for the pet-lover in your life, with this dog harness and leash combo, style meets function. The monochrome design is ultra-chic while also being super comfy, lightweight, dirt-resistant, and water-proof. ($98)
2. Sephora Favorites Bestsellers Perfume Sampler Set:
Perfumes are difficult to gift but this sample set from Sephora takes out all the guesswork! Featuring 13 of their top-selling fragrances, there’s something they’re bound to love. I love that once you choose your favorite, you can take the included scent certificate to any Sephora store to redeem for a full size at no extra cost. ($68)
3. Fruit & Veggie Food Huggers:
Better than a plastic bag, these food huggers are an eco-friendly alternative to keeping all your leftover cut fruits and veggies fresh! The fit is snug and airtight, plus they can be used for cans, bowls, and jars! ($14.00 for a set of 5, but on sale now for $9.80)
Meet Colter Bergh: The Dad of the group, the IPA all day meets INTJ and lead tech talent!
1. Bitcoin & Eth:
My choice to protect against inflation and invest in the future. ($100)
2. Ledger Nano S:
This is perfect for storing Crypto securely in an offline wallet. ($59)
3. Audio-Technica Headphones:
Because I like to tune in to tune out and good sounds help me get into a flow state. ($69)
4. CBD:
Because with five kids and a powerhouse of a wife, I need to keep calm in the storm. ($25)
Meet Emily Reynolds Bergh: R fem founder, mom of five, lover of vintage shoes, boutique hotel sleeps, and keeper of R business.
1. Amber KRS Black Onyx + Diamond Ring:
I am a sucker for hand-crafted jewelry. Amber Krs is a new client of ours and I have been eyeing her Black Onyx diamond ring. It screams unique, powerful, and has a touch of femininity; her art is all so clean and thoughtful. This is a bit over the $100 budget but you can make payments, that counts right? ($325)
2. Triangle Diamond Stud Earring From Robin Haley:
Of course, I am also a super fan of Robin Haley Jewels too. The diamond triangle studs have my heart! ($97)
3. Flamingo Estate Tuscan Rosemary Soy Candle:
Recently gifted to me for my birthday by the incredible Julia Hefflefinger, I cannot stop smelling this candle and thinking someone is making me homemade focaccia drizzled in olive oil and crisp rosemary. It’s also one of Oprah’s favorite things too! ($45)
Meet Julia Heffelfinger: R recipe creator, editor of all things that make our hearts melt and crave.
1. Papier Scallop-Rimmed Stationery:
In a time when email and texting are the norms, I love sending and receiving a little personalized note in the mail. It’s even more fun when you have cute, personalized stationery to write it on! ($28/10 cards)
2. Food52 x Green Pan Skillets:
I’ve been eyeing these nonstick skillets from the Food52 x Green Pan collaboration for a long time. I just love the gold handles and fun colors—so much more visual and fun than your typical black skillet. (8-inch & 11-inch skillets/$92)
3. Farmhouse Pottery Paper Towel Holder:
Your paper towels now deserve a spot on the countertop thanks to these boldly-painted wood holders from Farmhouse Pottery. I have my eye on the ochre one! ($68)
4. Piped Edged Hand Towels:
I love the subtle pop of color in these plush bath towels. ($58)
Meet Kat Fleischman: R newest publicist and Miami heat Latina, mama to be is a pizza lover who also lives by the sea (and we’re jealous!).
1. The SIll Plant Subscription:
All I want for Christmas, Hanukkah, and all the things is this Classic Plant Subscription because plants make me happy! ($55-65)
Second on my list is this cute little porta printer, because everything small and cute, and also portable, is just better! ($70)
3. Portable Charcoal Grill:
Grill girl grill! If Santa is in a grilling mood, get mama these coals! ($30)
Meet Holly Cowan: R mom of three, grammar gal, and editor of all things content.
1. Teva Flip Flops:
As a southern girl, I love a good pair of flip flops and these are the best. They’re cute enough to wear anywhere (which I do) and they come in a variety of colors (I may have them all). Plus, they’re made from recycled material and when you’re ready to retire them, send them back so they can be recycled again into running tracks, playgrounds, and more. Pretty cool! ($25)
2. Oversized Super-Soft Plush Throw:
I love to curl up with a good book and this throw is my go-to for coziness. It also comes in all kinds of fun designs to suit your mood, hobbies, or the season! ($22)
3. Kindle Unlimited Subscription:
To make sure I have an unending supply of those good books that I mentioned above, I love my Kindle unlimited subscription. You can use it on any device with the free Kindle app. It makes a great gift and is on sale for the holidays. ($80 for a 12-month subscription)
So You Think You Need PR?
So You Think You Need PR? What Does That Really Mean and What Are You Signing Up For?
You’re an entrepreneur, a start-up, a small business, or a non-profit and you’ve been told you need PR to take your brand to the next level. But what exactly is PR? And if you enlist these kinds of services, what can you expect? Most importantly, how exactly can PR help your brand?
Here's R take on all these questions.
PR Defined
Most people assume that public relations (PR) is the same thing as marketing, but the two are actually very different. The goal of PR is to influence, engage and build a positive relationship and/or image with your target audience through:
- Corporate communications
- Crisis communications
- Investor relations
- Media relations
- Influencer relations
- Reputation management
- Event promotions
You’ll use tools such as press collateral, editorial placements, social media placements, media and influencer outreach, and list development as well as sponsorship and partnership coordination to do so.
The goal of marketing, on the other hand, is is to build awareness of and to promote/sell your product(s) and/or service(s) through:
- Brand marketing
- Advertising
- Content
- Search engine marketing
- Social media marketing
- Targeted marketing campaigns
- Conference and trade shows
Marketing uses tools such as sales collateral, blogs, websites, email, and direct mail to achieve that goal.
Clear as mud? The main difference is twofold. One, PR is typically not paid and thus requires cultivating and maintaining relationships with media and influencers. And two, as such you lack some control over the narrative with Public Relations, however it is often seen as more credible.
What You Can Expect from a Public Relations Firm
When you enlist a PR firm, they will help you to engage with your audience and maintain a positive public image using their expertise and relationships with media as well as influencer contacts to ensure your message(s) is covered in the right places at the right time. We R a boutique PR firm that has a number of benefits over large agencies including:
- Area of expertise – Boutique PR firms are focused in a particular area of expertise. For example, R firm lifestyle brands including those in the restaurant, retail, hospitality, health and wellness and startup industries.
- Personal touch – Large agencies often woo clients with senior staff and then pass you off to a junior team. With a boutique PR firm, you work with exactly the team you signed on with from beginning to end. What’s more, small businesses usually equal small fish for the large agencies and the amount of time spent on your Public Relations may reflect that. Yet you’re always number one with us!
- Less bureaucracy – The larger an agency is the more bureaucracy you’ll likely find. Boutique PR firms have more freedom to be collaborative, responsive, and adaptable to your needs, more like an extension of your own team. And here’s a secret, many boutique Public Relation firms, like Rs, are run by PR professionals who’ve left large agencies so they could get back to the work they love on their own terms!
- More budget-friendly - Large agencies may charge upwards of $500 an hour, however, boutique Public Relations firms may charge as little as $150 an hour. In addition to hourly billing, you may also have the option of a Public Relations retainer which is a lump sum that you pay for services each month. The amount paid depends on how much work you need to meet your PR goals and your budget – again also tack on overhead costs for larger agencies. R firm is mindful of budget for our clients and, in fact, offers a 6-month program known as Launch which includes developing a brand identify, PR plan and campaign for smaller brands who qualify.
Benefits of PR
There are so many benefits of PR, but at the same time, they depend on your goal(s). That’s why we always start with a Discovery Call because once we get to know you and learn your goals, we can create a proposal with a customized service outline that details the specific benefits of PR for your brand. But, in general, the benefits of Public Relations include:
- Increasing brand credibility
- Enhancing online presence
- Increasing brand awareness and positive brand image
- Increasing profits, sales, and leads
For R help with your PR, learn more about our public relations services. Or, schedule your FREE Discovery Call Today!
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!