Recap: DIY PR Happy Hour

Last week we hosted our first DIY PR Happy Hour! The event, which sold-out two weeks in advance of it taking place, was held on Wednesday, September 26.

We welcomed 16 local professionals to our shared studio space in Ohio City to meet and teach them how to get their hands dirty with their own PR efforts.

We opened up the night with some mingling and munchies! This was a chance for everyone to exercise that one skill we all know we need: networking. Meeting other professionals in the same or similar career areas as yourself present invaluable connections and recognition for any future collaboration. Everyone hit it off, and we can’t wait to see what future relationships blossom from this!

After we got some food and wine in, the learning began. During our session, Reena answered the these questions:

• What is the difference between PR and Marketing?

• Why is PR important and how does it help build revenue?

• What assets do I need to prepare before sending my pitch?

• How do I find the outlets and reporters that would be interested in my brand?

• What are some affordable resources to help me DIY PR?

We kicked things off with some comprehensive definitions of the different aspects of PR and the differences between public relations and marketing. As most of our guests are what we like to call solopreneurs, it becomes important to distinguish what kinds of media they can get, and how. Reena outlined the importance of paid, earned, shared, and owned media and divulged how each intersects and is used to promote a brand in the press.

In addition to making the connection to press, you need to have something to offer them. Everyone at FACTEUR wholeheartedly believes in the power of prepping for publicity, and that includes building a press kit. We shared and discussed some press kits that we recently developed for clients which showed off their brand and gave background on their history and offerings. Not only does this give a reporter an easy and beautiful run-down of exactly what you’re all about, but they also are handy to have for others as well. (Think investors, advertisers, and partners.) If you want a better idea of exactly what goes into a press kit, check out our blog post on the Top 10 Things You Need in a Press Kit.

Reena then shared her 12 Steps to DIY PR, a highlight of DIY PR Happy Hour. These steps are the reason most of our attendees came out for the event, and we made it easy to understand the process of prepping for and procuring your own media coverage. The steps are a simplified version of what we do here at FACTEUR every day, and we think everyone will find them comprehensive and easy to follow, with patience and perseverance.

From one attendee: “Thank you for hosting your DIY PR Happy Hour last week. I truly did not know what to expect from this event but your presentation and the attendees truly blew me away. I've never experienced a group of people willing to create a community of professionals who were so open and willing to help others so quickly. I am still on a high of inspiration from this event.”

If you, or someone you know, want to get your hands on these steps, and/or don’t have the budget to outsource publicity services for your brand, DIY PR is for you. Keep an eye out for more events like this one hosted by FACTEUR. In the meantime, be sure not to miss our upcoming Marketing Planning Brunch on November 3!

We hope to see everyone again soon, and to see some new faces at our next event!

Photos c/o Paige Moag

Tips to ignite excitement around a product launch: what we learned from Fashion Week

It is always exciting to share new products with your consumers. Along with all of the effort put into external promotion, however, we can’t forget about creating content for our own platforms. As we always say at FACTEUR PR, “own your story to share your story!”

Want a tip for approaching your social media in a potentially different way? Treat the drop of a new item like an event! Who wouldn’t want more customer anticipation building up to the release?

The concept:

A good source of inspiration for this kind of strategy is in the fashion industry, specifically how luxury brands engage followers during the release of their collections each season at Fashion Week. An easy way to look at the shared content is in three parts: before, during, and after the event. Instagram, and particularly Instagram Stories, are becoming increasingly important and utilized for brand engagement. Here are some examples of what to look for and share.

Pre-Show:

“Luxury brands are often known for being the least transparent in the industry, so any glimpse into the process is widely welcomed. The desire for transparency is growing in consumers at all market segments, so it is a good thing for small businesses to keep in mind as well!”

• Instagram Story Takeover (example: a show attendee shares the process of getting ready for the show.)

• Small Detail Posts (example: sneak peeks of the show venue, inspirational quotes or images that contributed to the designs, and glances at the production process catch the attention of followers.)

• Attendance List (example: if someone cool is showing up or is otherwise involved, let viewers know.)

During the Show:

• A Garment in Motion (example: choosing a few of the strongest or most unique looks from the collection works well when shown on the model in video or photo form.)

• The Finale Video (example: even a fraction of the moment when all of the garments can be seen at once provides the observer with a good grasp on elements of the collection.)

Post-Show:

• Attendees’ Responses (example: a candid interview occurs to capture the emotional responses of a variety of viewers.)

• Edited Visuals (example: the sharing of final images and/or videos of the looks occurs after they have been sorted and edited to meet the company’s level of quality and aesthetic.)

An elegantly applicable brand to observe is that of Dior, one that is often acknowledged for their extensive social media content. On September 24, the luxury fashion house showed their Spring/Summer 2019 RTW collection in Paris. Its Instagram account utilized the story feature throughout the day. Instead of following the pre-show preparation of a well-known influencer, they featured a fresh-faced model describing each part of the fashion show she experienced (shown above). Luxury brands are often known for being the least transparent in the industry, so any glimpse into the process is widely welcomed. The desire for transparency is growing in consumers at all market segments, so it is a good thing for small businesses to keep in mind as well!

How to apply it:

Each of the kinds of content described can be translated and pared down to your specific products or services before, during, and after a launch. Post a sneak peek of the cool packaging or a video talking through your sources of inspiration. After the product is released, maintain its new position in the market. Though your business likely does not have the ability to make the volume of content that a brand such as Dior has, sharing a handful of quality visuals in the following days is already a significant reminder to your audience! At FACTEUR PR, we can’t say enough about the importance of continuing on after a big brand moment has happened. Keeping up public relations both online and off is a constant endeavor, so keep it fresh and creative!

Looking for assistance with your public relations and social media strategy ahead of your brand or product launch? We can help! Head to our Contact page to get started!

Instagram Story images c/o @dior. Cover image c/o Cleo Glover.

Our newest clients will adorn you!

There is always a multitude of changes going on as transitions between seasons occur, and FACTEUR PR has been along for the ride! In the last month, we have been excited to have added four new clients to our roster of brands we love, deepening our commitment to the creative community! We’d like to introduce them to you here on our blog!

Avarelle Cosmetics

This company was founded just over a year ago and sells their line of products exclusively on Amazon. The Avarelle Cosmetics skincare line currently consists of acne cover, treatment, and spot patches, as well as an acne treatment spot solution and rejuvenating herbal infusion sheet masks for every skin type. Based in New Jersey, the brand sets itself apart in its use of all-natural ingredients to combat acne, as well as the diversity in its products, particularly with its level of coverage and variety of sizes. Avarelle is made with Tea Tree Oil, Calendula Oil & Hydrocolloid Dressing. These treatments can be applied day or night, are easily concealable with or without makeup, and can be snipped to size to heal acne and its scars quickly and safely. Avarelle aims to ultimately boost confidence while solving skin and blemish issues.

VersaSpa

Sunless, Inc. is the global industry leader in healthy, UV-free tanning and the power behind the well-known, most in-demand home and salon-applied spray tan brands: Mystic Tan, VersaSpa and Norvell. With its headquarters in Cleveland and an office in Nashville, Sunless’ mission is to help its broad range of consumers not only look better, but feel more confident in their own skin. Its products are not only safe, but easy to apply in four minutes or less.

Liza Michelle Jewelry

The essence and beauty of objects found in nature is what inspires the designer behind Liza Michelle Jewelry. Liza Michelle Jewitt Rifkin creates handcrafted fine jewelry and objects, utilizing a method of casting natural objects in solid metal. Founded in 2013, the company produces with a commitment to craftsmanship of the finest quality and environmental sustainability. Inside her Ohio City studio, each item passes through the designer’s hands and carries the story of her process and the clients.

Shannon Michael Style

Shannon Michael Style is an Ohio-based beauty consultant and retailer, primarily focused on hair and makeup artistry in the bridal and celebrity industries. Led by Shannon Dyer, the company contracts artists for numerous events throughout the year and most recently expanded to include a premium makeup line to offer both its online and in-person clients. This fall, Shannon Michael Style will begin a new chapter in its business by aligning fashion with its beauty brand. Bridal gowns designed Dyer, thanks to her background in design, will sell direct to consumers in several bridal boutiques. Utilizing her business strategy to incorporate fashion into the beauty brand positions Dyer’s company as a industry leader and offers a full experience for her consumers. 

We look forward to all of the creative projects ahead!

FACTEUR PR welcomes Emily Kopchak to its team

We are so excited to welcome our fall intern, Emily Kopchak to the FACTEUR PR team! Emily is a senior Fashion Merchandising major at Kent State University with minors in Fashion Media and Visual Communication Design. Through her education, she has had the opportunity to complete a summer semester in NYC and a fall semester abroad in Florence, Italy. At Kent State, she is also an honors student and the Chief Administrative Officer of the National Retail Federation Student Association chapter on campus. Emily is interested in the creative processes fashion and non-fashion brands utilize to connect with their consumers. Her other passions include exploring in nature and finding the best doughnuts in the world.

Emily will join Hannah Krisinski through December - please join us in welcoming her to the team! Leave a comment below, and feel free to send her an email. Plus, stay tuned for some blogs and other great content from Emily and Hannah throughout the coming months here on the FACTEUR blog! 

Social media and story ideas for September

September is nearly here, which means summer is almost over (sadly)! But who else thinks fall is the best season? The approaching season has no shortage of great events that can serve as an inspirational source for blogging, and September is no exception. These ideas are also applicable to your social media and media relations pitches. To get you started, here are just a few opportunities this month to align your brand or business with some already note-worthy happenings online.

September is...

• Better Breakfast Month
• Whole Grains Month
• Yoga Month
• Healthy Aging Month
• Self Improvement Month
• Classical Music Month

Daily opportunities include...

September 3: Labor Day
September 6: National Read a Book Day
September 18: National Cheeseburger Day
September 21: International Day of Peace
September 22: First Day of Fall
September 25: One Hit Wonder Day
September 26: National Pancake Day
September 27: Women's Health & Fitness Day
September 28: Drink Beer Day
September 29: National Coffee Day
 

Want more content ideas for the year? These are just a few of the ones we've identified! We have developed four editorial content calendars specifically for the food & drink, arts & hobbies, health & wellness, and lifestyle industries. You can find them under the Instant Resources tab here on the FACTEUR website (and showcased below). We've pulled together social media, blogging, and PR opportunities based on monthly and daily holidays, hashtags, and high profile events that are related to each of those industries. Also included is a list of story ideas to get you started with developing your editorial plan, as well as space to brainstorm your own ideas. We're offering each calendar for $9, and if you buy all four with our Blogger Bundle, you basically get one free! Plus, every time we update the calendars, we'll make sure you'll get the newest iteration (at no extra charge, of course). Happy creating!

PIN THIS!

We want to meet you (and teach you)! Join us for DIY Happy Hour on September 26

A significant part of what I do at FACTEUR PR is work one-on-one with clients in helping them land media coverage for their brands, as well as create and execute comprehensive social media and content marketing strategies. To say I love my job is an immense understatement, and that's really because I love the clients we get to work alongside! 

That said, I certainly understand that not every one of our dream clients has the budget to be able to afford outsourcing retainer services. We often see a lot of business owners or solopreneurs manage their own marketing efforts, like social media and blogging, as best as they can. Empowered by technology, we have the ability to be our own marketers. 

However, where few entrepreneurs dare go is proactively pitching their brand to the press, be it digital, broadcast, influencer or print. And I totally get that. Media relations is an art and a science in relationship building and storytelling, and it's certainly no easy task and not for the faint at heart. That's why people hire me to do it for them! 

Publicity is often a missing critical component of driving awareness and revenue for many brands. Nevertheless, with a little perseverance and a lot of patience, it's possible to be your own publicist. Whether you’re already well-established in the marketplace, or you're an emerging small business, a creative solopreneur, or a professional who wants to up a skill set, public and media relations help tell your story to the right audiences and add credibility.

In an effort to give folks a little insight into how PR works, I'm personally hosting our first DIY PR Happy Hour on Wednesday, September 26, where I'll reveal tips and advice I personally use for prepping for and procuring publicity. This 90-minute intimate evening event will kick-off with 25 minutes of meeting and mingling, followed by a 45-minute presentation, and 20 minutes of Q&A sure to leave you feeling empowered and inspired to make publicity happen for you and your brand! 

If you've ever asked yourself...

What is the difference between PR and Marketing?

Why is PR important and how does it help build revenue?

What assets do I need to prepare before sending my pitch?

How do I find the outlets and reporters that would be interested in my brand?

What are some affordable resources to help me DIY PR?

...then this event is for you!

Oh, and we'll also have some wines, snacks + sweets, and non-alcoholic bevvies as well! 

Here's the thing: seating is limited as we are hosting this event at our shared studio space in Ohio City (2905 Detroit Avenue, Cleveland, OH), so snagging your tickets sooner than later is strongly recommended! Tickets are $29 through September 5 and will increase to $35 from September 5-26 if they are still available. All taxes and fees are included in the ticket price listed.

Hit the button below to register now, and if you have any questions, drop them in the comments below!

I look so forward to meeting you and helping support your business development with this not-to-miss opportunity! 

Currently: Favorites with Hannah Krisinski

Welcome to Currently, a new series from FACTEUR PR where we share the latest favorites of our staff and clients here on our blog! In this edition, get to know Hannah Krisinski, FACTEUR PR Intern. Read on!

Name: Hannah Krisinski

Job: FACTEUR PR Intern

Location: Cleveland, Ohio

College you attend: Cleveland State University, studying Promotional Communications with a minor in Digital Design 

Currently, my favorite...

Book I recently read or reading: I’m usually super busy so I don’t have a ton of time to read, but I have been slowly working my way through Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die by Chip and Dan Heath. It was a suggestion from my design professor for some inspiration to be applied in both my life and work, and it has some really great points. I never thought I would be the kind of person who reads the “self-help” type of book, but this one is so good! 

Part of my job: Getting to know potential/current clients! I absolutely love the process of getting to know a new brand or business. Seeing the client’s passion for what they’re doing, and the challenge of personalizing everything you do for them based on that, is always such a good learning experience. 

Album or song: Drake’s new song, “Nice for What,” has been on repeat on my phone for days!

Magazine I read: This probably makes me sound like an old lady, but when I go to get my hair done, I always read through the entirety (every page, front to back!) of either Harper’s Bazaar or Vogue while I’m sitting in the salon. It’s like my ultimate relaxing me-time and also a great way to catch up on all the goings-on of popular culture.

Blog I read: This might not exactly be a blog, but my absolute favorite e-reading comes from the W Magazine In & Out email subscription. Every few days, they send out a page of current trends, news from the fashion/entertainment industry, and culture, among other things. It’s written in a fun sort of “what’s hot and what’s not” format and has lots of dry humor, which I love. 

Place I visited: I studied abroad in London, England this past summer, and it absolutely felt like home to me for the two months I was there. London is such a beautiful city and has incredible culture, people, food, and scenery that you can’t help but fall in love with. I also absolutely have to mention Edinburgh, Scotland (pictured above). It’s not a city on most people’s radar, but oh goodness, it should be! I was only there for a few days, but it stole my heart. 

Clothing/accessories/shoes I bought: This is honestly the hardest question! I’ll confess I am a bit of a shopaholic… I’ll shout out my favorite thing that I’m wearing a lot right now. It has to be a scarf I bought in Edinburgh, made from Scottish sheep’s wool, and colored like those classic Burberry scarves. I love to throw this on with a trench, or tie it around my purse handle if it’s a bit warmer. I also feel like I have to mention a pair of earrings from the Balmain collaboration with H&M. They are the funkiest and largest earrings I own. I feel like they are timeless, and they are my favorite thing I have ever splurged on. I have never worn them out because they are that intense and extremely heavy but I love to open the box every now and again just to look at those stunners! 

Event I attended: This is more of an exhibition. (But I’m gonna say it, anyway!)  Eyewitness Views at the Cleveland Museum of Art. I have a membership to the museum through my school, so if I’ve got nothing to do on a Sunday, that’s where I go. I saw this exhibition a few days ago and the whole collection really blew me away. 

Instagram account: I get a lot of style inspiration from Gabriel Gzimailaite. She likes to be frank with her audience, letting them know that her life is not always as glamorous as it seems on instagram, which is a nice contrast to most fashion influencers out there. Oh, and my own, hannikayz, of course!

Food I ate/restaurant I tried: My ultimate go-to is falafel at Tommy’s, which is a Cleveland institution, but you can find me trying out any and all restaurants with vegan options. A more recent favorite has to be Townhall. It’s located so close to me, in Ohio City, and they have a super unique and delicious veggie burger. Beet ketchup anyone?

Drink: I always say a glass of Prosecco a day keeps the doctor away! But, in all seriousness, I have an almond milk vanilla latte every morning to get my day started off right.  

TV show or movie I watched: I just binged the newest season of How to Get Away with Murder on Netflix. That show always makes me want to become a badass woman lawyer, or at least dress like one!

Thing overall I'm obsessed with: Chanel runway shows. I can binge watch them just like a TV show. The extreme effort that goes in to every single one to make them totally unique gets me every time. My personal fave is the SS14 Haute Couture show, which is really what got me into fashion, and I constantly go back to it even as new shows come out.  

Apply for the FACTEUR PR Fall Internship!

Attention college students! FACTEUR PR is currently seeking organized and enthusiastic candidates with a passion for PR, social media, and marketing to join our team this fall season (September-December)! Interns will receive mentoring and experience in public relations, social media, and content marketing with an emphasis on client relations, project management, relationship building, visual communications, and strategy,

Interns will be required to be in our Ohio City office up to 15 hours a week, as well as work special events as needed.

While there is no typical day, interns can expect to work on:

• Media relations: research (outlets, reporters), outreach, editorial calendars
• Social media: research, management, news, trends, advertising, content, influencer outreach
• Content: researching, writing, blogging, designing, e-mail marketing, optimizing
• Writing: pitches, press releases, biographies

Does this sound like an opportunity you might be interested in? Learn more and apply here! 

Want to know what it's like to intern with FACTEUR PR? Check out our former intern Julie Hong's blog post! 

Office Jams: Summer 2018 Playlist

Music has always been an enormous part of my life. In fact, if it wasn’t for music, I don’t think I’d be working in the field of marketing and public relations. 

Some of us love peace and quiet while we’re working. That is largely true for me, especially when I’m doing a lot of writing. But much of the time I do love some music in the background that keeps me energized and inspired to conquer the tasks and projects ahead of me. I shared a productivity playlist here last spring, and we’ll plan on sharing these more regularly each season. We hope this puts a little pep in your step - enjoy!

FACTEUR PR: Summer 2018 Playlist:

Currently: Favorites with Chloe Taylor

Welcome to Currently, a new series from FACTEUR PR where we share the latest favorites of our staff and clients here on our blog! In this edition, get to know Chloe Taylor, FACTEUR PR Spring Intern. Read on!

Name: Chloe Taylor

Job: FACTEUR PR Intern

Location: Valdosta, GA

College you go to: Valdosta State University, studying Communication and Public Relations

Currently, my favorite...

Book I recently read or reading: I’m currently reading The Idiot by Elif Batuman. Being a cross-cultural communication major at heart, two of my favorite things to study are language and culture (+ the way they interact). This novel examines both of those things in a very beautiful way and shares a cute love story at the same time!

Part of my job: All of the new things I’ve been learning! I’ve been able to take things I enjoy in my everyday life and put them into my work which is a really cool thing to be able to do.

Album or song: It’s not a new album, but every summer I come back to Evil Friends by Portugal. The Man. It’s been my go-to summer album every since it dropped in 2013.

Magazine I read: I have an entire collection of Nylon issues I adored in high school and was super bummed when I heard they wouldn’t be printing anymore.

Blog I read: the blue eyed gal. Every blog post is written in both English and Spanish, so it’s been a great tool to use as I’ve been trying to improve my Spanish lately! (+ Augustina Torti one of the coolest girls I can think of!!)

BEACHVIEW BOOKS IN ST. SIMONS ISLAND, GA

Place I visited: I’d like to do a lot more traveling, but I love going to St. Simons Island in Georgia. It’s a quiet little beach town with a lot of greenery and biking trails. Plus, it features one of my favorite little bookshops that’s filled with used classics!

Clothing/accessories/shoes I bought: A few weeks ago, I bought this hand-dyed Pisces koi fish shirt from Urban Outfitters and it’s super soft/cute/very flowy. I can’t get enough of it!

Event I attended: This isn’t a professional event, but we have little culture nights at my college where people share stories, art, dances, and writings they’ve done in their own languages or with references to cultures they’re a part of/studying/appreciate. Those are really cool, and we had an Arabic-French night I went to with some friends recently.

Instagram account: I feel like I should use this opportunity to plug myself, but I’ll refrain haha! The only non-celebrity/company I have notifications on for is @laiapcy! She’s always posting the cutest outfits and pictures of her little dog Jack!

Food I ate/restaurant I tried: I don’t have any particular restaurant in mind, but I love little local sandwich shops! Anytime I go to a new place, that’s something I look for.

Drink: Iced green tea. Didn’t even have to think about that one!

TV show or movie I watched: I actually don’t watch a lot of TV! I usually only keep things like reality shows on for background noise.

Thing overall I'm obsessed with: My Wacom tablet! It was gifted to me for Christmas and using it to make digital art has been a really relaxing hobby for me lately.