According to the Balance Careers, 61% of professionals agree that a regular interaction with their professional network can lead to new career opportunities. It is no wonder that networking has become an essential skill for building a career. Not only can networking take your career to the next level, but it can also build trust and valuable business relationships along the way.
The first rule of networking is to build genuine relationships. Rather than focusing on getting something from the other person, you need to get to know them. It all starts with a phone call or email. If you have a contact in common, ask them to introduce you. Once you get acquainted, invite the person to lunch or coffee and get to know them better. Get to know their projects and take a real interest in their work.
The second rule is to help other people in your network when you are in a position to do so. The relationship is a two-way street. It is okay to ask for help, but it is more important that you reciprocate when you can. If you see a job posting, send it to a contact who may be job hunting.
Make sure to stay in touch with your contacts. There is nothing worse than people who leverage their business contacts but then never talk to them again. Reach out to your contacts every so often and stay in touch, checking in on their projects and life.
Attend a variety of different events. Of course, you should attend industry related events, but you should also expand your reach by going to events and conferences that will allow you to meet different people. Networking is not just about having relationships with people in your industry, it is also about being able to connect with others outside of your industry. An important tip when attending such events: bring business cards! You will find many attendees exchange business cards during the event.
Introduce yourself! Be prepared to talk to strangers. In a networking event, you will know some people, as most of attendees will be in your industry, but there will always be new looking to network. If you are shy, a good tip for talking to strangers is to look approachable and smile. It’s as simple as introducing yourself and asking a couple of questions until you find a common topic to talk about. Talking to strangers can be intimidating, but keep in mind that everyone is human, and no one is perfect. Ultimately, you fear rejection, but remember that you and everyone else is at the event for the sole purpose of meeting new people!
In the time of COVID-19 and social distancing, many events have been cancelled and more people are staying home. One great alternative some professionals are practicing is engaging in more one-on-one interactions with their peers. Many are using Zoom meetings, calls and virtual workshops to stay in touch with their network. Remember, now more than ever, you should put your work persona aside and really interact with your contacts and get to know them. Online networking sites like LinkedIn are a great way to stay in touch with your contacts.
Networking can be difficult but being genuine is the best way to tackle this daunting activity. Practice makes perfect! The more you network and try to build connections, the easier it will get as you go on. Happy networking!
So much to say and so little time. Whether it’s a broadcast, radio or print interview, the time you are with a reporter seems to fly by or on the other hand it may never seem to end. We are here to ensure that no matter how short or even how long your interview may be, your message gets across in an eloquent and timely manner. Best practices include:
Develop three key messages to serve as the foundation for all communications and to weave into each interview.
Key messages need to be more strategic than simply the “three most important things.”
Prove your points
Trained spokespersons understand their goal is to introduce and reinforce key messages throughout an interview. Supporting information can sustain a conversation, while offering proof and adding credibility. During proactive and responsive comments, be prepared to back up and expand upon key messages with:
Remember you are the expert and media is looking to you to provide quality information that informs a broad audience.
Radio interviews are great opportunities to get the word out for your organization. However, they are different from broadcast television interviews. Radio interviews have no visual component. Radio interviews are about how you can tell a story in a short amount of time and still get your message across to the audience. The listeners may only listen for 20 minutes of the segment while driving to work. Here are some tips to keep in mind during a radio interview.
These quick tips will get you ready for any radio interview that comes your way.
By now you have heard about best tips and tricks for a successful interview. But are they really what the media wants? Straight from the leading print editors on what they wish you knew prior to the interview.
Ray Brewer: Editor in Chief, Las Vegas Sun
“An interview subject can’t be shy. They need to be willing to talk about themselves or business. The more details, the easier it is to write.
Also, be available. You would be shocked at how many times we get a story pitch, take the PR firm up on the pitch, and then the subject is massively difficult to coordinate with.
Lastly, be super thorough. Don’t assume the reporter has institutional knowledge on the company or product. Most reporters don’t specialize in niche things, such as tech coverage, or law coverage, or medicine. Newsrooms mostly rely on reporters who can handle a variety of topics, meaning they are being educated on the topic while reporter.
But the time thing is most important. Don’t make the reporter wait around, or don’t cancel. There are deadlines to hit and pages to fill. They are counting on the interview and have to answer to an editor. And that editor likely already has the story booked for publication.”
Tarah Richardson: Editor in Chief, Nevada Business Magazine
“It’d be helpful for people to have a better understanding of the difference in the types of media outlets they’re likely to encounter and to be aware of which type they are speaking to. For example, as a monthly business publication, I am just looking for good/helpful information for my readers. Some interview subjects think I’m always on the hunt for some scandal or scoop which I am definitely not. Even if they slip up in the interview and say something they shouldn’t, I wouldn’t use it. Daily pubs or other types of media might be looking for that type of interview, however, so knowing who you’re talking to is important.
Some people are born speaking fluent “PR” and use adjectives like they are salt on an incredibly boring dish. I want good information and that usually doesn’t include overly flowery descriptions. In fact, they can distract from the good information I’m actually trying to get to.
It’s completely fine to ask for topics/questions ahead of time. Most reputable outlets won’t let you see the story before it publishes but they might read you the quotes they used from you if a) there’s time and b) you’re overly concerned and have had an issue with being misquoted before.
Just be honest and answer the questions simply. Interviewers don’t bite.”
Over the years we have seen the shift of cameras from 35mm film, to digital point and shoot cameras and now our phones have more or less replaced the need for a casual camera to capture everyday moments. It is common to capture and send images to local media via social media or email for use in a local paper, online or even during broadcast.
With the convenience of our phones, it’s a simple click and send. Now with endless photo editing apps, filters and extras, how does one find and use the best apps to capture moments and share on social media or use for media? Below are some of our favorites to ensure you always put your best image forward.
ColorStory
This easy to use app makes your colors pop and give it a distinctive look for a social media feed that is not to be missed. This app host more than 300 filters, 100 effects and easy to use basic editing tools. Images looking a little warm during the summer? Check out the Flashes of Delight filter pack!
Unfold
Love telling a story with your images but get lost on a collage layout or how to add a clean aesthetic look to your social media feed? Unfold is here to solve all those problems. With easy to use layouts with or without texts, you can create different story books within the app and easily share to your social media sites or print! There are numerous edits that you can make on the layouts to jazz up or alter to fit your brand.
Facetune
Now, I’m sure you have seen Facetune images go horribly wrong – however – you can use Facetune without going overboard. Woke up in the morning with a zit or those early mornings catching up too quick? Give it a little “smooth” and no one is the wiser. Just remember to use it lightly and with a steady hand. Now on its second version – Facetune2 is filled with even more tools than the original app.
Uncovering Nevada’s Drive-In Theater Past—Reno Market KRNV News 4
Did you know there was once a period of time when each county across Nevada had a drive-in movie theater?
Nevada has been home to 13 drive-in theaters, with only two of them, the El Rancho Drive-In in Sparks and the West Wind Drive-In in Las Vegas, currently operational. As the country begins to reopen, drive-ins nationwide have resurged in popularity and many have opened their doors again as a way to offer residents a form of entertainment that facilitates social distancing requirements.
In May, the Trosper team worked closely with archaeologists at Broadbent & Associates and KRNV News 4 in Reno to produce an installment for their weekly series, Knowing Nevada. This story took our team further than many stories have before, Yerington, Nevada, a town that was once home to the Sagecrest Drive-In Theater.
As PR professionals, most of our job is done behind the scenes, before the curtain is pulled back and the final production is premiered. We have the opportunity to work on a piece from its start and coordinate the various steps in between that ultimately result in a finished media story. Check out the images below that give a behind the scenes look at the interview with Broadbent archaeologists Margo and Kaitlyn, during which they explained Nevada’s interesting drive-in history as well as explored the remains of what was once a popular spot to spend a weekend evening in Yerington.
One of the greatest joys we PR folks get to experience is seeing a media piece published and shared with the community. If you click on the link below, you can view this Knowing Nevada story, which we must say, turned out great and is quite informative.
As Miles notes at the end of the segment, “while couch surfing is now customary, going to a deserted site like this lets you interact with the past the way a history book may not let you.” We loved being a part of putting this together, seeing a piece of history in person and sharing the story behind it with everyone. Thank you to Broadbent for working with us on this endeavor and providing all the insight and expertise on the subject. For a moment, watching the drone footage at the end of the segment, you really get a feel for what this drive-in looked like in its heyday.
