Shelly’s First Three Lessons in PR

New to Profiles, Shelly May was a communications major and has prior marketing experience, but over the past few months, she has been learning the ropes of PR.  Since she began working at Profiles, Shelly has quickly discovered some valuable lessons…

1.  Always have coffee available. PR is not a 9-5 job.  You are frequently working long hours, attending various events, and meeting with clients or the media.

 

 

 

2. Make sure to have your eyes and ears open at all times. You are constantly on the lookout for clients in the media and for new opportunities.  You always need to be aware of your surroundings and what goes on in your market area.  You should know the city you work in inside and out.

 

3. Building relationships is vital. Building relationships with your clients and with the media is the foundation of good PR.  You must build strong relationships with the media so that your clients trust you to get their name out there.  Trust is the building block to good relationships and is essential in the PR world.

 

Find out more about Shelly, one of Profiles’ newest employees, by reading her bio or by finding her on Twitter.

Eight reasons you should keep an eye on Amy

Recently, PR News, a weekly publication for public relations professionals known across the industry as a strategic resource and training tool announced the winners of their annual “15 to Watch” awards.

The competition honors 15 budding PR leaders and creative practitioners, age 30 and under, from across the world including communications professionals from corporations, PR firms, nonprofits/associations, educational institutions, government organizations and industry suppliers.

One of Profiles’ own, Amy Burke Friedman, was recognized this year and was the only public relations executive from the Baltimore area to receive the prestigious distinction.

While Amy has been on the PR scene for several years, we feel like it’s very fitting for her to be recognized as one to watch. Here are the top eight reasons we think you should keep an eye on her, too:

1. Her innovative work. Amy was one of the first PR practitioners in Baltimore to recognize food bloggers as valuable media contacts and begin welcoming them to the restaurants she represents for reviews and events. A few years later, the “foodie” scene in Baltimore has exploded, and everyone is recognizing the worth in a food blog post.
2. She’s tenacious. Amy once spent an entire day placing follow up calls to national media in an effort to secure coverage for Soulful Symphony’s 10^th anniversary concert led by conductor/composer Darin Atwater. After making hundreds of phone calls, Amy is now working with a major prime time television program to coordinate a feature story.
3. She’s a juggler. Phone between shoulder and ear, one hand on a mouse and the other on the keyboard, an eye on a nearby blackberry and chewing a stick of gum at the same time – Amy’s a multi-tasker.
4. She’s got connections. Amy is always in the know about events going on in and around Baltimore. While she is partial to foodie events, you’ll almost always see her chatting it up at some of Baltimore’s most happening networking events. And she knows everyone. No, really. Everyone.
5. She knows the city like the back of her hand. Born and bred in Baltimore City, Amy attended Western High and graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park. She knows Baltimore’s geography, media and gatekeepers inside and out.
6. She works harder than Paul Bunyan’s Blue Ox. Office hours may end at 5 p.m., but Amy rarely leaves her desk before 7 p.m. She’ll be the first to tell you that PR is not a nine to five job, and she doesn’t stop until she knows she’s done everything she can for each of her clients.
7. She’s a mentor. Throughout her seven years at Profiles, Amy has managed a countless number of interns and worked with new employees by teaching them public relations and encouraging development. Everyone in the office looks up to Amy as a role model both personally and professionally.
8. She’s really, really, ridiculously good-looking. Just take our word for it.

Jessie bids farewell

Goodbyes are never easy. Especially when it is a goodbye to five amazing women who I have spent the past two years with. In fact, I think I have spent more time with these ladies than I have with my dogs, family or friends in the past two years. But, instead of getting all sappy I thought I would just write you a song (to the tune of Rent’s “Seasons of Love”)…

1,051,200 minutes, 1,051,200 moments so dear

1,051,200 minutes how do you measure, measure two years?

In press releases? In pitches? In cups of chai tea?

In follow-up calls? In early morning TV? In laughter, in tears?

In 1,051,200 minutes- how do you measure two years in the life?

How about Profiles Love

How about Profiles Love

How about Profiles Love

Two years of Profiles Love.

It’s time now to say goodbye, though the PR never ends.

Let’s celebrate, remember 2 years in the life at Profiles.

Looking back over the past two years a lot has changed: engagements, weddings, new houses and new puppies. Still, one thing will always remain – the friendships that we have formed here in the Mill Center.

Jessie Benson poses with the Profiles crew at B&O American Brasserie in 2010.

Walking into Suite 201 almost two years ago, to the day, I was fresh out of college and ready to learn. Walking out of these doors today I feel like I have taken the most incredible two-year journey of my life. I could not have asked for better mentors. Amy Elias’ expertise in the field never ceases to amaze me. Amy Burke‘s unbeatable work ethic (and incredible hearing) gives me something to aspire to. Jamie Watt’s dedication to her career and Bridget Forney’s go-getter attitude make me realize why I love public relations. And Shelly May’s incredible tap dancing moves and fabulous vocals always put a smile on my face. From slouching through the snow and ice to get to the office to trekking through the dark hallways, flashlight in hand, to make it to the bathroom during a power outage, every day at Profiles has been an adventure. But the time has come to begin my next journey.

London, here I come…..

Jessie Benson

Behind the Scenes

Profiles has over 15 years of experience practicing public relations and we’ve seen, first hand, how the PR landscape has changed throughout that time. The technology and the ways in which we communicate will constantly change, but the importance of engaging with people will remain the same.

Communicating with people is a fact of life for everyone at Profiles, as we tell the stories of brands, products and people every day. This blog is another avenue for which we can facilitate that communication – not just about our clients, but about every-day life in PR as well. We know that PR is much more than selling and telling stories. It’s also about developing meaningful and lasting relationships with our community and the city we love, Baltimore.

We hope that this blog will give our fellow PR pros, media friends, our clients and other members of our community a better idea of our firm’s resources and capabilities. You might also get a little taste of “behind the scenes” life along the way. Trust us. You’re in for a treat.

Make sure to “Like” us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for more updates and news as it happens. And if you visit us here at the Mill Centre, check in on Foursquare, too.

We’ll be posting here regularly, but in the meantime, meet your authors:

Amy Elias

Amy Burke

Jamie Watt

Bridget Forney

Jessie Benson

Shelly May

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As always, we appreciate any feedback. So consider this an open invitation to express any thoughts, opinions or comments you have about our posts.

See you online!

The Ladies of Profiles, Inc.