Pepsi & the Royal Affair

So yesterday, I received some AMAZING news!!!  The Pepsi Refresh Everything has selected the Royal Affair as one of their featured Community programs.  This means that if I can gather enough votes  for my idea, then they will grant me $5k to produce the event!

As soon as I received word, I hit the ground running.  I already established a Facebook event and published the link on Twitter to get all my followers to vote!  This would be such an amazing opportunity for me and such a rewarding experience for these high school girls.

ROYAL AFFAIR 2011

First off, let me say that I am extremely proud of myself for designing our logo this year.  With an awesome tutorial from Gary Simon, I was able to create this masterpiece..j/k...it does look pretty good though.

Anyways, this is Sapphire Ink Public Relations' 3rd Annual Royal Affair and I am super excited with the  tremendous support we are receiving from the beauty and fashion industry. Although we had our share of mishaps and set backs, I think this year may be one of the best. We are honored to work with our fabulous stylist, Lakeisha Massey, again.  She does such amazing work and is truly dedicated to the cause and making each girl feel special.  

Teaming up with the She Is Me Program this year was such a wonderful opportunity because the founder, Mrs. Bessie Winn-Afeku, has been such an inspiration and supporter of the event since day one.  From providing feedback to assisting with recruiting volunteers, she is truly a gem.

As we get closer to the event, anxiety builds, especially since there is still quite a few thing we have to get done. During the next three weeks, I have to search for:

* food sponsors (to feed on the day of the event and at the reveal party)

* transportation sponsors (to transport the girls to the event)

* event rental sponsor (furnish the studio rental)

* additional professional volunteers (last year a few MUAs and Hairstylist didn't show up)

* follow up with the media

* collect additional clothing (to fill up the free boutique)

Can I do it?  YES!  Each day I will update my journey!

I'm Back!!!

I've been gone for a minute...but I'm BACK!  So much to share...so stay tuned!

PR: The Experience

Throughout the course of this year, I have been a part of some pretty amazing projects.  Whether it was organizing a nonprofit event or attending an event with a client, it has been a wonderful experience!

Former Client Exit Sports

Exit Sports is a social networking site geared towards sports.  My company was responsible for constructing a media kit and creating a buzz in the Atlanta market.  While retaining them as a client, I arranged photo shoots, constructed a 8-page media kit, and landed them a meeting with the inaugural Georgia State Football program.

During ATLPRPros Fall Meetup

Panelist @ the ATLPRPros Spring Brunch

 I have had the honor of meeting some amazing people involved in the entertainment and fashion world.  With Atlanta becoming the home to several movies, designers, and entertainers my market share will surely increase.  The ATLPRPros is a group of Atlanta publicist that share opportunities and offer advice through various platforms, including the quarterly brunch.  I have gained a wealth of knowledge from veteran publicist, such a DeeDee Cocheta of ABC Publicity.

NARIP Distribution Panel in Atlanta

Since I am always meeting aspiring singers and rappers that are trying to break in to the industry, I decided to attend a NARIP panel discussion on music distribution for independent artist.  The room was packed with singers, songwriters, and producers that have a passion for this industry.  This was also a great way for me to connect with some potential clients seeking a media kit or press release!

My Business Partner, Charlisia Nwachukwu, and I at Sheen Magazine Launch

Client Charla Ruschell of CR Clothing Co,

CR Clothing Fashion Presentation

CR Clothing Fashion Presentation

CR Clothing Fashion Presentation

Worked with fellow publicist, Janelle Langford of Urbansuite PR to arrange a fashion presentation for my client at the Sheen Magazine Launch party.  Although Sheen has been around for year, they celebrated the release of their national syndication.  With over 300 attendees, this event provided great exposure for my client to be featured on several blogs and it will also be featured in the spring issue of Sheen.

Freedom Monologues flyer

Youth as TLC

Cast of Freedom Monologues

Due to my love of working with youth, I have taken on the job as the Youth Group Leader at my church.  With most of my youth looking for a place to release stress and express themselves creatively, I try to incorporate the arts into my teaching.  This event i produced was entitled the Freedom Monologues, since it was Black History month.  The children were given to opportunity to pick their favorite African American and tell their story in a talk show setting.  I have everyone from Maya Angelou to Micheal Jordan.

 

Royal Affair Attendee

Beauty Professional

Royal Affair Attendees

Royal Affair Attendee

Personalized CDs created by The Studio B Photography

 Everything that I do is with purpose, especially when it comes to empowering young ladies.  This year will mark the 3rd annual Royal Affair event where my company along with several beauty and fashion professionals, treat deserving girls to a day of empowerment and pampering.  Last year's event was even televised on CBS Atlanta Better Mornings.  With the ability to apply everything I learned over the course of this year will allow me to make this event bigger and better.

Publicist on the Scene

As a publicist, I must build a maintain relationships in the industry.  Check out some of the events that I have attended:

Russian Standard Mansion Party

MCing an event

Sheen Magazine Launch Party:  courtesy of Ben Evan Photography

The Atlanta Steeplechase :: courtesy of the OMGbooth

SIR Magazine Cover Launch w/ Lifestyle Blogger Arkeedah :: courtesy of C Mitch

 

 

 

Snytch Magazine Launch Party

Business Plan Development: Expert Opinion

According to John W. Mullins, a professor at the London Business School, “ an economic downturn is a great time to start a business (Mullins, 2009).  With the uncertainty of employment, many Americans are turning to creativity or opportunity to establish their own companies and find their entrepreneurial spirit.  In Georgia alone, there were over 720,000 small businesses in 2010 (Gaebler, 2010).  As a startup company, these businesses will seek funding from investors through the use of a business plan.  A business plan is typically viewed as a way of getting funding from an investor or a business loan, but in actuality, a business plan allows a company to organize its purpose, goals, and technicalities.  This course definitely allowed me to get my PR company, Sapphire Ink PR, in order.

Mobile Marketing & Commerce: Cellular Diversity

A cell phone is a universal device that surpasses age and ethnic barriers.  It opens lines of communication and unites people around the world.  Although the ultimate purpose of this mobile device is to communicate, certain features are more attractive to specific demographics.  Recently, cell phones have become the easiest and most efficient tool to market a product.  

 

Utilizing this gathered information from my subjects, I will cater my marketing campaigns to target an interested demographic.  Even if the subjects did not want to receive unsolicited advertisements, they didn’t mind getting an application that consolidated all of their interest in to one place.  That would require me to conduct further research to determine exactly what person will be attracted to the services and opportunities my company has to offer

Digital Marketing: Wiki

i really enjoyed the Digital Marketing class because it provided several different applications and techniques that I can use to grow my business and its online presence.  I actually created this blog as a part this course and I have decided to continue to track my progression as a publicist through my post. 

The main assignment for this course was to create a wiki-style web page using  Google Sites.   The public relations industry has experienced drastic changes within the past decade due to the introduction and continuous growth of social media.  Whether utilizing a blog, social networking site, or a Wiki; social media has become a vital part of any successful public relations campaign.  The entry that I submitted, addresses the relationship between Social Media and Public Relations.

Benefits of social media - public relations from kat odin on Vimeo.