Click Here to return to the fully interactive site.
KVBPR Public Relations Blog
Boyle Thanks KVBPR for Great Semester
Posted by Webmaster on December 16, 2009 at 01:52 PMFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - KVBPR (Katcher Vaughn & Bailey Public Relations, Inc.) intern, Frannie Boyle leaves the office today as her internship period comes to a close.
She never thought she would come away with such a wide variety of experiences. Not only can she draft press releases, build media lists, and navigate Vocus, but she can also use a flip camera, tell you about senior organizations in nearly every town in the state of Tennessee, and point out which Tennessee public schools have the most tech savvy websites. She still needs to work on AP style and getting Senior Olympians off the phone in less than 30 minutes, but all in all she came out of the internship smarter, happier and with a greater confidence in the PR business.
Boyle is not happy that she has to leave KVB. The work environment was better than she could have dreamed for and the experience was enjoyable and valuable at the same time. Boyle would like to thank everyone who worked with her.
“It was wonderful to be a part of the tight community on the 21st floor, and I am sad to leave it,” Boyle said.
Boyle is a junior at Vanderbilt University, and she is in for a rough couple of semesters until she graduates in May of 2011. She will be in Nashville for awhile, so she will have no problem keeping in touch and stopping by to visit the L&C tower.
From Munich to Nashville: Sharing PR Perspectives
Posted by Webmaster on December 01, 2009 at 01:43 PMBy Indra Hein, HBI in Munich, Germany
As a member of the Worldcom Group, the world’s leading network of independently owned public relations counseling firms, I recently had the opportunity to participate in a work exchange program at KVBPR. This experience allowed me to get in touch with public relations professionals on the other side of the world.
The trip started out eventfully and it took me quite a while to finally make it to Nashville – my luggage was stolen in Munich, and by the time the officials found it, I was too late to check in for my flight. I booked another flight for a day later (which arrived late, of course) and when I finally arrived, Nashville rewarded me with sunshine. This was a nice change compared to Munich’s first snow two days before I left! I also stayed in a really nice hotel room with an awesome view of the city and everything I needed only two steps away.
Everyone at KVBPR was welcoming and happy to answer all of my questions. They also explained a lot about their clients, projects and media relations. I did not expect to attend so many meetings – both internal and customer – which were all really interesting. I learned a lot and will take some techniques, tools and ideas with me back home, implementing them into my daily work. I also had the opportunity to do a presentation about HBI, Web 2.0, social media and media relations for the account staff, which was an occasion for discussing the differences between the United States and Germany. Europe is different than the United States because everything differs from country to country and every nation has its own media habits. It was quite interesting for me to hear how KVBPR tackles upcoming challenges and customer needs.
KVBPR also had some interesting and fun items on my agenda during my spare time. I went to the famous “honky tonk” row; spent a day in Lynchburg, the home of Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey and the BBQ festival; discovered different areas of Nashville; absorbed interesting cultural and religious points of view; and made friends.
Thanks to everyone at KVBPR for the opportunity to gain insight into the world of public relations over here, making me feel like part of the team, showing me around and offering me a new point of view on public relations.
A Lesson Learned from Letterman
Posted by Webmaster on November 30, 2009 at 09:27 AMBy Holley Stein
Whether it’s earned or not, when catastrophe hits a company, some CEOs want to shut themselves up in their offices and pretend the problem will disappear. Others feel they run the risk of drawing more attention to the problem by meeting the issue head on. However, we have all learned that problems do not just go away and with the implementation of social media, especially Twitter, discussion surrounding problems can run rampant.
The alliterate title here is a perfect example of how getting ahead of a crisis or a potential crisis is often the best course of action when dealing with reputation management and crisis situations.
Now that we’ve all had some distance from it, remember David Letterman’s latest problem? However disagreeable the issue, the three tactics he used to handle his crisis merit a quick review.
Control the timing:
Letterman approached his audience immediately.
Control the environment:
Letterman and his advisors opted to use his show as the platform. By doing so, he was able to simultaneously get his message out to millions of viewers, in a comfortable setting for him.
Control the message:
By getting out ahead, Letterman conveyed humility and humanness, which seems to be all the public sought. Letterman redefined the issue and while attention momentarily remained on him, others turned their attention to the alleged blackmailer.
The situation did cause buzz in traditional media, Twitter and other social media outlets. But the chatter has died and everyone has moved on. While I admit entertainers are often easier to forgive, those three tactics found in any good crisis plan still apply. If your company doesn’t have a crisis communications plan that puts a system in place to help control future issues, you need one.
Health Care Reform and Its Impact on Health Care Public Relations
Posted by Webmaster on August 28, 2009 at 04:10 PMBy Aileen Katcher, APR
My mother recently asked me if what is going on with health care reform would affect my business. While my first thought was “Wow – after all these years, Mom actually gets what I do,” my response to her was, “I’m sure it will, but at this point, I don’t know how.”
I feel certain the focus by businesses, insurance providers and medical providers on personal health accountability, prevention and wellness will continue to increase in importance both for its role in improving health status and controlling costs. As that grows, I am hopeful that businesses who are involved in the delivery of those services will seek the expertise of KVBPR to succeed in reaching their goals.
I am confident that the use of technology to monitor and predict outcomes, to manage health information and to streamline revenue streams and increase efficiency will also continue to grow. The challenge here is to find the best solutions from among the many and identify the options that can communicate efficiently and effectively with each other across many platforms. Again, KVBPR hopes to help those with the best solutions achieve success.
So, while I don’t have a crystal ball and cannot predict what Congress will do with reform this fall, I will predict that health care businesses in the accountability, wellness and technology field have the best prospects for growth, and that those who aren’t integrating those concepts into their business plans and operations need to take a look at how they can.
By the way, check out KVBPR’s new health care micro site, www.kvbprhealthcare.com, to learn more about our health care experience.
What's Your Definition of PR?
Posted by Webmaster on August 28, 2009 at 09:14 AMBy Holley Stein
A few weeks ago, New York Magazine posted a blog titled “Is Dolce & Gabbana’s PR Team Out to Lunch?” It was about Madonna and Whitney Houston wearing the same outfit, at the same time, while the former attended an event in Milan and the latter made an appearance in Paris.
When I first read the story, I laughed. I also picked who I thought looked best. Then I thought about it more and I began to wonder how the blogger defines public relations.
When I am asked the perennial “what do you do” question at events, everyone is always interested when I tell them I am in public relations. Out of a desire to relate, they mention a marketer, an advertiser or a publicist they know. I’ve learned to say that we can be those, but think of us more as the umbrella organization under which marketing, speech writing, advertising, sponsorship and media relation, to name a few strategies, is housed. We help clients relate to the public. We help them communicate effectively with key constituents. We help them build the relationships they need to create success. Not quite as in depth or esoteric as PRSA’s definition but it works.
Then again, I have had to carry extra suit jackets and ties with me in case an executive is not wearing what he/she should for a photo shoot. I have also overseen photo shoots where I have had to kneel behind the subject, holding down the back of his or her jacket to keep it from riding up or creasing at the shoulders.
So perhaps the blogger is right.
I'd Like to Thank the Academy...
Posted by Webmaster on July 13, 2009 at 04:07 PMBy Heather Schablik, APR
Have you ever found yourself watching the (insert name of choice) Awards and thinking, “Could this acceptance speech go any longer? How many people does this person possibly need to thank?” If so, you are part of the vast majority. And until recently, I was too.
A few weeks ago, as I heard KVBPR’s name announced as a Silver Anvil winner at the public relations equivalent of the Academy Awards, the first thing that came to mind wasn’t personal pride. It was pride of collaboration. It was the immediate desire to share this victory with my clients, my co-workers, our vendors…anyone who played even a small part in this huge victory.
That moment helped me realize that winning an award isn’t about the actual statue. Instead, it’s what it represents. Winning an award signifies successful collaboration and teamwork. After all, would BlueCross’ open enrollment campaign have been successful without BlueCross as a client? Absolutely not. And what about without the team of professionals that contributed on both sides? Not at chance. And then there were all of those people who put blood, sweat and tears into assembling the award entry and ensuring it made it to PRSA in time to be judged – they played a key role, too. At the end of the day, awards show what we can really do when we all join forces for the greater cause of developing and implementing quality PR campaigns.
There has been an ongoing debate in our office about whether or not awards are worth the time and energy that goes into the actual entry process. What I’ve come to realize is that without awards, what other way do we have to physically showcase the top-notch work we do with our clients? What better way do we have to thank our clients for the opportunities they provide us each and every day? And what other way do we have to recognize the collaboration happening each and every day in our office space?
So I’ve come to realize something very important: awards ARE worth it. And next time KVBPR wins one, and I have the honor of accepting on behalf of our firm and clients, I can guarantee the first words out of my mouth will be, “I’d like to thank…”
We won two Silver Anvil Awards, but what are we really celebrating
Posted by Webmaster on June 25, 2009 at 04:45 PMby Holley Stein
Whether it’s counseling a client in preparation for a turbulent media interview or handling crisis communications, public relations professionals are known for their calm-and-cool demeanor and grace under pressure.
But what happens when you get a plaza full of professionals together to celebrate the work done on behalf of their clients? Cheers, camaraderie and immense pride--to the point of tears--for our clients.
KVBPR’s work was recently honored at the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Silver Anvil Awards ceremony, held on June 4 in New York City. Our firm received the Silver Anvil Award for excellence in internal communications for work done on behalf of BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee (BCBST) and the Silver Anvil Award of Excellence in integrated communications for introducing Nashville Symphony’s new conductor, Giancarlo Guerrero. I had the pleasure of working with the Symphony and Locomotion Creative on the multi-channel communications campaign and was thrilled to hear we were a finalist for the award. Finding out I was going to New York wasn’t bad either!
The atmosphere of the ceremony was elegant, as expected. What I did not count on was what would happen to us once we were inside the auditorium and the award-presentation began. There was no polite applause, plastic smiles or stiff photos. There were whistles, cat calls, cheering and loud applause, not only for ourselves, but for each other. I actually screamed when my colleague, Heather Schablik, went onstage to accept the Silver Anvil on behalf of BCBST. (All-in-all, the internal communications program for BCBST won three national awards this year.)
However, the best part of the award ceremony was when master-of-ceremonies, Terry Stewart, president and CEO for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, announced the award for the Nashville Symphony. He mentioned a recent visit to the Schermerhorn Symphony Center. He not only praised the building to a group of practitioners from around the U.S., he spoke directly to Ronda Helton, senior director of marketing for the Nashville Symphony, and acknowledged the caliber of its musicians and programming. It was the only proverbial “shout-out” that was given that night.
Upon later reflection, I admit, I teared up. Something had really hit home. Sure we were cheering for ourselves that night. We work hard on behalf of our clients. But more than anything, I believe we were really cheering for our clients. After working in the trenches with each other for so long, you feel like a member of your client’s team. In many ways, these awards act as a double honor.
KVBPR's Journal Jar, "If you could have been the author of any single book already written..."
Posted by Webmaster on June 18, 2009 at 04:56 PMSitting on the news bar here at KVBPR is a Mason jar filled with folded slips of paper – a Journal Jar – courtesy of our friend Susannah Shumate from S2 Creations. Its purpose is to spark the imagination and creativity.
Here in the office, we pull a slip from the jar and share the responses during a staff meeting. We’re sharing some responses online to allow our site visitors a chance to get to know us a little better. Feel free to share your responses.
The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch – Steve
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak – Georgia
The Awakening by Kate Chopin – Neely
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee – Nancy
The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway – Aileen
The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien – Nicole
There’s a Nightmare in My Closet by Mercer Mayer – Renee
Four Quartets by T.S. Eliot – Holley
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald – Greg
Ramona Quimby, Age 8 by Beverly Cleary – Heather
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee – Tonya
PR Professionals Work as Change Agents in Internal Communication
Posted by Webmaster on June 04, 2009 at 10:30 AMBy Holley Stein
Account Executive
One of our clients recently presented to a room full of managers on how to create buy-in from employees regarding a shift in the company’s strategic direction. The client used ‘change agent’ as the descriptor for someone who facilitates sustainable change and productivity. The term was coined by The HayGroup’ s concept of Emotional Intelligence. The topic stirred my curiosity.
A change agent approaches business from a more emotionally aware place. They hear, understand and interpret messages before they respond. They often reflect instead of project during challenging times. Most importantly, a change agent understands the psychology behind how people process change and help move co-workers from point A to point Z, understanding that there is an entire alphabet in between.
One way to support change is to look at “The Resistance Pyramid,” made up of a succession of three levels of resistance. At the bottom level sits knowledge, which comes from having access to information and the reason behind the change. The second level is ability, where others are given the tools they need to make the change, and the third or top level is willingness, where the change is accepted and becomes part of the overall culture.
This layering effect reminded me a lot of KVBPR’s pyramid process and it became clear: during this economically challenging time, it is important for public relations practitioners to act as change agents for their clients or help empower them to be one for their employees.
Practitioners should ask themselves how they can help effectively communicate changes to a client’s employees, in an effort to help bolster productivity. By utilizing The Resistance Pyramid, how can you assist in ensuring that employees--every company’s most important audience--have the knowledge they need to reach the second level? This may include auditing internal messaging to make sure messages are consistent, managing an intranet site, drafting internal newsletters, initiating internal focus groups or editing training and other human relations-related documents.
KVBPR's Journal Jar, "What five brands would best represent who you are?"
Posted by Webmaster on June 01, 2009 at 04:21 PMSitting on the news bar here at KVBPR is a Mason jar filled with folded slips of paper – a Journal Jar – courtesy of our friend Susannah Shumate from S2 Creations. Its purpose is to spark the imagination and creativity.
Here in the office, we pull a slip from the jar and share the responses during a staff meeting. We’re sharing some responses online to allow our site visitors a chance to get to know us a little better. Feel free to share your responses.
What five brands would best represent who you are?
Toyota, Dell, Janome, Mitsubishi, Whirlpool – Renee
Jack Daniel’s, NPR, Epicurious, Dr. Seuss, Target – Nancy
Apple, Hallmark, Publix, Chick Fil A, Coca Cola – Heather
Bruce Springsteen, Starbucks, Amazon.com, CBS Sports, Argyle Winery – Greg
Cool People Care, iTunes, SEC, Google, Merrell – Tonya
Nutro, Banana Republic, Anthropologie, Trader Joe’s, Stoli – Neely
Been there, done that and willing to share the lessons learned
Posted by Webmaster on May 14, 2009 at 02:29 PMBy Nancy DeKalb
Partner
Tom Murphy may be experiencing déjà vu as he prepares to deliver the keynote address during the Urban Land Institute (ULI)-Nashville Excellence in Development awards on May 19.
As a ULI senior fellow specializing in urban revitalization and former mayor of Pittsburgh, Murphy says he understands Nashville’s development pains. While mayor (1994-2005), Murphy redeveloped the riverfront, built the first green convention center -- also the world’s largest green building—squeezed money out of a tight operating budget to create a development fund and reinvented public housing. Sound familiar?
I’d be the first to jump up and shout, “Nashville’s not Pittsburgh!” But, Murphy’s past agenda certainly sounds like what’s on Mayor Karl Dean’s plate. How do we get the business community and the citizens to support a new convention center? What’s the best use for the Cumberland riverfront that will engage local residents, downtown workers and tourists alike? What’s the community vision for downtown? With pressing needs that include upgrading police and fire services, where will the funding come from?
Murphy says you can tell a lot about a city by using its public transportation. He plans to take an MTA bus from the airport to downtown Nashville. Given his schedule, it’s unlikely he’ll get the express route or the Chamber of Commerce-sanctioned tour route.
The nine Nashville-area development projects honored during Excellence in Development certainly deserve the applause and accolades. But, Murphy’s lessons may help guide projects to win future Excellence in Development honors.
Media and the Machine
Posted by Webmaster on May 13, 2009 at 02:41 PMBy Neely Burks
Associate Account Executive
With advertising dollars shrinking daily, print news outlets continue to follow suit. As a result, nationwide, the availability of thoughtful news coverage from a local perspective is becoming increasingly hard to find and even harder to produce.
While we’re quickly learning that there’s no such thing as a recession-proof industry, the news media, along with automobile and financial services, seem to be hit the hardest.
Overwhelmed by sensationalized news coverage related to the current recession, many lack sympathy as they wonder where the onus lies. Media outlets are caught in the ultimate Catch-22, as they are required to report what’s happening but in doing so, perpetuate the calamity. In a sense, they have dug their own graves.
A silver lining behind this dark cloud is a reminder that I hear echoed often: A recession affords everyone the opportunity to refocus their efforts to better streamline their business. In essence, it challenges each person to think ahead so that only the proactive will survive.
An obvious target, the auto industry has long been criticized for its unwillingness to change and is paying for those sins today. However, while the need for change has been less evident, the news media might also need to take a more critical look at its respective path.
Similar to the music business, print media outlets have been up against different heads of the same technology monster. As fewer people rely on hard-copy news, advertising dollars shifted online. Accordingly, there is now twice the work as fewer reporters are required to produce more content for both channels of communication. Keep in mind, this is happening while the number of news consumers continues to drop off all together.
In looking for a solution, it seems obvious that advertising dollars alone are no longer enough to sustain the operations budget for most print outlets. Even if the economy rebounds and the previous statement no longer applies, do these outlets want to again leave themselves vulnerable to future economic downturns?
While discussing this issue last week with KVBPR Partner, Nancy DeKalb, we talked at length about the damaging effect any community faces in the wake of losing its daily, which truly serves as a community watchdog.
Cities as large as San Francisco and Boston have confronted this very issue. Whose job will it then become to feed the machine that is public awareness? Bloggers? While they might act as an appropriate supplement, bloggers are not subject to the same frequency in reporting or code of ethics as a journalist (i.e., fact-checking and non-biased coverage).
It’s time for the print media to rethink its funding sources. Obviously, government funding is not an option, as that would serve as a huge conflict of interest. But what about community support?
One media outlet that has successfully implemented this very funding strategy is NPR (National Public Radio), a well-respected and well-produced outlet. This is because the broadcast itself caters to the very listeners who care enough to support it, bringing to its coverage a great deal of integrity.
Could print media outlets not take a similar approach to funding, combining advertising dollars with public support? Admittedly, not an easy task, but still one that’s worth considering as consumer demands continue to shift.
KVBPR's Journal Jar, "I wish I could give..."
Posted by Webmaster on May 11, 2009 at 03:28 PMSitting on the news bar here at KVBPR is a Mason jar filled with folded slips of paper – a Journal Jar – courtesy of our friend Susannah Shumate from S2 Creations. Its purpose is to spark the imagination and creativity.
Here in the office, we pull a slip from the jar and share the responses during a staff meeting. We’re sharing some responses online to allow our site visitors a chance to get to know us a little better. Feel free to share your responses.
I wish I could give...
Enough money and support to CARE International, to help women give their families the support they need to rise out of poverty. - Holley
Peace to the world. - Martha
I wish I could give something to the next generation that will slow life back down. - Steve
The world the confidence it needs to turn the economy around. - Aileen
Half as much as my mother gives every day. - Georgia
A little more time to all parts of my life and a little more to those that need it. - Nicole
March Madness at KVBPR
Posted by Webmaster on April 21, 2009 at 04:51 PM
Martin Penny, a public policy graduate student at the University of Tennessee, finished first in the annual KVBPR March Madness pool and won the top prize of $820 (Pictured here with pool co-commissioners Greg Bailey and Heather Schablik).
Penny finished with 299 points and correctly picked the University of North Carolina Tar Heels as the national champion. KVBPR Partner Nancy DeKalb finished second with 292 points and vaulted to place in the money by virtue of her sentimental pick of the Michigan State Spartans (her dad’s alma mater) as a Final Four participant. Nashvillian Chris Harrison finished third with 284 points, correctly picking a Michigan State-North Carolina final.
The 2009 edition of the pool was the largest ever with more than 65 participants.
KVBPR's Journal Jar
Posted by Webmaster on April 07, 2009 at 01:57 PMSitting on the news bar here at KVBPR is a Mason jar filled with folded slips of paper – a Journal Jar – courtesy of our friend Susannah Shumate from S2 Creations. Its purpose is to spark the imagination and creativity.
Here in the office, we pull a slip from the jar and share the responses during a staff meeting. We’re sharing some responses online to allow our site visitors a chance to get to know us a little better. Feel free to share your responses.
What do you think is dangerous?
Some say ignorance is bliss, but I say ignorance is dangerous. Be informed. – Tonya Waugh
Changing a light bulb while standing on a 40-foot ladder. – Greg Bailey
When freedom of speech is O.K. as long as it doesn’t hurt anyone’s feelings – Renee Sloan
I’m afraid of heights and deep water and find a lot of things dangerous. – Neely Burks
I feel money is dangerous, because when not handled properly it can hurt families, relationships, organizations and countries. – Nicole Arnold
War, weather, snakes, drunk drivers, drugs and gangs. – Martha Hight
What do you think is dangerous?
Looking inside KVBPR's Journal Jar
Posted by Webmaster on March 31, 2009 at 01:42 PMSitting on the news bar here at KVBPR is a Mason jar filled with folded slips of paper – a Journal Jar – courtesy of our friend Susannah Shumate from S2 Creations. Its purpose is to spark the imagination and creativity.
Here in the office, we pull a slip from the jar and share the responses during a staff meeting. We’re sharing some responses online to allow our site visitors a chance to get to know us a little better. Feel free to share your responses.
I wish I could give…
A year of my life to mission work overseas or maybe just around the corner. – Steve Horton
The world the confidence it needs to turn the economy around. – Aileen Katcher
Enough money and support to CARE International, to help women give their families the support they need to rise out of poverty. – Holley Stein
Half as much as my mother gives every day. – Georgia Fogle
Jobs to everyone in need right now. – Heather Schablik
How do you fill in the sentence “I wish I could give …”?
PR = ROI
Posted by Webmaster on March 17, 2009 at 09:22 AMby Aileen Katcher, APR, Fellow PRSA
Partner
Every business I know is keeping an eye on expenses. Unfortunately, many think that means they need to pull back on marketing. Yet, as every Marketing 101 student knows, the worst time to pull back on marketing is when business is down.
So how do you solve what seems like a Catch 22? Use more PR.
An ongoing study of its marketing ROI launched in 2005 by Procter and Gamble finds public relations delivers a high ROI on relatively low levels of spending. The study revealed:
- PR delivers stellar ROI, much greater than advertising
PR provides a halo effect over other marketing tactics
Overall, they found an estimated 275 percent ROI for public relations
Effective marketing should be based on common sense – which doesn’t mean launching an elaborate, costly campaign. Be smart, organized and strategic.
Here are some proven strategies:
Make a plan – and work it.
It doesn’t need to be long and detailed, an outline will do. Include your strengths and weaknesses, goals, target audiences, clear and concise messages, strategies to pursue and tactics to achieve them. Pay attention to how to retain or grow your existing customer base. And, build in a way to evaluate what you are doing.
Play to your strengths.
What do your customers or clients value most about the goods or services you provide? What do you do best and most efficiently? Focus on your core business and create value for your customers. Be a good student of your customers’ businesses.
Don’t assume anything.
We all know the old joke about what happens when you assume (and if you don’t, email me). Contact every customer or client and have a frank conversation with them about the economy and how it is affecting them. Offer suggestions about how you can help them advance their bottom line. It is easier to retain and grow existing business than it is to attract new customers.
Rally the troops.
Nearly every employee at every business is worried. Be open and honest with them about your company’s situation and what you are doing to address the challenges. Enlist their help in identifying and implementing marketing opportunities and ways to cut expenses.
Fish where the fish are.
Networking is critical. But, be strategic about it. If you are an accountant who specializes in the construction industry, you may be better served getting involved in construction industry groups than in accounting industry groups. But, if you are a tax attorney who relies on other attorneys for referrals, then a legal professional association may be your best bet. Don’t just join. Get involved.
Network on the 'net.
Don’t dismiss social networking as something for Generation X. Just remember, the same rules apply here as in traditional networking. If you are a good face-to-face networker, chances are you will be able to use LinkedIn or Facebook more effectively than the person who goes to an event and only talks to the people he knows. It takes time and effort to make this medium work.
Stay in touch.
Be diligent about follow up. Whether it’s an existing customer, a referral source or a new contact you met at a networking event, reach out to them. And don’t just rely on a single follow up email. Pick up the phone, write a note, send them an article that might be of interest, invite them to meet for coffee. Stay in touch. Business relationships can take months to develop.
Use common sense – not dollars and cents.
Effective marketing does not need to be expensive. It should be consistent and focused, play to your core strengths, reflective of your customers’ needs and what you do best. Evaluate on an ongoing basis so you can do more of what works and eliminate or adapt what doesn’t.
Need help developing and implementing an effective public relations or marketing plan? Give KVBPR a call or email me.
When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Marketing
Posted by Webmaster on December 10, 2008 at 10:56 AMby Aileen Katcher, APR, Fellow PRSA
Partner
When times are tough, businesses that maintain open and consistent communications with key constituents always weather the storm better than those who don’t. And, historically, companies who maintain or increase marketing during downturns generally achieve higher profitability than those who don’t.
At KVBPR, we know that a comprehensive public relations strategy is vital to any organization’s success. As businesses face the challenges of today’s economic environment, it is more important than ever. It’s smart, it’s effective and it’s efficient. As we work with our clients to formulate plans for the coming year, here are some strategies we are recommending.
- Focus on your most profitable core business. In other words, do what you do best and what is most productive for your organization.
Review and fine tune key messages. And, use them consistently in all communications with all your audiences.
Empower employees with information, even if it includes bad news. They are your best ambassadors.
Monitor and measure your marketing efforts. It is more important than ever to ensure your marketing is effective and efficient, so you can do more of what works and less of what doesn’t.
If you are not already a KVBPR client and need some help planning for 2009, contact us today at akatcher@kvbpr.com.
An interviewing playbook?
Posted by Webmaster on September 05, 2008 at 02:25 PMBy Nicole Arnold
Associate Account Executive
As Labor Day weekend approached, talk of college football took over every conversation – well, it did mine at least. A through-and-through University of Tennessee fan, I obnoxiously sport orange as often as possible. I watch stats and predictions and look forward to every Saturday for the ups and downs of a game – but there is something about that weekend this year that just seemed a little more special. I realized it was the anticipation of it all.
The first weekend of college football is that rare weekend that happens once a year: it is the first and last time that season every fan can boast about their new recruit, new coach, new game plan...the new season. Everyone is equal at 0-0. It is the one weekend every team has bragging rights.
As someone really getting in to my career in public relations, I realize the importance of those bragging rights. The 30 minutes you get from an executive are your 30 minutes to sell your new coach, new game plan – in other words, YOUR new season. As a recent college graduate, I also understand the frustration held by the team that can’t break into the top 25, the player who just misses first string – this being said from someone having finally landed the dream job.
But how do you land that dream job? Are we all truly equal when we graduate college? "Well, I had two internships, but candidate B had three. One automatic point to them...but at least I have my two, right?"
With a market full of over- and under-achievers all looking for the same thing, how is it possible to be prepared for that day when you walk into an interview prepared, dressed just right, portfolio in hand, yet not knowing whether you are meeting the lion or the lamb? You feel ready, but are you?
I was fortunate to graduate from a university program that encouraged internships and participation on campus. However, and most importantly, I was also offered the chance to learn how to find the opportunity, get the interview and ultimately land the job. It was the professional class we were required to take. A hard one to make at 8 a.m. on a cold January morning but one you couldn’t afford to miss. You learned proper etiquette, when and how to approach a salary discussion (definitely not a reaction implying you deserve $60,000 your first year), and how to look the interviewer in the eye and talk about yourself. How many people can say they left college with a bit of training not only FOR my job, but also how to GET my job?
I know many of my peers are still waiting for that phone call, trying not to get kicked out of their parents’ house and at the same time trying not to lose their mind for being without a job. I can’t help but wonder how many of those same peers would be out the door for that 8-5 job already if they had also received a bachelor’s of science in interviewing.
KVBPR plugs in 'new generation' Web site
Posted by Webmaster on September 03, 2008 at 01:06 PMBy Greg Bailey, APR
Partner
After months of planning, design, editing and discussion, the new kvbpr.com is online. This is our fourth generation site, and longtime friends and clients who remember our “hat-rack” site will see a vast difference – in only 10 years – between where we started and what we have now launched.
This is our most technologically advanced site – complete with video sound bites from staff and clients, as well as new features that utilize Web technology to deliver information about our firm, clients and profession. We are pleased with the outcome and hope that you – our clients, friends, vendors, referral sources and family – will take a few minutes to browse the site.
As we embrace the new, we didn’t completely let go of our past. As a matter of fact, we went “retro” by reviving two old site features – the news ticker that runs across the bottom of the home page and the Links section. With previous sites, these features proved to be very, very popular. As for the entire site, we welcome your feedback to continue to make it useful and informative. At one time, our Links page was the most-visited page on the site and was bookmarked by many. We hope you will find it as meaningful today – and we have added some new links to it, including a section that focuses on local organizations and groups that our staff works with on a volunteer basis as well as a section on social media.
Ah, social media. Some of you are Facebook and LinkedIn members; others may think social media refers to the NFocus reporter/photographer teams. You’ll be hearing a lot from us about social media and what it means to your business and ours – we’re committed to social media strategies for our clients and you’ll find KVBPR with its own Facebook page – feel free to become a fan! The social media phenomenon is the next step in direct communications – an opportunity for us and our clients to go directly to the customer, the consumer or the prospect with news and messages to enlighten and inform. That’s part of the purpose of this blog – to tell our story, to provide a launching point to discuss issues and opportunities related to public relations – and, without question, you are likely to see a random rant now and then. Let us know what you think and how you feel about our site and its contents.
Lastly, this site would still be in the planning stages if it wasn’t for the efforts of fellow staff members Heather Schablik and Georgia Fogle. They have planned and worked for months to get to this point. We send our kudos to – and my highest professional recommendation for – iDesign, Inc., the talented design firm that pushed our envelope and dared us to step out of the box and into the new generation of Web sites. To Anthony Davis, Brian Hamblen and Stephen Boone, thank you for your patience and talents and for displaying the essence of client service. We hope all of you enjoy the results. Click away!