OLIPOP PBC’s Post

☠ ☠ ☠ A Cringeworthy PR Experience 🤦♂️ 🤦♂️ 🤦♂️ Incredible PR/ #earnedmedia clusterf$#% by yours truly ⬇ ⬇ ⬇ One year I did some freelance work and helped a company pitch Christmas/holiday consumer sentiment data to trade and national media in the U.S. Seemed straightforward. The brief and data were interesting and well-designed. Should have been a simple pitch and I assumed they would at least get trade interest, maybe 1-2 bigger hits if an outlet needed a story. the contract was strong aka they were willing to pay for quick work. 🚩 In California and other areas prone to wildfires, "red flag" warnings are used on particularly windy and dry days. A red flag warning means the conditions are ripe for a wildfire to start. Looking back, this contract had so many red flags, it was impossible to miss. Work in PR long enough and you know what I'm talking about... 🚩 "Rush job, will pay extra," 🚩 Guaranteed placement in top-tier outlets [insert stereotypical top-tier outlet here, 🚩 Pitching data and consumer survey related to Christmas and holidays in December - which is beyond last minute, 🚩 No clear differentiator or unique findings in data, 🚩 Drafting a pitch and press release, only to share a completely different one on the wire (no strategy), 🚩 No social media push, no thought leadership, no previous recognition with U.S. media or targets. Needless to say, the brief did not get much coverage. And worse, the client was surprised. Much of PR and media relations is fine line between a compelling story, good timing, pitching the right outlets/reporters and doing your homework. When you throw money at a campaign and try to shove it out the door, it's most likely to fall flat. #PR #communications #mediarelations #earnedmedia

Paralysis by Analysis and other fears I’m facing... Yesterday I had a very insightful chat with someone who quoted the Three P’s that hold people back from Jeb Blount's business book, Fanatical Projecting: Procrastination Perfectionism Paralysis from analysis Stopping me in my tracks, I realised that while the media relations side of my PR agency is thriving, the three P’s have truly been holding me back in building the profile of Polka Dot Elephant and from doing PR for the business itself. A big aspect of that is fearing LinkedIn and what I might possibly say that can be interesting or insightful which put me off writing anything (procrastinating), thinking that I everything I write has to be worthy of a Pulitzer prize (perfectionism), both factors that lead me to overthinking it completely and deciding not to do anything (paralysis from analysis). So, in the spirit of sharing and humanising business challenges that I imagine that I’m not alone in feeling, I wanted to start this year with the intention of using the amazing platform that is LinkedIn more proactively. For those of you that don’t know me, I’m the managing director of Polka Dot Elephant, a communications agency that represents some of the best travel, wellness and lifestyle brands across the globe including a groundbreaking wellness retreat in India, one of London’s most iconic private members club and its sister boutique hotel, a trailblazing design-and-sustainability-led hotel group and a music-meets-meditation app founded by one of the music industry’s most interesting figures. I spend my time between the South Coast of England, where I’ve become one of those wild swimming nutters throughout the year with my trusty sidekick, Nessie the Westie, and London. I love writing and do freelance travel writing under my pen name Alanna Ospina. Brands that inspire innovation and storytelling is what I’m most passionate about and I’m looking forward to connecting with new hoteliers this year that might be looking to dip their toe into the PR pool. That’s it for now (ah it wasn’t so bad after all). Happy New Year to you all and here’s to 2024 and facing fears that actually aren’t so scary. www.polkadotelephant.com

Ever wondered why on hot Sunday afternoons, on your way from church to eat the signatory rice passed down to us as the ultimate lunch for family time on Sundays in Nigeria, we crave to complete the diet with black water, not yellow water or the transparent water. Black water? I mean coke or sometimes Pepsi. Everyone later started to get on #nosoda challenge, then Coke came up with diet coke which some bought into, others preferred sweetened. Even at that, the daily consumption of coke had no real marginal decline with all the announcements of how unhealthy it is. Why do you think coke sounds more appetising than other sodas? Marketing is one part of it. Communication was everything. One thing I see coke harnessed over the years in their branding and marketing is using each element involved to communicate how they want you to feel. In turn, how they want you to feel, is what you perceive them to be. They wanted you to feel refreshed, to feel not guilty about taking it because someone who's a friend would be taking it and you'd be having a great time together, they wanted you to feel the need to spend time with your people over snacks and the sizzling feeling you get when you gulp down a bottle of coke. You perceived them as the refreshment buddy and the drink for a hangout with friends, family and even acquaintances. You perceived them as what brings people together and keeps happiness for you because you definitely are relaxed after a bottle of coke. In essence, being strategic and intentional in communications is as essential as being strategic and intentional in branding and marketing. This is where I'm beginning to find a delight in, to help humans and brands communicate their essence and not just the values of their identity to their audience. It's one thing to have an idea, start a business or organization, it's entirely another to get the people that need it to care about it at all. From the beginning, brands must take perceptions hinged by communications I'm branding and marketing seriously. I'm Judy Okposio and I help brands harness perception creation in branding and marketing through communication. Like my bio says, "Inspiring YOU with every piece-by-day | Career growth guide, Resume creator, LinkedIn Ghost Manager & Comms-by-night" I wear a couple of hats, but remember me primarily as a Communications Pundit. This is what I implore to create outstanding resumes, Linkedin profiles and content for my Linkedin Management client. Let's connect over 🥂 and 🪔 ☀️ Fun Fact about coke: Coca-Cola was formerly sold as a nerve tonic medicine that “relieves exhaustion” (Reference link is in the comment section) #brandingandmarketing #communications #communicationsspecialist #brandmanager

🗣“Colin impressed us with his likable personality, strong field marketing experience, and thorough interview preparation.   However, we chose another candidate with FMCG experience, having worked on both sides. My suggestion for Colin is to consider approaching marketing agencies where his experience may be more relevant.” The feedback from the recruiter regarding the interview left me feeling sad.  I've put immense effort into landing a full-time marketing role in the food industry, even offering free services to build my name and industry relationships. I've struggled to balance what's valuable in terms of free work without compromising my professional worth. I was asked to go beyond standard interview prep for the food company, creating a detailed presentation on promoting their products. Dedicated my weekend to crafting it, feeling a perfect fit for the opportunity. I was ‘buzzing’ The interview went well, and I confidently outlined strategies for a 12-month plan. Despite positive vibes, I received disappointing news days later. This setback motivated me to return to my passion. I decided to rebrand our agency, Food Sauce, ensuring it becomes an inclusive and accessible marketing experience for brands big and small. 📌P.S. Thats a 📸 of me at our 🍕 popup back in the day ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 👋I’m Colin, aka (“the food scene’s Kanya King”) a London-based food and drink Content Creator🧙 📚Helping foodie brands promote themselves via storytelling. 💻Connecting foodie brands with their target audiences via social media 🗣 Wanna chat? 📲Connect with me, and we can talk about your projects😁

COMMENT BELOW AND LET ME KNOW! #hospitalitycareers #hospitalityrecruitment #hospitalitymanagement #hospitalityindustry #hospitalityjobs #hoteliers #hoteljobs #hotelsandresorts #resorts #hiringnow #opentowork #copywritingtips #copywriting #copywriter #digitalamarketing #socialmedia #socialemediamarketing #contentmarketing #contentcreator #humanresources #talentacquisition #recruiting #hiringnow #contentwriting #contentwriter #jobs #jobalert #travelandtourism

Giving attention to details is important. (This got me my first gig as a social media manager) I studied my client's brand tone and voice before replying to her comments, and DMs. She has loads of comments but she is too busy to reply to them, she focuses on other stuff. She thought to herself who can she hire as an expert to do the work for her? Fortunately, someone connected me with her...we went on a call, listened to her, asked her cogent questions and she replied well. To get her brand tone/voice, I need to pay attention to details on how she talks and expresses herself, I did thorough research on her existing comments also. Fast forward, she was stress-free, with no tone of comment, and her audience didn't even know she hired a page manager. Does responding to many comments stress you out, I have your back. I can do the work for you while you get the accolades. Have you gotten a job as a result of you paying attention to details? Follow for Bolatito Ajibade more valuable content. © IamTito your favorite social media manager #creativesocialmediamanager #socialmediamanager #socialmediamanagement

Are we embracing neurodivergence enough? It's something Suhani Bhudia and I have been discussing at The Good Pea Co., as we've been hearing more and more stories like Colin's and I believe that is because more people are being brave enough to talk about it, and be unapologetically themselves (and quite rightly too). I recently had the pleasure of meeting the Mona Shah and Shaz Shah, founders of Harry Specters Ltd (check them out - you might know them from Aldi's Next Big Thing) and they blew me away with their Impact business that makes the most beautiful and delicious chocolates - they have built their entire team by empowering those with autism and what a business it is! This is what I learnt from Mona; In today's dynamic world, diversity isn't just a buzzword; it's a cornerstone of innovation and success. Here's why embracing neurodiversity is not just a moral imperative but also a strategic advantage for businesses: - INNOVATION: Neurodivergent individuals often possess a unique perspective and thinking style, enabling them to approach challenges in unconventional ways. By harnessing this diversity of thought, businesses can foster innovation and develop groundbreaking solutions. - PROBLEM-SOLVING: Neurodivergent individuals tend to excel in areas such as pattern recognition, attention to detail, and deep focus. These skills are invaluable for tasks requiring complex problem-solving and analytical thinking, providing businesses with a competitive edge. - DIVERSE TALENT POOL: By embracing neurodiversity, businesses tap into a vast talent pool that is often overlooked. By actively recruiting and supporting neurodivergent individuals, organizations can access untapped potential and enrich their teams with a breadth of skills and perspectives. - INCLUSIVE CULTURE: Embracing neurodiversity fosters a culture of inclusivity where all employees feel valued and supported. This not only enhances employee morale and engagement but also attracts top talent seeking workplaces that celebrate diversity and promote acceptance. - CUSTOMER PERSPECTIVE: A neurodiverse workforce can better understand and serve diverse customer bases. By incorporating diverse perspectives into product development and marketing strategies, businesses can create more inclusive and effective solutions that resonate with a broader audience. As we strive to build workplaces that reflect the diversity of the world around us, let's not forget the immense value that neurodivergent individuals bring to the table. By embracing neurodiversity, businesses can unlock innovation, drive growth, and create a more inclusive and equitable future for all. Would love to hear your stories below ⬇ #Neurodiversity #Inclusion #DiversityandInclusion #Innovation #BusinessStrategy #WorkplaceCulture

A PR PRACTIONER IS A MIXOLOGIST "Public Relations is like being the bartender at a lively cocktail party. You're the person behind the counter, mixing the perfect blend of communication, storytelling, and relationship-building. Just like a bartender crafts delicious cocktails, you craft compelling narratives and messages about your brand. You carefully choose the ingredients (key messages) that resonate with your target audience, adding a dash of creativity and a twist of authenticity. As the bartender, you engage with a diverse mix of customers (stakeholders) who approach the bar with different needs, expectations, and stories to tell. Some may come seeking information, while others may want to voice their opinions or share their experiences. You listen attentively, empathize, and respond with the right concoction of words and actions. Just as a bartender provides personalized recommendations based on the customer's preferences, you tailor your PR strategies and tactics to meet the unique needs of each stakeholder. In addition to serving customers, you also build relationships and create a welcoming atmosphere. You make sure everyone feels heard and valued, fostering a sense of connection and trust. Just as a bartender creates a friendly and inviting ambiance, you shape the perception of your brand as approachable and reliable. And just like a bartender, you're prepared to handle the occasional spill or customer dissatisfaction. You handle PR crises with grace and agility, using your expertise to quickly clean up the mess and keep the party going smoothly. So, grab your shaker, put on your PR hat, and let's mix up some engaging stories and meaningful connections at the cocktail party of public perception!" #communication #brand #publicrelations

How was life as a Journalist (Social Media Coordinator)? Well i can say that it is a bit challenging if you seek work life balance, being in a media company requires a lot of your time and effort to gain a story or engagement for your portals, it doesn't necessarily mean that you spent your time doing work all the time but when you are assigned to a task you are ought to deliver the best out of it and do whatever you can to make sure you get the materials they needed, if you don't have a cameraman you pull out your mobile phone to get the footage needed, if you don't have a phone you write the story, if you don't write the story you at least need to have the recording, doesn't matter how you do it all they know that the story is there. But being a social media coordinator also requires a lot of your time to entertain your audiences. There will come a time when your ideas are all drained but you still need to come up with a content and that is the day you prove whether you are suitable or not for the job. A social media coordinator needs to know how to create contents, become a cameraman, coordinate your social medias, know how to manage different audiences in different platforms, and most importantly you must be creative. to be honest, it is not easy to juggle two positions in the same company!