Three years ago, my photography journey began. I decided it was time to retire my iPhone camera, so I saved up enough money to buy my first DSLR, a Nikon d5600. Ever since that moment, I have fallen in love with the art of photography. Fast forward to 2020, I am now able to incorporate this passion into almost everything I do. It’s truly an unmatched experience when work, hobbies, and passions intermix.
Read MoreI have worn my entire heart on my sleeve my entire life. Even when others can’t see it or I purposely hide it, my sentimentality is my saving grace but largest life villain. There have been plenty of times that I have used my heart to guide me instead of my brain. I’ve given to others who are incapable of reciprocating kindness and even basic human decency. I used to be obsessed with helping others, to the point that I risked my own well-being and got myself into some trying situations. (I’m sure a lot of us can say the same!) So, what are some benefits of sentimentality?
Read MoreThroughout all the stressful days and what felt like endless nights, the Marshall University class of 2020 finally made it! Although we may not be able to walk across the stage with our classmates, it is still a time of celebration and reflection!
So as my time as a Public Relations student at Marshall University quickly comes to an end, I wanted to use one of my last blog posts as an intern at Hourglass Media to reflect on my experiences as a student.
Read MoreMy Capstone class has been especially hurt by this. With the goal of raising $20,000 for a local nonprofit by the end of April, we have been... struggling. As we were trying to adjust to our new normal, the question that came up time and time again was how do we fundraise during a pandemic? There are so many people unemployed, businesses are closed and the economy is hurting. Should we even go through with raising this money? Is it ethically right? Is this a time to be fundraising? These questions were hard to answer, but we eventually came up with a plan.
Read MoreIt’s a natural fit for us to blend our Lover and other brand archetypes into sentiment analysis. Sentiment analysis is when you analyze writings and other components to measure the emotional tone they convey. In essence, we want to know if our target audiences feel positively, negatively, or neutral about a certain topic. This tactic is used for reputation management, customer service, and crisis communications planning and execution.
Read MoreI don’t know about you, but during this period of self-quarantine, I have been increasing my time devoted to video games. I’m here to tell you that I LOVE and advocate for video games, and they do wonders for mental health, stress relief, and an overall sense of community. How can video games help you with your mental health and other facets of life?
Read Morehese past three months have been stressful, to say the least, as we all battle with the effects of COVID-19. This virus has hit families, communities, businesses, and just life in general VERY hard. So, we understand, it’s hard to stay sane during these trying times… But we must remember where our ethical obligations should stand, especially in the midst of a pandemic. So, here are some guidelines to keep your ethics in check.
Read MoreHappy 10th birthday Instagram! Just in case you missed the social media site’s “glow up” this past decade, Instagram has now reached over one billion active users. Pretty impressive for a ten year span if you ask me! Nonetheless, Instagram has become one of the most sought after platforms for building a brand in today’s world. However, Instagram doesn’t always make it that easy. Algorithm change after algorithm change, bans, and bots can cause drops in engagement, followers, and overall numbers.
Read MoreNow that all of us are practicing social distancing and staying home due to COVID-19, it's a good time to remain interacted with one another and *finally* host our inaugural workshop, Own Your Introversion. We’ll be coming at you live on our new Facebook group page every day at 2 p.m. from April 6 to April 10, with a recap session set for April 13 at 1 p.m.
Read MoreMany small businesses can still maintain operations during the COVID-19/novel coronavirus pandemic. While our normal ways of life and business have been disrupted, thinking outside of the box can aid small business owners as they still attempt to market themselves during this trying economic time. Here are three ways you can still operate your business and utilize strategies and tactics during the pandemic.
Read MoreI’m on Week 12 of my self-quarantine, and trust me when I say this: I find it difficult to maintain a certain level of motivation during these challenging times. Like many of us, I hyperfocus on press conferences and the latest news about COVID-19/novel coronavirus. (Obviously, due to my line of work, I assess the pros and cons of each press briefing and THEN pay attention to the news at hand.) How can you maintain your sanity -- especially with work initiatives -- when you’re cooped up in your home? Here are three ways that help me.
Read MoreComing into the third month of 2020, it makes me wonder what lies ahead for the PR world. What will be the next big thing in this industry? Public relations trends are ever-changing, as is the world as a whole. So as a PR professional, it’s always good to stay ahead of the game. So, here are some trends that I see changing the PR playbook in 2020.
Read MoreThe coronavirus pandemic is enough to induce panic, especially for those of us who are more inclined to anxious and depressive behaviors anyway. How can you reduce anxiety, depression, and overall stress when you’re worried about the effects of the coronavirus? Here’s what I have been doing, and I hope this will help you, too.
Read MoreAs a small business owner, I have clients from several sectors, and some will be more heavily impacted from coronavirus ramifications than others. As a public relations practitioner to my core, I want to contribute to accurate information sharing and prevention of hysteria (as much as humanly possible) as this pandemic continues to spread throughout the nation and world. No matter where you fit into the grand scheme of things, it pays dividends to be prepared for any emergency your company, organization, or clients may face.
Read MoreFor natural introverts, environments matter. While I can truly work from anywhere -- as long as it has a WiFi connection -- I thrive in areas tailored to me. Why do our office environments matter to our mental health?
Read MoreWith the seemingly daily changes to Facebook’s algorithm, you may find your content (especially on business pages) to fall victim to more “popular” or paid posts. With the social media arena becoming more vital to our digital footprints, how can you make sure you are creating and sharing quality content that your followers want to read and calls to action that actually work?
Read MoreI always find it interesting to discover what people do on an average work day, especially when they own their own businesses and a little more control over their workflow. I only spent one day, Feb. 28, tracking my day (it takes time to do this, after all), but I wanted to give you some insight into what a normal day looks like for me. Of course, my hours fluctuate. In this particular week, I’ve worked well over 40 hours (which is 100 percent normal for me and any company owner anywhere). That is also why this blog post finds itself on a completely different day -- not its standard Thursday at 3:30 p.m. timeslot.
Read MoreFor this week's mental health moment, I wanted to focus on getting through those tough winter months and dealing with seasonal mental health struggles. Not talked about nearly enough, it’s something that affects a lot us. The lack of activity, less exposure to the sun, and getting dark SO early can make it a challenge to get through. I know for myself, I can’t wait until the sun starts shining in March. Spring is on the way, along with that vitamin D! So how do we beat those pesky months and make it to the sunshine days you ask? Well, here are a few tips I’ve picked up over the years!
Read MoreAs I stumble upon the 10-year anniversary of earning my Bachelor of Arts (WHAT), my reflections are geared toward favorite projects of my career thus far. I’ve been incredibly fortunate and have worked on life-changing projects throughout the various positions I’ve held in public relations and writing capacities. I’ve written millions of words and more than 700 press releases to date. I have taken probably a million photos from old Polaroid snapshots to present-day photos with my Nikon D7500 (named Riker). My experiences have shaped my passions, and my failures have also given me perspective into what I want and don’t want. Here are seven projects that are near and dear to my heart.
Read MoreIf you’re a solopreneur, chances are that you think about your growing company 24/7/365. If you’re not doing what you love, then your daily routines won’t bring you joy. One of my passions is helping you find yours, too. Life is too short to not be happy in your personal and professional lives. Here are four ways to tailor your company to your own personality.
Read More
