Keep On Keepin’ On: EDPR’s Hour-by-Hour Workday Playlist
Need some assistance in brightening up your day? We wanted to help by giving you a work day playlist that will put you in the right groove. Enjoy!
7:00 AM – Hit the Snooze
It’s a Beautiful Day – Michael Bublé
Good morning everyone! Nothing like some Michael Bublé to get you out of bed.
8:00 AM – Morning Commute
I’ll Be Missing You – Puff Daddy feat. Faith
Come on, you know you want to sing to this song. Belt it out. The rush hour traffic will be a breeze.
9:00 AM – Right On Time
Move Like Jagger – Maroon 5 feat. Christina Aguilera
Time to crack down and start being productive. Listen to this to get you moving!
10:00 AM – Caffeine High
Levels – Avicii
The caffeine has kicked in and you’re off to a good start. This song is perfect for getting you in ‘the zone’.
11:00 AM – Morning Rush
Madness – Muse
It’s madness! Just one more hour, and you’ve already decided what you’ll be ordering for lunch.
12:00 PM – Lunch Hour!
Hollywood (Jacques Lu Cont Remix) – Madonna
This song is perfect for a mid-day party break.
1:00 PM Itis
Don’t You Worry Child – Swedish House Mafia
You’ve stuffed yourself and the itis is just kicking in… This song should pick you back up!
2:00 PM – Afternoon Stretch
Girl On Fire (Inferno Version) – Alicia Keys feat. Nicki Minaj
Don’t let your good vibes stop – keep on pushing through this afternoon with full force!
3:00 PM – Just Keep Swimming
Bohemian Rhapsody – Queen
A little Queen never hurt nobody.
4:00 PM – Almost there
8 Become 1 – Norwegian Recycling
Last hour! You got this. Check out this mash up while you’re at it!
5:00 PM PARTAY
Tonight Tonight – Hot Chelle Rae
It’s 5PM, time to party! This song will definitely get you hyped.
6:00 PM Wind Down
Nuvole Bianche – Ludovico Einaudi
It’s important to relax and unwind after a hard day’s work. This song will ease your mind before you head out for the night.
Happy work day!
A Look At Effective Storytelling [INFOGRAPHIC]
Everyone loves hearing a good story. In the age of content overload, it’s more important than ever to make sure you’re cutting through the noise with an effective communications plan. The INFOGRAPHIC below outlines some helpful tips to ensure your business’ story gets noticed. Here’s a few statistics we found especially interesting from the image compiled by LOOKBOOKHQ and Beutler Ink:
- Everyone wants multimedia – press releases with multimedia get 77% more responses compared to text-only formats.
- Blogs with videos are linked to 3x more than text-only posts
- No one reads – 79% of people just scan web articles (you can include us in the 79%!)
- It’s estimated that people see 5000 marketing messages per day
- Every 60 seconds, 168 million emails are sent!
All these and more in the image below.
#FilmFriday: Impress Your PR Clients With This Handy Gadget
Well it’s Friday yet again, and we’ve got a special 8 second video with a HUGE tip for all you PR pros out there! Check out a member of our very own EDPR team, Danica Forshner, as she shares some helpful advice above!
The scanner we’re using while carrying out this task is the hipstreet Swipe (available on Shop.ca for $127.49). This small piece of machinery packs a big punch, allowing you to portably scan and store anything and everything you’d ever want to! The portability is especially useful when scanning magazines, as you don’t need to rip any pages out – or fold them unnecessarily. Plus, if you don’t own a copy of a magazine or newspaper piece, you can always scan another person’s copy – without ever needing to borrow it!
An added bonus: this scanner comes with a tablet/iPhone app that makes portable scanning even simpler! Check out the app demo video below:
Quite honestly, this scanner has helped make this rather mundane and tedious job a little more fun!
#WeeklyDisruptor: Judy Inc’s Fashion Stylist to the Stars, Tiffany Briseno
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 Judy Inc’s Fashion Stylist to the Stars, Tiffany Briseno!
What’s your official job title and where did you go to school?
I studied Fashion Design at George Brown College and then Ryerson University. I am currently a Wardrobe Stylist with Judy Inc.
Describe yourself in a nutshell (or sea shell, or any shell for that matter).
Creatively Conscious, art obssesed, dancer turned fashion aficionado.
Why did you pursue what you’re doing now? What was the inspiration?
From a young age I would watch my mom as model work with designers and other industry pros. My grandmother was also involved in the industry before that. She was a costume designer and dance choreographer in the late 70’s to mid 80‘s. I was always drawn to the fashion industry I just didn’t know to what capacity. After graduating I briefly interned at Plutino Grp and was further exposed to the many facets of the beauty making industry. After meeting the many artists that would come visit the agency and constantly reviewing their inspirational portfolios I knew I wanted to jump into the ring as a taste maker
What is the best part of your day-to-day?
The best part of my day-to-day is “living the dream” as they say. Making a living from something you love to do.
What’s the most challenging?
It’s been a challenge to find a good balance of both work and life. At times I get lost in the creative vortex of my job and it becomes difficult to not take on more projects.
If you took a look in the cliché crystal ball, what do you see for yourself?
I see myself expanding my reach overseas on a more frequent basis.
How do you embrace disruption in your work and personal life?
Yoga…Dance…and shaking off the unnecessary.
What is the most memorable moment in your career?
One of the most memorable moments is when I was one of the top ten finalist for the Nuit Blanche Design Competition.
Tell us what you see yourself doing at 65 years old.
I would like to have opened a non-profit art school in Mexico. I think that giving kids a chance to develop something they are passionate about will give them valuable tools for their future.
Just for fun: if you had to pick one app in the whole APPVERSE, what would it be?
Shazam!!! Always love discovering new artists and new music.
We recently had a chance to watch Tiffany work her magic for one of our clients, the lovely Stacey McKenzie, at a shoot for City Life Magazine. Be sure to follow Tiffany on Twitter and pick up the issue when it comes out in August. Check out some candid shots from the day (below).
What We’re Listening To: EDPR’s 5 Best Radio Picks
Show of hands: who turns up the tunes to get through through the work week? Here at EDPR, we are always jammin’ to our favourite tunes. Having gone through most of the stations in Toronto, we’ve compiled a list of our top 5 radio stations that are on constant rotation throughout our space. Check ‘em out:
Otherwise known as CIRR-FM, Proud FM was the first radio station in Toronto to target the city’s gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender communities. Ever since their launch in 2007, they have been playing the greatest variety of new as well as old music hits.
DO NOT MISS: The Mike Chalut Show
Listen to The Mike Chalut Show every weekday 3:00 – 7:00PM. A name in both TV and radio, his winning personality mixed with producer Helena Schaper’s quick wit make for a charming combination. Your afternoons will never be a drag again, and their contagious energy will definitely make you love this station’s guts.
Owned by the Virgin Group, the Virgin Radio brand is used by independent radio stations all around the world. In Toronto, 99-9 Virgin Radio is owned by Bell Media, this station plays the latest contemporary hits.
DO NOT MISS: Steve Roberts on The Breakfast Show with Mad Dog & Maura
Steve Roberts co-hosts the Breakfast Show with Mad Dog & Maura Monday to Thursdays at 6:00 – 9:00AM and Fridays 5:30 – 9:00AM. All three hosts make our morning shine but we’re big fans of Steve Roberts: he’s such a delight!
A.K.A. CKIS-FM, KiSS is a radio station owned by Rogers Media. Since their first broadcast in 1993, they have been broadcasting the Top 40 contemporary hits for Torontarians.
DO NOT MISS: Taylor Kaye
Taylor Kaye airs every weekday 9:00AM – 2:00PM. We love her cheeky personality and hearing all the latest celebrity dirt straight from the pop culture expert!
boom 97.3 is the station you go to if ever you want a blast from the past. Owned by Astral Media, their extensive song repertoire focuses on adult hits released between years 1964 to 2005!
DO NOT MISS: Totally 80’s Friday Nights
If you’re getting ready for a night out, or just having a quiet Friday night alone: don’t forget to tune into Boom 97.3 for the Totally 80′s Friday Nights! It airs every Friday 5:00PM to 2AM, so it accompanies you from the end of the work week to the weekend night out. Hosts KY and Jeff Spindel will keep you entertained through your evening adventure!
CHUM-FM plays the hottest adult contemporary hits in Toronto, currently holding the spot for the second most listened-to radio station in their market. They have weekly ‘CHUM Chart Top 30s’ countdowns, voted on by their listeners and requests!
DO NOT MISS: 90 Min Workday Kickoff
Hosted by the wonderful Ingrid Schumacher, the 90 Min Workday Kickoff airs weekdays at 9:00 – 10:30AM. She plays the perfect mix of upbeat hits that never fails to start off our work days the right way.
Now that you know what we’re jamming to.. tell us your radio picks in the comments!
Big Brand Boo-Boos: 5 Consumer Products That Didn’t Take Off
Everyone makes mistakes. It’s important to remember that even the biggest of brands can also have “oops” moments, and failure often can lead to success. We took a trip down memory lane to remember some of the products that just didn’t make the cut when introduced to the marketplace in the last few decades. From brands reaching outside of their target market to “what were they thinking” moments, these 5 products are sure to bring back some fond memories of products that are now laid to rest.
Orbitz Drink
Any self-respecting Canadian should remember this creation, brought to you by the makers of Clearly Canadian (which coincidentally has also shut its doors for business). Undoubtedly you had a chance to try this drink at least once – but after that first experience, it’s doubtful you bought this chunky sensation again. With flavours like Vanilla Orange and Blueberry Melon Strawberry, it’s really no wonder that this product didn’t take off.
Crystal Pepsi
In an effort to appear pure and clean, Pepsi launched a crystal-clear, caffeine-free version of their product in 1992. According to Wikipedia, the product was launched in hopes of being a “clear alternative” to regular colas, and managed to perform well in its first year. Sales quickly fell, and the line was discontinued shortly after. We happened to stumble upon a video of someone ingesting Crystal Pepsi – but be forewarned, it isn’t for the faint of heart.
McDonald’s Pizza
Ok, this one was really a stretch. For those who can remember, back in the 90′s McDonald’s introduced their very own pizza- but it came with many drawbacks. First off, wait times for ordering a personal pie were 20 minutes and up, making the experience completely different from traditional fast food. Secondly, it just tasted bad (like, REALLY bad) – we remember it well. Another interesting tidbit we found during our research? McDonald’s also tried to introduce lasagna and spaghetti: another move that didn’t seem very authentic to the brand.
Doritos 3D
We searched high and low to find out why these were discontinued, but weren’t able to find a real explanation – so we’ll elaborate on our personal experience. This particular line introduced by the snack food giant smelled horrible and tasted funky. Upon opening up the bag, you immediately knew this wasn’t going to be the same caliber of chip you’d expect from your favourite junk food brand. That said, we do have a message for its creators: if you’re listening Frito-Lay, can you please bring back “Collisions”? Particularly, the hot wing and blue cheese variety? Thanks in advance.
Colgate Dinners
We’re scratching our heads as to why this ever would have made it past R&D phase, but we hear that the reasoning was quite simple: makers thought that people would want to eat Colgate meals and then brush up with the brand’s top product directly after. Admittedly, we never got to experience this 1982 invention – but it comes as no surprise that it didn’t exactly make waves in the consumer food department.
All of these examples really bring home how important it is to remain authentic to your brand. It’s fine to diversify, but first make sure there is a defined need for your new product(s) – and that they fit with your brand’s identity. People connect to your brand and make purchase decisions based on the associations your product brings. We can’t fault these companies for wanting to try something new and different, but perhaps they could’ve avoided some of these embarrassments with a little more thought and research.
Are there any extinct products you can remember from days gone by? Share them in the comments!
Five Toronto Conferences You Should Attend In 2013
As PR pros, we’re always looking for chances to learn new techniques and embrace the changes digital innovation is bringing to our industry. There are many opportunities to attend networking events and listen to industry leaders speak on a variety of communication topics. Here at EDPR, we value the educational aspect of many of the wonderful conferences that occur every year in Toronto, so much so that we thought we would take a minute and share our top picks with you!
Marketing Magazine’s Data Driven Marketing Conference (August 20, 2013)
Providing information for businesses to stay competitive in today’s market. This one-day conference will have you hearing from industry leaders and examining a variety of case studies.
Register here.
Incentive Works 2013 (August 20 + 21)
Does event planning fall under your job duties? For those PR pros who also plan events, there will be workshops available to those who want to learn the newest trends in event planning, improve skills and learn from industry experts.
Register here.
BlissDom Canada 2013 (October 3-5, Mississauga, ON)
Bringing together bloggers, social media specialists, relevant brands and agencies to engage in a conversation on new ways to connect, create and up their game using social media. You’ll be able to catch the EDPR team here for the entirety of the conference – be sure to follow us on Twitter to stay in touch!
Register here.
Public Sector For Social Media 2013 (November 5-6, Ottawa, ON)
Okay, so maybe this doesn’t fall under Toronto, but Ottawa is not too far away! This conference focuses on the rapid growth social media has had over communication in today’s work space. Here, you can use expert advice on how to start, grow and maintain your social media strategy.
Register here.
Mesh Marketing Conference (November 7, 2013)
meshmarketing is the place to interact with digital marketing thought leaders, connect with peers and prospects, and get a better understanding of the impact new developments are having on your strategy, business and job. Get ready to explore topics such as content marketing, Website optimization, social marketing and digital tools.
Register here.
#FilmFriday: Jay-Z’s Promotes New Album in Collaboration with Samsung
Have you listened to Jay-Z’s newest album Magna Carta Holy Grail (MCHG) yet? Well, if you are a Samsung user then you have access to a free copy of the hottest album of the summer. Samsung purchased 1 million copies of Jay-Z’s album to give to their users the first glimpse before it is formally released July 9.
Leading up to the album’s drop date, Jay-Z, in cooperation with Samsung, released promo videos, creating huge anticipation for the release. This newest trend of creative promotions/marketing is taking the rap music world by storm.
Earlier this summer we saw Kanye West broadcast his single “New Slaves” on 66 buildings across the globe and now Jay-Z has created promo videos, which can be seen as advertisements before YouTube videos. The two biggest names in rap have changed the landscape of music advertising.
What do you think of this new mode of advertising? Do you think this is good PR?
#WeeklyDisruptor: Canadian Supermodel and Motivational Speaker, Stacey McKenzie
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 the gorgeous Canadian Supermodel and motivational speaker, Stacey McKenzie!
What’s your official job title and where did you go to school?
Supermodel, Motivational Speaker, TV Personality (Iʼm Jamaican we have 10 jobs mon! Hahahahahaha). I went to Stephen Leacock High School.
Describe yourself in a nutshell (or sea shell, or any shell for that matter).
I’m a super kind, outgoing, tell it like it is, adventurous, headstrong, hardcore dancehall rock music-head woman, who lives for my family and fashion.
Why did you pursue what you’re doing now? What was the inspiration?
From the age of six, I’d always dreamt of being a model. I was inspired by the fabulous Grace Jones (a fellow Jamaican), who was considered different looking, much like myself. I’d say it all started when I saw a picture of Jean Paul Gaultier and Madonna – that gave me the extra confidence to pursue modeling.
What is the best part of your day-to-day?
The best part of my day to day is being blessed to wake up and talk to my 75-year-old mother every morning.
What’s the most challenging?
The most challenging is not knowing if I will get a gig anytime soon. My industry is so fickle, today I will get a gig then all of a sudden, nothing for months, sometimes the entire year! It’s totally up to me to make things happen.
If you took a look in the cliché crystal ball, what do you see for yourself?
I see myself with two “mini-me” and a fine ass husband, teaching and mentoring at my Walk This Way schools and Walk This Way Workshops Camps while enjoying life with my family.
How do you embrace disruption in your work and personal life?
I embrace disruption by loving me and staying true to who I am.
What is the most memorable moment in your career?
Meeting and working with the amazing Jean Paul Gaultier for the first time, he was so sweet to me, always encouraging me to BE ME, he even had me close his fashion show with Madonna.
Do you support any initiatives or charities?
I support a lot of inner city youth programs like Art Starts TO and Rise Above.
Tell us what you see yourself doing at 65 years old.
At 65 years old I will still be a bad-ass model (hahahahaha), mentoring my Walk This Way Schools all over North America and The Caribbean, relaxing in Jamaica, Paris and Africa with my fine-ass husband and family.
Just for fun: if you had to pick one app in the whole APPVERSE, what would it be?
I looooove my iTunes app! I live for my music and movies all day long.
Be sure to look for upcoming Walk This Way Workshops in your area by clicking here – and follow Stacey on Twitter.
5 PR & Marketing Books To Add To Your Summer Reading List
Summer is in full swing, but we have to ask:
Have you added any new reading materials to your beach bag?
Sure, it’s tempting to stock up on magazines and chalk them up to research, but it’s also important to be extending your knowledge base – particularly in the PR and marketing industries! We’ve taken a moment to list 5 of the books that you should make a point of picking up (or downloading for that kindle). Lucky for you: we’ve included links to buy the books immediately – and no, we’re not part of the Amazon affiliate program, just helpful PR angels. All images and description excerpts are courtesy of Amazon.ca.
For Immediate Release: Shape Minds, Build Brands, and Deliver Results with Game-Changing Public Relations by Ronn Torossian
Simply put, we’re obsessed with this book. Torossian shares his often entertaining PR battle stories and provides sound modern day industry insights. This publication sheds light on the more sensible and modern approach to PR - along with with some tips for surviving in today’s business climate.
“For Immediate Release will show you how to:
- Frame the debate and control the conversation
- Use new and old media in tandem to find your audiences and create highly personal, relevant impressions tailored for them
- Promote the interests of your brand or business; deter or potentially stop what is not in your interest
- Build on great press, and avoid or minimize bad press
- Ensure the first thing people see about your business or brand during an Internet search is exactly what you want them to see
- Handle a crisis in the most effective and efficient manner
- See the positive difference effective PR makes through compelling case studies—Louis Vuitton, Fubu, BP, Toyota, Philip Stein, Zappos, and interviews with experts including Dr. Keith Ablow, political strategists Frank Luntz, Roger Stone and Hank Sheinkopf, and many others—and your own business.”
#FAIL: The 50 Greatest Social Media Screw-Ups and How to Avoid Being the Next One by Bernhard Warner and Matthew Yeomans
The title of this book really says it all. We just added it to our iPad and are looking forward to scoffing at some of the industry’s worst mix ups.
“#FAIL: The 50 Greatest Social Media Screw-Ups and How to Avoid Being the Next One chronicles another kind of digital pioneer, those brands that have made iconic, early stumbles in social media that have resulted in consequences well beyond a loss of a few “friends” or “followers.” From a lock-picking geek’s take-down of Kryptonite in 2004 to Carnival Corp’s tin-eared response to the Costa Concordia tragedy in January, 2012, the blunders chronicled here cost companies millions, bruised well-honed corporate reputations and sunk careers. There are plenty of mistakes to learn from here – or at least chuckle at in disbelief.”
Shark Tales: How I Turned $1,000 into a Billion Dollar Business by Barbara Corcoran
A really interesting look at Shark Tank’s Barbara Corcoran on her path to success. This book is more of an inspirational read, and is sure to light a fire inside of you. You’ll especially love the way Corcoran writes with such humility and honesty.
“The inspiring true story of Shark Tank star Barbara Corcoran–and her best advice for anyone starting a business. After failing at twenty-two jobs, Barbara Corcoran borrowed $1,000 from a boyfriend, quit her job as a diner waitress, and started a tiny real estate office in New York City. Using the unconventional lessons she learned from her homemaker mom, she gradually built it into a $6 billion dollar business. Now Barbara’s even more famous for the no-nonsense wisdom she offers to entrepreneurs on Shark Tank, ABC’s hit reality TV show.”
If You Have To Cry Go Outside: And Other Things Your Mother Never Told You by Kelly Cutrone
A first hand account of the original mother monster’s rise to PR success. This book is not exactly what we expected, but a good beach read nonetheless. Pick it up, and be inspired by Ms. Cutrone’s impressive drive to succeed.
“In this New York Times bestseller, Kelly Cutrone, the brash, brutally honest boss and mentor to Whitney and Lauren on the hit MTV series “The Hills” and “The City,” and star of Bravo’s “Kell on Earth,” combines personal and professional stories to share her secrets for success without selling out.”
The New Rules of Marketing & PR: How to Use Social Media, Online Video, Mobile Applications, Blogs, News Releases, and Viral Marketing to Reach Buyers Directly by David Meerman Scott
Admittedly, we have yet to read this – but now in it’s fourth (updated and revised) edition, we’ve heard nothing but amazing things about it.
“The New Rules of Marketing & PR, 4th Edition is the pioneering guide to the future of marketing, an international bestseller with more than 300,000 copies sold in over 25 languages. It offers a step-by-step action plan for harnessing the power of modern marketing and PR to communicate with buyers directly, raise visibility, and increase sales. It shows how large and small companies, nonprofits, and other organizations can leverage Web-based content to get the right information to the right people at the right time for a fraction of the cost of big-budget campaigns. “
Now it’s your turn: are there any books you’re deeming “must-reads” this summer? Tell us in the comments.
