The Scoop

July 17, 2018 By VP@rprs.org Leave a Comment

Join Us! RPRS Summer Social – “Unconference” – July 24, 2018

Shake up your summer evening routine and join us on the patio at Mulino Italian Kitchen & Bar on Tuesday, July 24, 2018, between 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. for our summer social which we’ve themed as an “unconference”!

RPRS Summer Social "Unconference" 2018 — Join us Tuesday, July 24, 2018 at Mulino Italian Kitchen & Bar

There’s no rigid agenda here, just the best things you love about going to industry conferences… a few hot tips, some inspiring takeaways, networking with old and new contacts like, and of course, a few product demos…

RSVP Today

The event is free to attend, but drinks are on your own. Sorry, no big spender sponsors for this “unconference”! 😉

Please register for your ticket below. We have space for 40 of our closest friends! Can’t make it after you RSVP? Please email VP@RPRS.org so that we may cancel your ticket and open up space for another guest to attend.

Rain or Shine

Although we plan to enjoy the luxe patio for this event, we’re are having our unconference rain or shine and will move indoors if inclement weather is in the plans for our evening.

Practice Your Public Speaking

Want to get a little extra face time at this event? We’re looking for five speakers to host “lightning talks” – a three-to-five minute speaking opportunity about your hot take on an industry trend or best practice. Since this is an unconference, there’s no fancy AV equipment so you’ll have to do it unaided by an accompanying PowerPoint presentation.

Sound like a good opportunity you want to jump at? Pitch us! Email VP@RPRS.org with your topic and our board will select five speakers by Friday, July 20, so you’ll have the weekend to practice in front of your mirror, your dog, or your non-judgemental BFFs.

The Logistics

There’s plenty of parking on-site, so come on over to Mulino at 309 N. Dawson Street in Downtown Raleigh when your day wraps up. Plan to Uber instead? We can’t blame you – and encourage you to enjoy a glass of wine, craft beer, or one of the inspired seasonal cocktails since you won’t be driving home!

Come when you can, leave when you must. Our unconference is a casual one happening from 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. The first lightning talk will begin at 6 p.m. and we’ll have demos of our new online awards platform going all evening, too!

Questions or More Info?

Leave a comment below or email VP@RRPS.org!

July 9, 2018 By Raleigh PR Society Leave a Comment

Sir Walter Raleigh makes the digital transformation

Raleigh PR Society Sir Walter Raleigh Awards for Excellence in Communication The Raleigh Public Relations Society is excited to launch a new, all-digital submission platform for the 2018 Sir Walter Raleigh Awards for Excellence in Communication. The award submission process will be more efficient, allowing for work to be saved, files as large as 50Mb to be uploaded, and deadline reminder notifications.

RPRS will recognize 38 award categories of campaigns and tactics, as well as PR Team of the Year and PR Pro of the Year. The Watt Huntley Lifetime Achievement Award, the society’s highest honor, will recognize an individual who has made lasting and meaningful contributions to public relations over the course of a career. See a full list of 2018 award categories by clicking here.

A big thanks to our sponsors, York Properties and the North Carolina Biotechnology Center, whose generous contributions allowed RPRS to launch this powerful tool this year.

Below are some FAQs to get you started:

Q: How much do I save by becoming a member?
A: $20 on each award entry, plus $10 each month for luncheons at 18 Seaboard, and discounts at the seasonal socials. Assuming you submit one award entry a year the total estimated annual savings is $150.

Q: How do I become a member?
A: Go to the Join page on the RPRS.org website.

Q: Where can I view the full list of award categories?
A: Click here

Q: How much are the 2018 submission fees and what are the deadlines?

Q: How do I submit my entry?
A: Click this link and register: bitly.com/SirWalt2018. Once logged in, click on “Add Entry.”

Q: What are the judging criteria?
A: Log-in and visit the Judging Criteria page.

Q: When is the awards banquet?
A: Tuesday, October 23 at 6:00 p.m. Location TBA.

Q: I have more questions, who do I contact?
A: Awards Chair David Dean at awards@rprs.org.

Best of luck to all the nominees!

June 14, 2018 By Publicity Chair Leave a Comment

JOB ALERT: Marketing Communications Analyst

Position: Marketing Communications Analyst

Hiring: City of Raleigh, Parks Development & Communication

Job Type: Full-Time

Job Description:

This class is the first level in a three-level Communications Series devoted to creating and disseminating visual, digital, written and spoken information about the City. Incumbents provide crisis and emergency public information, and professional communications support to management and elected officials by performing journey-level public information and public affairs work on behalf of the City and or a city department. Work may include handling media inquiries; providing media training; writing or editing news releases; writing scripts; handling citizen inquiries; managing internal and external communications, as assigned; developing communication plans; developing and managing collateral material (brochures, inserts, newsletters); assisting with budget management, as assigned; field producing of video and broadcast events; taking photos; managing on-line content and web pages; managing the City’s social media accounts; participating in meetings and events, as assigned; and serving as on-air or voice talent, as assigned. As assigned, incumbents may serve as lead workers, assigning work and monitoring work completion or may supervise paraprofessional and/or support staff including conducting performance evaluations, coordinating training, and implementing hiring, discipline and termination procedures.

Duties and ResponsibilitiesEssential Duties:

Prepares, edits and designs publications and brochures; reviews and verifies style; coordinates and/or builds graphics and layout; captures, takes and/or selects photographs; prepares and gathers content; and coordinates print materials production.
Performs research; gathers and evaluates data and information for communication planning and delivery; monitors and recommends communication opportunities and technologies that align with goals and strategies of assignment; evaluates communications results.
Serves as a department liaison and provides communications support; assists with media inquiries; coordinates departmental response to information requests and inquiries; participates in meetings; facilitates the provision of responses and solutions to customer concerns.
Prepares and coordinates content for news releases, announcements, newsletters, and presentations; edits departmental communications; gathers and edits content; writes articles; prepares speaking points; coordinates and evaluates correspondence, management reports, information released to the media.
Provides website support focusing on community outreach, audience targeting and engagement; plans, creates, monitors and edits web content and campaign communications; coordinates social media communications and selects appropriate platforms.
Identifies, develops, implement and maintains processes and practices that encourage, support and promote effective, comprehensive and meaningful citizen engagement.
Provides event and special project coordination and support of promotional items, communications and related resources.
May provide advice on script, format, layout, design and music for video production.
Researches sources for promotional items; orders materials; maintains files, data, logs, reports, schedules, digital archives and/or documentation.
May serve as lead workers, assigning work and monitoring work completion or may supervise paraprofessional and/or support staff including conducting performance evaluations, coordinating training, and implementing hiring, discipline and termination procedures.
Performs other duties of a similar nature and level as assigned.

Typical QualificationsEducation and Experience
Bachelor’s Degree in public relations, communications, public affairs or directly related field and two years of public communications experience.
OR
An equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed above, unless otherwise subject to any other requirements set forth in law or regulation.
Licensing/Certifications
Valid NC Driver’s License required
Please attach an example of content that you created that educated or entertained your audience.

Additional InformationKnowledge of:

Practices, concepts and methods of graphic design and print production.
Practices and guidelines of news writing and editing.
Principles and applications of critical thinking and analysis.
Principles and methods of qualitative and quantitative research.
Business math concepts.
Best practices, trends and emerging technologies.
Applicable federal, state and local laws, codes, regulations (based on assignment).
Customer service principles.
Specialized equipment relevant to area of assignment.
Modern office technology.

Skill In:

Planning, preparing, designing and editing communications materials.
Gathering data, analyzing findings and applying logic and reason.
Coordinating deadlines and prioritizing competing demands.
Monitoring schedules, status and compliance.
Researching industry trends, solutions and best practices.
Compiling and sorting data and articulating issues and recommendations.
Authoring and preparing original reports, documents and presentations.
Organizing and maintaining records and files.
Interpreting and applying applicable laws, codes, regulations and standards (based on assignment).
Providing customer service.
Utilizing a computer and relevant software applications.
Utilizing communication and interpersonal skills as applied to interaction with coworkers, supervisors, the general public and others to sufficiently exchange or convey information and to receive work direction.

Apply here: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/raleighnc/jobs/2003216/marketing-communications-analyst

To submit other job openings, fill out this form

May 18, 2018 By Secretary Leave a Comment

The RPRS Experience

The idea of six degrees of separation means that anyone in the planet can be connected to anyone else in just six steps. While I want to believe this means that I’m somehow connected to the Queen of England, the Raleigh Public Relations Society (RPRS) members come in pretty close. We have all proved that this six degrees of separation is very much true. Most of us have RPRS to thank for our current career paths because of connections made through the society.

Jessica Pope’s RPRS Story

While I was at ECU, I was very involved in their Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) chapter. I was president my senior year where I took the chapter to NC State’s PR Day. One of the presenters that day was Stephanie Llorente who was a RPRS board member. I went up to chat with her after she spoke about an internship she was offering at the time. I ended up not getting the internship, but I got something even better- a lifelong connection.

Flash forward to my first job out of college, I attended the RPRS Sir Walter Awards banquet and there was Stephanie! I went up to chat with her and catch up about what we were both doing. She called me up the next week to tell me about an opening on the RPRS board, I immediately jumped on the opportunity. I found myself looking for a new job about a year into being a board member and was overwhelmed with the support I received from my fellow RPRS members. I gained a connection through Kelly Propst, RPRS president at the time, with her sister-in-law at Harte Hanks onsite at Cisco. I have now been with Cisco for nearly three years and truly believe that this job was made for me.

Hope Torruella’s RPRS Story

While I was at ECU with Jessica Pope, I was also very involved in their Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) chapter. Jessica was president her senior year and I was her supporting secretary (which was my junior year). After developing a strong working relationship and friendship, Jessica convinced me to run for president the following year and I ended up winning.

While fulfilling president of our PRSSA chapter my senior year, I hosted an ECU alumna who happened to be vice president at FleishmanHillard’s New York City office. Long story short, I ended up getting a position in the FleishmanHillard’s New York City position and moved up there shortly after graduation. After living out my middle school dream of living and working in NYC, I decided I wanted to move back to Raleigh to pursue a public relations career. The first person that came to mind, Jessica! After a couple texts back and forth, Jessica invited me to a RPRS monthly lunch meeting shortly after I moved back. Pushing all of my nerves and hesitations aside, I attended, connected with Jessica and then found myself next to Kelly Propst, RPRS president at the time and vice president at Largemouth Communications.

After chatting about my NYC experience and handing over my resume, I received an email from Kelly the following day about wanting to bring me in for an interview that Friday. To put timing into perspective, I went to the lunch on Tuesday, interviewed at Largemouth on Friday, received my offer letter the following Tuesday and started a week later. I have now been at Largemouth for almost two and a half years and couldn’t be happier to be working at my dream job – all thanks to a fantastic college connection and friend!

Lindsay Priester’s RPRS Story

I got my first “real” PR job in the fall of 2010 and shortly after heard about RPRS. The group was having a holiday social and I thought attending would be a good idea. I was pretty fresh out of college and knew no one in the Triangle PR scene, so I dragged a friend along with me. I was also really shy at that time (weird career choice, I know – thankfully, I grew out of it!) so attending the event made me all kinds of nervous. That evening the group announced that they were looking for one more person to complete the group’s board of directors. On a whim, I threw my name in for consideration. Soon I was the new banquet chair for Raleigh Public Relations Society. I may not have known much about PR yet, but I felt like I could plan a party. And the rest is history!

I served as banquet chair for a few more years, moved on to awards chair, served a year as vice president and now get to call myself president (while our incredible board of directors makes me look like I know what I’m doing – I’m in awe of this group every day). I went from not knowing a single person in public relations in Raleigh to calling some of them my best friends. The network I’ve made through RPRS is incredible – they’ve referred new clients to me, given me feedback on ideas and inspired me to look at things from a fresh perspective when I’m in a rut. I can truly say jumping out of my comfort zone and joining RPRS eight years ago has been one of the most essential and valuable tools for advancing my career and helping me to develop both as a PR practitioner and person.

Olivia Easly’s RPRS Story

Originally from the Raleigh area, I attended Appalachian State University and graduated with a degree in communications, public relations. After graduation, I decided to jump at an internship opportunity across the country and leave behind my home in North Carolina. Once I completed my internship, I was ready to move back and be close to friends and family again, but I had sort of shot myself in the foot – I had no connections to the PR world in the Triangle. The reality of adulthood and job searching was setting in, fast. I attempted to connect with a recruiter in the area, but we just couldn’t seem to get ahold of each other over the phone or in person. I was feeling so lost in a place I had always known as home.

Thankfully, a childhood friend reached out and told me about the Raleigh Public Relations Society. Setting my fears aside, I decided to attend a luncheon and see what it was all about. That very first luncheon led to the beginning of my career. The recruiter I had been longing to get in touch with was in attendance and interviewed me on the spot. I had a job a couple months later and am currently thriving as a marketing manager doing exactly what I love every day. I now proudly serve on the board of RPRS, sitting right next to that childhood friend, Hope Pittard.

Lindsay Poe’s RPRS Story

At the time, I was currently in between jobs. I heard about RPRS through a mutual professional contact. I decided to check out an event, in an attempt to make some professional connections that would hopefully lead to a job.

My first event was the Christmas social where I ended up knowing an attendee, a fellow PR college graduate, Olivia Easly. That night I found out about upcoming openings on the RPRS Board and expressed interest right away. I was a part of PRSSA in college and knew the benefits of joining forces with a professional organization like RPRS.

I’ve met some incredible contacts through RPRS and through this web of professionals, I’ve received valuable advice and support as I’ve since begun my own communication agency.

Lisa Jeffries’ RPRS Story

I wasn’t invited to be a member per se by connections to existing members, but once I found my way here the connections have been incredibly valuable. As a small agency owner, I’ve found great “therapy” moments with other senior-level decision makers. They have been gracious in sharing resources they’ve found valuable, quality vendor recommendations, and the occasional “you’re not alone!” – which is always appreciated in our crazy industry.

I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have fellow members reach out to my team to offer sub-agency support in areas that we have strong competencies when they have needed to temporarily “scale up” their own operations and abilities for large client undertakings. Membership in RPRS pays for itself over and over again and I’m proud to call this one of my most valuable professional associations.

May 7, 2018 By VP@rprs.org Leave a Comment

Pop-Up Stores as a Marketing Tool

Pop-up retailing or flash retailing is a trend of opening short term sales spaces. A pop-up store space is a venue that is temporary — the space could be used for a sample one-day sale or a seasonal store specifically targeted to market holidays such as Halloween and Christmas. Pop-up stores are used for marketing and are a great way to build awareness of a brand or product.

There are many benefits of pop-up stores. Pop-up stores allow for interactive branding, product testing, market (location) testing, low-cost overhead (no long-term lease), low-risk investment, buzz generation through social media interaction, and most importantly, an experiential experience for past, current and potential customers.

Pop-up stores create an experience and space customers do not currently get online or at a permanent brick and mortar location. This new experience provided by pop-up stores is due to a different form of interaction with a brand or product. The difference can come from the location (coliseum, park, office building, etc.) and the ability to touch, feel and try on.

One well-known brand using experiential retail is Lululemon. Lululemon gives customers the ultimate experiential experience through both pop-up stores and brick and mortar locations including weekly in-store yoga classes, social clubs, their store ambassador program and their community events program. In 2013 Lululemon had a short-term store front lease in Greensboro. It was such a success they opened a full retail store in Greensboro at the Friendly Center. In addition, Ivivva Athletica by Lululemon had a two-day pop-up store in 2016 in Raleigh. Pop-up stores are a great way to test the waters to see if a full store can sustain itself. North Carolina currently has six permanent Lululemon locations.

Brands can do many other experiential things within a pop-up store. There are pop-up stores where a customer can taste food, try on clothes, test visual effects on a computer or video game, try out a new form of communication, customize items and much more.

Could any of your clients benefit from a pop-up store? Pop-up stores need to be considered a valuable marketing tool. They allow a new form of interaction with customers, help with a new retail model, provide a unique experience for customers and help gain customer loyalty. The pop-up store retail model will result in increased profitability for retailers, increased customer satisfaction and the evolution of a seamless and integrated ecosystem experience regardless of the channel.

Post by Andrea Epstein, 2018 RPRS Treasurer