Company News

How do you make the MOST of being a podcast guest? Make sure you look great, sound great, maximize the opportunity?

Nowadays, one of our major focuses as a PR firm is to arrange for guest opportunities for our clients. There is nothing better than leveraging someone else’s broadcast audience, social media reach and credibility.

What are some the simple PREP TIPS prior to going “live”? This quick list will make it easier for you look and sound great.

• Check video background. Too cluttered? Too funky – does it look like you’ve been taken hostage in someone’s basement? It is okay to have personality and personal effects, but the general goal is to have your background space look like an office or home office.
• Check “name” under video headshot. Make sure to use your full name and either your company name or your solution. Example, Steven Dubin, PR Works. Or Steven Dubin, PR/Marketing.
• Turn off cellphone, landline. Simple. Don’t let another call interrupt you.
• Close windows. Sirens, birds, lawn mowers, loud neighbors are to be avoided.
• Note on door. Warn/alert colleagues, family, and intruders. Amazing what a Post-it note can do to remind people not to barge in.
• Prepare for the allotted time (typically 30 minutes). Don’t over schedule yourself and be stressed.
• Note – 1 take. Most podcaster do little or NO editing of the first and only take. That being said, relax, take your time and articulate.
• Show opening. Have prepared introduction. Provide the host with verbiage for your introduction. This makes it easier for them and you.
• Show close. Have a prepared summary. How do you want listeners to find you? What are you asking them to respond to? Free E-book, 15-minute complimentary audit, sign up for E-Newsletter?
• Cue for wrapping up/ending the segment. Many hosts will alert you to wrap it up. Be prepared as you hear a key phrase like “And my final question…”

Be prepared for your podcast appearance and be a media darling.

Let us know if we can help book you on targeted podcasts that attract your best potential audience. We use a number of paid and free online websites to match your topic with appropriate shows.

Pre-taping Tips for Podcasting. Prepare for success. Avoid disaster. Read More

Recruiting and retaining talented, resourceful and engaged employees is more critical than ever.  But how does a company compete?

Debra J. Parent, PHR, SHRM-CP, CHHR has developed a 25 step “Recruitment Playbook” that helps companies surround candidates with positive messages and entices them to take the next step.  She will reveal that formula in a free webinar scheduled for Tuesday, 5/24, 9 -10 a.m. You can RSVP by clicking here.

From video greetings by the CEO to voices of middle management to creative and mutually beneficial partnering with schools and universities, there are many tactics a company can employ, right now, to attract candidates and help them win the war on talent; creative, ambitious and aggressive tactics with a long-term focus.  

Parent is a certified coach, former adjunct business professor at UMASS Dartmouth and Bristol Community College, and Supervisory and Leadership Skills Grant Trainer for Bristol Community College. She is an active member of the UMASS Dartmouth Charlton College of Business Advisor Board, ProVisors, and successful business owner of an HR recruitment and consulting firm with clients throughout New England.

Parent assists companies develop and implement effective recruitment and retention strategies, fill key hard to recruit positions, design a well-thought out HR program, smart HR policies, and provide workable HR solutions to respond to workforce challenges. She leads with integrity, balancing company and employee interests, and has a forward-thinking approach.

Parent will outline how the implement numerous recruitment and retention efforts, including –

Careers Web Page Enhancement – Having a thorough and positive clarification of why the company is a great place to work.

Glassdoor Campaign – Encourage staff to post positive comments.

Maximize the Employee Referral Bonus –  Have a formal program and fund it.

Partnership with Schools – Be the first job for the best and brightest.

Targeted Direct Market Advertising on Social Media Streaming Rich Graphic Ads – Reach young candidates where they are. Leverage GoogleAds, Facebook, Linkedin, and Instagram.

Engage an Employer Branding Consultant – Capture and convey your positive image.

Sign on Bonus – Cash is still king.

Competitor Poaching – There are various tools to research your competition. Use them.  

Job Site Postings – Indeed, LinkedIn and ZipRecruiter are some of the familiar names.

Maximize Professional Associations – Immerse your company with the trade/professional association and utilize its many channels.

Recruiter Scheduling Responsibilities – Interviewing goes beyond weekdays. Assign a weekend interviewer.

Google Search – The majority of job searches begin on Google.  Get candidates before they search further.

Artificial Intelligence – Cross-reference LinkedIn with Artificial Intelligence to obtaincandidates emails, phone numbers, and current employers

Radio Spot, Newspaper, and Bill Board Advertising – Best to reach passive candidates.

Best Workplace Awards – Win an award and drive candidates to your door.

Flyer Campaign – Engage in flyer campaign at local schools, community centers, churches fitness facilities and other areas where postings are allowed, etc.

Provide a “Company Insider” Sign up and Quarterly Newsletter for Applicants – Allow applicants to express interest in your company and provide a sign up for them online.  Email a quarterly newsletter for interested candidates to keep the company, “top of mind”.

Hold an Annual Combination Open House/Job Fair – Semi-annually hold open house to include tours, refreshments, presentations about the company, the positions, the leadership, and product and services, etc. 

Annual Conference Based on Industry –  Annually, sponsor a well-publicized conference.  The goal is to become known in the local industry for holding a gala event offering learning, networking, refreshments, time to talk to people in the local industry, and hear from a well-known speaker. 

Establish a Monthly Industry Group – Actively participate, or lead, an industry “meet up” group, in person or virtually, for those in the area who, both employees, candidates and others in the industry, to network and discuss the industry trends and challenges. 

Military Recruitment – Actively post on Military.com, Recruit Military, Hire Heroes USA, Hire a Veteran, Military Hire, Hire Veterans, and partner with the US Depart of Labor and Recruit Military and other organizations that help place military veterans.

Recruit People with Disabilities – Post on job boards for people with disabilities, such as, Ability Jobs, Recruit Disability, Word, Inc., and MA Rehabilitation Commission, and Disabledperson. 

Annual Scholarship Program – Invite company employees and customers, to apply for an annual scholarship. 

Recruit Declinations – Create a develop a database of past candidates who have declined for semi-annual schedule regular outreach via emails, phone calls, mailings, Christmas cards, etc.

Re-Recruit – Regularly reach out to past employees you would love to have back.  

Provide Each New Hire with their “1st Four Assignments” Card – Make on-boarding personal and comprehensive.

The business community is encouraged to attend. The event is sponsored by three leading organizations including My Pinnacle Network which hosts monthly meetings for business-to-business professionals at five locations throughout Massachusetts including Braintree, Mansfield, Needham, Pembroke, and Westborough; South Shore Networking Professionals which connects business people monthly at locations throughout the South Shore; and Rockland Trust, offering a wide range of banking, investment, and insurance services to businesses and individuals through retail branches, commercial lending offices, investment management offices, and residential lending centers located in Eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island, as well as through online, mobile and phone banking.

To RSVP, please click here or call My Pinnacle Network at 781-582-1061.

26 Ways to attract the Best and Brightest. Recruiter/HR professionals outlines an integrated plan. Free webinar outlines Tuesday, 5/24, 9 -10 a.m.Read More

The new year offers a new opportunity. A clean sweep.

What are your plans for improving revenue, visibility and credibility for 2022? PR and marketing are an on-going process. Not a singular scream into space.

Here is worksheet to get things moving in the right direction –

Awards – What awards would you like to win? How do you nominate yourself? Or have someone nominate you? _______________________________________

Blogs – How often do you want to create a new blog?___________________What are the topics of interest to our clients/customers?___________________In addition to the newsroom on our website, where do you want to post this content?___________

Book (E-book) – An E-book, short and concise, is a great lead magnet. What existing content can you repurpose to create an E-book? ____________________What page on your website can you “lock” the E-book to entice visitors to request it, provide nominal contact information (name, email address) and generate a “lead”? ____________ 

Bylined features/Side Bar stories – What topics will attract press coverage? How to, trends, human interest, case study?______________________________

Divisions/Niches news release announcements can generate niche press coverage. Example – Announcing a Non-profit Division touting expanded non-profit services and a non-profit rate can generate ink in non-profit trade publications. What are the niches that work for you? _____________________________________________________________

E-Newsletter – Right. Not everyone reads every E-Newsletter that hits their email inbox. But enough read the subject line to keep you top-of-mind and generate opportunities. Given our limited attention span, single story E-newsletters work best. What 3 topics can you cover in the next 3 months? ___________________What E-Newsletter platform will you use (Constant Contact, MailChimp or other)?

Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter – These are the Big 3 of social media. To remain in the conversation, what is the best frequency of your postings? ______________In planning the first month, what topics can you explore? _________________

Friend program – Your next customer will likely look like and be referred to by your existing customer. How can you formalize a program to remind and incentivize your customers? 
Example – The Friend program should be mentioned in your email signature, E-Newsletter and website. Each referral should be rewarded with something fun and valuable – from a Starbuck’s gift card to a tin of artisan cookies. What can your Friend program look like and include? ________

LinkedIn – Your Personal ProfileYour personal profile is often the key research source destination prior to a new business call. How can you improve your profile?_______________________ 

LinkedIn – Groups LinkedIn groups give you access to large and targeted groups. You can start, join and follow relevant subjects that put you into the center of your best prospects. What groups should you join? __________________________What topics are of interest to this group?_________________ 

Milestones – News What upcoming milestones can generate coverage for you?Years in biz, # clients, $s generated, awards?List a few. _________________________________________

Personnel – News Personnel news demonstrates growth, success. What is newsworthy about your key staff? Promotions, additional education/training, major new hires? ____________________

Photography Do you have professional photography and video clips ready to go? Do you need portraits of key personnel, exterior and interior photos of your offices, product photos? What needs coverage? _____________________________________

Podcasting – Hosting As you know, podcasting, essentially “on demand” radio, is among the fastest growing mediums. And for a good reason. Enhance visibility, credibility and likeability. Take the roll of opinion leader and helpful neighbor.
Who can host your podcast? _________________________________________What is the theme of your podcast? ____________________________________Possible guests?_____________________________________________________Graphic icon for podcast portals? ______________________________________Equipment needed? _________________________________________________

Podcasting – Guesting Guesting is a great way to dip your toe into podcasting. Take advantage of someone else’s audience and promotion. There are podcasts on every subject and for every market segment.
What show would you like to guest on? _____________________________What topics can you expand upon? _________________________________Who will do the outreach? ________________________________________ Season news –How does your company tie into seasonality, holidays, weather? Tax tips for the beginning of tax season? Health tips for the beginning of spring? What is relevant for your business?_________________________________________ Social proof.

Establishing authority –What subject(s) are you an expert on? What topics should reporters/editors/producers turn to you about? _____________.What media outlets do you want to target? ____________________. 

Website – Is your website up to date? Is it easy to navigate? Does it quickly deliver answers? Do you have ways to entice lead harvesting (Opt in for an E-newsletter, E-book, Complimentary audit?)__________________________________________

Need help? Contact us for a conversation to point you in the right direction.

Ready to make news and new clients in 2022?Read More