Archive for the ‘Talk’ Category
Top 10 Reasons to Take Your Dog to Work
Thursday, June 17th, 2010Nominate Your Dog in Talk’s Top Dog Contest
Tuesday, June 8th, 2010
Is Your Dog a Top Dog?
On Friday, June 4, Talk launched our first annual “Top Dog” Hardest Working Dog Contest as part of our month-long celebration of Take Your Dog To Work Day on Friday, June 25th. The contest celebrates dogs like me who work tirelessly and faithfully to keep our loved ones happy and stress free each and every day.
I invite all dog owners – both those who take their canine companions to work and those who don’t – to nominate their pup for “Top Dog” in Greater Wilmington. To enter, just e-mail a photo of your dog to topdog@talkinc.com with a brief explanation of why your furry friend deserves the hardest working dog honors. Only my fellow canine residents of New Hanover, Pender, and Brunswick counties are eligible.
All entries will be posted right here on Talk’s blog on Monday June 18th and visitors can vote for their favorite “Top Dog” once a day through Monday, June 21. The winning dog will be announced on Friday, June 25th – National Take Your Dog To Work Day – and presented with a Top Dog certificate and a gift basket full of goodies for both dog and dog owner. The winner will also be profiled on Talk’s blog and Facebook page.
As the Top Dog here at Talk, I invite you to share your “working like a dog” stories so we can honor your dog for making your day just a little bit brighter.
For more information check out our group page on Facebook, and stay tuned into my “Talk To The Paw” blog.
Social Media Education
Monday, June 7th, 2010
In my first week of interning at Talk I was asked to read articles and do some research for possible tweets. Later in the day I was asked to research blogging platforms. Twitter and blogging are both two things I have never experienced or learned about. As I started to read the PR blogs and news sources, I started to realize that social media is a huge part of the today’s business world and more importantly public relations. So why is it that in my three years at college I have not learned a single thing about social media, and how it can be used properly in a business setting?
Teachers may see Facebook only as the annoying website that distracts their students during lectures, but they eventually will have to face the truth, that Facebook and other social networking sites are becoming more and more a powerful force in the communications world. If teachers don’t want their students to use social networking sites as just another way to not listen to their lectures, then they should educate students on how to properly use these mediums.
My advice to teachers is to embrace the change, and educate students on how important social networking sites are becoming to major companies. If teachers accept this advice then students will be more prepared for the social media driven world that awaits them. But either way social media is going to continue to grow and change the business world, as we know it.
Where to Network in the Public Relations Field
Friday, June 4th, 2010
Last semester, I began ta
king classes specifically targeting Public Relations. One of my professors asked us to all join a social network called PROpenMic. The best way I can explain PROpenMic is by relating it to Facebook. It’s a professional social network where you create a profile, join groups, and make friends, the twist is it targets everything that involves Public Relations. PROpenMic was created by Robert French, a professor in the Department of Communication and Journalism at Auburn University. His social network site is rapidly growing with over 6,000 students, faculty, and practitioners from all over the world. Our weekly assignment was to write blogs on PROpenMic and relate them back to what we learned in class.
I have since completed the course, but I have reaped the benefits of this social network site long after. On the main page, I am instantly updated about current issues and how they are being handled by Public Relation professionals. I have been able to meet different students and learn who will be my cometiton and co-workers after graduation. I can search for internships and jobs in just about any city choose. I have also written a handful of blogs about current topics that I will be able to share with potential employers.
So, if you are looking for a professional place to network, PROpenMic is the place to be. It has so much to offer to everyone, especially those in the fields related to Public Relations, go to http://www.propenmic.org for more information.
A Big Mess to Clean Up
Friday, May 28th, 2010
On April 20th, land in the Gulf of Mexico was dramatically affected by a large oil spill off its coast. Recent reports state that millions of gallons of crude oil have been released into the water. Owned by BP, The Deepwater Horizon drilling rig located 50 miles offshore, was hit with an explosion. This tragedy has placed great strain on families closely impacted. With 11 of BP’s employees still missing, the area’s fishing industry hinde
red, and affected wildlife in the Gulf’s perimeters, people want answers and results.
The CEO of BP, Tony Hayward, quickly addressed the media stating, “We will absolutely be paying for the cleanup operation. There is no doubt about that. It’s our responsibility — we accept it fully.” If the CEO and employees of BP hadn’t made it clear they will pay for all damages, including those involving the family of the missing employees, President Obama reiterated the statement, claiming that BP is soley responsible and they will pay for the damages.
Officials released that due to the pipeline rupture, oil will continue to spill into the Gulf of Mexico for another week at least. BP has assured they are working as fast as possible to fix the rupture located 50,000 feet below sea level, but installation of a device to capture the oil will take some time.
What will you Dive into Today?
Thursday, May 20th, 2010
The media has been buzzing for months about internships, debating whether or not they are “legal” or “unpaid labor”. Every company’s situation presents a different case, but what remains is the shear genius of the internship concept.
For years, my peers complained about how they simply did not have the time or motivation to indulge in an internship, but later stressed over their lack of experience as graduation and job searching approached. The interview process is nerve-wracking. And internships are time consuming. But the experience and the acquired knowledge are priceless.
I heard about the internship at Talk though another internship I had last semester. I knew immediately it was something I was interested in. And I was reminded of a quote by Rabindranath Tagore that goes “You cannot cross the sea, merely by starring into the water.” So I researched the company, talked to an advisor, and applied. In essence, I dove in.
I understood that I might have been rejected, but I know from experience all a company can do is say, “No,” and that is okay; it is part of the experience. Interning is a treasure, a gold mine for opportunities. An intern is able to gain experiences they are not able to receive in a classroom, like working in a business setting that applies to your specific degree. It is a unique opportunity for individual and team development, learning time management, confidence, and problem solving.
By interning for a company you are also given the opportunity to network. I am not sure if this word gives me butterflies because I am a Communication Studies Major or because I enjoy meeting people, but Networking, makes all the difference in the corporate world. (Like I said earlier, I heard about this internship though a previous internship.) My intern mentor told me the other day, “Even if the job’s not exactly what you want, apply anyway. If it’s at your dream company at least you’ll get your foot in the door.”
Sometimes, just having that “in” or connection will make all the difference in the world. And with the economic recession, the workforce is more competitive than ever. Having that experience in your field will give you that flair to stand out and the confidence to “dive in.”
Blogging and Tweeting and PR, Oh My!
Tuesday, May 18th, 2010
Let me just start by saying who knew blogging could be so hard? A blog is defined as “a Web site that contains an online personal journal with reflections, comments, and often hyperlinks provided by the writer.” Being a person that loves to tell stories, and talk to other people about my thoughts and opinions a blog should come naturally to me, right? Wrong.
As I sit here on my second day of my internship at Talk, I cannot for the life of me think of what to write about. Should I write about how I sat here yesterday at the intern’s desk – located in the front of a perfectly designed office (one that has actually won an interior design award!) – with its pink walls, and cheerful staff, and just felt like this is where I belonged? Or should I write about how nerve-wracking it was to finally be able to put the knowledge I have learned over the past 3 years in a college classroom to the test?
Maybe I will just stick to saying that as I sat here yesterday reading through articles and headlines to look for possible tweets, I learned more about what is currently going on in the public relations world than I ever have in a classroom.
As I watched the news last night, I began thinking “oh that would be a good tweet. I have to remember that for tomorrow.” And I realized that this internship has already started to change the way I think of and look at public relations. If this much has already happened, and it is only day two, I can’t even begin to imagine all the knowledge and experience that awaits me here at Talk. And hey, maybe I will even learn to write a blog…
Graduating from Talk
Wednesday, April 21st, 2010
For nearly 5 months now I have been interning at Talk and to put the experience into perspective let me go through some numbers.
-7.5 hrs/week in the classroom on campus.
-20 hrs/week interning with Talk.
This was my schedule this semester and I feel that it would be safe to say that I was more of a student at Talk rather than UNCW. While I won’t be walking away from Talk with a hot pink diploma - I’ll still let UNCW hand that over next month - I will be leaving with experiences that any amount of time in the classroom couldn’t have imitated.
What I am going to miss most is not necessarily anything about the world of communication or advertising but more the sense of family that is throughout the office. Camden always running to the door with a sharp bark; a witty one-liner coming from Shawn’s office; the frantic typing coming from Susan’s office; and sound of clacking heals right before Debbie walks through the door with a smile and friendly greeting. Honestly though, I may just miss Camden the most. I could always count on her to be either starring at me from in front of my desk as if to say, “Those treats aren’t going to do any good just sitting there” or trying to distract me with her squeaking toy sheep. Yes, Camden has my number one girl now for a while now so a heartfelt goodbye will be in order.
The knowledge and insight I have gained from my time here has been far beyond what I was expecting. Being at Talk essentially part-time, gave me a much stronger grasp on what it takes to make an agency run efficiently even when times get a little crazy. I now have a very high standard of what I will be looking for once graduation has passed and it’s time for the real world. An agency like Talk is one in a million and I know that my time here has been one of the most beneficial experiences of my life.
Where did the time go?
Tuesday, April 20th, 2010My time as an intern at Talk is at an end, and I simply can’t believe it. My last day is Thursday, April 22. All of the experiences I’ve had here flood my mind as I write this entry, and bring a smile to my face. I have learned so much about the industry in general, and have sharpened my skills in research and writing. All internships offer a different but equally educational experience and my time here at Talk is truly memorable.
Looking back, I think my favorite part of working at Talk was interacting with clients. When I delivered final products to clients, I saw their eyes light up as they opened their product and I knew, every time, that the Talk team delivered a successful product once again. These experiences evoked such rewarding feelings, and I found it’s easy to be the messenger when you carry a positive message!
I also enjoyed writing blog posts because it is something I have always wanted to do, but never had the time or energy for. Reading articles upon articles, trying to learn about recent trends, turned into a habit and now I am more informed than ever.
As an intern, it is important that you not only do work for the company, but you do work for yourself. After all, you’re volunteering your time to learn. After this internship I will take away several writing pieces for my portfolio, as well as communicative skills useful to many situations and a better understanding of how the industry functions. Interning for Talk has given me confidence and helped prepare me for the “real world” I’ll face after I graduate in December!
-Rachel Kaylor
10 Things to know about your Graphic Designer
Wednesday, April 7th, 2010
1. How long have they or the company they work for been in business?
Freelancers and small shops come and go at an alarming rate. To prevent getting stranded mid-project, ask how long they have been in business.
2. Who have they done work for?
Do you know any of these past clients? Do they have a complete body of work for these previous clients, or just one job? Most reputable designers have amassed many projects per client. If you only see one project per client, chances are the client wasn’t satisfied and moved on.
3. Portfolio. Portfolio. Portfolio.
Make sure you look through their portfolio. Do you like what you see? Do you like their style? Is it varied and fresh or does everything look the same? If it all looks the same, you are probably working with a designer that designs for themselves and not you. Remember that all clients are different and the work should reflect the client, not the designer.
4. Are you truly getting custom work?
Many “designers” rely on creating work from pre-existing templates. Templates anybody and everybody can buy. This is not design. Design need to come from scratch.
5. Good credentials are a must.
How much professional experience does the designer have? And more importantly, does this person have a formal degree. Don’t get me wrong. A degree does not automatically equal quality. But having a formal education in graphic design gives a professional designer and edge over the others. This person has learned the important foundational principles of design. There are an overwhelming number of unqualified desktop publishers or people who have certain software skills. Don’t confuse this with creative graphic design skills.
6. Do you like this person?
This sounds simple enough, but the relationship with you designer needs to be close. You need to click and be comfortable talking with your designer. They need to be personable, a good listener, easy to talk to and really get what you are saying. You should feel at ease that you will receive a product you will be happy with. And most importantly, you need to have access to your designer. Make sure they will be doing your work. Your account should not be bounced around from one designer to the next. The work will only suffer.
7. Is your designer timely, quick and responsive?
A designer is inevitably the last person in a long chain of events to make or break a deadline. If they are slow, unresponsive or absentminded you will end up in trouble. More importantly you will end up loosing money. Ask them about specific turnaround times. As for time estimates for the major stages of a project and when and how you will communicate status updates. If you are constantly trying to track down your designer you may want to start looking for a new one.
8. Who really owns the artwork?
This should be a simple question but it often gets overlooked. Do you own the artwork during the process and at the end of the project? Many designers retain the rights to the artwork. Clients find this out the hard way.
9. What do you get in the end?
Make sure you have a clear outline of what you will receive at the end of a project. This helps both you and the designer. You know what to expect without getting nickle and dimed to death and the designer won’t feel like you are trying to get more than you payed for.
10. You get what you pay for.
Beware of lowball pricing. As for most things in life, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Good design takes time and designers should be paid for their creativity and work.
