Category: Ketner Group Culture

Meet Kathleen See

Posted on | by Ketner Group | 1 Comment on Meet Kathleen See

Hey y’all! I’m Kathleen See, the newest member of Ketner Group! The past few days have been such a whirlwind, but I’m so excited to hit the ground running with Ketner Group as an account executive. By the way, my coworkers are awesome, like “Let’s watch the World Cup together before your first day” awesome. I can already tell that I’m going to LOVE working with this multi-talented team! Everyone should be jealous they don’t get to work with this awesome, dynamic group of individuals.

I hail from Mississippi. Yes, I do own multiple pairs of shoes, and I even wear them some days. Saying that makes me think of the “Mississippi, Believe It” advertising campaign in 2008. The campaign was all about discrediting negative stereotypes about Mississippi and its people. I really enjoyed that campaign because it was so direct about addressing common stereotypes. Maybe that’s what triggered my passion for communications and advertising messages. You can see more about the campaign here.

In 2012, I graduated from Mississippi State University with a bachelor’s degree in Communication and an emphasis in public relations. Sorry to disappoint all you Longhorn fans, but I’m an SEC girl all the way. Plus, let’s be honest, that orange doesn’t look good on anyone.

Last Friday was my first day in Austin, so I’ve been running around like a chicken trying to get all my affairs in order and to see all the sights of Austin. Coming from Jackson, Miss., there is no comparison between activities and experiences to be had. Although I will say that Jackson has a lot going on this summer with the 50th anniversary of Freedom Summer. There are a lot of memorials and celebrations happening throughout the state this summer. If you’re looking for something to do with the family that has educational and historical significance that’s not too expensive, I highly recommend heading that way for a few of those this summer.

In my short 24 years, I’ve learned that the best way to experience a city is to eat your way through it, and I’ve come to realize that some of the best memories I have involve a meal, whether they be around a table enjoying one or in the kitchen creating one. That being said: all you foodies out there, comment below with places I should try in Austin.

Also I can already tell that I’m going to have to become more outdoorsy. That should be interesting. I’ll let you know how that one goes.

Fun facts are one of my weird things I love to know and learn. They hold no actual value other than for trivia night. Here are some fun facts about me and my quirks:

  • Before joining Ketner Group, I spent two years with the Mississippi Children’s Museum. I learned so much with them working in the non-profit and attraction fields. Working for the museum gave me such a unique perspective on integrating fun and education through the activity, exhibits and outreach programming messaging.
  • I don’t like sandwiches. It is few and far between where you will actually catch me eating a sandwich.
  • And I don’t eat peanut butter. I know I’m a statistical anomaly.
  • Being a Mississippi State fan, of course I own a cowbell, and I’ve gotten blisters from ringing it a little too excessively.
  • Reality television is my guilty pleasure. I’m not proud of it.
  • One of my biggest pet peeves is using shorthand in text messages, like ROFL, IMHO, so on and so forth. (Sorry, Mom and Dad, even when you do it.) I know that they are the best solutions to 140 character limits, but not in a text message.
  • Oxford commas make my skin crawl.
  • When I grow up, I want to be philanthropic and give back to the communities and organizations that have given me opportunities and shaped me into the person I am today.
  • Both of my parents are pilots, so I grew up going to airshows on weekends and during the summer. It was definitely not a normal family outing compared to the other family vacations my classmates would come back to school telling everyone about. Those hot, noisy days are some of my most treasured childhood memories.
  • I can write my name backwards and upside down.

I want to know what tips for navigating traffic, restaurants to try and things everyone living in Austin needs to know. I’m looking forward to your suggestions! I cannot wait to see what adventures Ketner Group and Austin have in store for me!

We’re hiring an Account Executive!

Posted on | by Ketner Group | 1 Comment on We’re hiring an Account Executive!

We’re hiring! If you or someone you know has two-to-three years of PR experience and is looking for a job, we want to hear from you!

Of course, we think we’re pretty cool, but in case you need some convincing, here’s a little about us.

Ketner Group PR + Marketing is an Austin, Texas-based public relations and marketing communications firm specializing in technology and B2B public relations for nearly 25 years. Ketner Group is experienced in a variety of industries, including retail technology, mobile technology, high tech business, hospitality technology, supply chain and logistics, and profitability and payments.

Our public relations team consists of passionate storytellers and we deliver diverse expertise in creating targeted public relations campaigns and marketing communications programs that can include multi-faceted public relations campaigns, relationship-based media and analyst outreach, company/product messaging and collateral, social media outreach, email and direct marketing and more.

Account Executive

 Job Description:

We’re looking for a motivated and dynamic team member who is passionate about PR, writing and media relations. The role of Account Executive (AE) is highly engaged in client relationships and will report to our Account Managers. An AE on our team should be a team player, but also be highly dependable to adhere to timelines on an individual basis. Ketner Group looks to its AEs to help execute on our PR campaign strategies and tactics.

 Responsibilities:

  • Assist Account Managers with staying on task for key accounts
  • Execute media relations activities, including developing media lists, press release distribution and pitching and editorial calendar research and management
  • Maintain Ketner Group’s stellar reputation in the retail technology trade media space
  • Cultivate new media relationships in other verticals and top tier, national press
  • Write content pieces, including press releases, articles, case studies, e-books, etc.
  • Participate in client calls and meetings
  • Serve as a key contact in client communications
  • Help to brainstorm fresh, new campaign ideas
  • Execute on social media tactics

Candidate Qualities:

  • Strong writing skills, be prepared to submit writing samples
  • Confidence in handling media relations, including pitching trade and national media contacts
  • Effective communications skills, including the ability to clearly articulate the status of PR program/campaign activities to clients in person, over the phone or via email
  • Excellent research skills in finding appropriate media contacts, collecting supporting data/information for copywriting, identifying client award and event opportunities and conducting client competitor research
  • Ability to be self-accountable, self-motivated and proactive in staying on task with daily activities

Candidate Qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, journalism or marketing
  • 2-3 years of PR experience in an agency, brand or corporation
  • Retail technology or brand PR experience a plus, but not required
  • B2B experience highly valued, but not required
  • Experience with executing on social media tactics
  • Experience with Vocus, Hootsuite and Harvest a plus

Instructions:

Please send a resume, writing samples, salary requirements and interview availability to [email protected]. To learn more about us, visit www.ketnergroup.com.

Buggin’ Out Over Heartbleed: How to Fight Back

Posted on | by Ketner Group

We’ve all been reading about the recent security breaches caused by a large hole in OpenSSL security called Heartbleed. Now what? There are tons of articles out there on things everyone should be doing to protect themselves from potential hazards of the bug, and we’ve compiled the top tips and facts that you need to know.

Get to Know the Enemy
What is the Heartbleed bug? It’s a security vulnerability in OpenSSL that can scrape a server’s memory where sensitive user data is stored, including private information such as usernames, passwords, and credit card numbers.

According to a recent article in Digital Trends, “OpenSSL is a method of encryption employed by many websites that safeguard the data you type into your Web browser. OpenSSL contains a function known as a heartbeat option. With it, while a person is visiting a website that encrypts data using OpenSSL, his computer periodically sends and receives messages to check whether both his PC and the server on the other end are both still connected. The Heartbleed bug means hackers can send fake heartbeat messages, which can trick a site’s server into relaying data that’s stored in its RAM — including sensitive information such as usernames, passwords, credit card numbers, emails, and more.”

So What Can I Do?
CNET lists a few steps to take to ensure the best protection of your personal information until all sites have upgraded to the debugged software:

  • Don’t log into accounts from afflicted sites.
  • Once you receive confirmation of a security patch, change passwords of sensitive accounts.
  • Don’t be shy about reaching out to small businesses that have your data.
  • Keep a close eye on financial statements for the next few days.

Keep Your Eyes Open
Mashable published a comprehensive list of sites that notes which ones were definitely affected and which ones to keep an eye on. Take a look for yourself and act accordingly. Major sites include Facebook, Google/Gmail, Yahoo/Yahoo Mail, Instagram, Pinterest, GoDaddy, Netflix and YouTube.

If you want a more in-depth look at the bug, check out this New York Times article and video on how the security flaw happened, what it means, what people are doing about it, and how to protect yourself in the future. Be proactive about your security, and stay cyber-safe out there!

The Client and PR Agency Relationship: It Takes Two, Baby!

Posted on | by Catherine Seeds

As with any relationship, there are good ones and bad ones. Good relationships usually include natural chemistry, excellent communication and mutual efforts from both parties. The bad relationships, well, don’t have any of those factors and usually end in tears, broken hearts and bitter feelings.

In the PR agency and client world, a good relationship between an account manager/executive at the agency and the director/manager of marketing at the client company can result in a wildly successful ongoing PR program. For more than 15 years, I’ve worked on the agency side of the equation and have had the privilege to work with so many talented and intelligent people along the way who have inspired me and taught me a thing or two about being a good PR and marketing professional. I’ve also had the distinct opportunity to work with some who, let’s just say, have been responsible for adding a few layers of toughness to my inherently sensitive soul.

Working in a PR agency teaches you to work and adapt to all different types of personalities and preferences, and it is ok for the agency to do what needs to be done to keep the client happy, within reason. But it is so critical for the in-house marketing or PR contact at a client company to keep in mind that their relationship with the agency is also a two-way street. It is, well, just like a relationship – and both parties need to do their part for the greater good of the company, not just for the individual.

I’ve come up with a list of four key best practices that in-house contacts should keep in mind when working with and successfully managing an outside PR or marketing agency:

Define Your Goals.  At the beginning of any agency relationship, it is important to have clearly defined goals for the marketing and/or PR program. This could mean setting up high-level goals such as increasing thought-leadership through content-based marketing or raising the company profile to help increase the sales pipeline.  Goals, or KPIs, can also be more detailed-oriented such as placing 2 bylined articles per quarter and securing 8 original articles per quarter. A set of clearly defined goals, whether macro or micro, is the basis of a good PR program and can set a positive tone for the agency/client relationship. Without goals, the agency has nothing to work towards; no direction, and they may be spending their time on activities that do not align with the overall marketing goals of a company, wasting everyone’s time and budget.

Make Them Feel Part of the Team. In my experience, the best run accounts are those that make the agency feel like a seamless extension of the company marketing team. Many in-house contacts tend to think of the agency as just the agency, or even worse, just another vendor. By making your agency feel like they are a part of YOUR team, they will likely be more inspired to put forward their best work for your company. For example, the in-house company contact could include the agency in regular marketing email updates or team meetings, when appropriate. This allows the agency to be privy to the most up-to-date information about new customers, partners or technologies – helping them to create more newsworthy press releases and press pitches. The in-house company contact could also include the agency in marketing team celebrations. After all, the agency was likely a part of that success, too. Hiring an agency is not a small decision for a company, it is an investment of precious marketing dollars and the marketing director’s time to get the agency team ramped up on the company’s messaging and technology offerings. Make the most out of your agency investment and think of them as part of the team.

Communicate. This should go without saying, because we are all in the business to communicate, but marketing directors and managers tend to get pulled into so many different directions that it is easy for the agency to be an afterthought when things get busy. Consistent and up-to-date communication with the agency is a key factor to a successful PR and marketing program – this could be in the form of weekly or bi-weekly PR calls. Keep the agency appraised of anything that might help them do their jobs better, and everyone succeeds. Don’t shut out the agency when important events are occurring in your company, either. A client that I worked with years ago failed to inform us that they were being acquired, and I found out via a reporter who called me to get a comment. I was completely blindsided and pretended that I knew about the acquisition and that I would get back to him with a comment. The client said they didn’t want to tell us beforehand because they were told to keep it quiet until the announcement was official. The better strategy would have been to notify us in advance, so we could have a prepared statement ready when the press came knocking, instead of being like a deer caught in the headlights.

Kindness and Honesty Goes a Long Way. This best practice has my “mothering” instincts written all over it, but I truly believe in the old adage that you can catch more flies with honey than vinegar. Don’t forget that the agency account team members are people just like you, and deserve to be treated with respect and professionalism. Be kind to them. Recognize them if they are responsible for a media hit that results in a customer win for you. Do not ever take full credit for something that an agency was responsible for. Why? Because it is the right thing to do, that’s why. The best clients I’ve had are those that have treated me with respect, kindness and honesty. Throwing an agency under the bus can only come back to bite that person on the butt and burn bridges. My best advice, do the right thing, always. The best clients are those who inspire us to do great things. 

What are you tips for best managing a PR/marketing agency? We’d love to hear your opinions!

Our New Intern Cameron Ventures Into A Life Of PR

Posted on | by Ketner Group | 1 Comment on Our New Intern Cameron Ventures Into A Life Of PR

Let me introduce myself.

My name is Cameron Whitaker and I’d first like to say how excited I am to be a part of the Ketner Group team this semester! As far as school goes, I’m in my last semester at the University of Texas at Austin, graduating with a degree in Broadcast Journalism this May.

I’m grateful to be here at Ketner Group but how I ended up here wasn’t the smoothest path. In the last year I’ve gone from wanting to be the lead anchor at a top news station, to going through what I’d call a “late-college crisis”.  After seeing the real world of news and journalism, I realized the fast-paced, early morning, late night, environment just wasn’t for me. It took a lot of soul searching over the summer, but I took a leap of faith and expanded my career goals.

Last summer I got a little ambitious and took on two vastly different internships. By day, I worked as a media intern at the Texas House of Representatives. That was fast paced on a different level, dealing with laws and legislation, rallies, protests, and making sure my representative always said the right thing at the right time. It’s a touchy business, but I had a great time coordinating events, writing speeches, press releases and so much more.

By night (or afternoon I guess), I worked at the Texas headquarters of AARP as a mass communications intern. Talk about slow paced. I spent a lot of my time there staying on top of the newest initiatives affecting people more than twice my age but it was completely worth it. I had the opportunity to edit and write a lot of opinion- based content that went out to the state for the company. I even had a huge hand in helping create a video infomercial where I got to show off my broadcast skills. Both of these offices taught me valuable media skills that I’ve brought with me to Ketner Group.

But enough about my professional side.  Personally, I’ve experienced about all there is to in college in four years. I’m a huge Texas football fan, no matter how bad the games get– I live for college football on Saturdays. Outside of that I spend about 80% of my time with a great group of guys involved with Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. Being this year’s president, I’ve definitely put in more work than I’d like but all the parties, events, and random foolishness make it all worth it. So yeah, you can call me a frat guy. Other than that, I’m a guy that likes to dress -on a budget, so thrifting is a habit. I try to stay up to date on the latest music being that I love R&B and hip-hop. And whenever I stop being lazy, I’ll work out here and there.

All that said, in May I’ll be walking the stage and starting a new part of my life. I genuinely think I’m headed in the right direction by pursuing a career in PR and marketing. I’m excited to work on accounts with multiple clients, and I think the folks at Ketner Group will prepare me with the skills I’ll need to be successful. I always said I was better at real life than school stuff anyway.

Ketner Group is hiring an Account Executive in Austin!

Posted on | by Ketner Group

The time has come for us to expand our team — we’re so excited, and we can’t wait to find just the right person. If you know anyone in Austin looking for a PR job that fits the below requirements, please pass this along!  To apply for the position, please email resume and portfolio or writing samples to [email protected], and please read the requirements thoroughly before applying. We look forward to meeting some of you.

Open Position: Account Executive
Start Date: Mid-June
Type of Job: Full-time, salaried
Salary: Based upon experience, please include requirements

Job Requirements
This position requires three to five years full-time agency experience and extremely strong technology and marketing writing skills. As a public relations and marketing communications agency specializing in high-tech clients (as well as other industries), the ability to distill technical jargon into a compelling message is absolutely essential. The ideal candidate must have strong experience in account management and media and analyst relations, including excellent pitching skills and the ability to build strong relationships with media and analysts. The position is ideal for a self-starter who can successfully multi-task, who possesses excellent interpersonal skills and is fluent in AP style. Candidates must have project coordination experience and the ability to work well with all levels of staff, as well as outside clients and vendors. Consumer and/or high tech PR experience is a plus. We are looking for someone with a passion for organization, detail and planning – and strengths in both strategy and execution.

This position will be probationary for 90 days, at which point, upon satisfactory review, a permanent offer will be made.

We are a tight-knit office with an upbeat, fun, and friendly culture and are seeking someone like-minded.

Primary Responsibilities for Account Executive:

  • Team and project management:
    —maintaining client communication
    —media pitching, as well as handling any incoming media inquiries
    —preparing regular client reports and attending client meetings
  • Heavy copywriting and marketing communications
    —researching, writing and distributing press releases to targeted media
    —researching, writing and placing white papers and other technical collateral
    —developing and writing promotional collateral and web copy
  • Development of creative tactical ideas and strategic planning, from traditional components to new media and social media
  • New business development, specifically undertaking research for new business proposals and presenting to potential new clients

Benefits:

  • Medical/Health Insurance
  • IRA program with employer matching
  • Paid vacation
  • Competitive salary
  • Wonderful work environment with a true emphasis on an enjoyable work/life balance

The Heart of the Proactive Volunteer: We need YOU!

Posted on | by Catherine Seeds

I’ve learned that you shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands . You need to be able to throw something back. ~ Maya Angelou

While thinking about the topic for this blog entry, I was inspired, in a strange way, by the recent tragic events in Haiti. More than 150,000 people were killed, and hundreds of thousands more injured, during the violent 7.0 earthquake that rocked Port-au-Prince to its core. The global response, however, to the plight of the people of Haiti has been a beautiful sight to behold. Millions of dollars have been pledged and given by citizens, rich and poor, from all over the world. Donated food, water and medical supplies are now flown in on a daily basis. Thousands of doctors, nurses and rescue workers have put their daily lives on hold to travel to Haiti to help feed and care for the millions of Haitians struggling to put their country back together.

The earthquake in Haiti reminded me of another horrible tragedy that happened in recent years on our own soil: Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath that devastated the Gulf Coast. We were all in shock to see the images of angry citizens in need of water and dead bodies outside the New Orleans Superdome. In response, citizens of the world rallied around those in need, and welcomed with open arms those who were forced to leave their homes. And again, many volunteered their services to help put our Gulf Coast cities back on the map again.

While these are wonderful examples of people of all types and skill sets stepping up to the plate in response to a cry for help, I have been thinking about the notion of proactive volunteering. Now, I am the first to admit that I am one of those who really only thinks about “giving back” when natural disasters occur, or during the holidays when my family and I participate in the Salvation Army Angel Tree program, or if a friend or family member is in need of a little financial help. This is all good and well, but couldn’t I do better than being “reactive” or “seasonal” when it comes to helping out those in need in my city, country and world? Is this the example that I want to set for my two children? Continue reading →