Crazy Love: A Tale of PR

The Bolt team is turning over a new leaf as we enter into the summer season and kick off the second half of 2011. For starters, we’re growing. A lot. In the past few months alone, we’ve welcomed Jo-Anne, DeAnna, Jessica and Jenn to the Bolt team. We’ve rearranged our cool little beach office a time… or four… to make room for all the new folks and their desks. We’ve hung a few more pictures, brought in new achievements, and kept our client roster growing with some of the most amazing companies, ranging from hip little start-ups to major restaurant brands. Needless to say, we’re feeling very blessed these days and we know it’s the result of hard work, dedication and doing business the way it should be done.

On that note, we came together as a team to list out what we love about the PR industry, and what makes us crazy… in more ways than one. This is all in good fun, so we would welcome your comments and additions below, both from the PR pros and other professionals looking into this wild and fast-paced world.

 What We Love:

• It’s something new every day. From pitching USA Today to hosting beauty queens, or stalking on Facebook to taste-testing food samples, every day is a new challenge and experience.
• Seeing our ideas go from a fleeting brainstorm mention to a fully executed, amazingly successful campaign. In PR, there’s nothing more rewarding than helping move your client’s bottom line.
• The challenge of media outreach and getting reporters, editors and producers interested in learning more about a client’s product or service, followed, of course by securing the placement. Anyone can talk the talk, but we love walking the walk and seeing our clients’ names in bright lights and bold headlines.
• Leveraging our knowledge and relationships to help our clients land new opportunities they are excited about that they would not have known about or been able to achieve otherwise.
• The thrill of not knowing what the day holds. You can start the day off pitching to local trades and wrap it up with a white board (no longer white) packed with ideas for client’s exciting upcoming events.
• Seeing the team land an article or television segment that you know your client will be ecstatic about. When you walk away at the end of the day confident that the client is happy and hopeful…that is a good day.
• Someone new every day. Something new every day. And the hundreds of conversations spreading the word.
• Being ‘in the know’, whether through our connections, constant networking, research or insider tips. We get to know about the latest and greatest events, products, people and companies.
• Constant motion – no day is the same, PR is like a revolving door that’s constantly throwing things your way and always evolving. It’s always exciting and keeps you on your toes.
• Fueling a client’s success. (Hey, it’s worth repeating. It’s why we exist.) It’s so rewarding to see your hard work bring a client success and help them to achieve their goals/dreams/growth, as you achieve your own dreams.

 What Makes Us Crazy:

• Blackberry (now turned iPhone) addiction resulting in disfigured thumbs, crow’s feet, annoyed dinner companions and a compelling urge to always check for messages. It’s a blessing and a curse that the iPhone doesn’t have a blinking light!
• Pre-coffee meetings. Let’s face it, we are not morning people.
• Constantly reviewing and updating to-do lists in our heads. From sitting in a work meeting on a Monday morning to barbecuing at home with family and friends on a Sunday afternoon, things are always being mentally added, crossed-off and highlighted.
• The irrational anger we have every time we see a small business trying to make it through advertising. Sorry, but unless you have a big budget that can support months upon months of national advertising, we find it mind-blowing that small businesses would pay for ads when they could get that publicity in that media outlet, and numerous others, through a much lower PR retainer.
• Crazed ex-girlfriend syndrome. It’s a real thing, people. We call editors’ phones, scour the internet (Facebook/LinkedIn/Twitter) to find out their likes and dislikes, and sit by our phones all day and check our emails just to hear their voice say, “that’s a great idea! When can we schedule the interview?” PR at its best J
• Your phone resembles a circus between all the lights and sounds coming from it. Between the calls, texts, calendar reminders, Twitter updates, Facebook messages, Google alerts, and media updates….it is a sight to see!
• Answering my alarm… or pretty much any other ringing sound emanating from my phone, car, house… the list goes on.
• Our feet will never look the same. Every PR gal knows it’s just part of the job to live and work in those fabulous 4-inch heels.
• Caffeine. Our lives revolve around it. It gives us insomnia, stomachaches, shaky hands, and, at times, nausea, but we just can’t live without it.

 Can’t type anymore – the phone’s ringing…