Tag: Brooke Simmons PR

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.

Our courses have arrived…

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Back in February I said two courses were on the way… well… they were.

Now I’m excited to share, that they’re here. There’s no point mucking around. I’ve created the course content and I’m ready to share what I know with YOU to make your business PR goals a reality.

I won’t rehash the summaries of the beginners course or the intermediate course click here for details, including minimum numbers required to proceed, and to register your interest.

What I will say is that these courses are designed for *anyone* you may have some preliminary PR knowledge and want to brush up on some of the basics. If you’re interested in taking that next step with your PR goals then the intermediate course will be a perfect fit for you.

If you’re a sole-trader, an employee of a medium sized business, or a large corporate – no matter where you are on your career path, you’re welcome to attend!

Plus at the end of both classes you’ll have the opportunity to network with the other attendees and hopefully build some long-lasting connections.

I’m really looking forward to connecting with you and sharing my knowledge to help you achieve your PR goals.

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.

Top tips for WHAT TO DO at work Christmas parties

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As event organisers, we’re in a good position to offer our opinion as to the “do’s” and “don’ts” of Christmas party behaviour!
It’s been a long year for the business and now it’s time to organise that well deserved Christmas party and celebrate the team’s successes.

While this is still a celebration, it is still an extension of the workplace and an opportunity for some team bonding with your colleagues and supervisors. So, keep in mind that good behaviour also goes a long way at these sort of events, otherwise it can result in being overlooked for promotions, or being the office gossip going into the New Year or even worse – losing your job!
Remember, you’re your own PR – so make sure the “news” is good when it comes to your post-party report.

Here are some tips to make sure you stay on the “nice” list at your Christmas party this year:

  • Dress appropriately: Remember this is still a work event, so make sure you are aware of the dress code expectations beforehand. Be sure to avoid anything too casual or revealing.  If in doubt, ask the event organiser or your supervisor.
    Watch your alcohol consumption: Reputation lasts a lot longer than a hangover does – as does anything captured on social media.
  • Stay in control of how much you’re drinking, you don’t want to be known as “the one who takes advantage of the free drinks” over engaging with others.
  • Make an effort: be sure to ‘mingle and jingle’ with as many people possible, not just the ones you speak to on a daily basis at work. Consider this as a networking opportunity.
  • Have fun! Christmas parties can still be a chance to have a great time, so don’t be dull – you don’t have to be a wallflower, you can have a great time while remaining sensible.

Keeping these tips in mind, it will also give you that rare chance to get to know those around the office who you don’t normally work with and develop good impressions which could also benefit you later on.

It’s all about that personal branding!

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.”

Three tips to take your Instagram account to the next level

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If you’ve joined me over on Instagram you would have seen my three tips for taking your Instagram account to the next level. 

Here’s a wrap-up of what I covered.

  1. ROCK your biography. This is your chance to highlight what it is you do. Use strong words and make sure the link drives traffic to your product or service AND you’ve referred to it in your most recent post.
  2. Style your posts. Check out our feed as an example.  Keep it consistent, don’t make it too hard to replicate (remember you’re going to be using this style day-in and day-out!) and make sure it’s easy on the eye. No harsh colours or hard to read fonts. 
  3. Use other apps to UP your game. There are so many apps out there to make the most of your images. My current favourite app? Adobe Spark. It takes your images to the next level! 

 

If you like these tips and you’re trying to decide which channel best suits you sign up to the “Which Social Media Channel is for Me” service. Alternatively, if you’re looking for more direction on Instagram or Facebook why not sign up to our Social Media Audit. 

 

Wrap-up of my FriYAY Instagram LIVE session

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If you didn’t see yesterday afternoon’s FriYAY chat over on Instagram never fear, I’ll be hosting another FRIYAY chat on the 28th at 5.00 PM!

Here’s a summary of what you missed from yesterday.

PURSUIT LAUNCHES ONLINE OFFERINGS!
That’s right, here on this very website I’ve now listed 11, yes 11, different services for you to choose online and book.

If you’ve been asked to improve the awareness of your company’s brand, build a social channel or you’re looking for an engaging speaker, there’s something there for you!

Click here to see the offerings, book a session and see how your business can benefit.

Blogs / podcasts:

Next up I covered just some of the podcasts and blogs I listened to or read this week.
*I’m purchasing Mark Schaefer’s book KNOWN after listening to his talk from #SMMW17. It had that much of an impact on me. I shared my key takeaway points about his presentation.

* Guy Kawasaki is an evangelist who also spoke at SMMW17, if you can listen to any of his previous talks I highly recommend it.

*The podcast regarding Instagram advertising is from Social Media Examiner – featuring Jenn’s Trends.

General news:

Finally, I covered three hot topics
*See my post on the Pursuit Facebook page about Mindy Kaling’s non-brand advertisement. I think it’s a winner.
*475 Visas and PR and marketing space, I shared my thoughts on this topic.
*LOGIES Weekend! Watch out #Melbourne I talked about who might nab the TV WEEK Gold Logie.

That’s a wrap – have a great weekend!
See you all next week at 5 PM FRIDAY on INSTAGRAM

Creative Lady!

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It’s been a week of “ticking things off”.
Firstly, I launched my FREE 15 Minute sessions – click HERE for more details on this.

Today, I’m excited to share that my listing on Creative Lady is now live. I’m joined by 100’s of other creative ladies around the world, all willing and ready to help YOU get your projects done.

Check out my listing and the Creative Lady website HERE. 

What have you achieved this week?

La La Land & Public Relations

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n the 2016 film La La Land, one of the first songs is “Someone in the Crowd”. If you haven’t seen the film or heard the song, do yourself a favour, and have a quick listen. (Note: link opens Spotify)

While listening to the song on my way to a meeting, I found some very clear comparisons between the song and public relations and it’s not hard to see some of the connections.
You got the invitation You got the right address
If you’re on the guest list, you’re well on your way to connecting with those who will help you get to where you want. You may think at that particular point “what am I doing here?”, you never know, in the future, you may just thank your “past self”!

A little chance encounter
Could be the one you’ve waited for

We’ve all been at events where we meet that one person, who is exactly who we needed to meet. Whether it’s someone who can connect you with someone else or indeed the person you’ve tried to track down, that “Someone in the crowd” could be at that party, business event or even at your local coffee shop!

Tonight we’re on a mission
Tonight’s the casting call
If this is the real audition
Oh, God, help us all

Everyone has a goal at every event they attend. It might be as simple as having a good time, however in the business world, attending an event usually has a purpose. If you’re there to network, catch-up with some business associates or to introduce a new contact to some of your contacts, there’s a goal to meet and it’s always “the real audition” so it’s vital you present your best self!

You make the right impression
Then everybody knows your name
We’re in the fast lane

This is relatively easy to “translate”. If you present your best self, the word of mouth recommendations will “speak for themselves”. (sorry bad pun!) Once you’ve made that great first impression, you’ll be on your way to success.

Someone in the crowd could be the one you need to know
The one to finally lift you off the ground
Someone in the crowd could take you where you wanna go

Finally, that someone in the crowd could be the person you’ve been looking to meet. If you see someone standing on their own at an event, go and talk to them, you never know how they might be able to help you in taking you to where you want to go!

Key takeaway points:

*GO to that event, you may not feel like, but you never know who you’ll meet and how they might be able to help.

*Always present your BEST self. Just because you may be seeing some of the same faces, it’s no excuse to slack off in your appearance.

*Don’t forget the incredible value of word-of-mouth referrals. You make the right impression one, that one person has the potential to increase your business ten-fold. Don’t be afraid to ask for referrals or indeed a recommendation on LinkedIn.

If you’re thinking about GROWING your profile look at my “Grow with PR” session  it could be the next best step you make for your business.