On April 5, 2007, radio station Q100 and Six Flags Over Georgia hosted a special event: free admission form 6 to 9 a.m. On the surface, it sounds like a great idea, but some errors in planning caused the event to be a disaster.
Both Six Flags and Q100 underestimated the number of people who would show up for the fun. They did not take into account that many Atlanta-area schools were on spring break, greatly increasing the number of children who could go to Six Flags on a Thursday. Also, having the promotion during rush hour was not the smartest idea. Everyone knows Atlanta traffic is bad enough, but pair that with families headed for a free day at Six Flags and you're left with one thing - unhappy drivers on packed roads. at 2 a.m., 300 cars were already in line waiting to enter the park. By 6:15 a.m., after the park had only been open for 15 minutes, it had reached its maximum capacity of 10,000 to 15,000. I-20 was backed up through the three surrounding counties. And if the traffic conditions weren't bad enough, lack of communication with GDOT caused commuters to not be informed about the congestion, creating even more congestion.
This event gone bad is the perfect learning experience for any PR professional, old or new. It really shows the value of planning and evaluating all the possible situations that can develop. Realizing that so many things are connected and effect each other - spring break means more kids with free time which leads to more traffic and back-up during rush hour. Had the radio station and park better prepared, they could have had a front page article in the AJC because of how good their event was, not how disastrous it turned out to be!
To read the AJC's article, go here:
http://www.ajc.com/search/content/metro/stories/2007/04/06/metsixflags0406a.html?COXnetJSessionIDbuild25=WbQbGvvQMVqTxw7dpkcsRJk23dXrHwFLYTgWGC9th7h9HZ1hFhmW!-1060416133&UrAuth=`N]NUObNYUbTTUWUXUVUZTYU^UWUbU\UZU`U`UcTYWYWZV&urcm=y
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Ethical PR
I was at a "working interview" for a PR firm in Atlanta earlier this week, and an advertising representative from an Atlanta magazine came in to speak to the group about some possible ad opportunities for our clients. During the meeting, she explained that most of the editorials written in their magazine are about restaurants, people, etc. who advertise with them. She even quoted a price for an editorial, but got caught up in her words multiple times, saying the editorials were $1,000, then other times saying they had a value/worth of $1,000. This all got to be very confusing, and then one of the associates at the firm started to ask about it. She said the publication sounded much more like an advertorial as opposed to editorial publication. The rep said they write on anything that they feel is of interest to their readers, but it just so happens that most of their articles are about advertisers. The PR associate then explained that if it is an advertorial publication, then it is her duty, as an ethical PR practitioner, to explain that to her clients. She also stated that "editorials" that are paid for should say "special advertisement." The ad rep was clearly flustered and trying to cover up and hide her tracks, but she knew she was caught in the act.
It really made me happy to see that there ARE ethical people and PR practitioners and firms out there who are loyal to their clients, but also the general public. In today's society when PR really gets a bad name sometimes, this experience really gave me a fresh and inspiring perspective.
It really made me happy to see that there ARE ethical people and PR practitioners and firms out there who are loyal to their clients, but also the general public. In today's society when PR really gets a bad name sometimes, this experience really gave me a fresh and inspiring perspective.
Sunday, April 1, 2007
Timing is everything
We finished our Bateman project last Wednesday, and I must say, I feel the biggest load has been lifted off my shoulders. I've had a great experience with this project, learning more than most of my previous experiences combined. One of the biggest things I learned is the importance of time. Many times during this project, our group met, thinking the meeting would last an hour or two. However, three or four hours later, we were still working away. We quickly learned that we, as a team, were most productive when we had large chunks of time to bounce ideas off each other and work uninterrupted. Towards the end of our project, when we were on deadline, our meetings lasted for seven, ten and twelve hours. When we took our book to the printer, we thought we could just drop it off and pick it up later in the day. Little did we know that we would spend five hours there, reformatting things that we had made with the wrong information. Basically, whenever you think something will take an hour, always add at least two more!
Monday, February 19, 2007
A measure of success
This past Saturday, the Bateman Team held our big event, a family caregiving fair, for our campaign for FamilyCaregiving101.org. The entire time we were planning this event, we didn't know how many people would be a good goal number, so we decided if we had 50 attendees, it would be great. Well, come Saturday, our plans changed a bit. We had amazing success with the number of "vendors" and representatives from local organizations/agencies that deal with aging issues. We had 21 signed up, but on the day of the event, one couldn't come. When we recruited organizations to represent themselves at our fair, word spread like wildfire. We were contacted by many people wanting to set up a "booth." In that aspect, we were very successful.
In terms of attendees from the community, i.e. caregivers, we only had about 30 people show up. At first we were really excited because many of them came for our panel discussion with three local experts in caregiving. We had a wonderful and engaging panel discussion that we actually had to cut a bit short so that the "vendors" would have time to present their information. However, as the event wore on, fewer people showed up. We got a little nervous, but everyone who came told us how much help it was and they were so glad we hosted it because there were many helpful organizations of which they were unaware. That made us feel really good, as it was the main goal of our project.
After talking to some of the professionals who were at our fair, we began to feel better about our lower-than-expected attendance. They told us that in their professional opinion, after having participated in many similar events, we should definitely consider our event a complete success. They informed us that caregiving is a very sensitive issue that many people don't want to discuss in public. Also, it was a cold February morning, and many Georgians do not like to go out in the cold if they don't have to. But the people who did attend were very engaging, both in the panel discussion and in talking with the "vendors."
This event clearly taught us that success is measured in many ways. Even if you don't have tons of people show up to your event, if the ones that do come are very interested in the topic and leave with a feeling that they learned many new things, then it's a success. And talking with some of the attendees, we learned that they heard of the event in many ways - fliers, radio, newspaper, church, word of mouth - proving that our publicity materials really paid off. So you don't always need a huge turnout to be successful - hard at first to grasp, but in the end, very worthwhile to know.
For more information about this year's Bateman Team and Family Caregiving, visit www.uga.edu/athensFC101 !
In terms of attendees from the community, i.e. caregivers, we only had about 30 people show up. At first we were really excited because many of them came for our panel discussion with three local experts in caregiving. We had a wonderful and engaging panel discussion that we actually had to cut a bit short so that the "vendors" would have time to present their information. However, as the event wore on, fewer people showed up. We got a little nervous, but everyone who came told us how much help it was and they were so glad we hosted it because there were many helpful organizations of which they were unaware. That made us feel really good, as it was the main goal of our project.
After talking to some of the professionals who were at our fair, we began to feel better about our lower-than-expected attendance. They told us that in their professional opinion, after having participated in many similar events, we should definitely consider our event a complete success. They informed us that caregiving is a very sensitive issue that many people don't want to discuss in public. Also, it was a cold February morning, and many Georgians do not like to go out in the cold if they don't have to. But the people who did attend were very engaging, both in the panel discussion and in talking with the "vendors."
This event clearly taught us that success is measured in many ways. Even if you don't have tons of people show up to your event, if the ones that do come are very interested in the topic and leave with a feeling that they learned many new things, then it's a success. And talking with some of the attendees, we learned that they heard of the event in many ways - fliers, radio, newspaper, church, word of mouth - proving that our publicity materials really paid off. So you don't always need a huge turnout to be successful - hard at first to grasp, but in the end, very worthwhile to know.
For more information about this year's Bateman Team and Family Caregiving, visit www.uga.edu/athensFC101 !
Monday, February 5, 2007
The job hunt...
A week ago tomorrow, UGA seniors celebrated 100 Days Until Graduation. Exciting? Yes. Scary? VERY! Somehow the last 3 1/2 years have flown by, and I don't know where the time went.
Graduation means many things, but most importantly, finding a job. Granted, I've not been searching as hard as I probably could be, but after talking to recent PR graduates and some professors, they say that many agencies can't determine now what will be available in May or June...some comfort but also a little nerve wracking.
I found Warren Allan Johnson's blog post (http://unsolicitedmarketingadvice.blogspot.com/2007/01/job-seeking-advice-for-new-pr-grads.html) about finding your first job in PR and it made me feel a little better about the whole process. Of his six tips, I have successfully done four of them. While I have done a few interviews, I haven't taken advantage of the Career Center's mock interviews which I've heard are very helpful (they film you and show you how you can improve your speaking points, posture, fidgeting - basically anything).
It's good to know that while I still don't have a job, unlike many of those Terry kids out there, I am not completely unprepared! And I'm thinking after all the experience I've gained from this Bateman project, I'll be much better off in selling myself and my skills.
Graduation means many things, but most importantly, finding a job. Granted, I've not been searching as hard as I probably could be, but after talking to recent PR graduates and some professors, they say that many agencies can't determine now what will be available in May or June...some comfort but also a little nerve wracking.
I found Warren Allan Johnson's blog post (http://unsolicitedmarketingadvice.blogspot.com/2007/01/job-seeking-advice-for-new-pr-grads.html) about finding your first job in PR and it made me feel a little better about the whole process. Of his six tips, I have successfully done four of them. While I have done a few interviews, I haven't taken advantage of the Career Center's mock interviews which I've heard are very helpful (they film you and show you how you can improve your speaking points, posture, fidgeting - basically anything).
It's good to know that while I still don't have a job, unlike many of those Terry kids out there, I am not completely unprepared! And I'm thinking after all the experience I've gained from this Bateman project, I'll be much better off in selling myself and my skills.
Sunday, January 28, 2007
It's all about connections...
It’s all about connections.
I have heard this many times from various people, but working on the Bateman Team has really made me aware of just how true it is. Maybe it’s partly because the Athens community is rather small, especially in dealing with organizations and people involved in caregiving and aging, but everyone seems to be connected somehow.
My boss, Mickey Montevideo, president of MYM Marketing and Public Relations, Inc. has so many connections that sometimes it’s hard to believe. And she knows phone numbers like nobody I’ve ever met before. She has been a great help for us, giving us names of people who can provide us with information and resources. Mickey used to work at Athens Regional Medical Center along with Pam Bickley, with whom we are meeting tomorrow to discuss our “care fair” event next month. Also, a good friend of Mickey’s, Anne Hansen, works at the Northeast Georgia Area Agency on Aging. Anne also coordinated the In Their Shoes One-Day Walk for Breast Cancer that was held here in Athens in November. Mary Erlanger, a very involved community member and counselor specializing in elder counseling, was the keynote speaker at the walk’s honorary luncheon. We are trying to coordinate her involvement in our event as well.
These are just some of the contacts we have made that make me really see and understand that connections are so important…and people are very willing to help you out, especially when they know that someone they know directed you to them.
I have heard this many times from various people, but working on the Bateman Team has really made me aware of just how true it is. Maybe it’s partly because the Athens community is rather small, especially in dealing with organizations and people involved in caregiving and aging, but everyone seems to be connected somehow.
My boss, Mickey Montevideo, president of MYM Marketing and Public Relations, Inc. has so many connections that sometimes it’s hard to believe. And she knows phone numbers like nobody I’ve ever met before. She has been a great help for us, giving us names of people who can provide us with information and resources. Mickey used to work at Athens Regional Medical Center along with Pam Bickley, with whom we are meeting tomorrow to discuss our “care fair” event next month. Also, a good friend of Mickey’s, Anne Hansen, works at the Northeast Georgia Area Agency on Aging. Anne also coordinated the In Their Shoes One-Day Walk for Breast Cancer that was held here in Athens in November. Mary Erlanger, a very involved community member and counselor specializing in elder counseling, was the keynote speaker at the walk’s honorary luncheon. We are trying to coordinate her involvement in our event as well.
These are just some of the contacts we have made that make me really see and understand that connections are so important…and people are very willing to help you out, especially when they know that someone they know directed you to them.
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