Blog
Stick the Pitch: Dos and Don’ts of Press Pitching
The media pitch is an essential medium within the public relations (PR) industry. A successful pitch can benefit any PR agency and the organizations they are working for. However, developing a pitch that sticks is no easy task. Because pitching is about building...
Sharing is Caring: 4 Easy Ways Your Brand Can Give Back and Get Love from Audiences
The Holidays are almost here. For many organizations, this time of year brings a sense of urgency to convert followers to customers, close deals, and meet yearly financial goals via the holiday spending surge. But with consumers expecting more from the brands they buy...
Making the Connection: 4 Tips for a Successful Event Activation
As brands compete to stand out in today’s noisy internet age, many companies are looking for that silver-bullet strategy to make products and services stick with customers. Often, this can feel like a futile exercise, especially as customers’ social media feeds...
4 Tips for Nailing a TV Interview
You’ve got a story to tell, and an audience to reach. So what’s the most efficient way to connect the two? Between print, social media, and broadcast channels, myriad platforms are available to help share your message with audiences. Landing a television spot,...
Grassroots vs. Guerilla Marketing
In public relations, certain terms are hard to distinguish from each other due to a strong similarity. For example, public relations, or “PR”, is often conflated with related terms like marketing and advertising. But such practice areas can work compatibly with one...
Q&A With Charlotte Observer’s Hannah Smoot
Eric and Allison recently had an opportunity to sit down with Hannah Smoot, one of the newest reporters on staff at the Charlotte Observer. Hannah shared all about her background in journalism, thoughts on the future of the newspaper industry, and some fun stories...
Publicity vs PR: What’s the Difference
The term “PR” (public relations) is often conflated with communications-related references like press, buzz, and publicity. However, while public relations practitioners frequently consider such ends in a PR strategy, simply garnering publicity for a client is...
Do you need a PR agency?
Every organization is different. Depending on your size, industry, region, product/service, employee skill set, etc., you'll likely find yourself with a unique set of marketing and public relations challenges. Oftentimes, it’s difficult to pinpoint your areas of need,...
Online Marketing on a Budget: 4 Ways to Keep Your Brand Competitive
By 10 am this morning, chances are you saw a digital advertisement for something you merely thought about over breakfast. Ads are everywhere; especially on the many devices that keep us connected. It’s no surprise that, as digital advertising gets more savvy, brands...
Now Hiring: PR Manager
Summary Pivot PR, a dynamic and rapidly growing public relations agency, is seeking a highly motivated communication professional to serve as the client lead on business-to-business and business-to-consumer accounts. The PR Manager role requires deep communication...
Four Ways to Help Your Brand Gain Consumer Trust
As a consumer, do you feel as if you are able to trust the brands you interact with? The 2018 Edelman Trust Barometer revealed that 52% of the U.S. population does not trust businesses as an institution. Meanwhile, consumer trust has become a controversial...
4 Tips for Building Sound Influencer Relations Campaigns
Are you more likely to buy a new product after seeing an ad directly from a company, or after seeing someone you follow on Instagram actually use it? We thought you might say the influencer … crazy world we live in, right? Today influencers are not just Hollywood...
VP Eric Osterhus Presents at PRSA Symposium
You’re focused on promoting all the exciting growth and strides your company is experiencing. Everything is trending upwards. Then, in a single moment, without any notice… everything changes. Are you prepared for when your organization faces a crisis? Recently,...
Marketing vs. PR… What’s the Difference?
It’s the age-old question, what’s the difference between marketing and public relations? We spend most of our day hereat PIVOT PR explaining this until we're blue in the face, but today we're going to simplify and give you an explanation...
3 Steps for Developing a Sound PR Plan
Writing a press release, posting to social media or landing a speaking opportunity … any public relations practitioner worth their salt should be able to execute these tactics. What separates elite PR professionals from the rest of the pack...
Q&A w/ Alicia Thomas
We recently sat down with Charlotte guru Alicia Thomas! She shared with us how her creative process works, and we ended with her thoughts on self-care. Read on to be inspired and to know who to ask about next weekend’s plans. Tell us what you do: By night, I am...
Navigating the Rough Waters of Crisis Communications
Crisis often presents itself in unexpected ways, at unexpected times, in unexpected places. Before joining the team here at PivotPR, I had the opportunity to serve as Brand Communications Manager for the U.S. National Whitewater Center (USNWC). In...
Q&A w/ Work For Your Beer
We often interview traditional media folks or even social media influencers, but for this Q&A we wanted to demonstrate how a partnership with a local “beer fitness” group can be beneficial to an organization’s PR efforts too. Community relations at its...
Q&A w/ Charlotte Lately
We recently interviewed the founder of one of our city's newest publications, Charlotte Lately. Take a look at what Courtney Schramm had to say about what makes her publication so different and how YOU can work with her. What brought you to Charlotte and inspired you...
Q&A w/ Queen City Weekend
I recently had coffee with WBTV’s local content producer, Maggie Solomon, to discuss her brainchild, Queen City Weekend. Q: Queen City Weekend is refreshingly different. How did it come about? A: I was a television reporter in Panama City, Fla., and realized...
Q&A w/ CLT Blogger Laura Leigh Elliott
Laura Leigh Elliott, the smiling face behind life and style blog, Louella Reese, let us in on how she is able to do what she loves full-time, the dos and don’ts of working with bloggers, and what she sees for the future. Check out our conversation below. How did you...
Q&A w/ WCNC’s Lifestyle Reporter
I recently sat down with one of our favorite early morning lifestyle reporters, Hannah Welker at WCNC. She is a hoot! Take a gander below. This may give you just the information you need to work with Hannah, landing yourself on Charlotte’s NBC affiliate. Q: Hi,...
Q&A w/ The Charlotte Observer’s Food Editor
Our latest Q&A participant should need no introduction as she is a seasoned newspaper veteran who has served as a journalist since 1978, and as a food editor since 1989. As an award winner, cookbook author and James Beard committee member (among many other...
Q&A w/ CBJ’s Caroline Hudson
We recently sat down with Charlotte Business Journal's (CBJ) newest reporter, Caroline Hudson, who covers banking, finance and technology. We wanted to get to know her a little better and understand how best to work with her. That is our job, right?! Q: Hi, Caroline!...
Giving Thanks: Feasting on Public Relations’ Benefits
At Pivot PR we geek out over public relations (PR) and during this month of Thanksgiving, I am sharing why we are thankful for this stellar segment of marketing. And just so you don’t think we’re absolutely cuckoo, I’ve included some quotes from all-star business...
Q&A With Charlotte Post’s Ashley Mahoney
We recently caught up with Ashley Mahoney, multimedia journalist for The Charlotte Post. She shared with us her thoughts on what sets the Post apart, how she turned a family tragedy into a way to help others, and the importance of knowing who you are pitching to. What...
Q&A With Charlotte Center City Partners’ Steven Cole
You may or you may not be familiar with Charlotte Center City Partners (CCCP). Because we are a public relations (PR) agency with clients in Uptown, it’s crucial for us to have relationships with people like Steven Cole, Director of Communications. So, we...
WFAE’s Charlotte Talks Q&A w/ Wendy Herkey
Since 1998, Charlotte Talks, WFAE 90.7’s daily signature talk show that’s hosted by Mike Collins, has provided our city with important community-focused discussions and stories. We recently sat down with Charlotte Talks’ Executive Producer, Wendy Herkey, to learn more...
Q&A With QC Exclusive’s Sunny Hubler
Tell us about your position as digital editor at QC Exclusive and how it is different from being a writer. What is your day to day like? I do a little bit of everything now! QC Exclusive is really small. There are seven of us who are full-time and only...
Q&A With Charlotte Observer’s Katie Peralta
Big Fish in a Little Pond Katie, formerly a U.S. News & World Report economy reporter, moved to Charlotte, N.C., in 2015 and was hired on as the retail reporter. Her role has since expanded to cover breaking business news (e.g., HB2 issue, shooting protests) and...
Networking Nuggets for Newbies & Naysayers
We’ve all been told to network so we understand the benefits but, whether you’re starting out your career or are 5, 10, 15 years in, you may feel out of your comfort zone at networking events. Some of you may even say these types of events aren't worth your time. We...
Q&A With Charlotte Magazine’s Andy Smith
Q: Tell me about your path to digital editor, as well as arts editor, at Charlotte Magazine. It’s interesting. I moved here 4 years ago as a freelancer. Then I became the freelance web editor in the summer of 2013 and then a couple months later (because of my...
InFOODence – Foodie Influencer Relations – w/ Finicky Lady
Want to be featured in our journalist / influencer Q&A series? Contact us This blog will apply to all of you because either (1) you eat and want to know the best places around town; (2) you want to influence the Charlotte food community and/or (3) you want to...
Why, You Might Ask?
Here at Pivot PR, one of our favorite questions to ask is, "Why?" Why? Because we want to be sure we’re strategizing and executing a plan that makes sense for your organization. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all PR plan. When the purpose of a decision isn't...
Now Hiring – PR Manager
Summary Pivot PR is seeking a highly motivated marketing professional. The PR Manager position requires deep communications acumen, keen project management skills and creativity. Developing PR strategies and executing communication tactics will be critical. Key...
Porcello Named “Executive to Watch” By Charlotte Agenda
President Drew Porcello was listed 1 of, "12 already successful PR agency executives to watch in 2017" in Charlotte Agenda.
Pivot PR Ranked One Of The Best PR Firms in Charlotte
Expertise has ranked Pivot PR as one of the top 20 public relations agencies in Charlotte. See link here.
Eat Work Play Q&A w/ Davon Bailey
There’s a good chance you’ve heard of Eat Work Play (one of Charlotte’s fastest-growing millennial-focused online publications) or its co-founder, Davon Bailey (one of Charlotte’s top young professionals under 30). We recently sat down with Davon to learn more...
PR is an Art, Not a Press Release: Creativity is King
When you think of “creatives” in the world of marketing, you probably conjure up thoughts of people within the walls of ad agencies in metropolitan cities who have titles like art director, creative director, copywriter and graphic designer. But public relations is an...
Pivot PR Interviewed by The PR Executive
Check out our latest interview with The PR Executive. We had a great discussion about how we position ourselves as an agency and what makes us so different.
Charlotte’s New Lifestyle Show: Morning Break
What a refreshing break from crime, traffic and weather WBTV’s new show will offer Charlotteans. Morning Break will bring more lifestyle-focused stories to the morning news line-up, with segments ranging from cooking to life hacks. The first show is set to air on...
Tell (a Story). Don’t Sell.
You’ve worked hours writing your corporate e-newsletter creating snappy blurbs to catch your audience’s attention. Once it hits your readers’ inboxes, you breathe a sigh of relief. As you wait to see who opens the newsletter, you may wonder if you’re truly connecting...
Case Study: Dunkin’ Donuts – National Donut Day
We know that “PR” is still a bit confusing to most because we often get asked, “What exactly is PR?” So we thought, what better way to explain than to give you a real life example. June 3 marked National Donut Day and our client, Dunkin' Donuts, tasked us with making...
Is PR a Part of Your SEO Strategy?
Before great content management systems like WordPress and intuitive search engines like Google, you needed an "SEO guy" who could manipulate website code, meta tag, and keyword spam in the hope that your website could be found on a high Search Engine Results...
Q&A with Charlotte Business Journal’s Ashley Fahey
How did you end up in Charlotte? Charlotte has always been on my short list for places to live and work, so when I saw a business reporting opportunity here, I had to check it out. Prior to this, I covered retail and real estate for two McClatchy-owned...
Q&A With Charlotte Parent’s Michele Huggins
Q: Hi Michele! Tell us about Charlotte Parent. A: Charlotte Parent magazine is made for parents who are local, engaged and involved. We’re a free and local publication and our monthly magazine, website, newsletters and social media networks are created to help...
Q&A With Carolina Weekly Newspapers
Hannah Chronis, managing editor of Carolina Weekly Newspapers, was kind enough to sit down with me to discuss her South Charlotte newspapers; how she earned the top editorial spot; and her thoughts on the industry in general. Q: Hi Hannah! Tell us a little...
Reverse Cribs: Charlotte Agenda
For those of you who subscribe to Charlotte Agenda, you know the staff does a series called "Cribs" where they go to local businesses and explore their work space. In addition to some good information about the companies they also include interesting...
Q&A With Charlotte Stories
I recently sat down with editor-in-chief Scott Jensen to learn more about his media company, Charlotte Stories. Q: Hi Scott! Tell us a little about Charlotte Stories. A: We're a daily newsletter that focuses on local news. We've got 13,000 email...
Q&A With Business North Carolina
Editor of Business North Carolina, David Mildenberg, was kind enough to sit down with Trisha and me to discuss the Charlotte-based magazine, the journalist-marketer relationship and how he sees the news industry evolving. Since you're in Charlotte and may have some...