Category

Public Relations

Dec 20
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Collaboration, Not Competition

By Public Relations

My friend Rusty Speidel wrote a post on my friend Gini Dietrich’s blog and used a  made up word: “coopetition.” Words like that make me itchy, but I’m letting that go for now to focus on the idea behind the word. Rusty’s post was in reaction to one by Gini that said, in part:

“Don’t be afraid to let the competition know what you’re doing. You’ll be looking forward and they’ll be scrambling to keep up. Blaze the trail.”

I began my career with a series of agencies in St. Louis, Missouri — all highly competitive and not terribly cooperative (with other agencies). It was the culture of PR in St. Louis (and likely, still is). When I moved to Charlottesville, I was introduced to a much more collaborative culture, at the convergence of social media culture influencing business practices. Since social media is so important to what I do, it makes sense that my business philosophy would be heavily influenced by it, but it also makes sense that I’m influenced by the culture of the place where I do business.

Each year, at a holiday party hosted by my friend Suzanne, we go around the room and say how we know her. I often say, “I am friends with Suzanne because she called.” On the surface, people would view Suzanne and I as “competitors.” We both have virtual PR firms located in the same city. We network in the same groups and connect in a variety of ways. We offer our clients many of the same services. When it’s a better fit for her business, I don’t hesitate to refer a client to Four Leaf PR, Suzanne’s firm. (Look at that — I just linked to a competing PR firm! Who does that?)

That way of working was a new concept to me in 2005. Now it’s like breathing.  Suzanne, besides being a mentor, a total rock star professional and a personal friend, has also had tremendous influence on my business philosophy.

I like this method of working in collaboration with others, of acknowledging differences in styles but not discrediting others’ work. It enables us to share ideas freely, establish trust and even rely on one another for backup when needed. (Who doesn’t need a little backup now and then?) We know each one of our firms isn’t the right fit for each and every client and interestingly, we have different interests in industries and rarely bump into one another as it is. Small town? Maybe. But somehow we’re able to all get along. Is that coopetition? Maybe, but I prefer to call it just being smart.

Dec 13
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The Culture of Social Media without the Platforms; Mind = Blown

By Communications, Public Relations, Social Media

It’s a very busy time for my business and yesterday included a marathon of meetings right in a row (six!). Right in the middle, we met with a prospective client.

Now, Jaggers Communications offers the full suite of communications services from public relations to brand positioning to social media strategy, but often client conversations begin with learning about social media (it is a specialty of our firm). One of the people we met with shared his complete lack of use and knowledge of social media. He’s not engaged in any way online and hasn’t had an interest in doing so personally, even though he understands it’s important for his business to begin to seriously look at digital communications and how they should be used.

Then, he went on about his business philosophy, about how he prefers to serve clients, to interact with partners, to collaborate and nurture a culture of transparency within his organization.

And then my brain exploded.

Everything he said is exactly the culture that social media has established and worked to grow. It’s precisely where bloggers hoped business would evolve when it became impossible to hide behind a curtain of complacency. But it wasn’t the culture online that drove this man’s business values; it’s how his company has done business since the 1970s, long before blogs, Facebook and Twitter.

It was so refreshing, and so very exciting for me to meet with someone who “got it” before the technical aspects were even brought into the discussion. In fact, the words we use to talk about the tactics of social media are almost irrelevant. They’re tools to get us to the goals we make. The framework and quality are there; the genuine stories and rich culture exist; we have the honor of helping the business share them online.

Sometimes my work makes me giddy.

Nov 10
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The Launching of a New Brand Identity: Six Concepts to Consider

By Communications, Jaggers Communications News, Public Relations

For a couple of years and a number of client projects, I’ve collaborated with Watermark Design to bring design excellence and solid web development to my clients. That was why, when it came time for me to focus on the creation of my own firm’s brand identity, there was no where else I’d rather turn.

I’ve worked with so many brands to help them with new design or redesign; working on this inward-facing project was a different experience! While, as an entrepreneur, I enjoy having the opportunity to make decisions on my own, it was great to have people to whom I could turn with great style, a good eye and opinions I deeply trust.

Wes and Darcey at Watermark have a great process and it was exciting to sit through it as the customer instead of a partner or collaborator. The logo that resulted from our conversations is exactly what I’d hoped to have. Some of the considerations Watermark asked me to ponder included:

  1. The gender of the identity. I was pretty adamant that I didn’t want the logo to be too feminine. It needed to be neutral in color and in style.
  2. The personality. I didn’t want a logo that was too serious or corporate and yet, since the clients I wish to attract are both of these, it needed to convey a larger-firm feel. I also want the brand identity to continue to fit my growing business. I think this meets both of those needs.
  3. The message. When I told Wes that the name of my blog is “Change the Conversation” I could see the wheels in his head begin spinning out of control. The interlocking J and C portrayed as speech bubbles conveys both communications and a conversation and I LOVE the look of them.
  4. The style. With the platforms I use frequently a mark as well as a stylized version of the company name is what I was looking for. I want to be able to use the mark (the JC speech bubbles) independently and to have the brand identified by the mark, even when it appears without the name.
  5. The font. Upon seeing the logo, someone said, “I like the hugging Gs.” Something about the font in the name appealed to me right away — I like to think it is a nod to relationships and how we’re all, somehow, entertwined.
  6. The colors! Oh, this was the hard part, for sure, and the time when I had to pull in my cadre of friends in marketing and design to solicit their opinions. I wavered, I waffled, but I’m very pleased with where I landed. Green was almost a sure thing as one of the elements, as my interest in science, green business and energy and the work I continue to do in these areas is a focus. The blue is a beautiful accompaniment; the two work so well together and I think, offer just the overall look I desired for my business.

I’d love to know what you think of the new look!

Oct 06
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Five Ridiculous Things I’ve Had To Do in my PR Career

By Public Relations

I write this as a cautionary note; an open letter to college students thinking of a career in PR and others, dissatisfied with current careers who think that communications might be the way to go, for them.

Perhaps not.

The following are actual activities in which I’ve taken part or been involved with either under duress or voluntarily.

  1. I created, with help, the world’s largest bouquet of flowers, thus earning a Guinness Book World Record. 
  2. I had to dress up as Mickey Mouse for a store grand opening event, except NOT in a Mickey Mouse costume but in an unlicensed mouse knock-off costume. The head smelled terrible. From the inside.
  3. I’ve had to pitch “not news” as news to media outlets because clients/the agency that gave me a paycheck demanded it.
  4. I gave cigarettes to schoolchildren on playgrounds. did government relations work on behalf of a tobacco company.
  5. I mailed (via the U.S. Postal Service) news releases printed on pink paper to media outlets across the country.

Sort of reads like a list of confessions, doesn’t it?

How about you? What ridiculous moments have you had on your work journey?