Konnect PR Archives - Konnect Agency

Amazon Prime Day

July 15, 2019 by konnectprdaily

Today marks the official start of the biggest shopping extravaganza of the year. At its 5th year in a row, Amazon is offering multiple deals, exclusively to Amazon Prime subscribers, today and tomorrow in honor of Prime Day. What started as a birthday celebration for Amazon’s 20th year anniversary, has grown into a global shopping holiday similar to Black Friday. Amazon also prepared to make this year’s Prime Day a bigger event for the second time by kicking off a pre-Amazon Prime Day streamed concert in New York featuring Taylor Swift, SZA, and Becky G. Celebrities have also joined on this cultural event by promoting discounts on their own product lines —Lady Gaga’s new makeup line will launch on Amazon Prime Day and Kobe Bryant’s body care essentials line will have some deals– to name a few!

So what exactly is the big deal (no pun intended) about Amazon Prime Day? Amazon Prime Day has more deals than Black Friday with more than a million discounts available worldwide. Being labeled now as a global holiday, Amazon shoppers take advantage of all the great promotions on this day because it’s the perfect time to stock up on gifts for the upcoming holiday season. All tech shoppers will also most likely score the best markdowns on their favorite electronics and tech products on Prime Day. Amazon’s list of promotions has expanded to food items, clothing, home, and even lifestyle products. For Amazon, Amazon Prime Day is the perfect opportunity to attract more customers to subscribe to their Prime membership service. Even their competitors—Target and eBay are imitating similar “Prime Day” style discounts on their websites.

From a public relations agency perspective, as Amazon Prime continues to grow, it is important for clients to participate in this major event because it’s the perfect opportunity for brands to join for added exposure and visibility and to let other customers know their products are available on Amazon. Clients can also benefit from this day by growing within their category. U.S. consumers who regularly purchase tech products on these major sale holidays are also encouraged to buy products from fashion lines and grocery products on Amazon Prime Day.

Take a look at all these incredible deals below that are being offered during Amazon Prime Day:

Regalo Baby
Regalo Baby, a brand of products focused on simplicity, safety and security to make family life easier and kid’s life safer, will be offering 20% off on the following items on Amazon Prime Day:
Wide Span Safety Gate
Double Door Super Wide Baby Gate and Play Yard
Home Décor Super Wide Baby Gate
My Cot Deluxe
Home Accents Extra Tall Baby Gate
Top of Stair Baby Gate
Deal: 20% off select products
Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Regalo/Homepage/page/C58EDE4D-5FDC-4F2E-87FB-505C4B1F91A

ONE Brands,
ONE Brands, whose bars include signature 20 grams of protein and only ONE gram of sugar, will be running a 4 day 30% coupon starting July 13th and going all through July 16th for all of their flavors, including the Best Seller Variety Pack and Chocolate Lovers Variety Pack.
Deal: 30% off all products from July 13-16
Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/stores/node/18327036011?_encoding=UTF8&field-lbr_brands_browse-bin=ONE&ref_=bl_dp_s_web_18327036011

RightRice
Celebrate Amazon Prime Day the right-er way with RightRice. Deliciously nutritious RightRiceis packed with the power of vegetables and has more protein, fiber than white rice and almost 40 percent fewer net carbs than the traditional side dish and all of its products are 25% off from July 15 to July 16.
Deal: 25% off all products July 15-16
Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/stores/page/D596923C-5EA3-4261-83C2-53B7B63B3958

CORE Foods
CORE Bar is the ultimate overnight oat bar that MUST be refrigerated for freshness – which means it’s made with real food and can maintain freshness for about a week without refrigeration. CORE Bars come in 6 different flavors and are organic, gluten-free, non-GMO, vegan, protein-rich, high in soluble fiber and low in sugar.
Deal: 40% off all CORE bars
Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/corefoods

Happy shopping!
-Cassie

How Your Company Can Make Headlines in a News Slump

July 9, 2019 by Carmen Hernandez

The summer news cycle can be a slow one. Unless your company is announcing a c-level hire, funding raise or new product, reporters are difficult to get ahold of. And who can blame them when the days are hot and the Fridays are short? Luckily, public relations professionals have a few tricks up our sleeves to keep our clients in the news no matter what season it is.

Create an Infographic

Infographics are fantastic visuals that help you showcase a process or a problem/solution scenario. What problem does your product or service solve? How can you visualize it in a compelling way? The media loves infographics that easily explain what we’re conveying to them in our pitches, and (if they’re visually appealing enough) are a great image they can add to their articles. If it’s a great infographic, the SEO from the article will help in search engine results and your company can run social media ads to extend the life of the article, increasing the number of eyeballs that come across it.

Commission a Survey

Whether you’re a franchise, an iPhone app or a food product, you have customers. And, like most people, your consumer probably loves talking about themselves. Leveraging a survey that dives into your consumer’s habits, backgrounds and preferences can be extremely valuable to your business and reporters, too. For instance, if a survey finds that 87% of your customers turn toward your product when they’re looking for a mood boost, you can learn how to scale your marketing to better target customers and conduct media outreach to health and wellness reporters. While surveys may come with a price tag, the ROI can be invaluable.

Take a Stance

Reporters love people who are willing to go against the grain and speak their mind. From a PR standpoint, we like to keep this focused on a company’s industry, as opposed to politics or religion. For instance, has a competitor recently gone public through an IPO? What do you think it says about the future of the industry? Do you think innovation should focus on customer acquisition instead of product development? How does that stack up next to your peers in the industry? Think of the status quo in every situation in your business and mull over where you agree, where your opinions differ and why. Reporters love a hot take on a fiery topic. But be sure to consult your publicist first!

Apply for Awards

Research the types of award you’d like to receive based on your area of expertise. Common examples include Best Places to Work, Entrepreneur/CEO of the Year and Product of the Year. Winning an award may not slot you for the next cover of Forbes, but it will put your company on the map for trade publications and can increase your chances of securing future features.

-Emma

Stay Organized like a PR Professional

June 25, 2019 by Carmen Hernandez

While working at a fast-paced public relations agency can look easy and seem glamorous, the reality is that there can be a lot of chaos happening behind-the-scenes. Juggling clients and editors, securing placement opportunities, attending conference calls and in-person meetings, compiling reports, monitoring the news, and maintaining cohesive strategies can be overwhelming. If we’re not organized, we end the day with an overflowing inbox, post-it reminders covering our monitors, and clutter all over our desk. The best way to combat this stress is by staying organized.

As someone who is constantly reinventing my organization routine, here are some of the practices that have worked the best for me:

Mastering the To-Do List

Start your day off by writing down the tasks you have to do. Once everything is listed out, highlight and prioritize the three to six most important tasks to complete by the end’s day. As you complete each task, cross it off the list. Now let’s say you get to the end of the day and you haven’t completed everything on your list… SHOCKER! Well, it happens to the best of us. It’s OK if you don’t complete everything on your list; in fact, we never finish a to-do list because there is always something to do! There is no shame in rolling it over to tomorrow’s list as long as those smaller to-dos aren’t going to affect a colleague’s workflow or client deliverables.

Calendar Blocking

Another method that works for me is calendar blocking, and it’s very simple. It’s essentially taking the to-do list and setting aside time on the calendar for the task, meeting and/or social event. Rather than seeing your day ahead on a list, you’re viewing it in batches of time. These can be done in 15-minute intervals or every hour block to totally co-ordinate the day ahead.

Trade in the sticky notes on your monitor for calendar reminders

Setting calendar reminders is a great way to stay aware of action items, announcements, and deadlines. The most important part is to make the calendar reminder before you risk forgetting! If an editor has a deadline and needs information by next Friday at 9:00AM PT, set a calendar reminder! If you’re submitting a client for an award and the deadline is on July 10th at 12:00PM ET, set a calendar reminder! If you submitted a byline and the article is expected to publish in their August issue, set a calendar reminder! The truth is, we just can’t remember everything and visual clutter on the desk can be just as stressful — clean space, clean mind.

Go mobile!

Another way to stay organized, especially for teams, is using cloud-based or online services like Quip, Google Drive, Asana, and Slack. This is especially helpful for jobs that require you to travel and work remotely. It’s a great way to ensure that goals and priorities are aligned across the team. It also allows you to keep priorities on the top of mind keeping your to-do list at the ready wherever, whenever. At Konnect Agency, we have teams scattered across the states in different time zones and utilizing these tools allows us to be flexible and stay connected, even when we’re not at our desk.

Schedule Your Outgoing Emails

If you’re pitching editors on a different coast or international time zone, there’s no need to get up at 4 am in order to ensure your pitches are at the top of their inbox. Instead, compose the email in advance and then schedule it to go out on a later date and time. By delay-delivering your email, you’ll have the opportunity to edit later if needed and allow the email to arrive at an optimal time, which reduces the chances your email being missed. You’ll also gain back control or your time and manage your schedule accordingly.

Own Your Inbox

With emails from clients and editors popping up in our inboxes at any time of the day, creating a system can help us stay organized and not feel overwhelmed. For me, in my inbox, I have a folder for each of my clients along with sub-folders for individual client initiatives and opportunities. While I’m going through my emails, should I find something that warrants an action item, I flag it. I also find it helpful when I color code my emails, so I know where projects stand. While every email provider offers different features, you just have to find one or two that works for you. I also find it helpful when I take the time to look through my emails at the beginning of my workday when I create my to-do list and at the end before I leave the office. You’d be surprised what you might have missed when you’re looking at your inbox with fresh eyes!

Staying organized isn’t always easy and it sure doesn’t happen overnight, but once you find a system that works for you, it pays off tenfold in regard to owning the job, not feeling overwhelmed and staying on top of everything! Don’t be afraid to try new methods or evolve your current ones. Happy organizing!

-Yvonne

The Ultimate PR Tactics from A Baby – The ROYAL Baby

May 15, 2019 by Carmen Hernandez

Meghan Markle gave birth to little Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor last week and the entire world went WILD. The timing was impeccable, and the delivery was astonishing. Not only did they confirm she had gone into labor on Monday, but an hour later they confirmed it was a boy, on Instagram, of course. No leaks were made, giving them time to put the final touches on visuals before hitting “post” on good ol’ IG. My time spent as a publicist in Los Angeles, I can attest that this my friends was one well thought out PR plan. Archie’s premiere was a beautifully executed strategy, and they take the cake on hitting all of their KPI’s with this one. Let’s break down all the lessons we can learn from this genius PR move, and ultimately how to control the message.

Preparation is KEY:

This was no “let’s wing it” moment. Meghan and Harry knew exactly what they were getting themselves into and planned from the start. Their PR goddess of a representative even hid the announcement of her pregnancy – and when speculation started to stir, what did their mastery PR wizards do? Nothing. Instead, they waited a few days and announced the statement on their social media pages on the couples FIRST day of their first major extended international tour since the couple has wed – coincidence? I think not. The announcement went worldwide – not a bad way to ensure the launch of a 16-day royal tour of Australia, New Zealand, Tonga and Fiji was accompanied by good news and excitement – WOW.

Pick the platform – and know your audience:

Consumers these days are obsessed with anything social related – so why not give the people what they want? The Royals announced the news on their Instagram – and in April what did Henry and Meghan do? Oh, made their very OWN Instagram. Not only did they make their own Instagram – but that logo? OKAY, Duke and Duchess, we see you. To break it down, the logo is a combination of an H and an M, truly beautiful. Another theory – the blue background they went with (which is now being called “Sussex blue”), was clearly foreshadowing the gender reveal.

To even FURTHER breakdown their use in blasting this all over their Instagram account, let’s talk about their posts. The first post was taken at Windsor Castle, where the two wed almost a year ago. There was much discussion on how we were going to first lay eyes on the royal baby, and the most popular assumption was that the baby was going to be posed outside of the hospital as William and Kate did, and Charles and Diana before them. Instead of delivering a mediocre quality photo, these two knew their audience and went for the “Instagram worthy shot” – but the best part is we still didn’t know this royal baby’s name! So, here we are, waiting on pins and needles – and then BAM! What did these two do? Hit us with another “Instagram worthy shot” with the name reveal – and this time with the Queen of England, and the baby’s great grandfather, the Duke of Edinburgh. Their way of keeping their fans engaged was remarkable, they were able to control the message and deliver a mic-drop worthy reveal.

Honesty matters:

Working at a public relations agency, we all know that honesty and transparency matter. As a public relations professional, we serve as gatekeepers of brands and are the link to the media for clients. We are always in the know when it comes to product announcements, company scandals, glitches, and everyday issues that may arise. But the importance always lies in delivering the message to the people in a perfect, and authentic way. The Royals did just that. They didn’t confirm or deny the rumors, they let them be just as they were – rumors. They never once told us a lie or fabricated their message, which was truly…well done.

And there you have it. A couple of PR lessons learned from not just any baby, the ROYAL baby.

-Robin

Don’t Call It a Comeback – Brands Have a Magazine Moment

May 7, 2019 by Carmen Hernandez

In a digital age where news is available at the click of a mouse, the opening of an app, and a quick scroll on Instagram, many have proclaimed that print is dead (or, if not dead altogether, dying off). The number of print outlets on the newsstands have seemed to shrink overnight, alongside the staff that once supported them. Freelancers are the new editorial team and digital media outlets are popping up daily.

While much of this is true, I’m here to make a case for print. Maybe it’s because I have always had a personal love for magazines. To this day, I still have a stack of magazines in my office containing some of the most prized press pieces I have been able to secure for clients over my career. To this Los Angeles public relations pro, there is something more personal about being able to read and love a story and then hold on to it. Recently my husband ordered a physical subscription to The Atlantic and the joy he has when a new issue arrives is unrivaled by anything he reads online.

Maybe I’m a romantic for printed word. Maybe I’m not alone.

According to Adweek, 134 new magazines have launched since the beginning of 2017. While some outlets have gone completely digital, some are going against the status quo and giving their readers something to hold on to – literally.

What’s interesting about this magazine resurgence is that a healthy portion of it is thanks to brands. To anyone who works at a public relations agency, this makes perfect sense. Longing to stand out and offer an expanded platform for storytelling, magazines offer the perfect curated brand experience in which a company can offer its customers (or would be customers) added value by providing content and resources. It also offers an additional touchpoint from the website and social media platforms and can act as a physical example of the quality the brand stands for.

With that in mind, let’s meet some of the brands having a magazine moment…

Airbnb Magazine
Spotlighting specific destinations in each issue, the magazine “celebrates humanity wherever it exists: across borders, time zones, languages, and skin tones.” I have already purchased two issues of this magazine and they greatly informed several trips that I already had planned, along with potentially influencing where I may go on a future trip.

No Man’s Land
Put out by The Wing, this magazine aims to “capture the smart and defiant voices of Women everywhere.” It is published bi-annually and has an accompanying podcast.

Bumble Magazine
Covering topics ranging from dating tips (duh) to self care and including in-depth features, this magazine is a joint venture between Bumble and Hearst.

Here Magazine
“Written for the way we actually travel, with stories worth sharing – for travelers, by travelers,” Here is currently on its 8^th issue. Put out by influencer-loved luggage company Away, this mag offers city guides travel journals, photo essays and interviews.

Woolly Magazine
“Published and emotionally supported” by Casper, this magazine has sections including comfort, wellness, culture, feelings, sloth (my fave) and things. A recent piece is titled “Relaxing Sounds That Aren’t Rain or Whale Songs.” Woolly doesn’t seem to take itself too serious and I’m grateful.

Whatever you fancy, take a second to look up from your phone the next time you are at the check out counter at your supermarket. There might be some new titles that surprise you.

-Monica

WIFI on a Plane

May 3, 2019 by Carmen Hernandez

Raise your hand if you’ve seen Snakes on a Plane?

It’s a lovely little movie about an F.B.I Agent, played by the intrepid Samuel L. Jackson, who takes on a plane full of deadly venomous snakes, deliberately released to kill a witness being flown from Honolulu to Los Angeles to testify against a mob boss.

I’m on a lot of planes these days, and while I haven’t encountered any snakes (yet), I have seen my fair share of oddities. I won’t list them all, but of all the weird things that go down while in-flight, the oddest for me, is the reaction to on board WIFI, or lack thereof.

Back in the days of my early business travel, in-flight WIFI was not even a blip on the radar. In order to make the most of the flight, you brought all of your paperwork (yes, actual paper) with you in order review and edit and create. After a while, and the work you brought was done, you would settle in to a good book. Or let’s be honest here, a pile of celebrity weekly magazines.

Female entrepreneur working on laptop sitting near window in an airplane.

Now, in-air access to WIFI is viewed as a guaranteed right that comes with the price of the ticket. Heaven help the onboard crew who has to work a flight with a spotty connection. Passengers demand it. They get pissed when it’s not working or worse, going in and out right as you are putting the finishing touches on a lengthy document. You get the sense that at any point, an irritated traveler is going to stand up and shout, “Get this motherloving WIFI, back on this motherloving plane!” Just as Mr. Jackson so famously shouted in the movie. Except he replaced the word WIFI with snakes, and the word motherloving with, well…you know.

I know, because I am frequently one of those irritated travelers.

So, what’s my problem? Helping to run a leading PR agency with four agency offices requires a lot of work. And to be out of commission for 4-to-5 hours prevents me from getting my work done.

Or does it? When WIFI abounds, I’m able to stay on top of my inbox fires. I can access our shared drive to edit presentations or work on new ones. Staying current with emails isn’t really moving much of a mark toward bigger thinking. Making edits on a deck is helpful, but also isn’t exactly rocket science.

As more and more jump online as soon as WIFI becomes available, the connection gets weaker and weaker. So instead of cursing the laws of technology which have lost the battle against the marvel that is air travel, I use the time in flight to get back to what I used to do. I read a book or magazine that informs me about an area of business I’m passionate about and inspires my approach to helping navigate our agency and its clients. I watch a show. I select one like Shark Tank that reminds me how many entrepreneurs are out there creating really cool stuff. I talk to my seatmates. Yes, actual human connection that never ceases to amaze me how similar the challenges of business are, no matter the industry.

And I write blogs. Like this one, which I forgot to do while I was in office. Keeping up on my email.

So never fear wary travelers that you might occasionally not have access to keep up with the Kardashians on Insta while you fly, or send off your kicking Excel budget masterpiece. You’ll be connected soon enough online. My advice, make the most of getting connected IRL while offline.

-AB