Today is My Last Day!

Today is my last day at Rebecca Adele PR & Events! I can’t believe how fast summer has flown by! I start my senior year at John Carroll University in a few weeks, so I obviously have a mix of emotions. I’m sad to leave my summer internships, I’m excited to start class and see my friends, and of course, I’m terrified to graduate and enter the real world.

Despite my anxiety, I’m feeling more confident about finding my first job after this experience. There’s so much I can talk about in an interview! I can now use HootSuite and SproutSocial. I love writing and Becki gave me ample opportunities to capitalize on this. My portfolio has doubled in size within these three months! It’s now full of press releases, social media plans, and blogs. Witnessing Becki work with clients was very enlightening, too. I learned little tips that I wouldn’t have picked up in a classroom.  And hey, playing with Google, Ollie, Jack, and Geraci was a pretty great perk!

As I reflect on my summer, I’ve realized that I’ve learned more in these past few months than I have in my past three years of school. You just can’t beat experience at a real company. I couldn’t be more grateful for this experience or to have Becki as a mentor. I look forward to picking her brain in the months and years to come. :)

Written By Maura Stewart from Rebecca Adele PR & Events

Clean Up Your Online Act: The First Step for the Burgeoning Young Professional

You’ve heard all the cringe-worthy horror stories. A sorority sister whose psychotic email was leaked online; an employee who posted a profanity-ridden Facebook status about her boss, forgetting she had added him as a friend. Our lives are increasingly public because of social media, and it is easy to overexpose yourself, making your career path much rockier than it needs to be.

Transitioning to a presentable and relevant online presence is often an ominous task for college students about to enter the workforce. It is especially important for students, like myself, who find themselves in PR internships, a field that makes social media prowess a top priority. It is important to present yourself as an intelligent, active social media user, free of self-indulgent, embarrassing, or potentially illegal posts.

The first step to clean up your act online is to do a quick Google search of yourself. You want to make sure what people see when they search for you is appropriate and a good representation of who you are. You don’t want friends, family members, or potential employers to be able to find the American Idol blog you had in fifth grade…

Next, start posting content with actual value on your social media accounts. That means nixing those pointless “what I’m having for dinner” tweets, and deleting pictures of you bonging beers at a frat party. Engage in interesting conversations, share though-provoking articles, and share insights that people might find funny, relatable, or valuable. To borrow a phrase from Bill O’Reilly, “keep it pithy.”  

The best way to keep your online presence in line is to work under the mantra that less is more. I have decided that a few years before I graduate is a good time to build on this; to make sure my social media is purged of questionable content and full of valuable posts. That way, when I’m on the hunt for a job after graduation, I have had time to build a strong, reputable online presence!

Written by: Kate Glending from Rebecca Adele PR & Events 

The Internship That Never Sleeps

It is hard to believe that summer is almost over and I will be returning to Kent State to finish up my undergrad! My time at Rebecca Adele PR & Events has gone by so fast and I truly am going to miss working here every week! Becki has been such a positive role model and I am eager to apply everything I learned this summer to the real working world. Rebecca Adele PR & Events has opened a door of ideas for me and I have Becki to thank for that!

Coming into this internship I did not know what to expect at all! I’ve had previous internships before but I knew this internship would be much different than the rest! The excitement about working at Rebecca Adele is the fast pace work environment. When you came to work, you had no choice but to work! Becki is a one-woman show and everything we do goes directly to her. It’s amazing to see how well she multi-tasks throughout the day and then still manages to stay on top of the work she gives interns. In the office, we are all treated equal and we all help each other out when needed! Working in such an intimate environment with a few people helped all of us get the one-on-one attention we needed to grow.

It’s exciting to see how much more confident I am as a writer and how I have progressed over the past few months. In the office, we are the writers of blogs, press releases, social media plans and much more. I’ve learned more about my writing skills during this internship than I have the past few years of college. This internship has challenged me to go outside of my comfort zone and write about things I would never choose to write about. It’s also been an accomplishment to see public feedback on my own words.

At the beginning of the summer, I was still asking myself what I wanted to be when I grew up. Working with Rebecca Adele PR & Events I was able to get a little taste of everything. Working the Avant-Garde Art & Craft Shows, to sitting in on client meetings, to even writing social media plans! I can say I have a better outlook on what I want my future to look like now. I know that event planning is the direction I want my career to go after this summer. The excitement of putting together an event and being able to see the outcome is a great feeling! Having people satisfied with an event you put on is an accomplishment in itself. I was able to see how PR and social media play a huge part in the success of an event and how every aspect is important. I have a lot of hard work until I reach the end result, but I am excited for the ride!

Working with Becki has given a new meaning to the word “work ethic.” Becki is awesome at what she does and it’s because she works hard at it! It’s inspiring to see someone so young already accomplish so much. I am so thankful I was able to be a part of Rebecca Adele PR & Events this summer because it has been nothing less than a positive experience. Even though I have two more semesters of college, I will take what I learned this summer and apply it in years to come. Thanks for a great summer Becki and I can’t wait to see where your business takes you!

Written by Katie Woods from Rebecca Adele PR & Events

The great debate: Education vs. Experience

The end of summer is approaching and the most recent 2013 grads have found a job and have settled into their new lives. While others have taken the summer off and will begin the job hunt now. Like most graduates, reflecting on the last four years is a popular thing to do and coming to the realization that time goes by way too fast. With those thoughts also comes the anxious idea of starting a new journey and leaving behind the best four years of your life. A popular conversation amongst my friends has been our education the past four years versus work experience. My eclectic group of friends ranges from straight “A” students, to the internship queen, to others who have put school on hold for a few years. So when this topic is brought up, we all have a lot to say but a whole lot of nothing to say at the same time.

So the question remains... What is more important, education or work experience? We think about all the young entrepreneurs that dropped out of school to follow their dreams; Oprah Winfrey, Bill Gates, Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg to name a few. Did these people have the niche? Were they in the right place at the right time? Who is to pass judgment...they are the billionaires right?

There is no doubt in my mind that a college degree is the new high school diploma, but at the same time are we wasting money on classes I will never use again toward my future career? I have always been a career oriented person and always prided myself on my past internships and travel experience. The question is, do I do this to excuse my not so scholarly grades, or the fact that my university didn't make Forbes list for top 100 colleges of 2013?

So what is the answer? Entrepreneurs, business professionals and students will continue to have their own opinion. Let’s face it, competition is tough out there! There might always be someone that is more qualified for the job, but gaining the most education and the most experience always puts you one step closer. The variables to landing “that dream job” are endless, because at the end of the day, everything seems to play a factor in the real world. The unsettling question on my mind is did I do enough these past four years?

You can never stop learning, and in the perfect world gaining that “A” grade would amount to retaining most of the information a teacher presents and then being able to recite that information in a practical way. The problem with the classroom setting is that students spend one night cramming copious amounts of information for an exam, retain little amounts of information, and then pass the test with a satisfactory grade. At a college level, that shouldn’t be the standard of learning. Receiving an education means something, and leaving college, students should have a wealth of knowledge in many different fields, but this isn’t always the case. The reason that so many students and employers focus more on real world experience versus college education is because students aren’t learning, and what they do retain they don’t use in a practical manner.

I am a believer that school and experience play an equal role and one can only help the other. Getting the experience of college helps you grow and adapt to different work environments. Everyone is going to have strengths and weaknesses. The biggest thing is what they can offer at the end of the day. It's my opinion, I truly think that all just depends on the type of person you are. What's your take on the issue?

Written by Katie Woods from Rebecca Adele PR & Events

Real Beauty: A Campaign From Marketing Heaven

“When did you stop thinking you’re beautiful?”

That’s the newest question Dove is posing for women in their new ad, "Camera Shy." (below) The first section features women trying desperately to escape the camera, while the second section features little girls dancing and gazing happily at their reflection. The ad challenges women to confront the reasons they hide behind their hands, books, blankets, and pillows. Since the Real Beauty campaign launched in 2004, Dove has forced us to rethink the definition of beauty.

It's really no surprise that the campaign has been wildly successful. (The "Real Beauty Sketches" Youtube video has over 55 million hits.) Dove has capitalized on two things. First, they're challenging traditional beauty standards and moving the advertising industry in a positive direction. They're asking women why they accept these standards as a realistic view of beauty. By placing people with real beauty in their ads, they are sending subliminal messages about beauty to the entire world. It may sound too easy, but over time, those messages will sink in and start to become truth. Everyone is beautiful. That's a pretty awesome message. 

Second, Dove is giving the public what they want, in the best way possible. Most women are sick of being told they are too fat, too skinny, too wrinkly, too pale, too dark, too tall, or too short to be beautiful. We're tired of seeing unnaturally skinny and beautiful women on shampoo bottles, magazine covers, and department store posters. So, of course, people can't get enough of these ads. It makes the rest of us, (women who aren't perfectly toned, tan, and gorgeous) feel beautiful. Apart from making a positive social change, the Real Beauty campaign is totally brilliant marketing.

So whether you think it's just a ploy or that they really care about improving the body image of millions of women, there's no arguing that Dove has changed the advertising game. As a woman, I couldn't be happier.

Written by Maura Stewart from Rebecca Adele PR & Events

Order Up! How Working in a Restaurant is Like Working at an Agency

Most people think that working in a restaurant is awful. There are rude customers, long hours on your feet, and of course, you have to deal with food. Although there are plenty of reasons why people hate working in a restaurant, being a server is very similar to working at an agency.

First, taking an order for a customer is a lot like taking on a work order. The customer will tell you exactly what they want, and it is your job as the server to make sure that they get what they ordered. At an agency, a client will tell whoever is in charge what they are looking for, and it is their job to make sure they are getting what they asked for.

The creative team is like the team of cooks in the restaurant. The server will give you a food order, and it is your job to prepare it that way. Working at agency is comparable because your boss will give you the work order, and it is your duty to give them what they asked for under budget constraints.

Teamwork experience is valuable in both the restaurant and agency settings. You need to know how to work together with your co-workers to get the best results. If you need help, just ask! It is not always best to do everything yourself.

Working at a restaurant gives you time-management skills because you are usually doing a million things at once. Likewise, in any agency job, it is likely that you will have to manage more than one project at a time. To be a successful in both a restaurant and at agency, you have got to be able to multitask and think on your feet.

Another part of being able to multitask is the ability to stay calm under pressure. Whether you are busy with multiple tables at once at a restaurant or swamped with several projects at an agency, take a minute to relax. Make a list of everything that needs to be done so you don’t forget anything, and take things one step at a time.

Finally, maintaining customer loyalty is the same in a restaurant as it is at an agency. If you give the customer or client exactly what they are looking for, then they are likely to keep coming back. As a server, giving a customer a great experience will result in better tips and the possibility that they will come back and request you again next time. If you give your client their money’s worth, it will provide your agency with credibility, positive word-of-mouth, and the possibility that the client will choose your agency again for its next project.

Written By: Rachel Ausperk from Rebecca Adele PR & Events

The Kardashian Effect: Building a Brand Out of Thin Air

Kim Kardashian and her raven-haired clan get a lot of heat for being untalented, famous for being famous, and addicted to the limelight. Business ventures, style, and scandals aside, the Kardashian Empire seemed to come out of nowhere and onto our TV screens, magazine covers, department stores, and... pretty much everything else. We sympathize with Bruce Jenner in an episode of one of their many reality shows when, looking at Kim on a magazine cover in his Dentist’s office, he says, “I can’t get away from these people.” Either can we, Bruce. Either can we.

What exactly makes the Kardashians have this unprecedented staying power? What caused them to be welded permanently into our brains, water-cooler conversations, and pop culture with no end in sight? A unique mix of craziness, Ryan Seacrest, and phenomenal PR.

Kim Kardashian can’t sing or act. We have her stint on Dancing With The Stars to remind us that she can’t dance either. What she lacks in traditional talent that typically wields her kind of celebrity and notoriety, she makes up for with “momager” Kris Jenner. In 2007, Kim was moderately known for being friends with heiress and socialite Paris Hilton. Then her 2003 home video with Ray-J went viral, and she was well on her way to becoming a household name for all the wrong reasons, never able to shake the stigma of her past mistakes.

Enter Kris Jenner. With the help of her mom, Kim was able to sue the company who distributed the video, resulting in a $5 million settlement in April 2007. In October of that same year, the Kardashian family premiered their reality show Keeping Up with the Kardashians. Jenner took advantage of the momentum from the lawsuit and their new reality show to launch Kim and her sisters Kourtney and Khloé into the world as bona fide celebrities.

Never missing the chance to stamp the name Kardashian on a product, Jenner almost single-handedly created an empire of epic proportions, tirelessly promoting the Kardashian brand, and leaving no rock unturned. The Kardashians have their name on several television shows, boutiques, perfume, nail polish, and clothing lines. They maintain an engaging presence on nearly all forms of social media. They have completely revolutionized the reality show format and the pathway to fame, and demonstrate daily the sheer power of technology and social media.

Through dedicated PR and promotion, as well as unparalleled business savvy, Kris Jenner and her family created and monetized their public personas, building a brand with international influence and true staying power. They have proved time and time again that that the Kardashians are dedicated, real, and here to stay.

The Kardashians are living proof of the phrase “There is no such thing as bad publicity.” They may be the butt of many jokes, but with a collective net worth somewhere near $80 million, the Kardashians are having the last laugh. 

Written By: Kate Glending from Rebecca Adele PR & Events