Search Results

Small businesses don’t always have the budget to include public relations, yet it is a crucial aspect of success for any business. Even with a budget, oftentimes these start-ups aren’t sure where to turn for PR support. Aligning your business with the right partners is essential in taking the next step and growing the business. Included below are a few helpful tips for those small businesses owners who are searching for a way to increase their brand exposure and bring publicity to their product/service. Some small businesses may decide to create a video that showcases their service or product to potential clients to bring exposure to their brand. The Storyteller Studios (https://thestorytellerstudios.com/video-production-dallas-ftworth) could be a great company to contact if you are looking for this type of exposure to your business. In the meantime though, you may want to check out these tips below. Tip 1: Avoid Corporate PR. With a smaller budget, avoid large corporate PR firms that often ask you to work on a retainer. Search for a local freelancer or start-up PR firm, who is working just as hard to “make it” in business. You can identify these folks via LinkedIn, via Google searching, or on freelancing sites such as www.upwork.com. Tip 2: Do Your Research. Create a spreadsheet or database of media contacts you already know or who cover similar products and services. When you have news or a company announcement, reach out to these lists of media members. If you are hosting an event, call the local TV assignment desks – phone numbers are usually listed on the outlet’s website. Tip 3: Don’t Burn Bridges. Only send reporters and media members information that is newsworthy. Newsworthy meaning-announcements, new offerings, a change in business, events, news that affects more than a niche group of viewers/readers. If you overload a reporter’s inbox with stories that aren’t newsworthy, you’ll start being ignored and seen as an unreliable source. Tip 4: Utilize Cheap/Free Resources. There are several tools available to everyone that you don’t have to pay for, or are at a low cost. For example, HARO (help a reporter out) sends daily newsletters with requests from journalists looking for credible sources. Check out SCORE (www.score.org), which has hundreds of videos on every aspect of small business (including PR). Tip 5: Start in Your Community. If you’re a new, small business, put value in your local news media and bloggers. Bloggers have a much stronger influence than many larger businesses realize. A blogger is an everyday person, with a local audience. More importantly, bloggers have built a trustworthy relationship with the public and often engage them in their decision-making. Don’t overlook old fashioned methods of exposure like business cards and signage. Signage can be a really effective way of attracting customers who weren’t even looking for you, and it doesn’t have to be overly expensive when companies like super cheap signs exist. These are just a few tips to get you started with your businesses public relations efforts. Be creative and utilize your resources, because the more you get your business out there, the more known it becomes. Even the best business in the world isn’t anything without a presence in this world. Make yours known! Written by Cristy Brusoe Brusoe Communications: Brusoe Communications was formed in 2016 by Minnesota native, Cristy Brusoe. With the goal of partnering with great organizations run by even better people, Brusoe Communications gives companies the opportunities and the support they need to grow and develop a positive brand for themselves. After spending nearly 10 years working in the corporate world, one is left to wonder the true purpose of public relations. Brusoe Communications is taking back the real meaning of PR, by working with smaller, start-up organizations, with a purpose and a passion for their products and services. With the experience of working with everyone from athletes, to children and products varying from technology to food, there isn’t a client that Brusoe can’t support in the tricky business of public relations. Using tools such as social media, company outreach, and media relations, Brusoe Communications is giving companies the boost they need to reach a wider audience and have their stories crafted and told to target markets. We do this work because we love it and feel fulfillment in helping YOU accomplish your goals. If you’re interested in having a conversation: www.brusoecommunications.com #CristyBrusoe #PublicRelations

This past weekend, numerous Atlanta colleges kicked off their Homecoming festivities and black excellence was front and center at the inaugural HBCU Power Awards presented by Morehouse College. Hundreds of guests gathered at Martin Luther King Jr International Chapel in Atlanta to celebrate eight individuals who have made significant achievements in their respective fields: actress Jada Pinkett Smith, Coltrane Curtis (founder, Team Epiphany), Kyle Hagler (president, Next Management), Nzinga Shaw (Chief Diversity Officer, Atlanta Hawks), Keinon Johnson (VP, Urban Promotions, Interscope Records), Phylicia Fant (SVP, Publicity, Warner Bros Records), Beverly Anderson (EVP, Cards & Retail Services, Wells Fargo) and Rob Rumley (Chair, Atlanta Housing Authority). Produced by Morehouse alums Derek “Fonzworth Bentley” Watkins (c/o ’96), Jash’d Kambui Belcher (c/o ’99) and Roderick Hardamon (c/o ’98), the HBCU Power Awards was full of exceptional moments: an opening “Swag Surfin'” performance by the Morehouse Glee Club and Horns section; co-host Deon Cole keeping the audience laughing; the crowd singing along to “Focus” during R&B singer H.E.R‘s performance; an impromptu stroll through the aisles from an Omega Psi Phi frat; the music by DJ Trauma; Coltrane Curtis’ emotional tribute to his late father; and Jada Pinkett Smith’s moving words on the dynamics of power and the responsibility we all have to manage it wisely. Special guests included producer Will Packer, supermodel Jessica White, actor Michael Jai White, style expert Tai Beauchamp, Atlanta Hawks Foundation EVP David Lee, creative consultant, and entrepreneur Taiye Samuel, radio/tv personality Gary “With The Tea” Hayes, singer Dondria Nicole, rapper Silento, author Zane and many more. Happy Homecoming! [photos: Marcus Ingram] #HBCUPowerAwards #JadaPinkettSmith

Since Suburbicon is a mystery thriller Paramount pictures hosted a private mystery dinner in Atlanta. The event was held at The Gathering Spot which is known for hosting a wide range of interesting events and this one didn’t fall short at all. From the moment I walked in the door, I was greeted with the scenario of being in an active mystery that the town is trying to solve. The 3 main actors played their roles extremely well and made you believe they were really the characters they were portraying. Murder Mystery Co. did an amazing job. The night got interesting when the actors involved the guests into solving the crime. Several guests were awarded the title of being suspects and received clues to who actually committed the crime. All guests had to work together and question each other to get valuable information to the killer’s identity. The night was extremely fun and interactive. The addition of delicious food and great spirits added to the fun of the evening. If the murder mystery dinner was any foreshadowing of the movie then Suburicon will be a great film to see as it hits theaters. Suburbicon hits theaters next Friday! #Suburbicon

TV and Film actor Mehcad Brooks has added another title to his name. Yesterday, the Supergirl actor released his first single Tears Away. Mr. Brooks has entertained the world for over 10 years from starring in the hit TV Show True Blood to the Espy Award-winning film Glory Roads. But now he’s ready to entertain you with his music. After two near death experiences, Mehcad realized that “you regret in life the things you don’t do”. Singing has always been a passion of his and he finally built up enough courage to share it with the world. His first single is considered pop but has a unique sound that pulls you in with his soulful voice. Check out Tears Away below. I’m eager to hear what we can look forward to the album as he considers his music to be a blend of southern hip-hop, adult urban contemporary and R&B. Don’t worry, Mehcad isn’t looking to leave his acting career but wants to do “the best we can with the gifts we recognize we have” he said on Instagram. What do you think of his first single? #MehcadBrooks

Beats recently introduced their Beats Studio 3 Wireless. The “hear the music. Not the noise” headphones have Pure Adaptive Noise Canceling (Pure ANC) which delivers a premium listening experience that blocks out distractions so you can get closer to your music. The new Beats come in 6 colors and allows you to listen to your favorite tunes for Up to 22 hours. They also have Fast Fuel technology which can turn 10 minutes of charging into 3 hours of playback when the battery is low. You can also leave your iPhone in the bedroom and still listen to music all around the house due to the Class 1 Bluetooth® Technology which allows for extended range with fewer drop-outs than ever. Beats also wants you to Become 1 of 1. Posted on their social media yesterday, “Now is the time to BELIEVE IN YOURSELF. Because the fight within you is stronger than anything they’re saying. So do it. Go head first and REGRET NOTHING. STAY HUNGRY even when you’re told to stay in your lane. STRIVE FOR GREATNESS or watch someone else do it. Because in this world, RESPECT IS EARNED. The time is yours to LEAVE A LEGACY. It’s noisy out there. And it’s only getting louder.” Check out some of our favorite celebrities and their custom Beats Studio 3 Wireless headphones below. LET’S GET IT!!! Love to @beatsbydre #1of1 #BlackExcellence ✊?✊? @frenchmontana what you got? A post shared by Diddy (@diddy) on Oct 20, 2017 at 7:16pm PDT Respect to #beatsbydre for the #1of1. Show us what you got !! ?? @diddy WAVE GODS !!! A post shared by French Montana (@frenchmontana) on Oct 20, 2017 at 7:28pm PDT 1% CHANCE… 99% FAITH You don’t make it anywhere by chance. Always believe. Thanks @beatsbydre My bro @money23green What’s your #1of1? A post shared by Nj ?? ? neymarjr (@neymarjr) on Oct 20, 2017 at 5:58am PDT I knew I could do it in Compton. I knew I could do it at Stanford. I knew I could do it once I made it to the league. But I also knew that respect is earned. S/O to Beats. #1of1 A post shared by Richard Sherman (@rsherman25) on Oct 20, 2017 at 9:05pm PDT Always TRU, S/O to Beats for the #1of1 headphones. Show ‘em what you got @cameron1newton! A post shared by 2 Chainz Aka Tity Boi (@2chainz) on Oct 20, 2017 at 10:45am PDT To purchase your pair click here. #BeatsbyDre #Electronics

Looks like we may be going back to a full package with our cable providers! The Chi, an hourlong drama created and executive produced by Master of None’s Lena Waithe, has found a home at Showtime. On Chicago’s south side, an average day finds kids prepping for school as their parents head off to work, young adults trying to make a living, and the elders keeping an eye on things from their front porches. But in this tough neighborhood, real dangers threaten daily to squelch dreams, and the simplest decisions can have life or death consequences. The Chi is a powerful coming-of-age drama series about an interconnected group of working-class African-Americans who remind us that no matter what, the human spirit is strong and hope never dies. Along with Lena, the series is also executive produced by Common. You will also recognize some familiar faces like Alex R. Hibbert (Moonlight), Jason Mitchell (Detroit), Jacob Latimore (Collateral Beauty), Yolanda Ross (Netflix’s The Get Down), Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine (Queen of Katwe), and Tiffany Boone (The Following). Check out the trailer below. #Entertainment #TheChi #TV

In a society where athletes are as, if not more, influential than movie stars and musicians, there’s one you may not know. I’m talking about Matt Cogar, arguably the greatest American Lumberjack athlete alive. Cogar has competed in and won five consecutive STIHL TIMBERSPORTS U.S. Pro Championships. An unmatched stretch by any American STIHL TIMBERSTORTS competitor. However, Cogar isn’t just competing; he’s dominating, blowing away his competitors. His only real competition seems to be World Champion, Jason Wynyard (New Zealand). At 31 Cogar hasn’t entered his prime but even at this point, Cogar has no American rival. For most athletes, their skill came randomly with parents that weren’t themselves athletes. With Cogar, it’s the opposite, lumberjacking is in his blood. From the small town of Diana, West Virginia Cogar and his extended family including his father and cousin have competed and found great success in any of the six disciplines of Lumberjacks. Matt Cogar, the five-time U.S. Champion. {Image via STIHL} Cogar family has been a professional collective of Lumberjacks for decades, and Matt is the prodigy. He chops through wood the way a knife cuts through a medium-rare Filet Mignon. His form is incredible uses technique and choosing his chops for optimal damage with each strike. To go with the thought and technique, Cogar is a physical presence.  Picking up an ax when he was just two years old, Matt would often go with his father to Lumberjack competitions and thus learned the ropes; he’s been preparing for this all his life. Standing at 6’4” and 245 lbs, has even more potential as he gets older and enters his prime. Cogar and other competitors compete year-round all across the country and across the world, but at least for October, he can be seen on ABC this Sunday and the next, catch the competition in real time. The video below is just a highlight reel from a Milwaukee Championship (Cogar is the one winning). #STIHL #Sports #Axe #Lumberjack #MattCogar #Ax #TimberSports

Today’s musician/recording artists are surrounded by an overwhelming amount of technology. From “smart” phones that are able to audibly tell you the weather to wrist watches that you can receive text messages and e-mails, the world of tech has far surpassed the times of Thomas A. Edison and the invention of the lightbulb. With these advancements comes an array of tech tools that make composing, recording, mixing, mastering, and selling your music immensely easy. If that is the case, why are artists and musicians alike still having a difficult time making a name for themselves in the music industry? One opinion might be their focus isn’t in the right area. That may be true, but if it is, then how can today’s musical talent be successful in the music industry? Two words…..Music Licensing. Although music licensing poses many challenges, at the same time the rewards are very much worth it. From my experiences, I will gladly share with you tips in order to not only make a name for yourself but be successful at it as well. The list is short, however, if you follow it to the letter, the music licensing opportunities (and profit) will flow to any artist or musician like water. Be patient…..And persistent. Understand these opportunities aren’t decided overnight. But you must also follow up on whether or not your music was listened to and selected. Instead of focusing on the $5,000 and up opportunities, submit for the lesser paying licensing opportunities as well. Don’t make focus solely on the high dollar opportunities. Submit songs or instrumentals for the $1,500 – $3,000 opportunities as well. The higher the licensing budget, the more scrutiny each music submission will receive. If you don’t have absolute confidence in your song or instrumental, it will fail. Only submit songs or instrumentals that are professionally mixed down and mastered. The last thing any artists or musician wants is to not have their song selected because it had terrible sound quality. Consider this: You are an executive for a very successful ad agency and your client wants a song to promote their new 2020 model year automobile. You as the executive are held responsible for the campaign that will bring the agency several hundred thousand dollars. You are the deciding factor to whether or not that happens. If you select a song that doesn’t exceed the standards of the client, you will most likely get fired or you will not get the very generous Christmas bonus. With that being the case, as a musician, you don’t want to submit music that isn’t exceedingly high quality. Plus, if the executive likes your music, they may license more of your music. Play to your strengths. If you are a hip-hop artist or producer and that is your forte, the time to learn if you can record songs that have an ambient sound influence isn’t when you want to submit them for music licensing purposes. I’m sure there are several other tips out there, but these tips are certainly going to make any musician or artist more equipped to submit songs for use in television and radio promotions. To all musicians and recording artist, I wish you the best of luck in all your career moves. Written by Toron Bordain #Music #ToronBordain

Over the Summer, Derek Jeter and an ownership group with New York Businessman Bruce Sherman made a bid to buy the Miami Marlins. After agreeing to a deal with the previous owner, the sale was approved by the league late last month. For 1.2 billion, Jeter becomes just the second African American Principal owner of an MLB team. One of the sports most beloved and recognizable faces, Jeter is one of the few players in the four major sports to reach a position of ownership. He’ll join Michael Jordan and Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson as the only players to reach the ownership level. As far as the Marlins go, Jeter will likely operate somewhere in between where Johnson and Jordan are as owners. Jordan is more present and on the day to day as Johnson owned part of the Dodgers but wasn’t always present with the team. Early reports suggest Jeter and his group are looking to cut salary for the club. If so the hope is with a Baseball mind behind the franchise, Jeter can put together a coherent roster for the first time in years. Speaking of the MLB, the Major League Baseball Player Association is giving its fans the chance to win $1 Million via its “Sweep The Series” contest. Enter to win by downloading the Infield Chatter app Here, and once the World Series matchup is finalized, correctly predict the winner and score of every WS game, as well as which player will be named the MVP. Good luck! #DerekJeter #MiamiMarlins #NewYorkYankees #TheGentWhoSpent

Last night, the Irish Dry Stout style beer, Guinness, celebrated a 200-year relationship between a brewery and a people: Guinness and America at The Root in New York City. This was the perfect time for the Guinness brand to release the limited-edition Guinness 200th Anniversary Export Stout. “Two things have always been at the heart of the Guinness brand since our founding in 1759: brewing great beer and sharing our story,” said Emma Giles, Guinness Brand Director. “When we started brewing beer for America 200 years ago, that story became a shared one. Now, every time you share a pint with someone else, another chapter begins.” Attendees enjoyed their favorite Guinness Taps, a Guinness Coffee Infuser, Nitro Ice Cream and Live Music. Check out the photos from the event below. #Alcohol #Guinness

Last night, Lionsgate hosted a red carpet premiere of the new comedy Where’s The Money at the ArcLight Culver City. The cast and filmmakers attended including Andrew “King Bach” Bachelor, Kat Graham, Logan Paul, Method Man, Allen Maldonado, Terry Crews and Devon Werkheiser. Method Man, Kat Graham, Allen Maldonado, Logan Paul, Andrew Bachelor, Terry Crews, Devon Werkheiser In this outrageously fresh comedy, Del (Andrew Bachelor), a quick-witted young man from the streets of South Central Los Angeles, learns that his still-in-prison father (Mike Epps) and just-out-of-jail uncle (Terry Crews) stole a million dollars and stashed it in the basement of an old flophouse. There’s just one problem: A major university is encroaching on the ’hood and that old flophouse is a newly gentrified (all-white) fraternity house. Now, with the help of his dream woman (Kat Graham) and best friend (Allen Maldonado), Del must rush the frat, ingratiate himself with the fraternity brothers (Logan Paul and Josh Brener), and grab the cash before his crazy, gun-wielding uncle or a local gangster (Method Man) get there first. Check out the trailer below. Where’s The Money comes to select theaters October 20th. Check out photos from the red carpet below. Photo Credit: Steve Cohn, Lionsgate #FIlm #WheresTheMoney

Georgia fashion designer Mychael Knight, who was a finalist on the popular TV competition show “Project Runway,” died Tuesday at age 39. Knight died outside Atlanta surrounded by family and friends, said friend Jerris Madison, the editor and photographer of Obvious Magazine, a fashion, lifestyle and cultural publication. An official cause of death has not been released, but Knight had extensively shared his five-year struggles with irritable bowel syndrome, writing in now-deleted Facebook posts that he suffered chronic abdominal pain, a “leaky gut,” extreme fatigue and exhaustion. “He was innovative, unapologetic, kind and giving,” Madison said of Knight. “He made sure that anybody who was in his core circle, his family, his friends, didn’t have to want for anything. He was just an amazing man.” Knight appeared on Season 3 of “Project Runway,” which aired on Bravo, finishing fourth that year. He returned for “Project Runway All-Stars,” finishing eighth on the show that now airs on the Lifetime network. “We are saddened to hear about the passing of a member of the Project Runway family,” said Lifetime spokeswoman Dee Perez in a statement. “It’s a loss of a great talent and we wish his family peace and solace during this difficult time.” Knight spent his childhood in Montgomery, Alabama, but graduated from Washingtonville Senior High School in Washingtonville, New York, in 1996. Later that same year, he began his freshman year of college at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, Georgia. In 2001, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in apparel design and merchandising. After completing his undergraduate studies, Knight broke into the fashion industry in Atlanta by working as an intern at Wilbourn Exclusives in 2001 before becoming a fashion stylist in the music industry in 2002. In 2006, Knight became a contestant for “Project Runway,” and went on to win that season’s fan favorite award. The next year, he introduced his label, Mychael Knight, on BET’s “Rip the Runway” and he designed a line of custom tees for the Starbucks Corp. In 2008, Knight launched Kitty & Dick, his lingerie label for men and women, and his unisex fragrance, MajK. Madison said “Project Runway” definitely helped expand Knight’s brand, which caught the eye of celebrities like Toni Braxton, Sheri Shepard and Eva Marcille, who ultimately became his clients. “His name was still on people’s minds,” Madison said. “The industry is very competitive, but he continued to do it his way.” Madison said Knight, who had been living in Los Angeles, was always sharp and chic in his personal style and that carried over into his collections. “He died doing what he loved,” Madison said. “And you can see that in his final collection presented (last month) at New York Fashion Week. It was amazing. The industry has lost a true innovator. Mychael was just getting to that point where people were saying ‘Hey, I remember this guy.’ He was about to be huge and really wanted to capitalize on affordable sportswear for women of all sizes.” In addition to his parents, Michael Sr. and Pamela Knight, Knight is survived by two sisters. “Mychael meant everything to us and we loved him dearly. He was generous and so full of life. This is how we choose to remember his legacy,” the family said in a statement. Funeral arrangements were pending. Written by Chevel Johnson AP #MychaelKnight #ProjectRunway