Here Comes the First Day of Stepping into the Society!
Here Comes the First Day of Stepping into the Society!
By: Kong Jo Ey, August 30, 2022.
The dreadful day has finally arrived, the day I received my internship application approval, and will be officially working as an intern in a legitimate, legal, official organization. The sudden rush of feelings such as excitement, nervousness, and anxiousness hit me as I was on my way to work. As a child that was treasured by my parents for years, I never once worked a single job, not even a part-time job. So, I felt pretty nervous knowing that August 22, 2022 will be my first, official day – the day I take a step into the real society to work as an employee/intern, instead of solely focusing on my studies. Hence, I would like to share some of my personal experiences (and maybe some advices!) with you, my fellow readers. Read along!
What Should We Expect on Our First Day of Internship?
Well, believe it or not, your first day of internship will usually be very chill and easy-going. You’ll first be introduced to the team, briefed about what you need to handle for the next week or so, your manager will also hand you a list of passwords for their organization’s accounts such as their social media account, email, and any other platforms they use for their convenience. Then, usually you’ll be tasked with some simple duties such as coming up with some ideas for their social media account, contacting some potential collaborators, replying to their emails, etc.
How Do We Get Along with Our Fellow Colleagues?
Next obstacle incoming: how do you get along with your colleagues? Are you the shy, introverted colleague; or the loud, talkative, extroverted colleague? If you’re the latter, congratulations! You’ll have no issue communicating and getting along with your colleagues. But what if you’re the shy one? It’s absolutely fine to be quiet, but it would be best not to come off as arrogant to your colleagues if you stay quiet even when your colleagues try to initiate a conversation with you. So, speak up whenever you need to! You do not need to have a full-blown conversation with your colleagues or boss all the time, because work always comes first! I doubt you would want to spend the entire day chit-chatting and leave the office with heaps of things undone, right? But do bear in mind, as a Public Relations Practitioner, it is a minimum requirement to at least be sociable – that said, speak whenever necessary. Also, don’t forget to smile! People may not see your smile behind your mask, but they will definitely see your effort in trying to be friendly through your eyes or facial expressions. (Nobody likes to work with Mr./Ms. Grumpy, right?)
I Have Nothing To Do, What Should I Do?
Uh oh, you’re not given any tasks to do. Should you sit there and scroll through your social media or text your friends? DEFINITELY NOT! Speak to your manager or supervisor, ask him/her whether they can assign some tasks for you to handle. Never come to work just to sit around wasting your time! You may have finished your daily tasks, but never hesitate to ask for more! Internship is your best time to learn and experience new things.
That said, starting an internship may not be as scary as I imagined, mostly because my supervisor and my colleagues are extremely friendly and welcoming. It took me only the first hour to click with them and it already feels like we’ve known each other for years!
This marks the end of my first blog. If you’re currently in the process of applying for an internship position, all the best to you! If you’re already accepted, congratulations! Let’s get through this Reflective Practice unit together. See you in the next blog!
Great Experiences Leading To Great Opportunities
My previous blog posts were more about the lessons I learnt and some helpful tips to get you through your internship. Perth happenings gave me so many amazing opportunities and learning experiences and I’m so grateful I was able to be considered for the internship position there.
Flashback to my first day. I was super nervous and didn’t know what to expect. As it is a public relations AND digital marketing agency, I was eager to see how the two worked cohesively at one firm. Working in an agency setting showed me how much PR is valued across all industries, rather than being contained in a specialised work environment.
As my internship comes to an end, I wanted to give you an insight into some of the experiences and opportunities I had and what it was like working at Perth Happenings. Firstly, I want to get into some of the tasks I was given.
Blog Posting
Creating blog posts was a big part of my role at my internship. All up I wrote about 15 blog posts which can all be accessed through the Perth Happenings website if you wanted to have a look at some of my work.
Here is a list of some of the blog I wrote about:
- What’s on this weekend
- What’s on this month
- Best dog spots in Perth
- Long weekend events
- Events & Shows
Something that I had never done before was turning a media release sent by a PR team and forming it into blog-style writing. It was hard to pick apart the text and include relevant information because it all seemed relevant in all honesty.
Event Adding
Perth Happenings website, Instagram and Facebook page were platforms used to educate their audience on upcoming events and news. At the start of each day, I would go on the hunt for events around Perth to add to the website. I had no idea about even 10% of the events that I had been adding. It was such a good opportunity for me to get a glimpse into everything that is going around the city and some of the amazing events that Perth has to offer.
Content creation and social media management
One of my major responsibilities was to create content for two companies and post it on their social media. This was one of the more time-consuming tasks. You wouldn’t think so, right? What could be so hard about posting a story? Trying to think of new and creative ideas to engage with the audience was something I found extremely challenging at first. It’s hard to not be repetitive and post about the same things. In my last blog post, I posted an example of some of the content that I had created, check it out.
Le Vietnam
On my first day at the internship, we were given the opportunity to head to Le Vietnam in Perth CBD. I was given the role of creating an Instagram reel about our experience at the restaurant. I’d never dabbled in reel making but got the hang of it quite quickly. The reel got some amazing engagement levels on Instagram, and it was interesting to see the positive effect content like that can have on a business.
Side note… Yum, this was amazing!!
Highway Burger Launch 
The Highway Burger new menu launch was one of my favourite experiences throughout my time at Perth Happenings. It was so interesting to see the ins and outs of what goes on for an event like this to run smoothly and be put together. I got the opportunity to interact with a multitude of influencers and expand my network.
After the event, we tracked all influencer posting and analytics of the highway burger Instagram account in terms of likes, follows, and engagement. It was honestly crazy to see the results. Influencers actually influence people. Who would’ve thought? I guess it’s right to say underestimated how much viewers value influencer options.
this is the team!
Cockburn Gateway Gin Pop-up Bar
The Perth Happenings Instagram page is an extremely personal and interactive platform used by the employees. Andrea (another intern) and I were given the chance to go to a launch night event at the Gin Pop-up bar at Cockburn Gateways.
We were both dreading the fact that we had to post an Instagram story talking to the camera about what we were doing. The following for the account is quite big and neither of us had done this before. I was given the task of posting on the Perth Happenings Instagram stories about the event and adding any information to the audience regarding what to expect.
All in all, I had an amazing time at Perth Happenings. I now have the experience behind me to excel in a full-time or part-time job that comes my way!
Thanks for coming along on this journey with me! I hope I could be of some help with my tips along the way.
All the best to you all,
Emma
When Things Come to a Halt.
This week at my internship we faced some obstacles, because my placement has gone through rebranding and now have their own marketing and PR team rather than getting their marketing and PR externally. This also means that my placement is still going through their partner’s websites to see who still have them listed as their previous name and asking them to update their information. As well as getting into their old social media accounts to either delete them or update them to the new name and branding. This is where we faced some obstacles, as they now have their own marketing and PR team, they did not have access to some of these accounts.
So, we had to contact the agency that used to do their communications for them to get the information we needed. This as a result put the task, I was meant to do for that day on halt for pretty much half the day.
Anyway, despite this I manage to find other work during the waiting time for my supervisor to contact and hear back from their previous communications agency. They eventually got back to us with some of the information but not all, so I manage to get a part of the task, I was meant to do that day done. Some important lessons I learnt from this is:
- Even when organised some things do not always go to plan and that’s okay.
- Always have a back or a place to keep notes of everything even if it does not seem necessary at the time.
- Always have other tasks or plans in mind that can be done if your current task has to be put on pause.
In conclusion, while the plans and tasks I had been given by my supervisor did not quite go to plan, we both tried to come up with a solution and work around it.
You’ll Be Alright, Kid
As I am nearing the end of my internship I reflect on my experience and the knowledge which I have gained throughout these past few months. As well as with uni back in full swing, these past few weeks have certainly been somewhat interesting. Trying to juggle a full-load at uni as well as interning has given somewhat an idea of what the outside world might be like, you know, busy and full of deadlines, you know reality, so it’s safe to say this has been a real eye-opening experience for me.
If there’s one thing I have taken from this internship it’s that I’LL BE ALRIGHT!
I look back to that time in October last year, where I wallowed in my sadness of trying to find an internship and now I laugh, I laugh because at the time I thought the world was crumbling around me (I know, dramatic right?), but when in fact that actually gave me a piece of reality. That you’re not always going to get that job you applied for, that life will not always be as easy as pie, but you persevere because that’s life.
This internship has allowed me to grow not just professionally but also personally. I’m so grateful that I was able to intern at Event & Conference Co for it has taught me so many new things. Adding to this that undertaking an internship during a worldwide pandemic certainly made for an interesting experience as an intern.
After undertaking this placement it has really allowed me to see clearly what I’m looking for in an ideal job once I’ve graduated, such as:
1. Corporate culture
– How does the company deal with management? How do they treat their employees? Are they fairly compensated? Are they valued members of the company?
2. Organisational values
-I would like to think that my personal values would align with the organisation I would be working for. I want to know that I would be happy in the position I’d be in and not have to sacrifice my values for a mere payday.
3. Flexibility/Work Balance
-Working in an office-setting these past few months has really given me a good insight into what I would potentially be looking for in my ideal job. Whether they value the work-life balance. The company’s ability to be flexible with personal commitments.
4. Work Environment
-Will the environment I’ll be working in be inviting? Will they welcome me? Do they support employee growth? Do they make their employees feel comfortable and safe?
Though this list seems idealistic, I’m sure that we all want to know that once we’ve graduated all those long hours we put in at uni were not a total waste. We all want to know that our hard work will pay off and if having a short list of what could potentially be something we do as a career for the rest of our lives can make that seem less daunting then so be it.
Having been exposed to so many new and different experiences throughout my internship, I’ve learnt that with the right attitude I can do things I set my mind to and I’ll be alright.
Never written a business proposal before, don’t worry in good time you’ll get the hang of it and who knows maybe that’ll become your specialty.
Never been exposed to a software they use at your new job, don’t be afraid to ask for help, sitting there twiddling your thumbs won’t help.
For me, I’ve seen this internship as somewhat of a test-drive, it’s helped me to understand what I want and what I don’t. And now it’s my turn to bat, I am up to the plate and it’s time to go out there in the world and use what I’ve learnt at my internship.
To everyone who’s currently undertaking their internships, I wish you all the best of luck. And to all the future graduates, I wish you all the very best in your future careers!!!
Andrea
The Nitty-Gritty, Not-So-Glamorous Side of Events
I’m sure we’ve all been to some form of event or another, whether it was a wedding, a work event, a gala, or anything that had to be prepared ahead of time, and much like me, I’m sure you didn’t even think twice about how it was put together.
Well, I’m here to tell you the not-so-glamorous but all-important side of event planning. The food on the table doesn’t just magically appear there, you know! Fair warning it is quite a lot of calls, emails, and paperwork.
So, let’s start:
1. Paperwork
The amount of paperwork each event has is definitely one I was NOT ready for. From registration forms to attendee lists to agendas to accommodation plans, it’s all there. Though sounds overwhelming at first, once you get used to it, it does become almost second-nature to you. You end up reading so many things and corresponding with so many different people, it feels like you’ve read an encyclopedia in just one day.
2. Phone calls
Need I say more. Possibly the most daunting task of our generation. Personally, not my favourite, but certainly a character builder. The events industry is definitely not the place to be shy. Fake it ‘til you make it, right?
From enquiries to chasing people up, it’s certainly an adventure. As much as I dislike this task, I feel that it is certainly essential to master, to be successful in any business. Though I don’t personally like to call people, it does feel somewhat different in a professional setting, as you already know what you need to say.
Despite my less-than-cheery post, the events industry is certainly still a great industry to work in. After undertaking this internship, my gratitude towards event planners has grown by hundred folds.
On a much lighter note, I’ve learnt so much from my internship so far.
Attention to Detail
Most, if not all jobs, require you to have a keen eye for attention to detail. Having been tasked with going through profiles and budgets, has really sharpened my ability to pay attention to the small stuff. A skill I’m definitely going to need further down the line in my career.
Clear and Concise Communication
By being able to work with other interns in the office, I’ve really had to make sure that the messages I was conveying to them were delivered in a clear and professional manner. Not only does this help sharpen my communication abilities, but it does also ensure that we are working productively and not making small mistakes due to miscommunication.
Collaborative Skills
With the office currently having four other interns, it has certainly helped in improving my collaborative skills. I’m sure we’ve all had that one group in Uni that we absolutely hated. In a professional setting, it is much much different, so far, it’s been pretty much smooth sailing. We’re able to give each other honest feedback on any collaborative work without any petty grievances (unlike Group Assignments *wink wink*).
And that concludes our life lessons for the day, thanks for listening, ‘til next time!
Andrea
Internship Hunting Blues
Drawing back to around mid-October last year, I eagerly sat at my computer searching the internet high and low for my first internship to be able to complete my hours. For the next few weeks, I was on a hunt every day eagerly waiting for a Public Relations internship to open up.
It had only been about 2 weeks since I had started my internship hunt, but at that point, it felt like it had been a lifetime. I had big plans of wanting to do my internship over the summer holidays, but perhaps that was not viable at this point, was what I thought to myself. But alas I did not give up, the Monday following my pity party, as I sat in my tutorial scrolling through Facebook (I already know what you’re thinking), a notification popped up.
Probably just a birthday reminder of someone I knew in primary school, but low and behold there it was. Gleaming at me in bold letters, “Event & Conference Co are preparing to take summer interns”. I don’t think I have ever clicked on anything so fast in my life. I sat there for a while not paying attention to what was being said in the tute, reading and re-reading the position description.
Did I mention that it was for an events company as well? When I had embarked on my search, my only requirement was for it to be a summer internship, but it was as if all the stars had aligned. I should also mention that I’ve been working in the events industry for a while now and it has become quite a passion of mine, so you could probably just imagine my excitement when I had found a summer internship and it was for an events company.
I was off, quickly going through my CV and making changes to my cover letter, and then off it went. Safe to say, that I didn’t really understand most of what was going on in the tute at this point. But still, there I was, refreshing my email every five minutes. In less than half an hour I had gotten a reply, telling me to give their event manager a ring to discuss further.
I’m pretty sure this was the only time I had ever been excited to make a phone call. Despite being so excited for this call, on the inside, I was absolutely terrified, I mentioned that this would be my first internship, and my soon-to-be supervisor Tracy said that it was no problem at all.
Fast forward a couple of months, I sat in the office about to start my fourth day at my first internship, combing through their social media accounts to help put together a schedule.
So, what have I learnt on this short journey of mine so far.
1. It pays to wait
Sometimes we are willing to take on things that we’re not necessarily passionate about simply to finish a task. During my search, I had come across a few internships that although seemed interesting, just did not seem like my cup of tea. Waiting is definitely a game that I am no good at, but in this case, it paid off. So to all the soon-to-be-interns out there, do not feel you’re being rushed into doing anything. Take your time!
2. Don’t be afraid
I’m sure by now you’ve figured out that I was quite nervous, though excited, to embark on this journey. Stepping out of our comfort zone, though sounds cliche, is important to help us figure out what we are truly passionate about. As terrifying as it sounds, sometimes being thrown in the deep end is not the worst thing, as it helps us to gain the necessary skills to be able to tough it out in the real world.
3. Preparedness is key
You’re probably thinking prepared for what. For anything really, especially when on a hunt for an internship or a job, a proof-read CV and cover letter never hurt anyone. Preparing ahead of time and reading your potential host company’s website and familiarising yourself with their work would certainly fall in your favour.
4. Ask, ask, ask
Better to know too much, than not enough. With many of us being new to perhaps internships or the workforce, I’m sure, much like me, you all have quite a few questions about your tasks/position. I have found myself to be asking questions more than I usually would, and it has actually helped me so much in my journey so far. Asking what each task entails, asking the expectations for the position. So, ask away!
That’s all folks! (Until my next post that is).
Andrea
No two days are ever the same
I’ve recently started my internship with Events and Conference Co., (or E&C for short) a Perth based event management and conference organiser, a team made entirely of women. I’m only three days in and I know one thing for sure, that no two days have been the same, and I anticipate that no day will be like the last.
I’ve been fortunate enough to have already worked two events. The first was the API Partner Conference alongside Forum Group Events held at Crown Towers, which definitely isn’t the worst place to work. I was tasked with the responsibility of helping conference attendees get to where they needed to go, pointing them in the right direction.
It was my first taste of the field work required when running an event. It was also my first time meeting the women at E&C and some of the other interns. The day also helped me create connections with people in the same industry, and others.
The biggest lesson I learnt from my first day was to never be too proud to ask for help. Don’t be afraid to ask for guidance. Rather than wondering around aimlessly, just ask for help. There’s no shame in that.
The second event I worked with E&C was the WA Women’s Hall of Fame Induction, which was held at the ethereal Perth Government House Ballroom. It seems only right that an amazing events management company comprised of women held an event which celebrates women. The night was on the eve of International Women’s Day, and was magical from beginning to end.
The diverse women of Western Australia who were inducted into the Women’s Hall of Fame were incredibly inspiring. The entire experience filled me with pride to have the opportunity to work alongside such talented women. From setting up chairs and greeting everyone as they walked through the gates of Government House, to packing down signage at the end of the night, I was able to contribute throughout the whole event.
Being apart of the team behind the event, I witnessed the intricate details of the event that needed to be attended to, all the particular aspects of what brings an event to life. Through it all the night went wonderfully, a result of the hard work put in by Events and Conference Co.
Looking ahead, I’m excited to be apart of more events with E&C, and being able to work closely with the team in preparation for future events. Be sure to watch this space, as no day is ever the same at Events and Conference Co.
Enjoy these pictures I took at the beautiful Government House Ballroom!
Courtney Stables
For more of Events and Conference Co, check out their Instagram here!
The First Day
29.01.2019
I’m not going to lie – I woke up this morning sweating bullets. It was the first day of my Public Relations internship with well-known local agency, Hunter Communications. I had 6 weeks to learn as much as I possibly could, whilst at the same time, trying to make a good impression.
It’s a completely different challenge and construct compared to secondary education. At University or TAFE, you learn, you memorise, and you get great at regurgitating information. I, personally, believe that half of what you learn in the classroom doesn’t sink in because you’re aware it only needs to be up there until exams are over. Maybe that’s just me.
Anyhow, in the office it’s a completely different story. I planned to be a sponge; soaking up every piece of information this consultancy would give me. There was a hierarchy that I had never experienced at University, and I was at the bottom. I knew going in I had A LOT to learn, but to be honest, I was really worried.
What if I had spent 3 years studying something that I actually hated putting into practice? I didn’t have a “plan B” as such. This was it. What would I do if I hated it? I actually had no idea. Would I finish my last semester? Would I drop out and start another 3-year degree? At this point I MAY have stressed a little too much… Oops.
Excuse my language, but thank fuck, I loved it.
I haven’t figured out why yet, but it was like I was in my element. Basically, the stars and planets aligned, and my panic faded, I even enjoyed being the newbie.
I sat down, took out my pink Kmart pen holder and some fashion books (that usually sat on my coffee table), and I proceeded to make this little desk my own.
I’m not going to lie – I woke up the next day pretty damn excited.
But I don’t want to leave so soon – I just got here !
With only two weeks left to my internship at Promaco Conventions, it’s finally daunting on me that I’ll have to say goodbye to this new place that I’ve finally settled into. It honestly feels like it was only last week when I waddled into the office like a lost duckling and introduced myself to my internship supervisor and colleague – it’s been more than two months !
I couldn’t help but to think what would it be like after I leave? Did I make that much of a substantial difference between being there and not being there? Have I done enough? Are they satisfied? Guess I’ll find out after the appraisal form gets sent from my supervisor, but fingers crossed…..
One major part that’s tugging on my heartstrings is the upcoming Mindfulness Conference that is happening in September. First of its kind in Perth, Promaco was given the opportunity to be the professional conference organiser for the event, and the lineup of speakers are just exceptional! Ajahn Brahm (renowned abbot of the Bodhinyana Monestery in Serpentine) is expected to speak as a keynote at the conference, and as a strong believer in mindfulness and its benefits on the body myself, I’ll be missing out on being a part of what will be a really exciting event for myself to both plan and (somewhat) attend.
We also focused strong efforts on Facebook to promote the Mindfulness conference on a social network, and initially we were having great difficulty in generating awareness for it. Thankfully, in the last week or so, the majority of my notifications consisted of new likes on the page or people tagging their friends in posts! Surely Promaco will get a lot of buzz in the next few weeks! (but again, it’s sad how I won’t be around 🙁 ).
On another note, this morning I had the opportunity to assist my supervisor in packing the conference satchels for the Energy in WA conference next week! EXCITING! I’m getting jitters for this event. We received a huge delivery yesterday consisting of sponsor booklets, conference notepads and programs, and the compendiums that will be holding all of the items together!
Grace allowed a little peak into what’s inside on the Promaco Facebook page…..
We thought it’d take a few hours to pack everything away into each bag, but we managed to smash it out in under 2 hours.
I’m really excited for the Energy in WA event – it’s going to be very different to the previous ALTA Law conference that we ran about a month ago. Big names in the corporate, energy industry, a great venue and an amazing AV team and catering… we shall see how it all plays out next week!
You’ll definitely be seeing a peek into the event in the coming week or so!
But for now, signing off,
Nikita!
The smaller the business, the BIGGER THE ROLE!
I’m about midway into my internship experience and I was glad to have a catch up opportunity with Grace to formerly discuss how everything was going up until this point. We discussed how I felt about the position, what we did here at Promaco Conventions, as well as how I was going with my degree. I told her that this role and industry (conference management) was something that I never would have planned on doing in my life, but that I was grateful for the experience because it’s such a different experience than what someone on the outside may think of as events management and PR. There’s a whole lot of work that goes on behind the scenes of what you see at every event you attend or see. Behind all the glitz and glamour is months of hard work, liaising with suppliers, delegates, hotels, transport companies, sponsors, caterers – you name it.
Having interned here for over a month, I’ve began to realise the roles and tasks that were put into each conference that Promaco Conventions organised. For instance, Grace’s role as the conference manager is more business and finance-based within the event. She’s in charge of sales, new leads, and securing the clients for each conference, budgets and is the first point of contact to report to the director Livia in Switzerland. Alternatively, Jess’s role as the events coordinator requires more hands on, administrative work to make the event run as smooth as possible. This includes being the point of contact for clients and delegates, contacting catering and suppliers, logging meeting minutes and so on. The size and importance of their roles are especially emphasized right now as we are preparing for another event in around 3 weeks time. For what is normally a two-man team in the Perth office, this small business achieves a substantial amount of work and overall success!
To be honest it made me realise what it meant for me as an intern here. My tasks include things ranging from assisting Grace in finding new leads for future conferences, to assisting Jess in finding sponsorship and cross promotion opportunities for our events. What I have to do in my role is pretty substantial when you look at it in retrospect, and it makes for an even more fulfilling experience here. Let’s say I were at a large events management company with different departments and way more staff members, would it mean that the tasks I do have less impact on the overall outcome of the event? Would I even have the opportunity to learn these tasks at all?
I guess what I do want to share with those who wish for a glitzy and glamorous, big name intern experience is to not overlook the smaller companies and teams in this industry. You might actually find that the skills you learn are way more important than the name you’re chasing to work for.
………..And with smaller teams you get more ‘thank you’ donuts to eat from companies 😉
Until next time,
Nikita.
ACADEMIC CONFERENCES! A side of PR and events I didn’t think I’d see so soon.
This week marks the first time I’ve ever been at a conference, and never did I think I would have helped with setting it up. The 2018 Australasian Law Teacher’s Association Conference took place over a span of 3 days (4-6 July) and it was interesting to see such an event happen with so many professionals in the industry. I even saw some familiar faces from Curtin University!
My role required me to assist in various tasks that would all make the conference run smoothly. This included tasks such as setting up banners for sponsors, double checking delegate names and details, and also assisting in delegate registration on the conference days. I also wanted to showcase the conference on our social media platforms during the event (Instagram live) and post pictures on the Promaco Conventions Facebook.
The Welcome Reception
The welcome reception took place on the 4th of July, and this took place at Curtin Old Boys School at St Georges Terrace. We set up the registration table for delegates who wanted to pick up their name badges and conference satchels early.
The conference delegates arrived and had the opportunity to liaise with others amongst drinks and canapes – I would say it was a great start for the upcoming conference.
ALTA Law 2018 Conference
For the conference (taking place at 57 Murray st), we also had to set up the venue (78 Murray st) for morning/afternoon tea and lunch. This involved sorting out the chairs and tables for food and beverages, and our sponsor signs and tables.
During day 1 of the conference, we set up our registration room with all of the satchels and name badges that weren’t collected. Since it was the first day of the conference, the delegates needed help here and there to find the locations of their presentations, and there were some last minute arrivals. Needless to say it was hectic for someone like me who didn’t know the ins and outs of the venue and conference program like the back of my hand! Take a look below at the final set up for the registration table and morning/afternoon tea venue.
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For the speakers comfort, I chose not to take pictures of their presentations, although overall I think it was a successful event. The conference itself ran for two days, and they were the same in terms of set-up and running.
Reflecting on the event
It’s definitely something different than what I’m used to (I’ve had some experience in events before), but personally I do like a challenge and I enjoy learning on the spot. A key learning point that would have benefited me in this case would probably to have a good understanding of the venue of any event I’m involved with, and having a better understanding of the runsheet/program to better help my managers with the whole process.
Since we were all so busy, I also didn’t have the chance to livestream the morning tea event as planned. However, I did manage to create an album on Facebook specifically for this event (something they’ve never done before), to showcase all the happenings of the conference.
I’ve learnt that time management is definitely an area which we only have so much control over – no one would expect this level of busy! With the stress and meticulous planning, it was a fun first experience in a real-life events company.
****If you’d like to see more images of the event (and upcoming events), check out Promaco Conventions on Facebook.
Signing off,
Nikita!
Do Influencers have a role in a PR strategy!
Remember the moment when you messaged Brad Pit and he wrote back promising to wear your new brand of wrist watch on a TV show. Or the email you wrote to Mark Zuckerberg and he agreed to give a talk at your company. Hold on… wait…. What? That never happened but there is plenty of data and tips which promises strategies to reach out influencers.
PR has always been about making and maintaining better relations with the public, journalists or other organisations. Most PR professionals are more comfortable when working editors and journalists. Although working with traditional media is still a major factor of what PR professionals do, but over the past years working with influencers has become a big thing in PR. As influencers can help the company stay relevant and by harnessing the trust and power people have in them can really boost any campaign. Generally, influencer marketing gets the influencer to snap or tweet about a particular brand for hundreds of dollars. I think it’s transforming into the kind of marketing that distracts us from the main question which is why do we follow influencers in the first place? Is it because of their followers or content. The real challenge comes when you have to change that old concept of using influencers and instead create a campaign which is organic and seems more importantly share worthy or news worthy.
With technology finding its ways into every aspect of our daily lives, no doubt that the landscape of campaigns has changed swiftly over the time. According to a research, it is said that by the year 2020, there would be over 50 billion devices connected to the internet (Ericsson 2014). This means that PR professionals must come up with strategies to implement the creative use of social media when working with influencers. There is one very interesting PR campaign example that I found on the internet. Well during Coachella, which is music festival and it is considered as one of the nosiest music culture event in terms of social media and the news. Postmates marketing and PR team were able to set up a campaign at the event with the famous rap-star, Post Malone. Instead of offering to pay the rap-star for a traditional Facebook or Instagram post, the team shot a series of videos which they believed would go viral. The famous rap-star Post Malone postmated 10,000 Popeye’s biscuits to a party at Coachella and this stunt was a big success for the courier company (Breihan 2017).
In terms of Curtin Malaysia, most of their influencers are editors of magazines, journalists and agents from education fairs. Well I believe that Curtin Malaysia can really benefit from influencer marketing if used in a proper way. For example, as we all know that Curtin emphasises on their research and innovation, so therefore Curtin can approach experts in the field of research and ask them to talk about the university. Upon my conversation with my manager I found out that ex board member of Curtin was very active in the government and he used to talk about Curtin during his visits to various politicians. Due to this a lot of government support and few projects were given to the university and the city it operates in. I believe that Curtin should repeat this and look for influencers in other countries as well. What do you think?
References:
Ericsson. 2014. Ericsson Media Vision 2020 – maps out the future of TV. April 7. https://www.ericsson.com/en/press-releases/2014/4/ericsson-media-vision-2020—maps-out-the-future-of-tv.
Breihan, Tom. 2017. Post Malone Had 10,000 Popeye’s Biscuits Delivered to Coachella. 4 17. https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/music-festivals/7760626/post-malone-popeyes-biscuits-coachella.