Web Centric Marketing

What does this mean? Another fancy marketing term used to lure in the un-marketing savvy client? Maybe, but sometimes marketing folks create marketing terms for things so they can say what might take a paragraph to say in three little words. Isn't that one of the reasons people need help with marketing in the first place? Doh! Yes, even I have been a bit Simpsonized - a-ha! There is a marketing term right there! Is it easier to say:

a.) I've been Simpsonized?
OR...
b.) I now say things that are often said on the Simpsons because I live in the state where the American public decided the Simpsons live?

Sooo - what is web centric? (Comments would be cool here since there haven't been any in a while and my tracking devices show that people are indeed reading my blogs!)

Web centric is providing marketing services based on...yes! The Web! That means your website must be the focus and all other marketing umbrella items swirl around the website. And, here is a BIG, dirty, industry secret - lots of old school advertising firms don't want to play that way because then they won't get their big advertising commissions, because figuring how to make money online is new, unchartered, and scary territory to those folks who have shunned such activities as online dating (yes, of course, I have fully embraced such activities, although that doesn't mean it isn't still unchartered territory).

In my fervor to start my own public relations business in Vermont, I am in a continual quest to network with folks who are embracing this web centric style of marketing. In my journey, I have come across two I would like to give kudos to here:

Shark Communications - I did a lot of research of agencies who did not offer in house public relations services and how I might be of service to them and them to me, and the one that sparked the most marketing fun and excitement in our fields of work was the gang over at the end of Battery Street at Shark Communications - www.sharkinteractive.com. These guys (and gals) are ALL about the web and I must give Principal, Pete Jacobs, the credit for broadening my vocabulary to use the marketing term "web centric." I also thank them for giving me the opportunity to work with an agency to forge ahead with all sorts of new media ideas, concepts, tactics and all those other fun marketing words we like to use.

Shadow Productions - I have just started working with these folks as a vendor for electronic press kits, interactive press information, and the more "theatrical" side of marketing and am also pleased to say, my first meeting with them sprouted all sorts of new ideas that continue to position me more and more as a professional storyteller than just some PR person than ever! And that, makes me rest easy at night - even if I stay up too late writing blogs! Check them out too - www.shadowprod.com.

1-800-Got-Junk

I love when I am inspired to write a random post as opposed to sitting down to think of one!! Today as I was cruising along Shelburne Road, going to the bank (KeyBank of course), stocking up on cat food (Pet Food Warehouse of course), and getting an oil change (without a shadow of a doubt from my favorites at Shearer Pontiac - home of the VIBE!!!), I came across a group of blue people dancing at the rotary before South Willard Street and at first thought - the Blue Man Group in Vermont? I quickly dismissed that idea as they are definitely not cool enough to dance around during local soccer mom traffic where South Burlington and Burlington slap five. Instead I saw it was the marketing funhouse known as the Burlington team of 1-800-Got-Junk. I see these guys at every Chamber of Commerce event and absolutely love their style - now even more so after the "blue man dance." Not to mention that the concept of 1-800-Got-Junk is a perfect fit with Burlington.

1-800-Got-Junk comes and takes away and properly disposes of, recycles, and collaborates with other groups to re-use your junk, crap, and stuff that you can't get rid of yourself, yet you would prefer it not sit around adding to potential white trash status. I love this concept for the Burlington area for two main reasons:
1.) It is much more environmentally friendly than (gawd forbid) dumping it, bringing it to the dump, or having it sit around in some inconvenient place.
2.) It gives me a reason to say: Stop being lazy Burlington jerkfaces and leaving your junk on the side of our streets - take some responsibility for yourselves, hack up the fee, and get the dudes at 1-800-Got-Junk to take it away for you!
How can we ever become globally responsible if we don't take the extra step ourselves? So, my kudos of the day - love my service team at Shearer! Kudos of the month - 1-800-Got-Junk!!!

Falling Into Publicity

I started off this blog griping about the industry, clients, money, etc. Then I deleted it and am starting over. I guess the ultimate gripe is that starting your own business is a lonely process. You no longer have co-workers or associates to plot the demise of your boss while pretending to be in a very important meeting, to sneak off with for extra long lunches downtown on a nice day, to yell back and forth over cubicles or office doors, or to say "screw working out, we're going for margaritas!" On a serious side, you also really don't have folks to bounce ideas off of or to blow off steam with after a crappy phone call.

And, in all fairness to myself and the industry, I guess I can't really use my blog to gripe. But, I can say that everyone has their ups and downs and everyone is human. In this humanity is also where we can really shine and connect with other human beings as people. Because at the end of the day what matters isn't your work, clients, or how you succeeded or failed, what matters is if you helped someone feel better about themselves, helped someone think more clearly, and if you helped yourself love and be loved. That is what matters. Oh and for my blog tags - I am Rachel Carter, a Vermont publicist and more importantly, a storyteller.

Looking for an Intern!

Yes I am! I am just too busy and need someone to ghost-write my blogs. Just Kidding! In my public relations opinion, that is NOT ethical! I do work with some blogs - like Green Mountain Power's Choose2BGreen blog, but that is the mechanical background work, research, rankings, etc. And, in fact, that is partially what I need help with! Someone who's internet savvy and up in the social networking world to help me with that side of my business while also learning the more traditional components of public relations and marketing.

This is definitely an unpaid internship, but the opportunity would be exceptional for the right candidate. Here's what I am offering:

- Flexible hours
- Relaxed home office environment
- Networking - for this I will cover the intern's expenses
- Chance to work on all of my accounts in various capacities - mostly writing, research, brainstorming, and helping with execution of various PR programs
- RachelCarterPR email account
- Women business owner firsthand experience

What I am looking for:

- College student majoring in Public Relations who is extremely driven and outgoing and who has real life experience in LIFE! (meaning, I do not want a bookworm whose experience is limited to the "college bubble" - I want someone who has traveled some, partied some, had a variety of jobs, has a variety of friends, and simply put - "gets it.") I do not care about GPAs
- Candidate must have a laptop - a computer is just something I cannot provide
- Candidate must be able to write well without spelling and grammar errors - I simply do not have time to correct these types of things
- Candidate must be able to take direction and feedback as well as give feedback and insight
- Prefer someone who is going to stay in Vermont for a while since the opportunity for Vermont media contacts, business networking, and even job openings is high

If anyone knows of anyone - please pass along and have candidates contact me by email rachel@rachelcarterpr.com with a well crafted, creative, and lively cover letter selling themselves to me as well as a resume.

Thanks!

Promoting Events

A big part of what I do as a Vermont public relations consultant/publicist is promote events. I guess this was the part of PR I always did. Like, when my middle school chum, Cathy, and I would have Valentine's Days parties for my pets and parents - to publicize it we would work for hours on a newsletter we would create and then "pretend" mail to the various members of my household. Or when another friend, Denise, and myself wanted to have a baby-sitters club (like the books) and I submitted a little article for the town paper and stuck fliers in all the neighbor's mailboxes. Or like how I would always be on the publicity committee for the plays, talent shows, and other such performing events I was in. I would distribute fliers, but would always submit a letter of some sort (aka press release in raw form) to the local newspaper. From then to know, I have also understood the power of the "calendar listings." When I taught the PR classes at Champlain College last year, one of the items I would always reiterate to my students was the importance of sending out timely calendar listings to every place that lists an event calendar.

I just spent most of last week doing just that, for I am in the midst of promoting three events and I might as well use my blog to help promote them as well. Now of course, I have stated many times this blog isn't in existence for client promotion - it is to give PR tips and to help generate PR discussions - especially relevant to public relations in Vermont. However, events are the topic, and these events are worth checking out anyway! Besides, who's steering this tractor??? (vroom vroom)

4th Annual Community Energy Fair
Where: Green Mountain Power Facility, 163 Acorn Lane (off exit 16, I-89), Colchester, VT
When: Saturday, September 8th, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Details: Part Festival. Part Science Fair. All Fun. Learn about energy efficiency and alternative energy solutions at Green Mountain Power’s annual Community Energy Fair located at its facility in Colchester. Tour the facility, take the Energy Challenge, meet team members and the mascot of the Vermont Voltage soccer team, listen and dance to tunes by the Steel Rail Bluegrass Band powered by The Solar Bus, experience the Electrical Fire Safety Trailer from the State of Vermont, and taste free concessions from McKenzie Hot Dogs, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, and locally made fruit smoothies!!
The Energy Fair is open and free to the public and more information can be found at www.greenmountainpower.biz.


American Machine - A play co-commissioned with the Flynn Center for Performing Arts
Where: FlynnSpace, Flynn Center for the Performing Arts, Burlington, VT
Dates: Tuesday, September 25th – Sunday, October 7th, Daily
Times: September 25th, 26th, 27th, & 28th @ 7:30 pm
September 29th @ 2:00 pm & 7:30 pm
September 30th @ 2:00 pm
October 3rd, 4th, 5th @ 7:30 pm
October 6th @ 2:00 pm & 7:30 pm
October 7th @ 2:00 pm & 6:30 pm
Cost: $20 - $29
Details: Jim Lantz, writer/producer of last year’s show, The Bus, delivers American Machine - part parable on the American dream, part cautionary tale taken from the headlines, which tells the story of a great factory that once made parts for classic American cars. As a makeshift family of six friends comes together each night to work, they're soon faced with rumors that their employer will be downsizing—or even closing altogether. As they begin working on a new order—making buckets and mops for Wal-Mart—the prospect of being split up looms before them, and their dedication to the once-proud factory is put to the test.
More information is available at www.americanmachinetheplay.com. Tickets are available at www.flynntix.org.


I Tango – Argentine Tango Performance, Milonga Party After the Show
Where: Flynn MainStage, Flynn Center for the Performing Arts, Burlington, VT
When: Friday, October 12th, 2007, 8:00 pm, Milonga Party @ 10:15 pm
Cost: $55; $45; $35; discounts for seniors, students and groups of 15+, Milonga Party - $25
Details: The Argentine Tango Society brings their distinctive production of I Tango to the Flynn for the first time! Under the esteemed art direction of Alicia Cruzado, fourteen tango dancers from Argentina and the world renowned orchestra, Color Tango, grace the Flynn MainStage Friday, October 12th. I Tango explores the personal relationship each performer has with the sensual and beautiful art form known and loved throughout the world as “tango.”
Following the performance will be a Milonga Party at the Flynn with the cast, opportunities to dance on stage, and music by Color Tango.
Tickets are available at www.flynntix.org and more information is available at www.ITangoTheShow.com.

Please share with friends too!!!

Networking 101 - Cruising with Intent

Back when I worked at a marketing/advertising agency as the Director of Public Relations I began honing the skills known as networking. Networking is not something taught in school, although I strongly recommend it be. But then, how do you teach Networking 101? I took a stab at it in one of the 400 level classes I taught in PR at Champlain College. The students asked about how to shake hands and I happily led the class in a hand shaking exercise - they thanked me and said they found it helpful. In my years at Marist College, I had no such luck. But, in the agency world, you are thrust into many situations where you either learn to network or you get really good at waving as you watch opportunities pass you by. After I started to really feel I was getting some sort of knack at networking, I soon labeled it "cruising with intent."

Now I own my own public relations business - yes, it is official, I am a women business owner - Rachel Carter PR is now registered with the State of Vermont. This new title certainly brings about an incredible amount of networking responsibilities. And for this blog, I will offer my opinion and feedback on three networking forums I have come across - this week actually involving all three!

Lake Champlain Chamber of Commerce - Located at www.vermont.org, the Lake Champlain Chamber of Commerce has built its way into my heart the way a complex friend does - the kind you never seem to have figured out until you realize they've been loyal and around long enough that they really are a great friend. I first utilized the Chamber when moving to Burlington from Nashville, Tennessee (that is another blog) and purchased the membership directory to start my job search (side note: first job in Vermont was a chambermaid at the Days Inn on Shelburne Road). From there I landed the gig as Marketing Director at New England Financial - Burlington and would often attend the Business After Hours events with various insurance agents - more-or-less as marketing morale support. I found the mixers to be annoying - more of a lame get-hit-on-by-creepy-older-men-or-cheesy-younger-ones event than anything else. But, then, once at the marketing agency, I tried it out again - this time with other co-workers as a pre-game and excuse to go out on a work night. Throughout this time, I actually started to meet people and started "networking" - all while cruising with intent - even if that did mean checking out a few cuties.

Anyway, once I started to make preparations to go into business by myself, I found the Chamber of Commerce events to have been an invaluable part of my business owner training. And not just the mixers, but the legislative breakfasts, and other community work the Chamber is involved in. One of the first things I did when I was on my own was join the Chamber and purchase a bunch of Business After Hours tickets. These events have become a highlight of my month - and not even because of the networking anymore, but I have some great friends in the Burlington business community and this is where we hang out. And tomorrow night the event is at Blues Night at The Lincoln Inn - how stoked am I?

Women Business Owners Network - This group, located at www.wbon.org, is like the fun, flashy friend who you like immediately and jump on the bandwagon because it looks like a good idea and because you feel it in your gut - don't you just love when your head and gut agree? I joined the Women Business Owners Network without knowing anyone in it, without having gone to a meeting, and without having heard much about it except I knew it was in existence and knew it had a good reputation. I joined about a month after joining the Chamber and my first event was the spring conference. I was hooked!!! What a well run, organized, positive energy filled, copious amounts of great networking, useful and helpful seminars, and healthy food filled event! Yes! I go to the Burlington chapter monthly luncheons (was at one today) and look forward to going to the new Williston chapter events as well - and that fall seminar at Topnotch - I just need a roomie!!

Business Network International (BNI) - The Vermont chapter is located at www.bnivt.com and I was invited to attend a meeting (which I did yesterday) by a talented graphic designer who owns Interrobang Design. It seemed similar to the Vermont Business Roundtable in that one professional in a variety of disciplines is invited to be in a networking and lead generating organization. I think the big difference between BNI and others I have mentioned is the focus on lead generation. It is also similar to the Rotary Club structure with the more old school and fraternal internal structure. While I was a Junior Rotarian back in high school and even in Alpha Kappa Psi (professional business fraternity) in college, I find this type of structure not to be as much my style as music and mixers and women empowerment. Plus, the meetings are at 7:30 in the morning - doesn't that defeat the purpose of having a home office? I mean, how can I cruise with intent at that hour?

Now, I am a believer in the power of three, so while I will not be joining BNI, I will be switching all banking from Chittenden to Key Bank so I can participate in the excellent program - Key For Women - another networking opportunity I am sure to be blogging about in the near future!

See you all at the Lincoln Inn tomorrow!!

Being Green

Ok, I want to know what folks think about the whole green everything? What do you like? Not like? What's a sham? For real? What do you want to know more about? And, what do you want to not hear about ever again?