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A nice note

Posted on by Brian Lee

I meet often with college students, recent graduates and others interested in getting into public relations. My advice includes what skills they need, what to put in their portfolio, how to network and what networking events to attend. Here’s a nice note I received following one such meeting:

“Thank you for taking the time to meet with me this afternoon. I profoundly appreciated your detailed primer on public relations. Your explanations were insightful, concise, and pragmatic. You gave it to me straight, answering nearly every question I had written down before I could even ask. I look forward to enacting your suggestions as I continue pursuing a career in public relations. Thank you for your time and candid advice.”

How AEC Marketers Can Use YouTube

Posted on by Aly Pavela

YouTube unveiled recently “YouTube One Channel,” a new platform for showcasing channels. The update allows users to show off more of their content, organize and label this content and include a banner image and biography. Furthermore, the platform loads seamlessly across all devices, meaning your channel will look the same on your computer, tablet or smartphone.

We recommend YouTube One Channel for engaging your audiences and showing off your organization and projects. Here are some tips for how your AEC company can utilize YouTube One Channel:

  • Visitors to your channel who are not subscribed will automatically be shown a preview video. Obviously a good choice would be a 30-second company overview if you have it.
  • Upload videos of your firm’s projects, designs and buildings.
  • Include videos of any press coverage or awards that your firm has received.
  • Include short but detailed descriptions with your videos so viewers fully understand what they are watching.
  • Subscribe to other AEC companies’ channels and engage with these companies about industry or market trends on discussion page of the channels.
  • Write an engaging biography of your company for the about section of your channel and include links to your company website, blog and social media outlets.
  • Update the cover photo of the channel to an engaging image that’s relevant to your company
  • Organize and label your uploaded videos.

A good example of an AEC company using YouTube One Channel is Turner Construction Company. Turner’s channel includes an engaging cover photo and multiple interesting video playlists with topics such as general company information, project videos, “A Day in the Life,” and social outreach in which the company engages. These playlists are well-organized and labeled clearly.

LPA Inc. has an engaging YouTube One Channel as well. Note how the LPA Inc. channel includes video tours of buildings the company has designed, as well as videos of press coverage and honors that the firm has received. The main video on the homepage features a park that the firm designed and received LEED Gold certification. Along with this video, there is a brief but detailed description of the project.

FEED Receives $100,000 Grant from the J.R. Albert Foundation

Posted on by Brian Lee

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 16, 2013

Contact: Ellen Barnard

(608) 576-3734

FEED Receives $100,000 Grant from the J.R. Albert Foundation

(MADISON, Wis.)—Food Enterprise and Economic Development (FEED) Kitchens, a project of the Northside Planning Council, is another step closer to reaching its fundraising goal, thanks to a $100,000 grant from the J.R. Albert Foundation, the Council announced today.

The private foundation, established in 2007 in Kansas City, Mo., supports health through food access as well as food and nutrition education.

“We’re grateful for such a generous grant, especially one from an organization whose mission aligns with ours,” Ellen Barnard, FEED Kitchens chair, said.

FEED Kitchens broke ground on its 5,400-square foot facility on the north side on April 3, with the expectation of opening the doors to its five commercial kitchens in November. Already, many individuals and groups have expressed interest in using the facility for their businesses and programs.

The Food Enterprise and Economic Development (FEED) Kitchens will provide tools to help youth and adults who are disadvantaged, unemployed or underemployed develop skills that move them toward self-sufficiency. FEED will reduce hunger and increase the availability of healthy local food by providing organizations serving the hungry, gardeners and farmers a place to process excess produce that would otherwise end up in a landfill or compost pile. For more information, please visit www.feedkitchens.org

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