Special Guest!

Guess who I got to hang out with last night?? Keep your eyes open to find out why! We had a great time!

WWL TV4 Visit

Tuesday Morning, Peyton and I woke up bright and early to visit the WWL-TV4 News Station for 7:00 a.m.! Ann invited us to watch Dan Jatres, RPC Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Representative interview with Eric Paulsen. We were escorted from the waiting room through the main building of the news station, which allowed us to have a brief view of the editing suites, graphics room and the main control room. From here, we walked outside through the garage into the "Filming Suite." We waited eagerly until it was Dan's turn to walk onto the set. When they finally called him, Peyton and I began creeping outside of the filming room hoping to snap a few pictures. Lucky for us, the camera crew couldn't have been more accepting! They wanted us up-front and center (unfortunately, we had to be behind the camera) in order to see everything! We were excited about the interview because we will be working on the 2012 RPC Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety campaign that will launch this fall.

Bicycle and Pedestrian safety has become an increasingly popular topic in New Orleans over the past few years due to the rising amount of accidents between pedestrians and motorists. Dan explains that a main reason for these collisions are a direct result of people not knowing and/or complying with the public laws that have been put in place. The 2012 campaign we are working on hopes to get these messages across, and we are sure it will be one to remember!

SEO

This morning I was invited to sit in on two meetings with other companies who were discussing with us potential SEO techniques. For those of you who don’t know (because I didn’t), SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization. In other words, it is the process of improving the quality and volume of web traffic to a webpage by applying techniques that help a website achieve a higher “ranking” with major search engines such as Google and Bing. Now you’re probably thinking, how exactly does a company do this?

The most effective way to implement SEO is to take on a key word campaign. In the initial stages, a detailed analysis of over 250 key words takes place. From these statistics, the company can determine the most successful key words to implement into their website. This takes place during the website design phase, where the URL is coded to incorporate the specific key words into titles and site pages in order to set up a “blue print” for the search engine. This is classified as content optimization in order to achieve a higher ranking on different search engines.

Each month, the client receives a monthly “report” stating which key words are producing which results. These results are broken down into finite details including impressions, visitors, and events. Each time the client’s site is brought up on the page is classified as an impression. When the searcher physically clicks the link it is called a visit. An event takes place when the searcher either e-mails or places a phone call from visiting the website. This allows the client to see their Return on Investment for their Search Engine Optimization, and to which words they should be emphasizing.

So, why should clients invest in SEO? Well, simply put, search engines are the most popular method for internet users to find websites and information. Similarly, websites who decide to market themselves online are more successful than their competition who decides against online marketing. With this combination, who wouldn’t want to put themselves online and earn a high ranking among search engines?

Introducing: Jennifer

Hello! My name is Jennifer and I am one of the new interns here at Keating Magee! You’ve probably gathered at this point that I have some sort of tie to New Orleans. Well, you’re right! I was born and raised a New Orleanian! I attended high school at Metairie Park Country Day, but decided going away for college would be a fun adventure. I landed in Lexington, Virginia where I am a rising senior at Washington and Lee University. After graduation next May, I will have my degree in Business Administration. After only being here a week, I can tell that it will be a summer to remember!

One of my biggest passions in life is baking. When I was eleven, I started a baking business out of my kitchen. Knowing this, you can imagine my excitement when I was told I would be sitting in on a brainstorm session for Chef Paul Prudhomme’s Louisiana Kitchen right here in New Orleans! After two hours, we left feeling confident about our ideas and the designs that would come from them. It was one of the most exciting and entertaining brainstorming sessions I have ever experienced.  

Tennis is the other area that I have a great passion for. I’ve competed for many years. I am now a member of the Washington and Lee Women’s varsity team loving every second of competition, hard work and my teammates who have become part of my family.

I can assure you that no time has been wasted during my first week here. I was given the task of contacting and gathering information and donations for the United Health Care Children’s Foundation Golf Tournament, as well as updating the East Jefferson General Hospital weekly newsletter. I am so excited and can’t wait to keep you updated about my summer here at Keating Magee! I am hopeful that just like the tennis team, the team here at Keating Magee will become more than just co-workers!

First Blog Introduction: Peyton

Hi everyone! My name is Peyton Elaine and today is my first day as a new PR intern for Keating Magee. I am originally from Ruston, Louisiana, but for college, I decided I needed a change and moved 8 hours away from home to Norman, Oklahoma to attend the University of Oklahoma. Boomer Sooner! I am about to start my senior year at OU in the Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communications as a Professional Writing major minoring in Italian. I'm sure most of you are wondering what a Professional Writing major is doing at a marketing firm with a PR internship. At OU, we have a lot of general requirements in our own colleges, like my journalism college, to give us a better understanding of the industry we have decided to go into. I have taken quite a few PR courses and have found that I really like PR. Being that my graduation date is fast approaching, I decided it was time to take the plunge and beg someone to give me some real work experience. This was extremely scary for me, so naturally I decided to go back home where my greatest support system is for this terrifying adventure. When this wonderful opportunity of a PR internship at Keating Magee presented itself, I thought why not?

I am very excited to be at Keating Magee since it is in New Orleans, one of my favorite cities, and so close to those closest to me. I'm really looking forward to getting started on my first project. So far I'm loving the new office and everyone has been so nice and helpful. Well I guess thats all for now. I will keep everyone updated on my progress here at Keating Magee and New Orleans. Wish me luck!

First Blog Introduction: Selina

Hello! My name is Selina. I am a new intern at Keating Magee. I was born and raised in Metairie, which is right outside of New Orleans. When looking at colleges and trying to figure out what was right for me, I decided that being home was the right choice. I mean, where else is better than New Orleans? With that being said, I am currently a senior at the University of New Orleans. When I graduate in the fall, I will have my degree in Marketing. I've learned quite a bit from classes I have taken, but I am ready for some hands on experience and learn even more from everyday hands on work.

Keating Magee is exactly what I hoped to find when looking for an internship. I was nervous to start because I didn't know what to expect having an internship. The only experience I had with other intern-type positions were the usual filing and phone answering. The first day at Keating Magee, I learned that the interns here are actually involved in projects and events and get real hands on experience! No time was wasted, I jumped right into business working with the United Health Care Children's Foundation Golf Tournament. I love being involved and am looking forward to whats ahead.

I am so excited and can't wait to update and share all the new things I am learning on my journey working with Keating Magee!

Passing the Torch

Over the past two weeks the rest of the summer interns have said their goodbyes, leaving the office feeling kind of empty. I'll admit it's been kind of lonely - not to mention a reminder that my time here is drawing to a close as well. Luckily, two new interns arrived Monday to pick up the slack.

Michelle and Selina are both students at UNO and will be working several days during the week this Fall. I've had the opportunity to work with Selina the past two days since she will be taking over the ongoing process of collecting donations for the UHCCF golf tournament. I hope the ridiculous amount of request letters and PDF files weren't too intimidating! From what I hear Michelle is a wiz at photoshop - definitely a skill I could have used this summer.

Teaching the new interns about the office and all the different projects we have worked on makes me realize just how much I've learned this summer. It seems just like a few weeks ago I was freaking out because the phone was ringing and I had no idea how to use it and now I am teaching the new interns, who by the way, have the same freaked out expression when it comes to the phones as I did, how to manage. Michelle and Selina, I hope those written out instructions help! As usual, once I figure everything out, it's time to move onto the next project. What this new project will be I haven't a clue, but whatever it is I hope it brings me back to the wonderful city of New Orleans.

Princess for a Weekend!

The Windsor Court is famous for hosting teas, and the hotel has recently begun featuring one themed tea a month. This month was the much anticipated Princess Tea, and the Windsor Court enlisted the services of a real live princess to grace the presence of the lucky guests…just kidding it was only me; however, I certainly did feel like a princess that weekend. I was dressed as Sleeping Beauty, and all of the little girls truly believed I was the real deal. As soon as they walked through the doors of the Windsor Court, they ran over to me and wrapped their little arms around my legs. There were a few girls who were a tad frightened of me at first; however, their fears quickly subsided once they saw other little girls flock to me. The menu and atmosphere were composed of all things princess: the harpist eloquently played tunes from Disney princess classics, the sandwiches were shaped like crowns, and the party favors were crowns given to everyone personally by me, the guest princess at the tea. The weekend was a wonderful experience and I would love to participate in another themed tea. Tea at the Windsor Court is truly a magical experience. Even on days when the tea doesn’t have a theme, its hard not to feel like a princess!

So long, farewell!

I will preface this post with an apology. If for some reason there are typos, misspelled words or incorrect grammer, I am truly sorry. I still have not fully recovered from the AMAZING event last night at Irvin Mayfield's I Club. Not only was the club filled with talented musicians, media and good friends of Irvin's, but also a few famous actors stopped by! Not too shabby for the opening night. Needless to say, everyone in the office is moving at half speed today.


I can not believe that my two months have come and gone so quickly here at Keating Magee. The experience is one that opened my eyes to the fulfilling, but sometimes complicated, world of communications. Interning for a company can go one of many ways. And guess what? You (the intern) are in control!


If you don't know- ASK!
Do not feel embarrassed or shy about asking for help. You are an intern, therefore you do not know everything and they don't expect you to. It is better to ask than to do a project completely wrong.


Put yourself out there!
Volunteer for any and every job! Oh the kitchen needs cleaning? Sure! There is an event to work tonight? Sounds great! The more jobs you are given the more you are trusted. It pays off in the end. I always felt like a nuisance asking, but I realized that after awhile I did not have to ask. Tasks were being given to me because I earned that responsibility.


Have fun!
Your experience will be so much worthwhile if you are adding fun elements to the work environment. Obviously, some days it will be all business and no play, but there are ways to still make those days enjoyable. Ask to sit it on a client conference call, go to lunch with the other interns, participate in a brainstorming sessions. By doing those things, your days will be more fulfilling.


I could not have asked for a better intern experience than the one I had with Keating Magee. I am sad to go, but I know that I have been instilled with the knowledge and capability to make it in the PR world one day thanks to the people at Keating.
Geaux tigers and of course, who dat!

My Phire Feature

Last week I was assigned to write a feature about Nick Sagona, Keating Magee's Senior Interactive Strategist, and the new, user-friendly content management system (CMS) he created. I enjoy writing, so this assignment instantly brightened my day!

Research is always the first move in when writing, so I visited the Phire CMS website and started looking over the material. Having recently dived into the world of blogging and CMS, I was excited to see what innovative features Nick had devised.

My next step was to interview Nick. During Nick's attempts to explain Phire and how he created it to me, I initially had trouble deciphering all of the technical jargon flying right over my head. However, I quickly began to understand just how beneficial, adaptive and user-friendly Phire can be.

Final step: writing. My personal technique is to look over my notes, organize them in my head and then just start typing. Along the way, I highlight the parts of my notes that have been included into the article. But for the most part, I don't stop typing until all the information is on the computer screen.

While this technique ensures that everything I think gets on the word document, it also guarantees that my editing process is quite time consuming. But have no fear, after some serious editing HERE is my finished product.

Phire is a pretty hot CMS, so definitely check it out!

Lindsay: Signing Out

With the closing of a summer filled with interning at a communications and marketing firm, it is time I reflect upon all I learned and experienced.

If had I to choose what opened my eyes the most regarding my potential career field this summer, I would have to say the impact that marketing and communications have on the world around us. From who makes appearances on the morning news, to signs seen around town, all the way to events at your favorite local spots, someone in this field devised the idea, presented it to the client and then made it happen. I am amazed at just how influential the communications field is and how much time and effort is put into ensuring that these events, contests, and news appearances have the greatest possible impact.

The most fascinating sight to observe, during the building of a campaign, is the brainstorming process. To watch of one small idea, which just jumps out of someone’s mouth during a brainstorming session, snowball into a tangible groundbreaking, monumental campaign or event is incredible. Future interns, just remember there is no such thing as a stupid idea, at least while brainstorming.

This summer I was truly able to see the inner workings of an agency. The whole process of snagging a potential client to executing a successful campaign was laid before my eyes. In this field, organization skills, paying attention to details and planning ahead are paramount. I don’t think I fully understood that until my experiences this summer.

This truly has been an awesome summer and I am so grateful for all that I have learned and experienced!

Farewell to everyone at Keating Magee!

Lindsay

Irvin Mayfield's I Club

Keating Magee, or as I like to refer to it, Grand Central Station, has been busy busy busy! Between openings, events and new clients, I am not sure when these people sleep. One of the more recent and publicized events happening for Keating is the opening of Irvin Mayfield's I Club. The club venue itself is something to boast about, but by adding in funky tunes of a well-known musician, delicious cocktails and outstanding hospitality, the club truly becomes one of a kind.

Thursday I worked the door at the soft opening that hosted guests from the art and fashion world. What a unique group! I was able to meet different designers and artists that have made a name for themselves not only in this city, but around the country and world. I felt so inspired as I listened to Irvin tell stories about what some of these guests have done for the city of New Orleans. It is always refreshing to learn how people take their own success and utilize it for the well being of others. Tomorrow night marks the event I have been looking forward to all summer; the grand opening of the I Club. Technically, I will be working but I foresee it being a thrilling work environment.

Did you happen to catch Fox 8 News this morning? If not, you missed the legendary Irvin Mayfield playing a beautiful song on his trumpet- talk about a nice way to wake up! The morning started out smoothly, as we all arrived on time and, with the help of coffee, wide awake. About ten minutes before it was go time, we realized Irvin had makeup stains on the front of his shirt from a lady hugging him. Girls, we have to watch out for this beauty no-no! I felt like a fashion intern as I ran to my car to retrieve the always helpful Tide To-Go pen and attempted to scrub the stains out of the shirt. I find comfort in knowing that my tasks at Keating Magee are fulfilling and do not include me doing the mundane "intern" work. All in all, this morning will go down in the books as one of my favorite experiences of the summer.

Oh and one more thing...

WHO DAT!

Jack's Mannequin @ the HOB Nola

After a long Tuesday at the office, my afternoon took an upswing when Ronald mentioned the possibility of getting us concert tickets for the show at the House of Blues (HOB) New Orleans that evening.

As Keating Magee summer interns, one of our main projects is to devise a seasonal marketing strategy for the HOB New Orleans. About two weeks ago, we took a stroll down Decatur Street to meet with the HOB promotions director to discuss the aim of the summer promotion. After an hour of chatting about food, music, social media and how the majority of us had made little acquaintance with the HOB, So and so mentioned allowing us to experience all that this venue has to offer.

Post-initial excitement, the offer slipped my mind. So, when Ronald said that we might get to see Jack’s Mannequin, one of my all-time-favorite bands, I had to hide my near hyperventilation. I sat at my desk, anxiously awaited a verdict and tried to not to get my hopes too high.

Then, there they were, the four little words that chimed like a choir of bells to my ears, “I got the tickets.” Caroline and I immediately grabbed our belongings and headed straight to the HOB. Little did we know just what we gotten ourselves into.

I had heard about the Foundation Room before. However, upon receiving the membership card from Ronald, I just thought it lead to a quickened entry into the gates that held the music of my juvenescence. But as we walked up the stairs into the wonderland that is the Foundation Room, we were more than pleasantly surprised. Plush couches lined the walls. Elaborate décor resembling old Tibet plastered the room, and the scent of incense roamed the air. After an introduction to what seemed like the entire staff, we were brought to our own balcony seats.

The show started off with River James, whose guitarist played his instrument like a violin. The next band, Lady Danville, was really entertaining with its upbeat rhythm, folksy touch and charisma. It was also exciting to see that the drummer kept beat with only his hands. The last opening act, Steele Train, was quite the crowd pleaser and seized my attention with its powerful lyrics. Then Jack’s Mannequin appeared on stage. The band’s passion, enthusiasm and talent could inspire anyone. I admittedly sang along to every song and enjoyed every second of the performance.

Each band had something completely unique to bring to the table. However, what caught really my attention was something that only my bird’s-eye view allowed.

As I gazed upon the crowd from my balcony seat, I realized how incredible it is to experience live music. Yes, hearing the same tune trumpeted out of iPod headphones will induce whichever emotion the song inspires. However, only at a concert can you truly see music unite a group of people and spark passion from within the musicians and the audience.

Hundreds of synchronized, sweaty strangers stand back to front, side-to-side, heal to toe and plunge into one another’s personal spaces. However, none of this matters as they form, what seem to be, personal connections with the musicians. The room potentially could have been filled with an assortment of people with only two things in common, the notes streaming off of their vocal chords and their passion for the music. The notes are simply formed by nerves traveling to the fingertips, triggering percussion to the piano keys and igniting vibrations. This process creates a sound that seems to be the only thing that really matters or even exists at that moment.

Music can tie everyone together, and that is why I believe that the New Orleanians’ love of music is what makes this city such a beautiful place.

I had an awesome time last night and would like to thank the HOB New Orleans and Keating Magee for the experience. I now look even more forward to continuing working on the HOB project this summer!

The Brain Storm

Two weeks ago, the Keating Magee interns were presented with a challenge to devise a plan for one of KM’s clients. We were separated into two groups and assigned to different initiatives. Caroline and I were grouped together and entrusted with the task of creating a plan for collaboration between two companies that would result in a 5k walk and fair.

Last Wednesday, Caroline and I headed out to the company’s office to speak with its director of outreach. She gave us a virtual tour of the interactive aspects of the company’s website to be incorporated into the event. Meeting with the director gave us firsthand experience in working with clients!

After extensive brainstorming and research, Caroline and I created a six-month plan for the initiative. It was fun to bounce ideas off of each other and try to think outside of the box. We presented the plan to Ann, Tricia and Ronald Tuesday!

Stay tuned for more details!

The Storm...

Around 12:00 yesterday afternoon, I stepped out of the Jax Building with one thing on my mind: lunch. I decided to head to my usual spot, Subway, where I planned to bring my sandwich with me and eat it at my desk. It seemed like a nice day so I began walking the two blocks to Subway. As I was about to push the door opened to the sandwich shop, I felt something hit my forehead. I looked up to notice a massive raincloud moving quickly in my direction. I hesitated for a moment, pondering whether or not I should run back to the office to grab my raincoat/ umbrella. On an impulse, I pushed the restaurant door open. I reasoned that I would only take a minute, and it would be silly for me to run all the way back to my office. I quickly made my way through the line, crossing my fingers that the rain would hold up until I was safely at my desk. As I was paying, I heard a loud crash outside. I looked out the window and saw to my amazement that it was torrentially raining. There was no way out- if I left now, I would be drenched by the time I returned to the office. New Orleans is infamous for quick spots of heavy rain, so I decided to wait it out a few minutes. Well, a few minutes turned into a half hour and the storm had not subsided. I knew what I had to do, even though the outcome would leave me soaked. I politely asked one of the Subway workers if he could spare a plastic bag to cover my head, and I took a deep breath as I opened the door. I surrendered to the rain. I ran as fast as I could back to the office, only stopping once to retrieve my shoe that had slipped off during a hurdle over a puddle. I made it to the office in one piece, but I was a very soaked one piece. All in all, I definitely learned a very valuable lesson: do not underestimate the power of New Orleans summer rain. It can happen at any moment, especially when you least expect it. Make sure to always have an umbrella/ raincoat with you at all times.

A Culinary Treat

This morning I was invited to attend a photography session at the Windsor Court for Culinary Concierge. The magazine is featuring a dish from The Grill Room in their upcoming issue. The theme of the issue is red, white and blue so naturally, the dish was a Foie Gras dressed with blueberries.


It was so interesting to watch the food stylist pick apart the way the setup was put together. It made me realize how much thought goes into just one picture. I also got a few lessons from the photographer on how to eliminate glares and make a colorful picture really stand out. It's safe to say I don't have a future in photography, but the lesson may come in handy one day!


After the shoot, the chef, Drew asked if I would like to taste the dish. Of course, I did not hesitate. All I can is YUM! I definitely recommend it if you ever visit The Grill Room. Visiting Windsor Court was such a pleasant way to start off my day!

Volunteer For a Good Cause!

Yesterday, Susan, Behn and I ventured out to the Second Harvest Food Bank in Harahan for a tour of the Community Kitchen and warehouse. Of course I managed to take the longest route possible, as Jefferson Highway has red lights on practically every corner. Once I finally made it to Harahan, I somehow managed to get lost despite having spent the last 24 years of my life in this fine city. After countless phone calls to Behn and Susan for directions, my panic was relieved as the “Second Harvest Food Bank” sign came into sight. I cheerfully made my way into the building and located the rest of my group. Our very helpful tour guide, Linzy, informed us that she once worked at Keating Magee! She gave us a tour of the Exhibition Kitchen, which will be used to host taste tests, as well as demonstrations of nutrition programs. We were told that the kitchen was still under construction; however, it already looked great! The warehouse containing all of the food was very impressive. We were blown away by the huge refrigerators and freezers used to store bananas, potatoes and other nutritious food that is provided to those in need.

Volunteers are extremely valuable to the Food Bank, as 9000 volunteers per year equate to 13 full time paid staff members! Since volunteers are crucial to Second Harvest, everyone reading this should go out and volunteer today! The Second Harvest Food Bank is a wonderful necessity in New Orleans, and I look forward to working with them in the months to come!

The Hospitality and Tourism Industry in New Orleans

Attending a seminar on The Future Planning of The Hospitality Industry yesterday was quite an experience. Lindsay Caroline and I woke up bright and early to attend the seminar which was at the InterContinental Hotel in downtown New Orleans. Luckily after we arrived we quickly realized that there were sugar coated pastries with ample coffee to help wake us up.

A panel of national experts were the speakers at yesterday's conference. Each speaker presented power points with multiple graphs and different data. The main theme seemed to be about the importance of keeping the ADR (Average Daily Rate) for rooms at a higher and more steady rate.

One of the speakers Chris Klauda, Vice President, Quality Services, D.K. Schifflet & Associates, Ltd. presented some very interesting data on how guests of hotels are using social media after a trip. Despite popular belief only 20% of guests reported posting or tweeting about their trip; however, a whopping 70% used some form of social media to share photos they had taken with their family and friends. The Lesson? Hotels better be camera friendly!

Anyway, the conference was interesting and we got a free breakfast!
-Behn

Field Trips Galore

Field trips seem to be a reoccurring event for the interns at Keating Magee this summer. As much as I like being in the office, it is also such a privilege to be asked to visit a client or attend a seminar as a representative for the company. The past week I have felt like I'm back in third grade, when I would wake up with butterflies in my stomach due to the excitement that I felt about the upcoming field trip.

Speaking of butterflies...

There are some things that I personally believe you can never get too old to enjoy. Attending the Butterfly Tea at Le Salon is one of them. The Windsor Court Hotel and Audubon Nature Institute teamed up for the second year in a row to a host a tea catering to children and adults alike. Special guests included live butterflies in special terrariums at every table. Seeing the children's faces light up as they realized they had actual butterflies at the table was something that I'll remember most from the day. As I watched them press their little faces against the temporary homes and listened to them try to talk to the colorful insects, I knew that this was an event that they would treasure.

The staff members from Audubon Nature Institute were beyond friendly when it came to answering the children's questions and explaining the displays of butterflies they had featured around Le Salon. The Windsor Court Hotel was more than accommodating to the guests and spoke to the children in a such an exciting tone that I am sure the kids felt they were the most important people in the hotel. It's not everyday that you see a luxury hotel open up its doors to large amounts of babies, toddlers and young kids. Just another example of New Orleans hospitality.

And speaking of hospitality...

This morning Behn, Lindsay and I attended The Hospitality and Tourism Industry: Future Planning with a Panel of National Experts. It was so interesting to hear how New Orleans ranks in comparison to national tourism rates. Needless to say, NOLA is the place to be!

Until next time,

Caroline

Louisiana Cancer Research Center Walk-Through

If you have driven to or from the Quarter recently you may have noticed a building just off I-10 that doesn't quite fit the typical New Orleans architecture. This sleek and modern building is the home of the new Louisiana Cancer Research Center.

This week I had the opportunity to tour the Louisiana Cancer Research Center. My first visit was on Monday where Ann, several board members, and I were taken on a full tour of the facility. Not only did we get to see the general public areas and offices, but the labs as well. I've personally never spent more than a few hours in a lab, but found the logic and design process that went into building them fascinating.

Today, Ronald, Ann, and I met with an event planner to discuss the general set up for the grand opening celebration set for mid October. Unfortunately, I will not be here for the event, but I think everyone will be impressed with what a great addition this facility will be to the community.

Next week should be another busy week with the kick off of our House of Blues and Second Harvest projects!