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Category: Social Media + Influencer Engagement

My First 30 Days at a Raleigh PR Agency: Days 5 and 6

June 6, 2012January 31, 2023 Margot HorganBlog, Entry-Level PR Job, Public Relations, Social Media + Influencer Engagementawards, entry-level PR job, entry-level PR position, NCPRSA, Raleigh PR Agency, RPRS

If you read Dana’s blog post NCPRSA InSpire Awards Recognize Excellence in PR and Communications, then you know that Clairemont Communications recently won a number of awards from NCPRSA including a Bronze Best in Show for our social media efforts for Thomasville Furniture’s Facebook page. I had the opportunity to attend the InSpire Awards banquet in May, and it was an amazing experience to see Clairemont recognized for all of its hard work.

Now, as a full-time employee, I will not just attend awards ceremonies, but also help draft award submissions. The Raleigh Public Relations Society (RPRS) Sir Walter Raleigh Awards Banquet will take place in September, but the deadline for submissions is fast approaching. These past few days, my main assignment has been writing award submissions.

This has been pretty challenging for me, but in the end, so rewarding because it has given me the chance to learn about Clairemont’s clients and everything that we have done for them in the past year. While I did work on a number of assignments for our clients this past semester as an intern, writing these award entries has given me a glimpse into everything I missed before joining the Clairemont team.

For those of you who are starting a new internship this summer or even a full-time job, ask to take a look at the client binders or past award submissions at your agency. There really is no better way to get caught up with the happenings of your clients and stay informed about all the work your company does!

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Does Facebook Advertising Really Work?

June 6, 2012January 31, 2023 Josephine ButlerBlog, Marketing, Social Media + Influencer Engagementadvice, Facebook ads, Facebook advertising, Facebook marketing, how to create Facebook ads, social media marketing, tips
Are these things really worth it?

I recently had the chance to sit in on a webinar hosted by Justin Kistner of Webtrends and Jason Keath of Social Fresh, where they addressed the age-old (well, not that old) question: Does Facebook advertising really work?

This question has been in the forefront of debate recently with General Motor’s announcement that the company is pulling all of its advertising from the social network. So, we must know, did GM make a good choice? Is Facebook advertising really worth it?

The short answer is yes!  The long answer: certain types of ads work better than others. Here are a few important things I learned that will help you create the most efficient and effective Facebook ads:

  1. Use many highly targeted ads versus one big-reach ad. It’s better to create separate ads that target specific groups (i.e. twenty-something females with an interest in interior design, middle-aged men that enjoy exercising) than it is to create one all-encompassing ad.
  2. Target ads to fans for conversion. Fans are seven times more likely to click on an ad than a non-fan. An added bonus? Cheaper CPC (that’s cost per click).
  3. Link ads to Facebook apps instead of websites. What happens to fans that click on a Facebook ad that leaves Facebook? They go back to Facebook. Ads that don’t redirect traffic to a different website receive twice the conversion rate than ads that do leave the site. In short, keep fans on Facebook engaged by directing them to an app on your page!
  4. Refresh creative regularly. Ideally, you should update your creative within 72 hours after launching the ad. This ensures a higher CTR (click-through rate) and will keep your audience intrigued.

So what do you think? Did you find these tips helpful? We’d love to hear your comments, and please stay tuned – we’ll be sharing a few best practices when it comes to writing copy for your Facebook advertisements.

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From the Drexel Heritage Blog: Tropical Prints

June 1, 2012January 31, 2023 Margot HorganBlog, Fashion, Furniture PR, Social Media + Influencer Engagementcoral, island, lamps, oyster shell, palm, palm leaves, palm tree, prints, tropical, upholstery

With Tropical Storm Beryl passing through North Carolina this week, we thought we’d share another tropical trend taking the nation by storm: tropical printed upholstery! Please enjoy this blog we recently shared on Trends & Trips, the Drexel Heritage blog. 

Can’t get enough of tie-dye? We want to tell you about another retro trend that is taking the runway by storm (again).  We’re forecasting that tropical designs are here to stay, like this flirty dress from Juicy Couture. The lightweight fabric and palm tree leaf design are perfect for easygoing style and the hot summer months.  We also love the tropical coral color in this Donna Morgan dress that is sure to make a statement this season.

We love this dress from Juicy Couture!

Don’t have time for a trip to the islands? Enjoy the island lifestyle from the comfort of your own home with our new tropical fabrics. The Darian chair in a palm leaf print is the perfect way to add a little piece of paradise to your living room or bedroom. To accessorize, add a beach inspired clamshell lamp or wall accessory, and you’ll be well on your way to a little rest and relaxation.

Palm leaf prints are haute couture!
We love the idea of decorating by framing tropical leaves, too!
This clamshell lamp received lots of love at High Point Market this spring!
We love mixing pops of coral with red.

What’s your favorite place to “get away” in your home?

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What is a Social Media Expert?

May 21, 2012January 31, 2023 Dana PhelpsBlog, Raleigh PR Agency, Social Media + Influencer EngagementCAPRSA, Raleigh PR Agency, Social Media3 Comments on What is a Social Media Expert?

As the recent co-chair of PRSA‘s Counselors Academy 2012 conference, I was closely involved with planning the content for the conference. With social media as a growing part of what PR agencies offer, I found myself in discussions with conference chair, Martin Waxman, about the social media leaders, authors and “experts” we should invite as speakers. I also found debating with other agency owners and senior management about the definition of social media expert.

This certainly isn’t a new discussion, and asking the question of what is a social media expert is sorta like asking who bakes the best cake. Like in any industry, we see self proclaimed experts popping up everyday. It isn’t hard to setup a Facebook page for a business. Once you’ve done it, does that make you a social media expert? Some say so. But how does it fit into the overall marketing strategy? Are you ready for it to be a customer service channel? How do likes relate to sales? Hmmm. Maybe not so simple. And that’s just one example.

As for the conference, we were delighted to host several speakers who are truly regarded as experts, including Marcus Sheridan. I loved hearing his story because he was a pool guy who turned to blogging to save his business in a down economy. Not only did he save the company, sales exploded and a new career as The Sales Lion was born. Similar to Chicago Cabbie who I blogged about last year after learning how he is using Twitter, this goes to show you that ANY business can benefit from social media.

Since I liked the presentation Marcus gave so much, I’ve been reading some of his blogs, and one called The 3 Essential Qualities of a TRUE Social Media Expert caught my eye. I agree that his three qualities can define a social media expert. They include: 1) The “rules” are always changing, and every industry is different. 2) They freely admit they are not for everyone. 3) They can put their money where their mouth is.

Going hand-in-hand with #3, I would add the point that the social media expert is the right kind of expert for you/the job. Can you be a social media expert without being an author, keynote speaker or even known for social media? YES! Yes, yes and yes. So what are you seeking? If you want a social media expert to speak at an event, the author or keynote speaker will likely be a good fit. If you are looking for a person or a team to analyze your business, build a social media strategy and work with you on long-term goals and execution, the author or speaker might not be your best choice. Continue reading “What is a Social Media Expert?”

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Social Media Tips from a Southerner

May 18, 2012January 31, 2023 Dana PhelpsBlog, Public Relations, Raleigh PR Agency, Social Media + Influencer EngagementCounselors Academy, PR, PRSA, Raleigh PR Agency, Social Media7 Comments on Social Media Tips from a Southerner

As my Pinterest bio reads, I’m a midwesterner by birth and a southerner by choice. Technically the midwesterner part could be debated since my hometown in Southern Illinois is close enough to Kentucky that I think it is technically south of the Mason-Dixon Line. But, if that does not qualify me as a southerner, surely the fact that with the exception of short assignment at a PR agency in New York, I’ve spent the past 19 years living in Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee and North Carolina does.

That, coupled with being married to a southern gentleman and raising a son in Raleigh, NC, has recently resulted in my heightened awareness (and embracing) of my southern-ness. As I watched friends from all over North America collaborate, socialize and talk at length about social media last week at PRSA’s Counselors Academy Conference, I realized there’s much to be learned about social media from southerner charm. Not following me? Well let me pour you a glass of sweat tea while you keep reading!

  • Use your manners. My son has never walked out the door to go to a friend’s house without me reminding him to mind his manners. It’s no surprise that his regular use of “yes ma’am” has won the praise of all the other moms. Saying please and thank you in your social media conversations will go a long way in earning respect. “Please like my agency’s Facebook page.” “Thank you for commenting on my blog.” Give it a try! Please. 🙂
  • Remember, salt and pepper are a pair. Having breakfast at the New Orleans Ritz, the host hotel of the conference, Abbie Fink asked Chuck Norman to pass the salt. Chuck passed the salt AND the pepper. This was something I learned when I moved further south, and Chuck said he was taught as a child in etiquette class that the two are married and should be passed together. If you blog on behalf of your brand, think of it as salt and pepper. Your brand has it’s attributes, messages and maybe even personality. You have your personality, interests and opinions. Yet it is important for the two of you to move about the dining table of social media as a set. Continue reading “Social Media Tips from a Southerner”
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clairemontcommunications

Have you heard about Meta’s newest social media Have you heard about Meta’s newest social media platform? It’s called Threads, and it’s being referred to as “the new Twitter.” Read everything you need to know about Threads in our latest blog post - link in bio!
SNEAK PEEK! @dellthepig landed at @wendellfallsnc SNEAK PEEK! @dellthepig landed at @wendellfallsnc (client) today, and rumor has it that @blah2voila has already been hamming it up with Dell! We know you want a selfie with Dell to post on Pigstagram, too!
We are proud to represent Raleigh as a member of P We are proud to represent Raleigh as a member of Public Relations Consultants Group, allowing us to offer clients expertise and support across the country! Clairemont founder, Dana Phelps aka @blah2voila, recently attended the PRCG conference in Oklahoma City.
2022 has been a fantastic year for Clairemont Comm 2022 has been a fantastic year for Clairemont Communications! Visit our blog for the full 2022 year in review!
As communications professionals, we wear a variety As communications professionals, we wear a variety of hats to meet our clients’ needs.
 
We’re writers, social media managers, photographers, marketers, editors, content creators- the list goes on and on.
 
Check out our recent blog post to learn what @olivia.noles , account coordinator here at Clairemont, does on a weekly and monthly basis.
#communicationsagency #communicationsmajor #pragencylife #pragency #raleighpr
This Friday, Clairemont’s Dana Phelps, @blah2voi This Friday, Clairemont’s Dana Phelps, @blah2voila , will be speaking at the 2022 @nc_prsa Strategic Communication & MarCom Conference! Phelps is a repeat presenter at this annual conference, and this year she is leading a session called Growing from Communication Technician to Strategic Counselor during which she will share three of her coined concepts: knowcasting, morecasting and collabolighthing. Visit our blog for the link to register for the conference!
@clairemontcommunications and @yellowdogcreative g @clairemontcommunications and @yellowdogcreative go together like the bacon and eggs! And speaking of bacon and eggs, have you been to @therainbowluncheonette yet? YUM!
Later this year, Clairemont client @wendellfallsnc Later this year, Clairemont client @wendellfallsnc, a master-planned community just 15 miles from downtown Raleigh, will welcome @parksideraleigh, a Raleigh-favorite restaurant known for its fresh, made-from-scratch dishes, to the community!
 
Visit our blog to see the @trianglebizjrnl coverage and read the full feature in the TBJ to learn more about Parkside.
“What exactly does a PR Agency do?” Because we “What exactly does a PR Agency do?” Because we get this question often, we have a series on our blog where we dive into our recent projects to give you a look at what a PR Agency really does.
 
For example, a statewide resource for small businesses recently hired Clairemont to devise an executive visibility campaign to help position the organization and its director as the leading small business resource in North Carolina.
 
Head to our blog to read what exactly an executive visibility campaign entails and to learn more about our services!
So you say it’s National Coffee Day? We say let So you say it’s National Coffee Day? We say let us tell you about our new favorite @drink321coffee ! If you are in Raleigh, go see Paul, the other Paul, Emma  or whichever smiling faces are working today. We LOVE this place and the coffee! ❤️❤️❤️
Our client @wendellfallsnc, one of the largest mas Our client @wendellfallsnc, one of the largest master-planned communities in the Triangle, closed on its first age-eligible rental community plan, Arden at Wendell Falls, that will offer 140 open-concept units and exclusive onsite amenities!
 
Visit our blog to see the @trianglebizjrnl coverage and read the full feature in the TBJ to learn more about Arden at Wendell Falls.
Staying in Raleigh this Labor Day weekend? Stop by Staying in Raleigh this Labor Day weekend? Stop by client @vitaviteraleigh for good snacks and great wine!🍷 Both locations are open normal hours Friday-Sunday and closed on Monday.
You never know who might be hanging out at The Cla You never know who might be hanging out at The Clairemont House. Thanks to @yellowdogcreative for helping save this buddy. Notice that we speak lizard. Or skink. Or gecko or whatever he is. Or maybe it’s the extra caffeine before our client presentation.
Yep, our town is pretty cool. #raleigh Yep, our town is pretty cool. #raleigh
Who wants to have a Friday afternoon porch meeting Who wants to have a Friday afternoon porch meeting?
Congrats to our new neighbor on Bloodworth Street Congrats to our new neighbor on Bloodworth Street South @raleighwineshop ! @blah2voila was there today representing Clairemont at the grand opening festivities and enjoying the @grandchamphospitality sandwich pop up. Yum! 🍷🥪
It’s National Volunteer Month, and volunteers ar It’s National Volunteer Month, and volunteers are needed more than ever! Many organizations with scarce resources rely on volunteers and would not exist without them. Visit our recent blog post to read about the organizations Clairemont has supported and how you can make a difference in your community!
Authenticity is trending, and research shows that Authenticity is trending, and research shows that consumers are 2.4 times more likely to view user-generated content as authentic. Read our recent blog post to learn about UGC, how it can benefit your brand and how to use it in your marketing strategy.
From social values to behavior patterns, COVID-19 From social values to behavior patterns, COVID-19 has left an impact on every sector of life, including marketing. Read our blog on marketing in a post-COVID world to learn how things have changed and how that should impact your business strategy.
We are so excited to share that Clairemont earned We are so excited to share that Clairemont earned eight awards, five gold🥇and three silver🥈, at this year's Sir Walter Raleigh Awards hosted by the Raleigh Public Relations Society!🎉 We are beyond grateful to work with so many amazing partners, clients and industry friends!
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