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By Diane Bégin

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hereweare2

Twitter launches #HereWeAre in Canada

Image from left: Jully Black, Leslie Berland, Huda Idrees, Antoinette Benoit, Emily Mills and Leanne Gibson.  

Earlier this spring, Twitter launched #HereWeAre to “stand with women around the world to make their voices heard and their presence known.”

Last Wednesday, June 13, as Mother Nature made her own presence known through an #ONstorm, women and men leaders (including our own Linda Andross, Ken Evans and me) congregated at Toronto’s Broadview Hotel to concurrently launch Canada’s #HereWeAre dialogue. (Incidentally, the storm trended as #1 on Twitter, followed by #HereWeAre.)

The conversation, led by Leslie Berland, global CMO of Twitter, included

The event was capped by a surprise visit from international recording artist Jully Black who offered marching orders through song.

Now it’s all our turns.

Need help finding your voice? Drop us a line. Diane Bégin is VP, social marketing & brand communications. Follow her @dibegin.

#HereWeAre Canada Twitter Moment

 

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Ross S

10 AI tools for communicators

Marketer, strategist and entrepreneur Ross Simmonds was the featured opening keynote at the Canadian Public Relations Society national conference in Charlottetown, PE May 27-29, 2018, to help answer the vital artificial intelligence (AI) question:

Will robots take over my job?

While robots such as Google Assistant can impersonate a human to make a hair appointment, the reality is that instead of replacing jobs outright, ‘artificial intelligence’ – or ‘augmented intelligence,’ as Simmonds prefers to say – will simply enhance the work we do.

So, no robots, will not replace you – but they can help to make you better.

To show how, Simmonds provided a list of current AI tools, to help make our jobs in communications easier.

  • Assistant | Get an AI assistant for your email
  • Clara Labs | Have interviews scheduled based on email discussions
  • Lumen 5 | Create a video from text in minutes
  • Captain Growth | Extract insights from your data
  • Press Hunt | Find a journalist who is talking about your topic
  • Articollo | Quick start writing an article
  • Persado | Determine language your audience cares about
  • Crystal | Get insights into personality/behaviour
  • Voila Norbert | Determine a likely email address for a contact (be aware of Canada Anti-Spam Legislation compliance however)
  • Dialpad Voice AI | Get real-time voice sentiment to know how a call is going

Need help making sense of how AI is impacting your business? Drop us a line. Diane Bégin is VP, social marketing & brand communications. Follow her @dibegin.

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Grace Toby

5 QS: GRACE TOBY

Grace Toby – Freelancer

@GraceToby 

 

Our interview series continues with Grace Toby to talk about trends in the world of journalism and what she loves most about being a writer.

  1. What made you go into journalism?

 

“English was my major in university. I loved to write and found an internship at a magazine one summer. This is where I truly fell in love with journalism and the industry. Although the media landscape has changed drastically since I first went into the field, I love the idea of being able to learn about a variety of different topics throughout my work. It’s exciting to get an assignment where I need to research or learn about something I have little knowledge about.”

 

  1. What’s your favourite and least favourite thing about journalism?

 

“I love being about to write about a variety of different topics and interviewing strangers and having them open up to me. I get to learn something new with every story I write and it’s great to be able to share with readers new ideas or stories that they can relate to. My least favourite thing about the industry would have to be the uncertainty the future has to hold. The changing media landscape leaves little room to know exactly what will happen with new technologies and practices that are being adapted by media today.”

 

  1. Where do you see the industry heading in the next few years?

 

“I think in the next five years the industry will be very different. More online publications will surface with PR and marketing agencies having to adapt their pitching styles. More freelancers will be working in the field and individual relationships between freelancers and PR agencies are going to be very important.”

 

  1. What’s one piece of advice you can give PR agencies when pitching story ideas?

 

“Do your research. Make sure you know the beat of the journalist you are reaching out to. There is nothing worse than getting a mass email for people asking me to write about something that I have never covered before. Blanket pitches are not the answer here. If you aren’t sure about what the journalist writes about just ask them!”

 

  1. How to do you feel influencers differ from traditional media?

 

“I tend to only follow influencers that are experts in their field such as nutritionists, personal trainers, stylists, etc. I like to know the information being shared by those influencers is factually correct and authentic, since there is so much data being thrown around these days. The majority of influencers use content creation as a source of income and may not be the most knowledgeable about the things they are promoting.”

 

These five questions with Grace Toby were compiled by Kristina Mikhalkova, Coordinator, and Lindsey Soper, Consultant, APEX PR/ruckus digital. Follow Kristina on Twitter. Follow Lindsey on Twitter.

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Job description

Intern Coordinator, Digital Content & Creative

Are you creative, driven, full of ideas? Are you curious and ready to use those ideas to tackle big business problems?

ruckus Digital is a fiercely independent Canadian digital marketing communications agency. We’re especially motivated by agile, creative and edgy thinking and work best when tackling the unconventional. We play hard and we work hard, which is why we were named IABC/Toronto boutique digital agency of the year!

We are looking for an Intern Coordinator, Content and Creative. Is that you?

This junior-level role will have you working with our Vice President, Creative and Design to ideate and develop groundbreaking creative ideas across a wide range of media such as social media platforms, video, digital ads, and more. As the Intern Coordinator, Content and Creative, you will be expected to take control of the development and production of your ideas from pen and paper to finished product, ensuring that the work meets a high standard of visuals and design. You will also be expected to work with our internal design team and vendors to oversee projects.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Participate in idea generation – fueled by insights and designed to drive clients’ business
  • Always on the lookout for opportunities to elevate work beyond the brief
  • Works closely with account team to understand the needs of the client and ensure work is on strategy and on budget
  • Work on multiple projects simultaneously across a range of clients
  • Executes and manages projects from concepts through mockups to production all the way to delivery with a high level of craft
  • Builds rapport with developers, production houses and 3rd party vendors
  • Participates in new business meetings and pitch work
  • Collaborate with the overall team, beyond the creative department
  • Presents and justifies concepts, budgets, and timelines to teams who are not knowledgeable about design, print and digital
  • Draft short-form copy for visual content including, GIFs and animated and stop motion videos
  • Draft social copy and content calendars

Qualifications and Experience:

  • College or University degree in advertising or design
  • Related experience at an agency
  • Is knowledgeable in Adobe Creative Suite, especially Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign
  • Knowledge of video production, and animation a plus
  • Understanding of photography and illustration contracts and supervision of photo shoots
  • Able to multi-task and meet tight deadlines
  • Able to respond quickly and effectively to account team and client inquiries
  • Professionalism and tact

We want to meet great people who are interested in working in a start-up environment where culture matters and curiosity is valued. Send your resume to: info@ruckusdigital.ca. 

ACCOMMODATIONS: ruckus welcomes and encourages applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process. If you require accommodation to participate in this recruitment, please contact info@ruckusdigital.ca.

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Job description

Digital Intern Coordinator

ruckus Digital is a fiercely independent Canadian digital marketing communications agency. We’re especially motivated by agile, creative and edgy thinking and work best when tackling the unconventional. We play hard and we work hard, which is why we were named IABC/Toronto boutique digital agency of the year!

The Opportunity For You:

ruckus Digital is looking for a detail-oriented, hands-on Digital Intern Coordinator to join our team. This role will work directly with our Vice Presidents, to help build and actively cultivate online communities of consumers across multiple social media channels.

The ideal candidate must have a strong understanding of social media, the role digital plays, community building, analytics, and excellent writing skills. Additionally, the candidate should appreciate and consider the impact that technology, culture, business trends, brand, and user behaviours have on a business and its audiences.

Responsibilities:

  • Post social media content on appropriate channels according to provided marketing plans. Content may be posted on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, SnapChat, YouTube, Google+, WordPress (or other CMS)
  • Assist with managing communities for several key brands including:
    • Answer consumer questions
    • Engage with consumer-provided content
  • Working with clients on questionable consumer interactions and media requests
  • Seek out influencers and actively engage consumers to inspire and motivate them to share information and talk about the brand
  • Participate in real time community conversations on behalf of the brand
  • Assist the strategy team in conducting research and analytics for key brands
  • Assist the strategy team in building PowerPoint presentations
  • Provide insights gained from community interactions with the internal Client Service team
  • Proactively identify opportunities for user-generated content
  • Be the gatekeeper for all content – ensuring all content is proofread, approved and applicable before posting
  • Stay up-to-date and socially relevant and actively provide the team with trends reports

Essential Skills:

  • Bachelors Degree in Public Relations, Marketing, Communications or other related fields
  • Some experience in community management
  • Understanding of social media tools and management systems preferred (listening tools and analytics platforms a plus such as Sprout Social, Simple Measured, Google Surveys etc.)
  • Understanding of the social media universe, including experience with YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, Pinterest, Tumblr, Google+, WordPress, etc.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills (strong knowledge of PowerPoint, Word, and Excel is preferred)
  • Excel at research, and be able to identify threats and opportunities in social media content
  • Ability to multitask, manage multiple projects concurrently and balance changing and/or competing priorities
  • Detail oriented and ‘take ownership’ attitude with the ability to work in a team environment

We want to meet great people who are interested in working in a start-up environment where culture matters and curiosity is valued. Send your resume to: info@ruckusdigital.ca. 

ACCOMMODATIONS: ruckus welcomes and encourages applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process. If you require accommodation to participate in this recruitment, please contact info@ruckusdigital.ca.

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do the daniel

5 Qs: Danie Reyes, CEO, and Catherine Sugrue, COO, of Do the Daniel Inc.

APEXers and the ruckus team are asking five questions about the year it’s been and what individuals are looking forward to in 2018. Up first…

Daniel Reyes
CEO, Do The Daniel Inc.
@dothedaniel

Catherine Sugrue
COO, Do The Daniel Inc.
@cnsugrue

 

1. How do you choose the content you share with your followers?

Daniel: “It’s all about the things that actually resound with us. We would never write about or partner with anything we don’t believe in. We want to be one hundred percent transparent with our audience and the only way to do that is to make sure you are supporting things you believe in.”

2. In your opinion, what is an example of a compelling campaign?

Catherine: “Audible, a seller and producer of spoken audio entertainment, information, and educational programming on the Internet, launched in Canada last year. To promote the launch, the brand ran a campaign that contracted different influencers throughout the year, to promote awareness amongst consumers all year round. I think that’s a great way of keeping the narrative going!”

3. What are your most favourite and least favourite things about being an influencer?

Daniel: “The best thing about being an influencer is that no two days are ever the same! There are long term partnerships we can rely on, but every day at the office is always new. There are so many aspects involved in keeping this business running that you never get bored.”

Catherine: “The boundaries sometimes get blurred in this industry. Shutting off from work is not always an option. It’s hard when you’ve built a brand where every single second of your life needs to be seen, to ask for that time to yourself.”

4. How does it feel to have a partner who is in the same industry?

Daniel: “In the beginning it was a lot of fun because we used to go to the same events all the time. As both Do The Daniel and Fashion Nights continue to grow it’s fantastic to be able to support each other, but it’s also great to be able to operate in different circles. However, it’s nice to have the constant support and mutual understanding of the business and the industry.”

5. How do you see the industry changing?

Daniel: “For a long time, there have been a lot of individuals in this industry. Lately, we have noticed more and more that like-minded people are beginning to collaborate in teams, and create content for a larger audience. There is more support throughout the industry.“

These five questions with Daniel Reyes and Catherine Sugrue were compiled by Kristina Mikhalkova, Coordinator, and Lindsey Soper, Consultant, APEX PR/ruckus digital. Follow Kristina on Twitter. Follow Lindsey on Twitter.

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CPRS Toronto measurement event February 2018

CPRS event: The benefits of research and data collection

In the past 10 years, the public relations industry has advanced tremendously in how it collects and reports data, conducts research and quantifies success.

On February 5, 2018, the Canadian Public Relations Society (CPRS) Toronto held an informative event where attendees had a chance to listen to four leading industry experts discuss how essential data has become in the digital age and how best to leverage it.

Read insights from the panelists on the CPRS Toronto blog Four reasons why PR demands data.

The panelists included our very own Diane Bégin, APR, vice president, who gave insights on how we leverage our research and data and how to use the information for strategic planning.

“There is so much data out there, and it is our job to guide our teams and clients on what the right, meaningful variables are to measure,” said Bégin. “We need to ensure the variables we are measuring are impacting our clients’ businesses in the right way and aligning seamlessly with their business objectives.”

Bégin added this has the potential to move clients’ in the right direction by allowing us to measure a real return on investment.

Need making sense of measuring your communications program? Drop us a line. Kristina Mikhalkova is a coordinator at APEX Public Relations / ruckus Digital.

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ruckus makers

ruckus makers: What is branded content?

The future of branded storytelling is evolving as individuals expect more from the organizations that market to them.

So, we invited Heather Loosemore, Sr. Director of Marketing Communications at Walmart Canada and Kaaren Whitney-Vernon, SVP Branded Entertainment at Shaftesbury to share their insights at our last ruckus makers speaker series. Here, Kaaren Whitney-Vernon shares here thoughts on on “What is branded content?”

Find out more about Upstairs Amy, a new branded content series by Walmart Canada. Also see a Storify recapping the future of branded storytelling ruckus makers event.

 

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Vanessa

Meet our integrated media designer

Vanessa Cuartas is ruckus Digital’s newest team member, joining our design shop.

Florida native, Vanessa attended the University of Central Florida and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in graphic design. Following her undergrad, she attended the Miami Ad School for Advertising. Here’s what she had to say about her role.

1. Who inspires you?

“I’m inspired by many people in my life but the main people who inspire me are Paula Scher, American graphic designer, painter and art educator, and Jessica Hische, American letterer, illustrator and type designer. However, I do believe the most important thing to get inspiration from is everything around you.”

2. What’s the coolest thing you’re working on right now?

“I could honestly say all the projects I’m working on are very cool. All of the projects have a different objective, look and feel, which is something I’m enjoying. It allows me to get out of my comfort zone and design in different styles. One of my favourite projects so far was the Black Friday animations for Walmart and some RSA (insurance) animations as well.”

3. Who in the agency would you most like to swap places with for a day?

“Gary Edgar, VP, creative and design at ruckus digital: it would be amazing to see the process of how he comes up with different ideas and strategies for the projects he works on.”

4. How do you get out of a creative rut?

“If I’m in a creative rut, I like to leave the project or zone and go do something else. I love to paint, which is what I do to relieve any stress and just put my feelings out there. Then I come back good as new.”

5. What is the most important piece of advice you could give for someone starting a career in graphic design?

“Don’t take life too seriously, enjoy the ride. Be prepared to give and receive feedback and learn from the experience.”

6. What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned in the last year?

“Always keep learning and be open to new things, even if they are outside of your comfort zone!”

Need some creative inspiration for your communications? Drop us a line.

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jennandgary4

Upstairs Amy – the making of a web series

Recently Walmart and Interac launched their new comedy web series, Upstairs Amy. We spoke with Jenn Stein of APEX and Gary Edgar of ruckus Digital to find out what goes into making it, how the brands get integrated and why they think this approach will work with the target audience.

Subscribe to Upstairs Amy on YouTube and watch new episodes every Monday . 

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