Welcome to 2017!

After the Holidays, as is often the case, many of us are thinking about the year ahead; job satisfaction, work life balance and bottom lines. I know that’s something always at the top of my agenda come each January. It’s months since I sat down with Chris, my husband, and business partner, and we wrote our business plan for the year, but now is the time to put it into action. 

As well as setting budgets and targets for the 12 months ahead I also use this time to reflect on the professional relationships I’ve built over the past year or so and begin to make a list of those I can reach out to for a catch-up, coffee, or glass of wine. This takes time and patience, but if you do it right and with enthusiasm the results can be rather pleasing. What you have to remember is that everyone else, or those on the ball, is doing the same. Many have already set their budgets and targets but may have scope for growth if you can prove your worth. 

Last year I reached out to more than 25 connections I’d made over the previous 12 months, met for coffee, shared a lunch and networked like there was no tomorrow. It paid off. In a matter of months our business here, and in Europe, grew as a result. Hence, we’ll be doing the same this year. I’m not saying you need to be the world’s greatest salesperson because that’s not what it’s about. It’s about offering a service that helps increase that person’s/company’s bottom-line – in the world of public relations anyway. Our goal is to build brand awareness, create a positive relationship between the client and their stakeholders and, ultimately, grow profits. 

If any of this sounds like a good plan to you feel free to get in touch with the team – we’re here to help! 

What a year!

Like I’ve said before, it’s important to celebrate the wins in this competitive world of public relations and media. So, now’s the time to recap on the year and celebrate all the good stuff! 

Our business has doubled in size in the past 12 months! We are working with clients in Springfield, IL, St Louis, MO, Guernsey and Jersey (the Channel Islands, Europe). Our portfolio of clients is rich and diverse. We’ve worked on state projects. We have worked with politicians. We are involved in a number of non-profits, civic and networking organizations. We sit, and advise, on several boards. We have opened our US headquarters in Springfield. We have welcomed two new faces to the team and we have launched our free, online, lifestyle magazine – Eighteen21.com. 

But what is most important is the recognition, awareness and revenue growth we have achieved for our clients. Several have been shortlisted and won awards. Others have appeared in a range of publications from The State Journal-Register to Guernsey’s Chamber of Commerce magazine, Contact, and on TV from Good Day Marketplace Illinois with host Melanie Streeper to Fox 32’s Good Day Chicago with former Springfield native Natalie Bomke. We’ve seen their businesses grow and as a result the need to increase staff numbers and move into large offices or workshops. 

It’s been a great year and we cannot wait to see what 2017 brings.  Merry Christmas and a happy New Year!

Ten tips for social media managers

If you’re the one in the public relations department, or business, tasked with creating and curating content for your online activity – on a daily basis – we know it’s tough at times. Coming up with new content when you’re between campaigns, or there’s a lack of inspiration, can cause the equivalent of writer's block. So, here are a few tips to help get you started – or keep you moving in the right direction when it comes to creating and curating content for social media. 

1.    Follow daily themes. What’s trending? Who’s #s are getting noticed? Are there any world events you can piggyback on? Look to others for inspiration.

2.    Can you use daily #s to your advantage? #ThrowbackThursday or #TriviaTuesday, for example. 

3.    Mark unusual holidays. There are a plethora of daily holidays out there (and easy info to access on the internet) from doughnut day to black cat day. Use these to your advantage – especially when fun or relevant to your business or cause. 

4.    Ask questions of your audience – make sure they are engaging – and one thing social media marketers often forget is to a) tell people why you are asking the question and b) follow up and let your audience know the outcome/response. 

5.    I say this to all our clients ‘people are inherently nosey’ they want to know what goes on behind the scenes of your organization – and they want to learn about the people running it. I think it’s important for your employees or volunteers to build a relationship with your audience, customers or clients, on and offline. So why not profile an employee or volunteer once a month? 

6.    Share news about your local community and what’s going on in it. I always say ‘It’s nice to be nice’ so why not share upcoming events in your local area and give a shout out to the charities or non-profits working to improve the lives of the people who may be the friends or family of your employees or customers? 

7.    Share links to updates on your website or blog. This is a great way to improve your SEO and curate untapped content. It’s good to remind your audience of the places they can find more info about you – your website and alternate social media channels are right there and waiting for you. 

8.    If you are REALLY struggling here’s an easy go to. There’s no reason you can’t revisit and share an old post! If the subject or topic is still relevant then what harm is there in reminding people of the post that already exists. I’m not saying this should be your everyday fallback. However, on the odd occasion when you have a million things going on and you’ve got to social something out – go for it. 

9.    If you’ve got a big event approaching what about a weekly countdown? Or, if you’re fundraising, what about a weekly, or daily, count? When people are contributing to an event or cause they like to remain informed. When the head coach of the Springfield Jr Blues was raising funds for the ‘Men Making Strides’ campaign to raise funds for breast cancer during October we asked each of his team’s players (during the countdown to the end of the month/fundraising goal) to tell us why they were supporting their coach and wanted to help beat cancer. The posts did exceptionally well because people related to the players and their own stories of cancer. 

10.    Share news with your audience. I get most of my news from the internet and I’d say 50% to 75% of that through social media. If you’re competing in a busy marketplace – and you can’t afford paid content, advertising or boosting, share valuable, relevant and FREE information with your audience. Look to the news for inspiration – is there a journalist or reporter that you follow because they are industry relatable – will your audience gain from this info also? There is always something interesting, funny, quirky out there in the news to share. 

Eight ways to engage with your local audience online

It’s all very well wracking up the likes on your Facebook page or increasing your followers on Twitter, but how do you make sure you’re engaging with your local audience – the people that will walk into your gym for an annual membership or those who need a good realtor to find their forever home? Well, here are a few tips from the team at Gem PR & Media when it comes to engaging with your local audience. 

1.    Encourage your Facebook followers to check in when they visit your store or showroom. You could even run a competition; for anyone that checks into your location, a certain number of times each month, they get entered into a draw for a prize. 

2.    Use key messaging to target your local audience. This is so important. You need to remind people, your potential customers, and clients, why they are spending their valuable time visiting your social media platforms. Use local #s to emphasize messaging. We use #Springfield #SpringfieldIL and #LoveSpringfield in our local client posts all the time. 

3.    Relate to local events, activities, and news. Give people a reason to engage with your page. Post about an event and ask people to send in their own photos so you can share them on your page too. 

4.    Think of your social media as your very own newsfeed. If you don’t have the capacity for a blog or news page on your website, use your social media to disseminate important information, such as opening and closing times around the holidays, any special offers you have, when an employee has been promoted, or a new volunteer has joined the team. 

5.    Join local Facebook groups or professional groups on LinkedIn. 

6.    Create a call to action. We manage the Illinois Women in Leadership Facebook page, and so, in the run-up to a major event such as the annual women’s symposium or the ATHENA awards, I create a call to action – such as ‘Book now’ on the page and link that directly to the group’s booking system. Sometimes, I even create a banner for the page that reminds the audience the option is available. 

7.    Join in on the conversation, whether you’re focusing on Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter, engage in a dialogue with a business or individual in your area about a topic that interests you or relates to your audience. Remember, the key to a successful social media campaign is two-way communication – this is when our clients see the best results. 

8.    Give your audience a reason to ask questions. You always want to provide people with accurate and up-to-date information, but at the same time, you want your audience to engage with you. If you’re a retailer and posting images of products you have for sale perhaps leave off the cost of each product in order to prompt your audience to ask for it – this may seem counterproductive, especially when it comes to making your life ‘easier,’ but it will lead to open dialogue and create further interest in your post. 

Journalism versus public relations

I feel like I can talk about this topic honestly and openly because I’ve sat on both sides of the fence. Having trained and worked as a journalist in the UK, Channel Islands, and Australia and as a public relations consultant in Europe and the USA I believe I have a unique perspective on the matter. 

I can tell you now that not all journalists dislike public relations consultants and not all public relations consultants dislike journalists. I think, for those who have crossed over to the ‘dark side,’ we have a different point of view because we’ve experienced the riggers of being a journalist and the frustrations of working in public relations. 

As a news editor, I had, even more, respect for good public relations consultants and companies out there, dare I say it, at times I even relied on them to help fill the paper. I fondly recall, and he knows who he is, exchanging calls with a PR chap (who’s gone on to do great things by the way) about the state of my basket (usually on a Friday at 3pm while I was putting to bed Saturday’s paper, planning Monday’s and worrying about Tuesday’s edition) was it full, room for improvement, or empty. On the other side of the coin I once heard a PR colleague or mine say (following a presentation by an economist) ‘well, if he (the journalist) can write a story so can I,’ I hasten to add that she struggled, mostly because she didn’t have shorthand or a Dictaphone so missed chunks of information. This is what I’m talking about when it comes to respect for the other team. Journalists are trained to extract the salient details of a story, report accurately, and interpret information even a seven-year-old can understand. I loved being a journalist – I love the newspaper industry – it’s where I learned my trade and I put a lot of the success we have now at Gem PR & Media down to the fact I was taught by some of the best journalists I’ve had the pleasure of knowing. When I was news editor (and if you’re a West Wing fan you’ll know what I’m talking about) I had a post-it note on my computer and it read ‘WWJD’ – short for ‘what would X do’ J will remain unnamed. And, for the first year in the job I often got calls from J challenging my editorial decisions and pushing me to look at the newspaper I’d helped produce with fresh eyes – for this, I am truly thankful. One of my best friends crossed over from the dark side to the newspaper world and still, today, I hear her voice giving me advice when it comes to making decisions about my clients because she too understands the relationship between PR and journalism. 

From a PR perspective, I think my best advice is to always go with your gut – if it doesn’t feel right then trust your instincts. It’s also the way you can justify your decisions. Experience counts for a lot. I’ve made some mistakes, the kind that causes sleepless nights, but I’ve always come away thankful for the experience and the knowledge I’ve gained to better serve my clients. 
At the end of the day if you can build great relationships with the media, show respect for their work, and confidently provide good quality content you’ll do ok! 

Volunteerism

Not only does volunteering in your community provide a means to give back, make friends and feel good about yourself, but it also builds your personal brand.

We work with a host of businesses that encourage their staff to volunteer whether multiple times a year or a weekly basis. You don’t have to look far to find a cause that you could get involved with.

If you’re looking to donate your time wisely I would recommend using the skills you have that others may not. For example, whenever I am asked to join a board or committee one of the first things I ask is ‘what’s your PR plan’ if the response is well thought out, and there is already a member of the board or committee who is tasked with this role, I feel that the organization is good hands. If there’s room for improvement then I take this into consideration.

I think it’s also important to share the love, as they say. I look to organizations supporting different areas of the community or causes that strike a cord. So, I currently share my time between a professional organization, which supports women of all ages; Illinois Women in Leadership, one that supports the arts; Springfield Ballet Company, and Friends of Memorial because I have witnessed the excellent work the group is doing and not only want to be a part of that but also want to ensure it is getting the recognition it deserves. Finally, I also join groups that I do not sit on the board but am able to help with public relations activity such as Rotary and The Junior Chamber of Commerce.

If you can’t give up the time to volunteer on a weekly basis there are plenty of organizations that have projects that need support, whether that’s planting trees, ‘shaking buckets’, or making/delivering meals.

A client once asked me, ‘how do I get my name out in the community?’ My response was ‘join a civic group or two and volunteer your time and expertise?’ The client was shocked when he found that one organization I had introduced him to required three days of volunteer work per year. I was disappointed he thought that was too much.

Between me and Chris, my husband and business partner, I estimate we volunteer 20% to 30% of our time, each week, to non-profits or community causes – of which I am exceptionally proud. Not only have we made friends and given back to the community, but we have also developed a network of contacts that we can introduce to one another when they have something to give. 
Through Eighteen21.com we are hoping to further spread the word about organizations in Springfield, and Central Illinois, that need – deserve – our support. So if you’re involved in a non-profit and trying to get the word out get in touch by emailing team@gemprmedia.com. If you are not already involved in volunteer work and want to be we can certainly point you, your staff or colleagues in the right direction. 

Ten tips for content creation

There’s no doubt that I’ve blogged about content creation previously. However, it’s such an important subject, when it comes to public relations I believe it’s worth revisiting. 
I am of the opinion that a key role for PR professionals these days is content creation. We’ve always created content, but I feel more so now than ever before. 

So often clients say to me ‘I don’t have the time to write blogs, press releases, or social media posts.’ Well, as content creators, that’s what we do. I can knock out a Gem PR & Media blog in 20 minutes. Admittedly I’ve been writing thousands of words a week for more than at decade so as long as I know what I want to say it’s pretty simple. Yes, when I have to research or write about something new, it takes longer. But when I’ve switched into writing mode and I have a list of blogs, posts, or press releases that need writing – I’m raring to go. 

I believe the content creation services that we offer clients are of great value because we have access to information from newsfeeds, third party bloggers, journals etc., we can commit the time we need to getting an article or blog written and have the writing skills; punctuation, grammar, and syntax to boot. 

I don’t mind that my role moves between consulting with clients on their campaigns to creating the content for them – it’s actually the best part of what we do. So, I say, bring it on. 
However, for those of you creating your own content, here are a few tips: 

1.    Always keep your target audience in mind
2.    Don’t waffle – get to the point
3.    Blogs don’t need to be 1000s of words long – 300 words is sufficient
4.    It sounds obvious, but always include a beginning, middle, and end
5.    Cover the Who, What, When, Where, Why and How
6.    Use key terms for online content
7.    Writing a headline for a newspaper article is different to writing one for online content – make sure you grasp the difference
8.    Include links to your website, social media platforms and/or your email
9.    If you’re including quotes from the company owner, CEO or manager, for example, make sure you introduce him or her
10.    Make your content interesting, relevant, and timely 

How to write a blog

I love writing blogs. The casual conversational approach suits my character. A blog can take you to places a newspaper article cannot. You can express your opinion openly and be creative. 
I often ghostwrite for clients so it’s important that I can put myself in their shoes. We work closely to understand their businesses better so that when it comes to ghostwriting blogs, or anything else for that matter, we are able to speak with their voice. 

Whether you need to do research to write a blog really depends on the depth of your knowledge on the subject matter. We write blogs for clients in the insurance, mortgage and banking world and, although much of my time overseas was spent writing about the financial services industry, new trends and topics arise that need to be looked into further, understood, and discussed. Plus, if you’re producing content on a weekly, and for many of our clients a daily basis, you need to develop new angles and points of interest regularly. 

If you’ve been tasked with writing blogs for your business don’t fret. Help is here. I have a few tips to help get you started or, if you’re already knee deep in blogs, provide some inspiration. 
First of all, make sure you’re in a writing mood. I find it’s much easier when you get going and the words are flowing onto the page, to knock out a few blogs in one go. Second, because of the more casual nature of a blog, walk away from your desk, and take your laptop with you to a breakout area – a change of scenery can make all the difference. If you have to do research for the blog reliable sources such as journals, trade media, or even colleagues are a great place to start. On the other hand, if you’re writing about a subject you know extremely well, don’t gloss over the salient details. 

I tend to keep my blogs to between 300 and 450 words. A blog, in my opinion, is meant to peak someone’s interest in a subject about which they are already intrigued. You are providing them with insight and expertise so that they might explore further – you don’t want to go to heavy and bore them. 

Finally, with a blog, or with any piece of writing, it’s a good idea to have someone read it over for you. You want to prevent spelling or grammatical errors from creeping in and ensure you have the right tone for the business you are representing. 

So, go forth and get writing. It’s good fun, I promise. 

Election 2016

It’s Election Day 2016 and although I can’t vote in the national election yet, I’ve had a busy morning liaising with various UK media outlets. As a former journalist and UK/Guernsey resident people back home are interested in how the last weeks, days, and hours of this election have played out from someone on the ground.  American elections are local with global implications.  

I’ve been honest about where I stand and my impression of the race so far. I’ve given my thoughts to my old paper, The Guernsey Press, and I’ll be up early tomorrow to do an interview with BBC Radio Guernsey. 

I’ve always enjoyed providing commentary, in a way that’s what I do each week with this blog, so I’m pleased to be asked and to contribute in a small way to raising awareness of the democratic system.  I’ve also been lucky enough to be involved with a few political campaigns since my arrival in the US.  

Whatever happens tomorrow it’ll be an interesting few weeks to follow. Locally, in Springfield, I think little will change for some time – our economy is stable, despite the continued political impasse. Our clients seem pretty confident that their business models are robust enough to weather the storm – and we know ours is! 

Gem PR & Media Account Manager, Ericka, on life as a PR professional

So far, working at Gem PR & Media has been a bit of a whirlwind – to say the least.  I hopped on the Gem wagon in late August and since then not only have I been exposed to new areas of PR and media, but I’ve also had the opportunity, and support, to raise my game as a working professional.

From day one I knew that this was going to be a fast-paced environment where I would learn hands-on how to navigate my way through the world of Gem PR & Media. I have learned an extraordinary amount of information on topics I have never thought of reading about, whether it’s retirement planning, mortgage loans, website development, or even local Springfield businesses – and enjoyed it. Who would’ve known that there is so much to see and do in what is perceived as such a small town from the outside looking in?

Overall, I find that each day is a new adventure. The proverbial anthill that I started upon continues to mound as I explore new areas, am pushed outside of my comfort zone, and find creative ways to help each of our unique and wonderful clients discover their, and my, true potential.

The importance of good photography

To talk about photography in a public relations and media blog may seem strange, but having good quality images to accompany the information we disseminate to our clients’ stakeholders is paramount.

In the digital age, where we spend a large percentage of our time writing content for our clients’ websites, blogs, and social media platforms, we need to be able to illustrate our point. 
Images and tagging images will also improve your search engine optimization. At Gem PR & Media, where 90% of what we talk about is service related rather than product related, we understand the struggle many businesses have when it comes to creating photo opportunities. There are ways around this, of course. There are a number of websites that off free photography, which you can use without causing any copyright infringement. Sites such as Unsplash.com, allow you to modify, copy, distribute and use photos for free, including commercial purposes, without asking permission from or providing attribution to the photographer of the site. So, no excuses then! 

Of course, original images will yield higher SEO results, and you don’t have to be the next David Bailey. However, good quality photography on your website, blog, and social media platforms will all go towards defining your brand. 

One of the things I often do when we take on a new client is encourage them to have new, good quality photos taken. Individual headshots come in very handy for the likes of LinkedIn, to accompany an award entry, and ‘meet the team’ pages on websites. By good quality I don't mean a generic portrait in front of a 90s backdrop from a department store or pharmacy. I mean outdoors, where there’s great light, you’re relaxed and smiling. 
I’ve had the pleasure of working with some great photographers, Chris George in Guernsey and Kate Spencer Photography in Springfield are my go to togs because I can always count on them to produce quality images – and they pay attention to the details. 

Having a relationship with a great photographer also means you have the opportunity to be creative when needed. For example, I’ve had Chris George take photos up scaffolding, on the beach, and in a field. 

As a former news editor and editor I’ve had to pick many a front cover photo and you know what – if it’s supplied by a public relations company, but it’s a great shot I’d use it. So, you never know when a great photo could end up on the front cover and bring your business to the forefront. At the very least ensure your online content is accompanied by good quality images, tag these, and you’re already giving yourself a leg up compared to your competitors. 

Search Engine Optimization

I write about social media, in my blogs, a lot and there’s a reason for this. I want people who are searching for social media companies in Springfield, IL, or Central Illinois to come across Gem PR & Media early on in their search. 

We blog almost every week and post links to our Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn pages. We do it because we know this will improve our search engine optimization (SEO). 

The key to improving SEO is adding new and relevant content to your website and social media platforms regularly. By relevant content I mean anything that is helpful, or of interest, to your online audience. So, I tend to write about social media, the benefits and my top tips for a successful campaign. I also talk about public relations, because that’s a major service we offer our clients. Content creation is another thing that we are known for so I try to write about that too. And finally, I’m always telling you what we’re up to because then you know that we’re not only investing in the communities in which we operate, but that we are continually educating those around us of our expertise.  

Making sure you’re properly registered with Google is key. There are other things you can do too, to help with SEO, such as registering with search engines other than Google, like Bing, for example. 

When it comes to social media, it’s all about quality over quantity. It doesn’t take too much to visit your LinkedIn page every few days, like an article or even comment in the feed. Anytime you write for a publication, have an interview on TV or radio or are featured in an industry journal make sure you list these on your LinkedIn profile. 

Engage with one or two people each week on Twitter, whether that’s a retweet, a like, or by having a conversation with them. 

Improving SEO is something we work on for many of our clients and their businesses. 
If you have any concerns or questions about your SEO get in touch with the team at hello@gempremdia.com.  

Public relations in action

The world of public relations can be brutal at times. You think you have a great story but no one will buy into it because everyone else believes their story is great too. Sometimes a crisis can occur and your day, week, or even month is thrown completely off schedule and you have to spend your time doing damage limitations.

Natalie Bomke and Sensible Innovations founder and creator of the Aware app live at Fox 32 in Chicago.

That’s why, at Gem PR & Media, we think it’s important to enjoy each and every success our clients experience – and today we had a major win for Sensible Innovations! Our client, the founder and creator of the Aware app, Rasha Said appeared on Fox 32 in Chicago with Springfield native Natalie Bomke to talk about the impact this technology is making, and can make, in improving the lives of America’s 21 million visually impaired. 

A massive thank you to Natalie for recognizing a great story! And a huge thank you to Sensible Innovations for trusting us with the brand and allowing us to be part of your journey. 

Today we are a step closer to bringing this technology to the mass market for those who need it most! 

Eighteen21.com one month on

Since we launched Eighteen21.com at the beginning of September we’ve had more than 10,000 visits on the site and reached more than 30,000 people on Facebook. Our content has ranged from reviews of new businesses to interviews with artists to the donation of more than $90,000 to local non-profits by the American Business Club. One story, about The Real Estate Group, was shared on facebook.com/est.1821 more than 50 times and reached more than 8,000 users. Proof that positive, quality, and relevant content about Springfield Illinois is what you guys want! 

In the first four weeks, we published more than 20 stories and we even broke news with the donation by the American Business Club because we were able to publish the article immediately. 
We are proud of what the team has achieved so far and are grateful for your support in reading and sharing our content. 

This month we’ll have a fall fashion shoot with clothes from the Itty Bitty Fashion Truck and photos by Kate Spencer Photography. We’ll also have further stories on businesses and people in, and around, Springfield that makes this great city tick. 

If you have a story to tell get in touch! If you want to gain exposure and build your brand on a positive, online, and FREE lifestyle magazine then get in touch by emailing eighteen21@gemprmedia.com. 

5 ways to optimize your social media platforms.

1.  Make sure that updating Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn etc. with the latest information about your company, is part of your social media strategy. On Facebook, for example, pay attention to your business description, category designation and fill in your address, hours, and location; providing relevant information on the platform can help boost your SEO. Think of the short description as your digital elevator pitch; use your platforms to network and business develop. 

2.  Reinforce your branding with your cover and profile photos. Cover and profile photos have a high level of visibility on your social media platforms so make the most of the potential brand awareness raising and exposure. You can promote an event, fundraiser, product or service through your cover photo. Use Photoshop or Canva.com to add text to your cover image. Make sure your cover and profile photos look good on both the desktop and mobile devices. 

3.  Add a call to action button on Facebook. If you’re promoting an event you can link to the registration page on your website or if you are involved in a fundraiser link to the Go Fund Me page, for example. You can match your cover photo and call to action and even add an arrow to your cover photo pointing to the call to action button. 

4.  On Facebook and Twitter, you can pin posts to the top of your page so that anyone who visits will see these posts first. You can continue to send out posts to your followers, but this is a great way of alerting people to a campaign that you may be running, for example. Don’t forget to unpin when you want the most recent post to appear at the top of your feed. 

5.  Did you know you can add milestones to your Facebook page? Visit your timeline and click Offer, Event +, then click milestone and fill in the details. This is a great way to highlight your business’ achievements and continue to build brand awareness. 

Social media and the customer experience

Last week I gave a presentation and joined a panel for the National Customer Service Association – Central Illinois Chapter, at Prairie Heart Institute to explore the subject of social media and the customer experience. 

Joined by those in the field, both in-house at HSHS St John’s Hospital and Bunn-O-Matic, as well as Systemax, we discussed the pros and cons of interacting with customers through social media, how to do it well, and how to manage the unexpected. 

In my presentation I talked about engaging with customers, gathering feedback and acting upon it. I also spoke about how to deal with a complaint online and damage limitations. 

For those struggling with content creation, my advice is to not just talk about your business, its services and products, but to also talk about yourself, take customers behind the scenes, and to build a relationship with your stakeholders. 

For example, at Gem PR & Media, we aim to post a blog at least every seven to 10 days, which provides us with content, we talk about our clients and we try to keep you guys updated with our own activity, whether that’s the organizations we are involved with and volunteer for, or the latest advice when it comes to social media, public relations or marketing. 

For everyone that attended, we hope you gained insight from the presentation and for anyone who would like more information about our services drop us an email at hello@gemprmedia.com 

Gem PR & Media's new account manager

Ericka Hatcher Account Manager Gem PR & Media, Inc.

We have a new team member at Gem PR & Media! Ericka Hatcher has taken on the role of Account Manager and will be supporting the directors with PR, marketing, and content creation for our new FREE, online, magazine Eighteen21.com.

Gem PR & Media’s ongoing expansion, which has recently included the opening of its dedicated US headquarters in Springfield, Illinois, means that there is an opportunity to grow the team and to continue to develop our services, which already include PR, marketing, social media, training, video, crisis communications and copywriting.

Ericka brings with her unique customer service and social service experience including years of work with nonprofit organizations. The volunteer and advisory work we do for nonprofits in the US and Europe means, that with Ericka’s skills and experience, we can do even more for the communities in which we operate.

She also has a Bachelor in Communications with a specialization in Marketing.

A recent transplant from Las Vegas, NV, Ericka relocated to Springfield in June along with her husband Neil, daughter Josie, and corgi Maggie – they have since settled in the Pleasant Plains area. 

Her hobbies consist of a variety of outdoor activities including hiking, camping, fishing, racquetball, and CrossFit. 

Representing Springfield

We are excited to announce that our newest client to join the Gem PR & Media family is the Springfield Jr. Blues! 

Now, some of you may already know this but my maiden name is actually Hockey, and although I have a lot to learn when it comes to ice hockey, I’ve played my fair share of field hockey. 
We are looking forward to supporting this fantastic Springfield team by assisting with their online and traditional media activity. Our ultimate goal is to keep the fans happy at the same time as increase attendance at games – there are 28 taking place at the Nelson Center during this year’s season – so plenty of opportunities to watch our team hit the ice. 
We’re focusing on families and making each home game a great night out – that anyone living in or around Springfield won’t want to miss. 

You simply couldn’t ask for a better, cost-effective, family night out with food, drink, and some of the best entertainment in town. For example, part of the line up of games this season includes a Halloween party in October, Star Wars night in December, and Valentine’s date night in February. But one of my favorite events planned next month is the Breast Cancer Awareness night when the ice rink at the Nelson Center will be dyed pink! 

Working with the Springfield Jr. Blues team we’ll keep you up-to-date with this season’s activity on www.facebook.com/SpringfieldJrBlues, through the Twitter feed: @Jr_Blues and using traditional media, of course. 

Tickets are available at the Nelson Center during office hours and at the concession stand the week of Springfield’s first home game on September 30th. 
Also, don’t forget to check out the new app available to download for free on iOS and Android. 
For more information about Springfield's hockey team visit their website.

The lifestyle magazine Springfield deserves

The team at Gem PR & Media has decided it’s about time Springfield has a lifestyle magazine it deserves – for FREE. And best of all, it’s right at your fingertips 24/7.

We are excited to bring you Eighteen21.com!

We’ve spent the past few months working on content for our magazine; from interesting articles about local businesses thriving in Springfield and beyond to the people that make our great city tick.

There’s no catch here – we won’t bombard you with pop-up ads or require a subscription fee. This magazine is for you – the people of Springfield.

So, if you have a story to be told get in touch with us at 1821@gemprmedia.com

The only way you’ll be able to advertise through Eighteen21.com is through carefully crafted articles, which we work on with you – making sure all of your key messages are included so you can reach your target audience at a fraction of the price.

Our 700-word advertorials are just $150 for the remainder of 2016.

Sounds too good to be true – but we promise it isn’t. So, sit back and enjoy your go to spot for fun features, friendly content and a magazine that costs you nothing.

We are three!

Gem PR & Media is three years old today! In that time we have gone from a one-woman business, with garden furniture as a desk in the conservatory of our home in Guernsey, to a dedicated 1,000 square foot office in the state capital of Illinois, Springfield, USA. 

Now we have a team. We have worked on international campaigns from the Channel Islands to Australia and the US to London. We have participated in congressional and state campaigns. We have helped start-ups, small, medium and large businesses gain the exposure they deserve in print, online, TV and radio. We have provided content for and edited publications around the world. We have helped businesses in a crisis, which have later gone on to win awards. We have grown our small company to one, which is punching well above its weight with clients in Europe, Springfield and St Louis. We have won awards for our professional work and involvement in the community – for which I am exceptionally proud. We have expanded our services and presence across two continents and just over 1,000 days after we announced the launch of Gem PR & Media we are thriving. 

A massive thank you to everyone who has helped us along the way; friends, family, colleagues and most of all clients. 
We love what we do and we aim to keep doing it for a long time, serving our communities and the businesses in them to our very best potential.