As public relations professionals we focus on breaking through the clutter to spread our product news and brand experiences to target audiences. This often means deploying cutting edge, tech savvy tactics to reach and stimulate media and influencers. The current trend toward Virtual Tastings, Webinars, and Twitter Taste-ups allows those of us in the beverage business to share wine and spirits with more journalists, experts, and social media influencers. However, it’s important to note that making brand friends online isn’t a substitute for relationships that engage all the senses – it’s an extension of them.
I just returned from accompanying a select group of journalists to experience Jameson Irish Whiskey the old fashioned way—straight from the cask in County Cork, Ireland. I am pleased to say that, even during Social Media Week, inviting journalists to devote the time to experience a brand’s birth place still has a heartwarming effect. Promoting the world’s number one Irish Whiskey is by no means a tough sell, but providing spirits industry experts with a unique taste of Jameson’s heritage and quality commitment was a delicious treat for them.
As hard as we try, we cannot virtually create the feel of the Irish mist, the smell of the distilling process, or the romance of tasting right out of a cask that’s been waiting for us for 15 years. So, take the time, approve the budget and invite journalists to experience your brands first hand.
Cheers!
There’s an air of anticipation at MMC today as our staff prepares for the annual summer season kick-off weekend. Many of our teams have been burning the candle at both ends lately launching fabulous new products, partnering with celebrities and answering the question “what’s next?” for our clients. It’s time to put all the hard work in perspective and recharge!
I took a quick survey to see how our PR pros plan to celebrate Memorial weekend. Many of us are hopping on planes to explore cities like Paris, Chicago, Savannah or San Juan, but the majority is traveling locally to area beaches and family gatherings. Barbequing with family and friends is our favorite way to enjoy the arrival of summer!
Food is a hot topic at MMC, so I asked our teams about their favorite summer dishes. Hearing tales about perfectly grilled ribs, shrimp, hotdogs and burgers has me ready to fire up my beachside BBQ! Our summer salad favorites include “juicy watermelon mixed with feta and fresh basil” and “fresh tomatoes with mozzarella, basil and vinaigrette.” Lobster topped the list of seafood treats along with fresh seasonal fruit and berries.
But, the clear leader in Memorial weekend activities for MMCers is reading. Judging by the summer reading list, it’s easy to see where the creativity at MMC originates. Our interests are wonderfully varied covering everything from classics like the Great Gatsby to chick lit like Something Blue, travel preparation in A Hedonist’s Guide to Istanbul to the culinary inspiration of Ruth Reichl’s Garlic and Sapphire. Like many lying on the beaches around our nation, we will be following the actions of Lisbeth Salandar in the Millennium Series by Stieg Larsson and stepping back in time to 1960 Jackson, Mississippi with The Help. We’ll be laughing with Chelsea Handler and nodding along with Kelly Cutrone.
Some of us are even planning to sharpen our skills with the help of The Fussy Baby Book and Engage: Complete Guide for Brands and Businesses to Build, Cultivate, and Measure Success in the New Web.
We wish you a wonderful Memorial weekend filled with inspiration and relaxation!
Well….it only took three times to apply. But finally,…I was granted a seat on one of the infamous Taglit tour buses for February 2010.
Notorious for (a) no sleep and (b) a guaranteed good time, Taglit is a 12 day program that gives young adults the opportunity to visit Israel in a peer-group educational setting to learn about the land and the culture.
As expected, my visit to Israel was nothing less than exceptional. When my taxi pulled up to the departures terminal at JFK, I did not know anyone who I would be traveling with, or what to expect from our planned out itinerary.
Now that I have been back in NYC for three weeks, I look back at the friendships that I have made, and the experience that had, and it is impossible to answer the number one question that I get asked: What was the best part about the trip?
The Dead Sea was surreal. The hikes through the desserts were tiring. The nightlife was exciting. Swimming in the Red Sea was refreshing. Visiting Masada was enlightening. Sleeping in a Bedouin Tent was, well let’s say, an experience. Walking the streets of the old city of Jerusalem was something out of a storybook. Touching the Wailing Wall was powerful. Learning how to belly dance at a pool party was hilarious. The food was amazing. The weather was sunny. Meeting the people of Israel was extraordinary. The friends that I made will last a lifetime.
But for me…. sometimes the best parts of a trip are the parts that go completely wrong and are unexpected. And that is a whole other story…..
