Category: Central Coast NSW

Dedication is not a dirty word

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So I’ve had to make a very difficult decision in 2019.

This will be the first time in ten years that Pursuit /Central Coast Chronicle won’t have an internship program running.

Earlier this year, I shortlisted three wonderful candidates, met with them and organised a trial with one. So I was serious (at that stage) about another year of supporting an Intern.

When I was scheduling this trial, I realised I needed to dedicate a full day to this Intern, despite the fact she would only be with me for 3.5 hours.

There was the organisation of tasks before she arrived, (making sure the tasks weren’t too hard and equally not too easy, yet showing her the breadth of responsibilities). Once she arrived, there was explaining how “things work” at Pursuit and Central Coast Chronicle, showing her where everything is saved and then, getting around to some work.

It’s not that I didn’t love this interaction between an Intern and myself and learning to look at things a different way or consider a younger viewpoint.

It really did come down to dedication.

When you have an Intern or a Junior, there’s a lot of explanation that has to go on. If the face to face time is only weekly, that’s a lot of going over the same ground (hopefully only initially). It’s dedicating time and knowledge to someone who is willing to learn, someone who will benefit from your knowledge and you’ll benefit from their participation. It’s explaining the “how’s”, “who’s” and “why’s”.

So often, I’ve had an Intern tell me, “I’m learning so much, Uni doesn’t cover this sort of stuff!”

For me, that’s worth its weight in gold.

I do sincerely hope that in the future, I’ll be able to revisit an Internship program. It may be a program that’s completely different in nature, only time will tell.

I do know when it does happen again, I’ll be completely dedicated to ensuring both the intern, Pursuit Communications /Central Coast Chronicle and our clients all benefit from the experience.

An (overdue) update

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If you’ve missed our posts on Instagram and Facebook and indeed our blog posts here there’s been a very good reason.

Our Founder, Brooke was ill (we’ll spare you the horrid details!) and after presenting at her doctor’s clinic with a RESTING heart rate of 175, it was in an ambulance to Gosford hospital.

After two days of examinations, ultrasounds and what felt like millions of questions, Brooke was diagnosed with a kidney infection (which was remedied quickly with antibiotics) and a thyroid condition called Graves Disease.

So, why are we being transparent about this? Especially on a business platform?

A few reasons.

  1. To explain the absence and the fact that as much as Brooke would have liked to have been on an island sipping cocktails, this simply wasn’t the case
  2. To praise the nurses in Gosford Hospital – Brooke has said on numerous times since coming home, it was the nurses care that got her through her hospital stay.
  3. Finally, to let you all know – that there are some exciting developments that Brooke will be releasing in the second half of 2019.

Thank you to our clients for your understanding during this time and to those who are yet to join us, we look forward to sharing with you the next phase of Pursuit Communications.

 

Two PR Courses coming SOON!

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If you’ve been following us over on Instagram, then you may have heard that I’m launching not one but TWO – yes TWO PR courses in 2019.

Why?

Because I have a tonne of knowledge and want to share it. Simple as that. If I can help you with your PR activities, then fan-bloody-tastic.

So, what will the courses look like? Well, I’m glad you asked!

There will be a course for beginners, this is for those of you no PR experience whatsoever. Don’t know the definition of PR? Awesome! Don’t know the difference between PR, advertising and marketing? Sit right down.

The beginner’s course will cover the basics of PR and give you that very gentle nudge to start you on your PR adventure.

The second course is set at an intermediate level. So you may have dabbled in PR either with an agency, or by yourself, but the results have been… how can we put this gently… Lackluster? Shambolic? A right mess? Then pull up a chair, because we’ll cover some of the common areas where mistakes can (and often are made). We’ll also dissect a media release in the course to get you ready and raring.

I’m currently putting the finishing touches on both courses.

The beauty of both courses is that they’ll be available face-to-face in solo sessions and groups AND online for individuals and groups!

So, if you’re interested in either course I’m encouraging you to sign up to the relevant mailing list.

Why? Well if you do so now, you’ll receive an early-bird discount and all the details before ANYONE ELSE.

So if you’re interested in the beginner’s course SIGN UP HERE

If you’re interested in the intermediate course SIGN UP HERE

Looking forward to sharing details with you soon!

An intern’s perspective

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As we look for a new Intern (click here more details about applying!), we’ve asked Jordyn Rankin our most recent Intern, to reflect on her experience.

 

So Jordyn, what did you expect from your internship & what was the reality of your internship experience?

I honestly didn’t know what to expect from interning with Pursuit Communications, I guess that’s because this was my first ever intern experience. So, I went into this with an open mind and an eagerness to learn, even though I knew it would be challenging, yet it would also be very valuable for my future in the PR industry.  

The PR industry is definitely portrayed in a glamorous light and I thought that I would step into this internship with an abundance of knowledge from everything I have learned at University so far. I was quick to realise that a lot of what we are taught in the classroom plays only a small part in this fast-paced industry.

Jordyn, under 100 words – describe your interning experience… 

The reality of my experience, over the 10 months I was with Pursuit proved that practical experience in the PR industry is so important whilst studying at University. I got to see first hand all the time, effort and hard work that goes into having a PR business in order to be successful. I know I have a lot more to learn, however interning with Pursuit has confirmed my passion for PR!

 

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Jordyn Rankin

 

With this in mind, do you think Intern experiences should count towards university credit points?

I think that every University should encourage more students to undertake internships because the benefits are endless. However, in my opinion, the most important benefit is that it gets your foot in the door, gets your name out there and is a way of networking and forming relationships, which is so important to do.

Real-life experience has personally given me a lot more confidence and motivation to succeed and now I’m able to add an internship on my resume, which is also a huge bonus. Brooke (Founder of Pursuit Communications and Central Coast Chronicle) has been an amazing mentor and from day one, I always felt supported in my work and my ideas. With her help, I can now go into my next internship or job interview with some real industry examples and knowledge that will set me apart from the rest.

Where do you see the PR industry moving in the next three to five years?

This is a very hard one to predict because of how fast the industry is evolving and how much the web and social media revolutionises the way the PR industry operates. Having also studied Marketing at Tafe I can definitely see both PR and Marketing complimenting each other and becoming more integrated. Utilising both of these disciplines is definitely proving the overall success of businesses today in reaching its target markets. As a result, I think there will always be a demand for experienced, result driven PR practitioners.

 

How so?

The PR industry is a lot more than just press releases and getting the word out to journalists. (If you’re still thinking that it’s just media releases, you really need to chat to Pursuit – some of the ideas Brooke comes up with for her clients are absolute “WOW-factor!”)

So following this line of thinking, PR is becoming more popular for businesses (well I think so!) because of the multitude of ways a message can be executed. PR isn’t advertising, nor is it like marketing. It’s all about storytelling and shaping an image of a certain product, service, event, or organisation. Therefore, PR gives businesses an exciting way to stay connected with their customers (both existing and potential) and an opportunity to educate the general public about what it is they do – in (perhaps) an unconventional way. 

Any tips for those considering starting an internship program?

The sooner you start interning the more you will get out of your degree and the more experienced you’ll be entering the workforce after University. You will learn so much more by gaining practical experience, so step out of your comfort zone, ask questions (there are no right or wrong questions) and make your resume stand out above the rest. 

Finally, interning is also a lot more than just showing up and doing what you’ve got to do. It’s about being proactive in the office, anticipating what might be happening and asking if you can help (go above and beyond!) it’s also about getting to know what other PR agencies are out there and what they’re all about so I highly recommend researching, talking to people and attending networking events!! It will hugely benefit you and your future as a PR practitioner during your time at University and also when you step foot into the real world.

Brooke’s note: Jordyn, thank you for what you added to Pursuit and to the launch of Central Coast Chronicle. You were here at a critical time for both businesses and your ability to adapt and “switch gears” from “PC” to “CCC” at a moment’s notice was very much appreciated. I wish you continued success with your studies and entering the workforce.

Why we offer freebies

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Did you know we have a freebie page?

We do!

Right now, we’re offering a New Year’s hashtag cheatsheet. A complete list and thought-starter document for your social media needs.

Go and check it out. 

We offer freebies to build rapport with our existing audience and to build on that audience.

Our content changes frequently because we know our audience’s needs changes as frequently as our own!

We’re currently working on ideas for 2019 for our freebie content and we’re excited about the offerings you’ll be able to download.

 

How to PR in 2019

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It’s a hectic time of year, there are functions to attend, end of year reports to be completed not to mention all of your personal commitments. What’s the best way to get ahead in 2019? Read on… 
We’ve made a list why taking advantage of our new year offer from Pursuit will give you and your business the edge in 2019. 

  • We will create a tailored pitch for your business. It will be completed by PR professionals. All you have to do is provide some details as to what you would like Pursuit to promote to our extensive list of relevant media contacts.
  • Pursuit will enhance your business profile with these contacts 
  • It will give you the chance to receive one-on-one advice from the Pursuit team to improve your PR communications strategy
  • Pursuit will help your business gain media coverage, reach your target audience with a great platform to generate sales
    Overall, Pursuit will give your business that much needed and desired head start in the New Year.

NOW is the time to inspire your audience as to WHY they should engage with your business in 2019 and beyond and Pursuit Communications will help with just that.

Public Relations can make a huge contribution to the success of your business, so teaming with Pursuit in the lead up to the new year is the most cost-effective way to market your business. 

Let Pursuit generate the media attention and brand recognition your business deserves 2019. 

 

New Year package details

 

Writing news stories for radio

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Our intern Jordyn is using her time at university to the absolute max!

Not only is she interning with Pursuit and our sister company – Central Coast Chronicle, she’s also interning at Newcastle radio station 2NUR.

 

Jordyn has detailed for us what goes into each news broadcast. It may surprise you!

 

“I have recently started undertaking an internship with 2NUR-FM radio and after only a couple of sessions, it astounds me how much work goes into each broadcast. The sessions I’ve had with the station have been quite varied. I’ve been writing news bulletins, making calls to get news grabs and reading media release after media release for the 12 pm, 1 pm, 2 pm news bulletins and the odd story for the following morning.

 

These tasks aren’t always smooth sailing and will often take time depending on the story. If you’re waiting on a call back from a person of interest for some news grabs, time really is of the essence and not something you can get back!

 

Last week I was working on a bulletin for the new waste collection service around the Hunter Valley area and was waiting on a call back from Council. By the time they called back, I had half an hour to get a 30-second bulletin prepared (or “up” as they say in the newsroom) for the 12 pm news along with a grab from the call recording. This can be quite stressful, especially since I had to report on the same issue for 1 pm and 2 pm bulletins and needing to re-word each bulletin as well as using a different grab for each broadcast. So there was some variety with the same story for our dedicated listeners.

 

I had another instance that same day where I didn’t get a call back for another story I was working on so I just had to take a quote and information from the media release and create an angle to make it sound interesting.

 

What worked in my favour was having a background in PR, my internship at Pursuit, meant I was prepared and could hit the ground running.

 

I have already found interning for 2NUR-FM to be a positive challenge, it’s exciting and I have definitely learnt a lot in such a short period of time.”

Influencers – A definition

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Following our fortnight of sharing Influencer statistics* on our Instagram, in our post today we look at defining “influencers” and investigate the power of a “micro-influencer”.
What does the word “influencer” mean to you? Do you picture someone of power? Do you think bikini-clad model? Do you think mum-of-three, with a side-hustle?
It’s generally defined as “A group of people (or person) with a high-following on social media or someone more relatable and approachable with a smaller following yet more engagement from their followers.”
On the surface it seems that an influencer’s following is the most important. However, while this does attract attention engagement is key to an influencers success. Marketers are now more focused on interaction between the influencer and their audience which is measured by likes, comments and the trust followers have.
Micro-Influencers often have a higher engagement with audience yet this is overlooked by brands wanting to pursue social-media campaigns. A micro-influencer is anyone with 10,000 to 50,000 followers on social media to the amount of engagement the influencer gets from that number. Usually a micro-influencers audience is quite niche and deeply connected.
Micro-Influencers can be found in any sector such as: health and wellness, food and cuisine, entrepreneurship and business, beauty and fashion etc. These influencers have already built this fan-base and established trust with their audience. They have established these relationships through their Instagram stories so if a brand’s story is shared by a particular influencer, their followers are usually willing to listen.
For this reason, Brands reach out to influencers and for brands to get the best ROI (return on Investment) on a campaign, it’s ideal to hire multiple micro-influencers to increase the reach for any given campaign. Yes, macro-influencers have more of following, yet micro-influencers have more of a niche audience so don’t be fouled by the number of followers.
These micro-influencers can be found through the brands own followers on its social media channels or searching specific hashtags, see what influencers are using hashtags that are relevant to YOUR business /product or service.
You’ll also want to explore, who is the influencer associated with and how engaging are their posts? Does the “creative” (image and caption) seem authentic? Engaging with these influencers and showing interest in their content is the best way to build a relationship with them, BEFORE you reach out to them and begin a discussion.
Speaking to these influencers to determine a mutually beneficial relationship sometimes yields the best result.  Negotiate what will work best for both parties, sometimes an influencer might take-over a brand’s Instagram for a period of time or perhaps share a number of posts over a set timeframe. As part of this the brand might send out product for the influencer to try out and take photos for their social media accounts or even they might create their own original content on their blog or Youtube account reviewing the product.
Sometimes a brand might not have the budget to work with a celebrity so micro-influencers are a great way to gain the benefit you need for your brand and watch it grow through social media.

If you’d like assistance in finding an influencer that’s the perfect fit for your business, contact us today. 

*Statistics provided by Planoly

The differences between PR and Marketing

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Our intern Jordyn takes a look at the differences between Public Relations and Marketing in this week’s blog post.

PR V Marketing

Public Relations V Marketing

This is a common question that often arises and to put it simply, an answer that comes with multiple layers, therefore deserving a better explanation.

Public relations holds various definitions, however, it could be referred to as “deepening the connection an entity has with people who matter most to the businesses success”. In other words, PR is all about establishing, growing and maintaining reputation. Marketing, on the other hand, to put it bluntly, is about ‘’selling stuff’’.  

That said, there will always be crossover within public relations and marketing. Marketers still place importance on reputation while PR people are also interested in selling stuff. However, some marketers will still put sales ahead of reputation just as a portion of PR people will put reputation ahead of sales.

By way of comparison, the corporate communication side of PR tends to be more long-term in nature and more focused on building relationships with businesses. This might include functions for managing issues, communication corporate initiatives and building relationships with stakeholders. Importantly, there is always likely to be corporate and marketing crossover communication activities.

To generalise the two, marketers prefer pushing one-way promotional messages directly to consumers whereas, PR people prefer sparking conversation through a two-way engagement directly to consumers as well as third-party influencers.

All that aside, marketers will often hire PR people to add value to a campaign but in some organisations, PR will lead the way.

 

 

The inspiration for this post came from: 
https://www.smartcompany.com.au/marketing/the-differences-between-pr-and-marketing/?utm_campaign=SUS&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter

 

Welcome Usain Bolt

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Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you would know that Olympic champion Usain Bolt has arrived on the NSW Central Coast (where we’re based!) for an indefinite training period with our local football team, the Central Coast Mariners.

This is a fabulous opportunity for businesses large and small to capitalise on Usain’s stay here on the Coast – here we share a few ways to do just that.

 

  1. Highlight the speed of service – We know how fast Usain is, why not highlight how fast your delivery process is, or perhaps how quickly your product or service cuts time down for customers.
  2. If you’re based on Coast – “Welcome Usain” – think of the creative ways you could invite Usain to your venue
  3. Send a gift to Usain – take images of what you’re sending and share on social media
  4. New service offering – just like Usain – expanding his capabilities, now’s the perfect time to share the new offerings from your business. Speaking of which have you seen OUR new business? Central Coast Chronicle is our new business, it’s the perfect platform to connect with businesses, share event details (to avoid diary clashes) and promote your business all in one convenient location.