Wow, What a Year! Thank You 2023!

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The week between Christmas and New Year's is a time for our team to reflect, reset and REST.  It's also a time when we wrap up end of year client reports, team accomplishments and goals for the following year. 

2024 will mark 15 years of Carolyn Sutton PR and three years of Brand Your Brand, Co., which is wild! Over the years, we have impacted hundreds of small and large scale brands through Public Relations, our Masterclass Series and Photo + Video Content Creation and more. We continue to make professional development, client relationships and community engagement top priorities. 

In 2023, Founder Carolyn Sutton became an Educator for the Branding Business School - a self-paced branding business school for busy women. And we partnered with Pitchcraft to lead conversations between PR professionals, while the Pitchcraft Founders enjoyed time home with their newborn. We thrive with leading educational conversations and 2024 will bring more of this!

Thank you for being part of the Carolyn Sutton PR + Brand Your Brand, Co. community and for contributing to an amazing 2023. Whether you are a Public Relations or Branding client, a partner, brand cheerleader or a member of our team, we're grateful for this past year. 

We're ready to reset the rest of this week and rock and roll in 2024. We'll be in touch with our “In the Spotlight” series, Instagram and more to come. Thank you for an incredible year and Happy New Year! 

Springing Your Brand into Q2

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Welcome Spring! The sunshine and idyllic temperatures are still teasing us here in Omaha, but I love seeing the spring-spo our clients and friends in warmer regions are posting to their Instagram feeds. The wave of new possibilities starts with a tiny ripple sometime in February. By May, it has washed over everything, making the whole world look new again. I hope you’re going into the new season feeling proud of everything you’ve accomplished the first part of the year — and as excited as I am about this next season!

Why Spring is a Great Time to Refresh Your Brand

Maybe it’s because I’ve worked with so many companies that specialize in beautiful home products and design, but I like to think that building a brand for your business is a bit like creating a home for your family: 

  • It is unique to you and your values.

  • It tells the story of where you’ve been and where you’re going.

  • It is a True North for you and your team: when in doubt, you should always be able to look at your brand to gauge if you’re on the right track.

Just like a well-run home, your brand benefits from a spring refresh to keep it updated and aligned with your current needs and overall mission. After months of post-holiday season austerity, audiences are primed to see something exciting and vibrant. A new campaign, new photo assets or video shoot, or service offering is an easy and effective way to cast open the windows on your brand and inspire your audience and the media to look at it anew. If you’d like to learn more, contact us about how we can help you achieve your Q2 goals.

5 Ways to Celebrate Spring

Make time to get outside. Even if I only have a few minutes, I always try to work a walk into my day, especially in springtime. If I’m really in a time crunch, I’ll pop in my headphones and multi-task with a podcast or catch up with friends via Voxer. Some that have highlighted CSPR/BYB and our clients recently include: The BrandWell Podcast and The Preppy Podcast.

I’ll be honest, as ready as I am for warm sunshine, Q1 was fantastic. We began the year with a whirlwind New York City press tour for our client, Red Land Cotton, resulting in 35 million media impressions across outlets including World News Tonight, Forbes, and Fox News. From there, we just kept up the momentum. We’ve already hosted three Masterclasses and participated in a roundup of industry leaders for The PR Bar. We have also onboarded some new clients, which we can’t wait to tell you more about in the coming months.

Last, but not least, we launched the newsletter you’re reading right now. Last week, I got together with my team for our first quarterly audit of our In the Spotlight analytics and we were overwhelmed by your support and response. Thank you! 

In the spirit of a spring refresh, we’ll be making a few small changes to our In the Spotlight format, but we’re thrilled about the content we have planned for the coming months. We would love to connect with more people, so if you know of anyone who might be interested in hearing more from us, please feel free to share this newsletter!

In the Spotlight is a bi-monthly newsletter about what we’re doing at Carolyn Sutton PR and Brand Your Brand, Co. the brands we love, and industry trends. You can find past issues here.

I See, You See, We Win

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Can you believe we’re already wrapping up February? When Julius Caesar came up with the Julian calendar, he clearly didn’t anticipate that we’d need an extra day (or three) every month. Next year, let’s stretch Feb. to the 29th. Done and dusted! Great!

While I’m at it, maybe it’s also time to take a stab at updating Caesar’s famous phrase, Veni, vidi, vici. I came, I saw, I conquered. If history has taught us anything, it’s that converting people to your message is less about conquest and more about connection. Video, vides, vincimus. I see, you see, we win. 

Visual storytelling is one of the most powerful tools brands have to engage with their audience… and it continues to gain more traction. In 2022, 87 percent of marketers said they got a great ROI on video content, and in the first two months of this year, that number has risen to 92 percent, according to Wyzowl’s annual video marketing survey. Given that number, it’s no wonder that 70 percent of marketers who don’t use video say they plan to start doing so this year, and 96 percent of current video users say they will maintain or increase their video budget in 2023.
Last year, I founded Brand Your Brand, Co. to serve businesses that want to make meaningful and lasting connections with their audience with video and photo assets that can be strategically leveraged across multiple platforms. If this sounds like you, let’s discuss.

Behind the Scenes of a Brand Your Brand, Co. Video Shoot

Brand Your Brand® was born because I kept hearing from my clients that they understood the value of photos and videos, but they didn't have the time or the resources to navigate all the details. Sourcing the location, finding talent, negotiating legal contracts, etc. can be overwhelming steps, but they are necessary to produce high-quality visual brand content. Content that stands out among the constant barrage of TikToks and Instagram reels that fill our social media feeds each day.

With more than 20 years of branding experience and relationships with industry professionals across the country, I knew that I was uniquely positioned to create a solution. In fact, at Carolyn Sutton PR, I had been doing it all along for local businesses, influencer partnershipsand special events.

I created BYB to do all the behind-the-scenes work, so that brand stories can really shine.

After an initial consultation to determine the client's video's look and feel, here's what you can expect BYB to do for you:

  • Create the shot settings for a 2-hour video/photoshoot

  • Find the best location and video/photo team for the job

  • Work with our attorney to finalize secure contracts to give you the legal rights to all your content (this often goes missed in photo shoots!)

  • Develop and communicate the shot list, script and any other needed materials

  • Confirm and communicate schedules

  • Edit photos/video

  • Deliver the final product—picture-perfect and tailored to exceptional brand standards

Every time you work with Brand Your Brand, Co., you can expect 30-40 branded photos, as well as beautifully-produced coinciding video content that can be leveraged across all media and marketing channels to strengthen your relationship with loyal customers and make new audiences fall in love with your brand.

5 Reasons Video is Necessary in 2023

  • According to a 2021 survey, 93 percent of businesses gain new customers as a result of branded content video.

  • When used strategically, video is great for SEO.

  • You can use video over and over, in a variety of different ways. For example, this videowe created to celebrate the collaboration of Simply Southern Cottage and Orian Rugscan be posted in its entirety on both companies' social media feeds and websites, and broken up into smaller segments for their Stories. The branded photos we took on the day of the shoot can also be used across all their print and digital marketing channels.

  • Video allows you to be efficient with your time while sharing your story in a visually appealing and memorable format. Think of it as an elevated version of an elevator speech!

  • As I recently told The PR Bar, increasingly, traditional media outlets rely on brands to contribute their own photos and videos to press coverage. For example, we were so proud when video footage we shot for our client, Red Land Cotton aired as part of a story we placed on ABC News and when our video footage of Borsheims landed on the Today show!

Join Our Next Masterclass | March 15, 2023

Date: Wednesday, March 15, 2023

Time: 12 p.m. – 2 p.m. CST

Cost: $300

Learn how the visual power of photo and video content instantaneously elevates the branding of your business, raises authority, and gains prospective customers — all while acting as a visual extension of your brand story. 

Plus, Video Coach Erin Kienzle will give strategic video tips for confidence, growth, and how to grow your presence on Instagram through video and reels.

'In the Spotlight' is a bi-weekly newsletter about what we're doing at Carolyn Sutton PR + Brand Your Brand, Co., the brands we love, and industry trends. 

The Luxury of Staying In and Getting Things Done

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I know a lot of people think of January and February as months to be stoically endured before things really start hopping again in the springtime. But I must admit, I’ve come to value these quieter winter months as a time to stay in my office and get my work done. I love having dedicated time for fine-tuning the strategies we’ve developed for our clients and doing deep dives into industry trends before spring campaigns launch, the whirlwind of travel, conferences and summits begin, and my children’s warm weather activities kick into high gear (making the whole idea of work-life balance feel more like fire juggling on a tightrope). I start every year beside myself with excitement for the flurry of activity that the coming months promise, and I’m so grateful to have this time to ensure that I’m ready for all of it!

Client Spotlight: Red Land Cotton

I can think of few companies who make the idea of staying in more inviting than our client, Red Land Cotton. Founded by Mark Yeager, a premier cotton producer whose family has owned the land he farms for three generations, and his daughter, Anna Brakefield, a business leader who has a background in design and marketing, the company began in 2016 by creating heirloom-quality bed sheets inspired by one that had been passed down from the 1920s. 

In recent years, Red Land Cotton has expanded into making exquisite duvets, quilts, blankets, baby bedding, towels, robes, lounge wear and gifts: all 100% American made from Alabama cotton ginned entirely by the Yeager family and spun and sewn in American factories that pay their workers fair wages.

Red Land Cotton’s success proves that we all want to feel good about what we buy for the places where we spend our most meaningful moments, which is why we are thrilled to share the fantastic media attention and publicity we’ve generated for the brand. In the first few weeks of 2023 alone, Red Land has been prominently featured in Forbes, on Fox News, and in Victoria Magazine. Since we started working with them in 2019, stories about Red Land Cotton have received more than 3 million media impressions, including from outlets like ABC World News Tonight, Southern Living, Luxe Digital, and many others. We’ve also partnered with them on photo and video shoots, including one of our very first official Brand Your Brand video shoots at the French Valley Vineyard in Cedar, Michigan. Regardless of whether they’re showcased in print, online or on television, the unparalleled quality and beauty of Red Land Cotton’s collections always shine through each media feature.

CSPR/BYB In the News

I loved contributing my expertise on why building and maintaining great media relationships and cultivating a library of short-form video assets are essential to an effective public relations strategy for The PR Bar’s roundup 9 PR Trends You Should Keep an Eye On in 2023. The article includes invaluable insight from many of the top women leaders in PR right now, so it’s definitely one to read and bookmark!

5 Easy Ways to Love Your Winter Workday

  1. Fill Your Cup: Whether it’s a morning meditation or an 11 a.m. matcha to power through until lunchtime, rituals spark joy in any routine. I have a favorite coffee mug that I only use when I’m at my desk: it makes my morning coffee feel like an indulgence that I miss on mornings when I’m not in the office.

  2. Get Wrapped Up in Your Work: You’re not imagining it. Research shows that women tend to work better when we’re not freezing cold. That’s why I love my All-American Throw Blanket from Red Land Cotton. It keeps me warm, while being lightweight enough that I can comfortably work.

  3. Go Green: Studies also show that having plants in the workspace can boost productivity, lower stress and improve job satisfaction. I’m not sure if cut flowers were included in the research, but I can report anecdotally that having hydrangeas on my desk always makes my day better.

  4. Take Breaks: It can be tempting when we’re in the zone to want to keep working, but taking small breaks throughout the day to take a walk outside, or prepare and eat a (screen-free) healthy lunch actually promotes sharper focus and helps avoid burnout.

  5. Exercise a Different Part of Your Brain: I’m a huge fan of time-blocking to keep my schedule streamlined, but sometimes it also helps to switch things up a bit. For example, after hours of typing, sometimes I turn my attention to mailing press kits (each with a handwritten note) or listening to a podcast interview.

Social Media Masterclass: Back By Demand 

We love hosting our Masterclasses as a way to engage and educate other business owners and industry experts. Which is why we are excited to launch our Social Media Masterclass: Build Your Brand Through Instagram again! This Masterclass is Monday, February 13, 12-2 p.m. CST and is an amazing way to launch your Instagram account or reenergize your social media skills to ensure they’re  impacting your business in a positive way.  

I hope you’re having a happy and productive month. To learn more about some of the things we’re working on, please follow Carolyn Sutton PR and Brand Your Brand on Instagram.  

Hello January! New Year, New Goals

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Happy New Year!

Isn’t it amazing how those three little words can hold so much excitement, expectation and promise? After a tremendous ’22 and a joyful holiday season with my family, I feel inspired and invigorated to set new goals, rise to new challenges and collaborate in new ways in order to make 2023 the best year yet — I wish the same for you!

Celebrating Past Successes and Looking Forward to Big Things Ahead

It says so much about our clients and the visionary talent and professionals we work with all over the country that — even after 20 years in the industry — I can still say that every year gives me new reasons to love what I do. This year, we generated more than 4 million impressions for our clients across print, television and digital media, including lifestyle magazines like Southern Living, Better Homes & Gardens, Country Living, Garden & Gun, and Domino; industry publications like Texas CEO and JCK; and national news outlets like ABC News, as well as local market affiliates. 

It says so much about our clients and the visionary talent and professionals we work with all over the country that — even after 20 years in the industry — I can still say that every year gives me new reasons to love what I do. This year, we generated more than 4 million impressions for our clients across print, television and digital media, including lifestyle magazines like Southern Living, Better Homes & Gardens, Country Living, Garden & Gun, and Domino; industry publications like Texas CEO and JCK; and national news outlets like ABC News, as well as local market affiliates. 

We traveled to Dallas and Round Top, Texas for The Southern C conference to connect and engage with other women entrepreneurs, and hosted 10 events, including five Masterclasses, informative Instagram Lives, and an exclusive live revenue accelerator workshop with Sallie Holder, founder of The Brimm, an invaluable business coaching resource for women entrepreneurs. Just as the year was winding down, we were honored to be recognized by PRSA Nebraska with an Award of Excellence for marketing consumer products for our work with Red Land Cotton and an Award of Merit for influencer marketing for our campaign promoting the Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) partnership of Borsheims and University of Nebraska volleyball player, Lexi Sun. 

Within the CSPR family, the biggest achievement of the year was the launch of our sister company, Brand Your Brand (BYB), a full-service content creation firm that produces video and photo shoots that engage audiences across all media. Statistics show that 84 percent of people are convinced to buy a product or service after watching the brand’s video. At BYB, we take care of every detail: from hiring talent and securing locations, to developing shot lists, to executing legal contracts, to shooting, editing and delivering beautifully curated, on-brand visual assets that you can use again and again.

BYB has already had the great pleasure of producing videos for clients including Red Land Cotton and brand partnerships between Simply Southern Cottage and Orian Rugs and Borsheims and The Cottonwood Hotel, and we’re so excited about the projects the future has in store. Follow along on Instagram or contact me about how we can help you Brand Your Brand.

Carolyn Sutton PR team

My 5 Tools for Making New Year’s Resolutions Stick

I actually don’t really love the idea of New Year’s Resolutions — but I do love New Year’s Goals. This time last year, I had a pretty ambitious goal: the successful launch of Brand Your Brand. I also had some proven strategies in place that made me confident that I could achieve it, including never losing sight of why I set this goal in the first place: because I recognized my clients’ need for more video and photography content and I knew I had the best relationships and resources to fill that need. Here are some of the other ways I was able to stay on the right track throughout the year:

Set SMART Goals: SMART Goals have been around forever for a very good reason: they work. A big goal, like launching Brand Your Brand, is made up of thousands of little goals: from drafting a business plan, to developing brand guidelines, to creating a website and social media platforms, to marketing to potential clients. Throughout the year, I broke all these tasks down into Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Timebound goals that I needed to accomplish daily, weekly and monthly.

Write Down and Share Goals: Studies show that we are 42 percent more likely to achieve a goal if we write it down. I write my big goal down, as well as all my monthly, weekly and daily goals and I check in on my progress all the time. I also share them with someone who can help me stay accountable, whether that’s someone on my team who’s helping me achieve them, my husband, who’s my biggest cheerleader, or a trusted mentor or business coach.

Eliminate Friction: Once I’ve scheduled a time to achieve a certain goal, I work backwards to ensure I have everything I need to get the job done in the allotted time. For example, instead of just putting “Location Call” on my calendar, I include everyone’s contact details, a formal or informal agenda with relevant links and deliverables, and anything else I think I may need to ensure a smooth and efficient call that requires as little circling back as possible.

Set Up Systems to Avoid Distractions: I’m a big fan of time blocking – I try to schedule all my calls on one day, outside appointments on another, and deep dives into work that requires my undivided attention on another. I also always try to set my phone to Do Not Disturb during working hours so I only check it once an hour. (I do allow notifications from clients that have something going on that day that may require an immediate response, my children’s school, and any other urgents.)

Assemble Favorite Resources: I always try to keep track of the books and podcasts that give me that extra burst of inspiration when I need it most. Over the holidays, I listened to this audiobook in its entirety…twice! I know I will return to it many times throughout the year. I also always find Atomic Habits and anything by Adam Grant really helpful and I love bookmarking podcasts, like Make Me Known, the Preppy Podcast and How I Built This, that highlight entrepreneurs I admire.

Brand Ready for Public Relations in 2023

Public Relations Masterclass | 2023