5 Digital Tools To Boost Your Brand
In the digital age, we’re faced with many new and exciting ways to build and boost company branding. You may have heard of social bookmarking, F-commerce, digital coupons, photo sharing and gamification – but have you seen them executed properly? The INFOGRAPHIC below from CheapSally.com outlines all of these tactics, along with some fantastic case studies from brands like Etsy and Nike. Take a look:
Happy Labour Day From Embrace Disruption PR
We’re wishing you a safe and happy Labour Day from all of us at Embrace Disruption PR! We’re closed for the holiday, but will reopen at 9 a.m. EST on Tuesday, September 3, 2013.
#FilmFriday: Heineken “Drops” Two Handcuffed Guys In Philippines
Brand creativity reaches another level with this new addition to Heineken’s “Dropped” series. The concept? Pick up two random guys and plant them in the Philippines. It’s not clear what the rhyme or reason is for this impromptu “trip”, but it certainly caught our attention. Watch below:
What do you think, clever brand activation or just plain silly?
Ending Your Internship: How To Make A Lasting Impression
Now that we’re in the final weeks of August, summer interns are preparing to head back to school. It is time to pack up your desk and say your goodbyes. Before walking out the door though, here are some things you should keep in mind.
REVIEW YOUR PROGRESS
After a summer’s worth of work, what have you learned? Think back to all the responsibilities you were tasked with during your internship and what you’ve learned. If it helps, set up a meeting with your manager to discuss the progress you have made. This is a good opportunity to review your strengths and weaknesses, outline any achievements, and go over on any areas that need improving. If you had goals set for yourself at the start of the internship, reflect on them and marvel at what you’ve achieved.
PAVE FUTURE JOB OPPORTUNITIES
Be resourceful and keep your options open. Letting your company know that you are open to future job opportunities will keep you in their mind if a position pops up. PR companies often hire their full-time employees through previous interns because they are already aware of their work habits and what they are capable of. Even if you plan to venture out and work at another company, it never hurts to have the extra option.
LEAVE ON A GOOD NOTE
Don’t slack off during your last days with the company. Even when all you can think about are those last days of summer you get to enjoy when work is over, being sloppy with your responsibilities will leave a bad impression. Be consistent with the quality of your work, particularly if you plan on using members in your company as a future reference.
SAY YOUR GOODBYES
Never leave the office on the last day without saying anything. It comes off as unprofessional and it makes you look bad. Say goodbye to everyone you have worked with this summer and thank them for their patience and guidance!
KEEP IN CONTACT WITH YOUR MANAGER
It is always good to keep in touch with your superior and other employees you’ve collaborated with. Check back with them every once in a while to see how things are, perhaps even a coffee date? You can talk about the projects their company is currently working on or what you have been up to professionally as well. Also, managers are the way to go if you ever need professional advice or some mentoring. Building a mentor-mentee relationship can definitely help through your professional journey. With social media so accessible, it is easier to stay connected. Just be aware of what you are posting and who are seeing your posts!
APPLY WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED
What you take away from your internship will stay with you throughout your career. If you are going back to school, use your new skillset to your advantage. What you have learned during the summer will help you understand what is being taught in the classroom. This works both ways. Think about what you are learning from the books and apply that to the real world. Knowing how to apply and utilize your knowledge is everything.
8 Tips To Turn Your Blog Into A Full-Time Job
Don’t be fooled by articles and advertisements that promise earning thousands of dollars a week by blogging. You might be tempted to dramatically quit your day job and start earning six-figures by blogging full-time from a St. Lucian beach, but the truth of the blogging business could not be further from this ill-conceived notion. Check out these 8 tips that can help you work towards your dream of earning a solid income from blogging.
1. Set yourself up for failure
We put this at the top of the list not to discourage budding bloggers, but to prepare them for the reality of the business of blogging (note the distinction between that and the hobby of blogging). As of 2013, there are more than 239 million blogs combined on WordPress, Blogster, Tumblr, LiveJournal and Weebly (snitchim.com). This number excludes the blogs on Blogger, Posterous and Blogsome. There is a lot of competition out there, and only a handful of the 239 million are earning at least some profit. Simply having your blog online isn’t enough to generate revenue and a sustainable source of income. Treat it as you would a start-up business. You need to put effort into making it grow. It will either take-off or flop, and expecting riches quick is unrealistic.
2. Choose your niche wisely
We’ve visited countless cooking blogs, fashion blogs, beauty blogs, and the soccer-mom blogs who manage to squeeze in just enough time between diaper changes to blog about the experience. The truth is that many of those blogs will fail because the market for that topic is over saturated. If a broad topic such as fashion is your true passion, focus on a particular detail and grow from there. For example, instead of blogging about fashion, you can instead dedicate your entire blog to Denim. Once you delve deeper into this one particular subject, you have the potential to become a well-known (and respected) denim blogger.
3. Quality vs. quantity
If you go around commenting on every random blog you can find, telling them to visit your own blog, chances are you’re not going to get a good following. Don’t expect to gain hundreds of followers in a short period of time, either. Blogging takes time, but finding your target audience is more time-consuming than the writing process itself. Research blog topics that are similar to your own and take the time to read their posts. If you are genuinely interested in their work, make productive comments and follow them. By doing so, you have a higher chance of attracting a quality target audience who will also be genuinely interested in your posts. Remember to also spend a good amount of time looking in your back-end analytics, this will give you a realtime indication as to what content is meaningful to your readers.
4. Use social media (duh!)
Having an online presence is a key factor in having a successful blog. If you already have a solid following on your blog, start a Facebook and Twitter account (if haven’t already done so). If you already have a good following on Twitter and Facebook or other networks and are just starting a blog, use those networks to promote your blog. Be persistent and be patient. Tweet, re-tweet, and repeat. Follow the right people on Twitter, and be an active member of all your social network communities – it’s a great way for you and your future or existing fans to connect and spread the word.
5. The money-maker
Although to some this may seem like selling out, if you’re looking to earn money off your blog, having advertisements is a good way to do so. If your blog has enough traffic, you can offer up space for Google Ads or other content providers on your site for a reasonable fee (just make sure it’s brand safe!). Also, have a look into affiliate links within both your posts, and in the form of ads. And don’t forget: search engine optimization (SEO) is a great way to optimize your posts to be more search-engine friendly, and Google offers various tools you can use to help your blog with attracting more visitors (such as Google Trends and Analytics). It takes a lot of work, like any business. If you’re in it for the long haul, the work will eventually pay off.
6. Reach out to PR agencies
Contact agencies that fit in with your particular blog topic. For example, if you have a travel blog, reach out to agencies that specialize in tourism, hotels, travel, etc. If you write them a good pitch, you can potentially receive free samples or one-night stays at hotels in exchange for publicity on your blog. Be forewarned, PR agencies worth their salt will want to know some of the analytics behind your blog, so know your unique monthly visits (not page views) along with your demographic!
7. Don’t forget the art of writing!
What it all comes down to is that blogging is about writing. You can’t expect to have a successful blog if it has no substance. Good writing takes practice, so don’t get discouraged if your thoughts aren’t being translated the same way via text. Keep writing and you will find your own distinctive writing voice.
8. Make an editorial calendar
Aside from all of the above, your blog needs two main things in order to succeed: regularity and reliability. In order to stay organized and on top of your posts, make an editorial calendar for yourself. Write down ideas in advance and make clear, organized notes for when you plan to publish each post. It’s difficult to come up with a new subject on the spot every day or every other day. It’s much easier to think of a few different ideas and put them in a queue for publishing on your blog.
With all these in mind, happy blogging and good luck! If you do end up getting rich, don’t forget to take us out for a drink or two 
Sources:
http://www.nydailynews.com/jobs/real-money-blogging-article-1.1396145
https://www.mint.com/blog/how-to/turn-your-hobby-into-a-money-making-career-0713/
What Your Logo Says About Your Business
Back in July 2012, we posted an INFOGRAPHIC outlining what your brand colours really say about your business.
We recently uncovered an updated INFOGRAPHIC from 123Print with some new insights that are sure to spark your interest!
Did you know:
- 33% of all companies use blue in their logo.
- 95% only use one or two colours in their logo.
- 41% of logos use only text.
- Blue symbolizes trust and dependability.
- Red evokes action and energy.
- Brown is seen as dependable and simple.
Check out the meaning of other colours, and a handy font guide below!
#WeeklyDisruptor: FASHIONIGHTS.com Lifestyle Contributor, Daniel Desforges
Each week at Embrace Disruption we introduce you to an influential person in the digital, blogger, arts, culture, film, or media world! Every Thursday, you can check back at EDPR to find out who we think is particularly amazing at ‘embracing disruption’ within their respective industries.
This week, we’d like to introduce you to Daniel Desforges, lifestyle contributor for FASHIONIGHTS.com!
1. What’s your official job title, and where did you go to school?
I am the Lifestyle Contributor for FASHIONIGHTS.com which is one of Canada’s top 8 most influential Fashion & Lifestyle blogs as rated by Elle Canada. I attended Carleton University in Ottawa, Ontario and graduated in 2007 with my Honours Degree in Mass Communication.
2. Elevator pitch. Describe yourself in a nutshell (or sea shell, or any shell for that matter).
I try to not take life too seriously. I find joy in the simple things like food, wine, love and laughter. I like to think I can stay ahead of the trends in all those areas and enjoy exploring everything the great city of Toronto has to offer now that I have returned for good. Life is what you make it, and I try to make it the best I can each and every day.
3. Why did you pursue what you’re doing now? What was the inspiration?
Julio Reyes is the founder of FASHIONIGHTS and is one of the most successful people I have ever known. Originally he captured my heart when we became a couple, and shortly after he captured my attention as a contributor for all things food and lifestyle. You can say that my reason to write is the love I have for the topics which I cover including Daniel’s Dish, my new restaurant column. But my inspiration is and has always been my love for Julio and my admiration for him.
4. What is the best part of your day-to-day?
I am so blessed to a part of a huge entity like FASHIONIGHTS and the best part of my day to day is the new faces and places I get to see as a part of the media. Some of the greatest friends I have are due largely in part to the events I attend on a daily basis and the people I get to interact with. I love my job! But I love the people more! It’s why I am inspired to write each and every post.
5. What’s the most challenging?
Dating the boss! Drawing the line between my relationship and my professional life with Julio can sometimes be challenging. Somehow we always manage to find the perfect balance between the two. I love working with him, but I don’t always love how harsh he can be when he edits my posts.
6. If you took a look in the cliché crystal ball, what do you see for yourself?
Five year plan? I am married, settled in New York (The Fashion Mecca of North America) with the man I love and the blog we have made into a global brand. But as long as I have love and I am inspired to keep writing, I will be happy no matter where we end up or what we end up doing.
7. How do you embrace disruption in your work and personal life?
I do my best to maintain organization, but the fashion and food worlds are far from that! I’m constantly juggling my day and night, answering emails, tweeting, instagraming, facebooking and emailing some more. We are in high demand and that means chaos comes hand in hand. But I excel under pressure and like to think I do it all with a smile on my face. I’d rather be busy then bored.
8. What is the most memorable moment in your career?
My very first event with Julio at the launch of Restaurant Buonanotte. That first flash of the camera in our face and hob knobbing with celebrities and the very best of the blogger world, I still remember thinking how glamorous my life had become. And I could just tell that my dreams were finally starting to come true.
9. Do you support any initiatives or charities?
I love supporting charity and believe that it is everyone’s duty to give back to causes that deserve attention. It is especially important when you are in the public eye and can use your influence over a large audience to do some good. Movember is my primary charity as I had a very serious prostate cancer scare and The Canadian Cancer Society. I always do what I can when I can for these charities.
10. Tell us what you see yourself doing at 65 years old.
Sitting on a beach in Barcelona, Spain enjoying my retirement and the most beautiful city in the world.
11. Just for fun: if you had to pick one app in the whole APPVERSE, what would it be?
Instagram. THAT is the app that I excel in and adore. There is something so intriguing about the whole process and I love each and every one of my followers. Plus I’ve been told I’m quite entertaining! @DoTheDaniel, check it out!
How To Pick The Best PR Agency For Your Business
Picking a public relations agency that will work best for you and your business can be a bit overwhelming. The Toronto area alone has well over 100 large and boutique firms to choose from – making it incredibly hard to narrow down the right agency for you.
Because you’ve already stumbled upon this post, we’re sure you know the value of integrating PR into your company’s strategy. So, we’ve put together a list of 6 things to consider when selecting a new PR agency or firm to assist your business.
CONSIDER YOUR OBJECTIVES
What are you looking to achieve with your PR efforts? What demographic are you looking to target? Are you looking for local, national or international coverage? Are you interested in short lead (blogs, websites, newspapers, television) or long lead (magazines, features) coverage? Are you looking for assistance in digital efforts (social media, blogging, microsites)? Will you want (or do you have) a spokesperson for your product/service? Do you want to plan any activations or events?
Good PR firms will be able to help guide you through these questions, but it’s important to consider these before reaching out. Having a good sense of your objectives will assist the PR firm in deciphering how they could help you achieve your goals. Remember: good PR firms will get you coverage, great PR firms will get you targeted coverage for the audiences that matter most to you. Be very wary of agencies that promise coverage – it’s often too good to be true, or not catered specifically to your needs.
CONSIDER YOUR BUDGET
Once you’ve laid out your PR goals, it’s helpful to plan out your budget based on those objectives. Although you won’t know exact pricing from firm to firm, it’s good to have an idea of what you’ll be comfortable spending. Typically PR firms will bill in one of two ways: a monthly retainer for a fixed duration of time (ex. three or six months) or pricing by project (for longer term). Be mindful that most PR does take time to strategize, write a release and pitch to reporters/producers – so don’t expect immediate coverage to roll in right after signing with the agency of your choice. Also be sure to decide whether you want to work with a large or smaller agency. Larger agencies will often have more people working on your account (and the price tag will reflect that), but also focus on several clients at one time. Smaller firms tend to have less overhead, with one or two key people focused on your account – sometimes making their services a little more budget friendly.
DO YOUR RESEARCH
You can do a Google search to find agencies in your area, but make sure that’s not your only tactic to find potential agencies. Remember that just because an agency comes up in the first few pages of searches doesn’t mean they’re the best, it sometimes just means that they are spending money on search engine optimization (SEO) and advertising. Ask around your circles to see who other people have worked with, and get recommendations. A PR firm above all else should have good word-of-mouth, right? Once you’ve got a list of potentials narrowed down, spend some time on their websites. Look through their client lists, see what their activity looks like on social media and check out if they’re taking the time to maintain a company voice through a blog/etc. Make sure to keep your eye out for competitors in client lists: a good PR agency will not sign competitors of their current clients. Doing this alone should narrow down your selection to just a few agencies.
MAKE CONTACT
Make an informal call, or shoot a quick email to your potential agencies. See how they respond (was it timely?) and get an idea of how they represent themselves through communication. Hiring a PR firm is comparable to hiring a new employee, you want to make sure that they’re the right fit for you and your company. Ask to see some previous work or case studies from the agency, so that you can get a better idea of their abilities. Some firms shy away from putting coverage on their websites due to copyright and infringement issues with publications and media, but can share everything when used for internal purposes.
ASK FOR A PITCH
Some companies like to put together a request for proposal (RFP) outlining the project details and requirements and issue it to the agencies they’re interested in. This practice isn’t mandatory, but can certainly help in keeping communications organized between you and your potential agencies/firms. Once the agency knows what you want to accomplish, they’ll put together a plan of action and present it to you. When you do meet with the agency, make sure you ask them exactly who will be working on your account – a good pitch from a seasoned professional is one thing, but you don’t want to be the victim of a bait and switch. Take a good look at the proposals issued and evaluate if they’re the product of hard work, or a simple cut and paste job. This is a good indicator of the work that’s to come from the agency.
MAKE YOUR SELECTION
By now you’re exhausted, but the hard part is over! You’ve picked the agency that you think will work best for you; congratulations! Now you can enjoy a fruitful (and fun) relationship with a firm that will take the time to understand your business and help catapult you to even greater success!
Thank you for taking the time to read this post, and do let us know how you make out on your hunt! As always, we’re available to chat if you have any questions about selecting an agency, or if you’d like to inquire about working together. Shoot us an email by clicking here, or call us at 416.963.9857
Four Reasons We Love Autumn In Toronto
The fall is arguably one of the busiest seasons for Torontonians. Beyond the usual madness that includes shipping the little ones off to school and returning from those delightful va/stay-cations, there is a ton of activity building within our city! Here’s a few we guarantee you won’t want to miss:
August 16 to September 22, 2013
A ritual for many, the CNE continues to be a destination for Torontonians as they prepare for the end of the summer. Go for the campy rides, dirty (in a good way) food and ample amounts of entertainment. Don’t forget to try out the Sky Ride, we hear it’s worth lining up for!
Toronto International Film Festival
September 5 to September 15, 2013
A no-brainer, really. See and be seen at our nation’s top film festival, highlighting some of the best films from around the world! Whether you go to catch a flick, or just to star-seek – the city will be filled with all sorts of glamour!
Rumoured to be October 21 – October 25, 2013
Our beautiful city continues to ramp up its fashion influence with a chock-full week of Canadian design. We’re looking forward to attending this fall (as of writing, the dates are still not confirmed), and can’t wait to see what some of our favourite designers will have in store for the upcoming season!
October 5, 2013
Mark your calendars and make sure to roam the streets on the evening of October 5th! The festival’s website says it best, “Experience Toronto transformed by more than 110 contemporary art projects created by hundreds of artists. This year’s event will feature a variety of independent projects, three curated exhibitions, and a centrepiece installation by world-renowned artist Ai Weiwei of China.”
That rounds up our four must-do activities this autumn, do you have any to add to our list?
Your Desk’s Dirty Truth
Be forewarned, you may want to have some hand sanitizer available before reading this! We found this INFOGRAPHIC on one of our client’s blogs and wanted to share it with our readers. Check out the filthy truth behind your desk’s clean factor, and be sure to read the post over at Views From 590.
