January 2017 Update

Dear Colleagues: 

Happy 2017! 

Just after the New Year and just before the new Administration, we wanted to take a minute to recap the major highlights of 2016 and the milestones ahead of us in 2017.   

2016 Was a Great Year for DCC  

DCC saw many changes in in the last year, including our move from 1250 24th Street NW (which will soon become the office of “former” President Barack Obama) to 1111 19th Street NW in the heart of downtown DC. We’ve loved our new office, but due to the rapid growth of our host organization, Results for Development, we face another move by April 1. Stay tuned!  

2016 also ushered in new hires, new projects and new clients for DCC. For a full breakdown of our year, read Dale’s Year in Review blog here. 

Showing Our Appreciation for Clients and Friends  

DCC held its annual Client and Friends Appreciation Party in November at Dale’s home in Georgetown, which was a lot of fun. Celebrating seven years in business, we enjoyed delicious food and drink and gave thanks for the love and support of our friends, family, clients and colleagues. Check out Dale’s blog post about the party here.  

Guest Bloggers Share Their Wisdom  

DCC has also begun a Q&A series with some of our colleagues and partners to gain insight into their fields. Back in October, we interviewed Everett Bellamy, a Georgetown University Law Center professor and former dean, to hear his thoughts on small business and entrepreneurship. Our most recent Q&A was with our go-to graphic designer, Deborah Sauri, as who emphasized the importance of strong branding in every organization.  

If there is anyone in our network, you’d like to see interviewed, please let me know!  

Kudos Corner

IPC  

Kudos to our client IPC – Association Connecting Electronics Industries, whose Government Relations team recently convened “IMPACT Europe,” an event modeled on “IMPACT Washington DC” and designed to connect industry leaders with top policy makers. As part of the event, IPC released a policy paper aimed at addressing the workforce skills gap in the EU advanced manufacturing industry. Read the full agenda here. 

Meanwhile, kudos to IPC CEO John Mitchell, whose op-ed making “The Domestic Business Case for TPP” was published in Forbes. 

Coming up soon, IPC will release its Global Policy Framework; convene the industry’s top global trade show; and host C-level executives for talks with the new Congress and Administration at IMPACT Washington DC.  

NENA

Over the holidays, DCC helped the National Emergency Number Association’s (NENA) Friends of 9-1-1 Initiative raise money for scholarships for rising 9-1-1 professionals across the country. In recent years, NENA has given out five scholarships per year, but over the next year, they hope to award 50 in honor of the 50th anniversary of 9-1-1 service in the United States. It’s not too late to check out their fundraising page here and consider giving to a worthy cause.  

Meanwhile, NENA's annual event “9-1-1 Goes to Washington” is coming up in February, and we can't wait to assist them as they advocate for Next Generation 9-1-1 services nationwide. For more information, check the event page here. 

Bipartisan Policy Center 

Kudos to the Bipartisan Policy Center, which continues to pump out common sense reform proposals at the rate of several per month, and which is about to celebrate its 10th Anniversary in March. BPC’s latest Annual Report this fall highlights the center's top policy projects and accomplishments of 2016.  

WISPA

Congrats to the entire team at the Wireless Internet Service Providers Association (WISPA), which held its largest-ever trade show, WISPAPALOOZA, in October in Las Vegas. More than 1,500 attendees and 100 exhibitors from across the globe converged for a networking and educational bonanza. Dale attended and gave a presentation on social media strategies for small businesses to build their brands.  

More recently, the association released its Policy Priorities for 2017-18 in a letter to President-elect Trump.   

Alliance of U.S. Startups and Inventors for Jobs 

Recently we enjoyed worked with the Alliance of U.S. Startups and Inventors for Jobs (USIJ) on rebuilding their website. USIJ’s mission is advocate for strong intellectual property protection for innovators and inventors, and we were thrilled to help them sharpen their message and image. To learn more about USIJ and see their new website, read more here. 

What’s Your Communications Outlook in 2017?  

With so many public policy debates in flux in this new political environment, you might be wondering how to update your message and communicate it more effectively. If you find yourself facing any unmet communications challenges and needing additional support during this time, please give us a call! 

Wishing you a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year, 

Dale

Expert Insight on Graphic Design from DCC’s Go-To Designer

Deborah Sauri has been a graphic designer working in the Washington, DC market and elsewhere for more than 20 years. Through her work at design and public relations firms, and now with her own independent business, iSpy Creative, Deborah has built an impressive portfolio of branding and marketing materials for a range of clients, including the 495 Express Lanes, IBM, and Shell Oil. Dale and Deborah have worked together on dozens of assignments for more than a decade.

Given all that experience, we decided to ask Deborah to share some insights into her profession, and why graphic design matters so much for all organizations.

You've been a graphic designer for over two decades. How did you get to where you are today?

My Japanese mother always wanted me to be a doctor, but it took one chemistry class for me to realize that career wasn’t for me. After my first year as a pre-med student, I told my parents I was going to try art. I can still remember how disappointed my mother was at the news, but my father encouraged me to follow my passion, and I made the switch. 

I knew after my first year as a Communications Arts & Design major that this was what I wanted to do. Right before graduation, I received job offers from an international, award-winning design firm and a well-known PR firm in DC. The PR firm had better pay, but my gut said to go with the design firm, and it was the best move I made for my career. After four years, I left that position with a strong portfolio and awards from major design magazines, which then led to some amazing career experiences. Soon I was in France, making design presentations for the TotalFina annual report. Then I was asked to establish an in-house design division for Dittus Communications, a rapidly growing DC PR firm, where I was able to travel the country and art-direct ad campaigns for clients such as Household Bank and Shell Oil Company. That’s also where I met Dale.

What’s the importance of having well-done graphic design for a company or organization?

Whether you realize it or not, you are surrounded by products that designers created. The mobile phones we use everyday, the chairs we sit in, the label on the bottle we’re drinking from, the clothes we wear, the cars we drive… Design is everywhere.

Within seconds of receiving a business card or a piece of marketing material, people will form an impression of that company. The logo, the paper, the colors, the shapes will all have an impact. Anyone interested in your company will likely go to your web site, and they may not be aware of it, but they’ll be making judgments based on the look and feel. How consistent is the brand? Is the site easy to navigate? In other words, how intentional and successful is the design in achieving the purpose?

All of our decisions are influenced by good design. Organizations that place a priority on design are going to be more credible and outshine their competitors. 

How has the internet and the shift to digital affected your work?

In terms of design trends, it seems we’re going back to “less is more” which has to do with our digital lifestyles. We want information, and we want it fast, which is why websites now are more streamlined and minimal, with content in one continuous scroll. Creating responsive content that’s accessible and simple to use enhances user satisfaction.

Within the industry, it is becoming easier for unskilled amateurs to try their hand at design with the use of templates and tutorials on sites like YouTube. Because of this, people expect graphics to be created faster and cheaper which often hamstrings quality and ultimately affects results.

On the other hand, graphic designers have more opportunities and flexibility. Today, companies can work with graphic designers anywhere in the world because the internet allows for the quick exchange of files and video chats. I can interact with clients from anyplace as long as I have an internet connection.

What is your approach to the design process, from meeting with a potential client to delivering the final product?

It is critical that I understand the client’s business before any design conception. No matter the subject, I ask a lot of questions about objectives and the demographics that will interact with the design.

When brainstorming ideas, I always start with pencil and paper. I never go to the computer first. It’s too limiting. Creative brainstorming should be unencumbered and fast. Once the ideas are down, then they can be worked out further electronically.

What are some of the biggest challenges you encounter in your work?

Design evolves constantly, and quickly. Because I have my own firm now, I try to surround myself with inspiring designers and projects. I make it a point to stay attuned to the fast-changing trends and preferences among different generations and cultural backgrounds. I attend design conferences and keep in touch with other designers to stay ahead of the curve.

Of what product or client are you most proud?

I wouldn’t have started my business had it not been for a dear friend who asked me to do a logo design for her company that was building the 495 Express Lanes on the Washington Beltway. Not only did it push me to take the risk to become a business owner, but it was also a very big and exciting project. I love that logo because of its simplicity, yet it took almost a year of hard work and many meetings to complete the design. Now I’ll go to a gas station to fill up my car, and the logo will be on an ad at the pump, and I think to myself, “My kids would think it’s pretty cool that Mom did that.” 

Sample design via iSpy Creative

We're Thankful for Clients and Friends

The DCC team, from L to R: Emma Gross, Breyana Franklin, Peter Morscheck, and Marsha Smith

Like most holidays, Thanksgiving should be practiced every day. And not just because it’s the right thing to do; scientists have even documented a variety of powerful health benefits from adopting an attitude of gratitude.

In that spirit, Team DCC recently hosted its annual Clients and Friends Appreciation Party. The timing of this party – right before Thanksgiving – is part of the message. In a season of giving thanks, we invited our clients, colleagues, and friends to my home to enjoy some delicious food and drink, and to express our deep appreciation for their business and support.

We’re also grateful for the opportunity to support our clients’ causes, including developing a more skilled workforce, improving emergency communications, inspiring bipartisanship in public policy-making, and closing the digital divide in rural America.

Thanks to our friend Judith Hernandez for providing the delicious catering and bountiful leftovers! 

I also want to thank the members of the extended DCC team – especially our Director of Operations, Marsha Smith, and my fiancé, Lamar Braithwaite, but also Peter Morscheck, Breyana Franklin, and Emma Gross – for their efforts in planning this party.

So one more time: Thank you to all of our clients, colleagues, friends and family for everything you have done over the last seven years to support our endeavors. We wouldn’t be here without you, and we look forward to serving you further in the years ahead.

Check out Dale's thank you message from the party below.

Georgetown Law Dean Offers Pointers for Small Business Owners

One of the many wonderful things about building a career in Washington, DC, is the opportunity to work with nationally and internationally recognized experts in so many fields. 

Everett Bellamy is one of those experts. As a lawyer in practice and dean at Georgetown University Law Center from 1980 to 2010, he has taught a course on small business law and entrepreneurship for 27 years. During that time, he has had a hand in creating and supporting many small businesses and startups, including Bellamy Fernandez + Arnold, an all-minority and women-owned company that provides government relations and legal consulting services.

Given our obvious interest in small business, we talked with Everett about his thoughts on starting and running a company in today’s business climate. I especially appreciated his closing advice, which applies to my decision to start DCC: "If you have a passion for something, take that chance. Plan carefully, but go do it."

You are an expert in small business and entrepreneurship. How did you develop this specialty?

Being a dean at a school like Georgetown makes you somewhat of a public figure, particularly since I’m African-American. As a result, I was often contacted by people asking for advice, mainly about how to get into law school, but I also got a lot of questions from small business owners looking for legal counsel. This wasn’t easy at the time, since law schools for decades focused on larger corporations and had given very little attention to small businesses. As more and more people began opening businesses in the 1980s and 1990s and came to me for advice, I thought, “We don’t teach this and we should.” So I developed my own course, and I’ve adjusted it over the years.

What were the major trends in this field over the last 30 years? 

One of the major trends that I’ve seen over the last 30 years is technology. It’s not only made it possible for anyone with great ideas to create a business, but it drove down the cost. You can use a laptop or a smartphone to do amazing things with your business, which reduces the need to hire people that you can’t afford.

Also, to find a company that offers its employees a pension now is a rarity. Those days are over, so people began to think, “What’s going to happen to me as I age? I need to start planning for myself.” This gave people incentive to take that bold step and start a business.

What is the current situation for small business owners and startups? Positives? Negatives? 

The current climate is positive for small business owners and start-ups in terms of resources on the federal, state and local levels, with the Small Business Administration and other similar government support programs. I think there’s a lot of support now that wasn’t there 30 years ago.

One trend has been this whole crowdfunding development, that is, funding a venture by raising money from a large number of people, which can now be done over the Internet. Congress passed a bill in 2012 to encourage crowdfunding, and the Securities and Exchange Commission now regulates it. But the fear there is fraud. How can we keep fraud to a minimum online, when anyone can raise money for a seemingly legitimate company but run off with the funds without a trace?

However, it’s still hard to get start-up capital or a business loan. Most often, you’re going to still have to put your personal assets on the line when you try and get a loan. Banks are risk-averse because of the recession, so you almost have to prove you don’t need the money in order to get it.

You have a lot of experience with minority-owned start-ups. Could you discuss the particular challenges these businesses face in the current business climate?

Statistics show that the net worth of minorities is much less than the net worth of white people. This makes it much harder to get money and start a business when you attempt to raise capital.

There are programs offered by the federal, state and local governments that make funds available to minority-owned companies. But to be considered you have to have achieved a certain amount of success in terms of customers, revenues, and growth, and you have to demonstrate your ability to compete on a contract if you’re going to bid on it. There’s a great amount of opportunity there, but still a lot of challenges in minority-owned startups.

What is the most important advice you give to entrepreneurs?

Stick to your business plan carefully. Ask yourself or a focus group: Is there a need for what it is you’re going to offer? Would someone buy it? And at what price? Think it through carefully.

Expect the unexpected. Things aren’t going to happen according to your timeline and it’s going to cost more than you originally projected. You need to plan for worst-case scenarios so you’re prepared for when the inevitable happens.

Finally, you have to put things in writing. You don’t need a 40-page business plan, but you need to put something in writing to articulate what it is you want to achieve. Put agreements in writing; handshakes don’t count.

Any final thoughts?

If you have a passion for something, take that chance. Plan carefully, but go do it.

NOTE: This interview was edited for length.

September 2016 Update

Dear Colleagues:  

Though it’s only September, we’ve already begun looking ahead to the end of 2016 and the new year as we plan our business and our clients’ plans through the rest of the year. Business is continuing as usual, but before we get ahead of ourselves, we wanted to update you all on what’s been happening over here on 19th Street: 

Thank you to everyone who came to our studio party on August 30! We had a great time discussing our expanded video capabilities and other services with our colleagues. If you and your organization are interested in using video to help tell your story, don’t hesitate to reach out to us!  

Just this week, we posted to our blog a Q&A with Everett Bellamy, a professor and former dean at Georgetown University Law Center, co-founder of Bellamy, Fernandez + Arnold, a government relations consulting firm here in DC, and a dear friend of mine. We discussed small business, entrepreneurs, and the challenges they face in today’s business climate. Check out the full blog post here (insert link). 

Mark your calendars now: DCC’s Annual Client Appreciation Party will be on Thursday, November 17th from 5:30-7:30 at Dale’s house in Georgetown! Be on the lookout for more details to come. 

Kudos Corner: 

NENA – At the end of August, the National Emergency Number Association’s (NENA) Director of Government Affairs Trey Forgety co-presented a talk at the annual DEFCON Conference in Las Vegas, NV on the cybersecurity threats that plague current and Next-Generation 9-1-1 systems. The issue has captured the attention of The Washington Post and others as a national cybersecurity concern. 

Recently, the Office of Management and Budget published a list of recommended classifications for revising the Standard Occupational Classifications (SOC), which suggested that emergency dispatchers be placed under the “Office and Administrative Support” category instead of “Protective Services.” NENA believes the 9-1-1 system could be strengthened by actively working with OMB to change this recommendation. Find NENA’s comments submitted to OMB this month here. 

Also in response to this, NENA just last week launched an “In Their Words” campaign, where they plan to gather stories from 9-1-1 professionals about their success stories as dispatchers. If you or anyone you know has a story to share, please check out their webpage here! 

Chavez Schools – We are excited for Chavez Schools to embark on their first-ever year-long public policy investigation, “#JustFreeEqual: Policing in America,” in response to current national events centered on police brutality and community policing. Learn more about their initiative here. 

Last summer Chavez held their 5th Annual Public Policy Symposium at Georgetown University, allowing students to present their year-long research theses to a crowd of peers, teachers, and community leaders. They just released their video recap of the event on Chavez’s website, which DCC was proud to assist in producing. Check it out! 

WISPA – The Wireless Internet Service Providers Association (WISPA) is holding its annual WISPAPALOOZA conference in Las Vegas next month. The seven-day conference will feature training and education sessions as well as vendors showcasing wireless products and services. Dale will be in attendance, assisting WISPA with media outreach, key presentations, and speaking on two panels discussing marketing and social media presence. We’re excited to support WISPA on this event!  

IPC – IPC – Association Connecting Electronics Industries is celebrating Manufacturing Day (MFG Day) on October 7 this year. MFG Day aims to inspire the next generation by having manufacturers across the country open their facilities for students and the general public to get a better sense of what they do everyday. Good luck to IPC and its member companies for the events they’ve already planned! 

BPC – The Bipartisan Policy Center recently published their Annual Report issue of Dialogue, their quarterly magazine. This issue highlighted BPC’s policy successes and the many ways their work influenced legislative and regulatory policy in 2015-2016. BPC policy recommendations found their way into legislation as varied as the 2015 end-of-year omnibus appropriations bill; the Medicare Access and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Reauthorization Act of 2016; and the House-passed 21st Century Cures Act; among many others. We’re proud to support BPC and its continuing, tangible influence on policy discussions that help improve the health and welfare of all Americans. 

InterDigital – In July, InterDigital announced it was among a small handful of companies invited by the White House to participate in the National Science Foundation’s Advanced Wireless Testbed Consortium, a $400 million initiative to develop next-generation wireless technology, including advanced 5G and Internet of Things technology. 

Recently, InterDigital presented its latest innovations related to the Internet of Things at the Industrial Internet Consortium’s Q3 member meeting in Heidelberg, Germany, as well as at the Telecommunications Industry Association’s IoT Workshop in Arlington, Virginia. 

How can we help you? 

If we haven’t told you recently, we are so grateful for your friendship and support. Please continue to consider Dale Curtis Communications for your organization’s communications needs. We would be happy to talk with you about how we could support your outreach efforts and help drive growth. 

 All the best, 

 Dale

10 Lessons From the Convergence of PR, Advertising, and Marketing

The nature of public relations is changing as clients are increasingly demanding more complex marketing and advocacy campaigns that draw on specialties as diverse as polling, media buys, web design, and integrated social media.

The result is that the lines that separated such previously distinct fields as public relations, advertising, and marketing are disappearing.

With the increasing convergence of these fields, today’s practitioners must be nimble and cross-functional to be effective.

The Public Relations Society of America’s National Capital Chapter recently hosted a panel discussion at the National Press Club on just this convergence, and the implications it holds for the future of communications.

A key theme throughout was that, much like globalization, this convergence is happening whether you like it or not. So the way to thrive is to adapt to new skills and mindsets and help lead the change before you become a victim of it.

The panel included insights by:

• Cary Hatch, CEO of MDB Communications;
• Carrie Schum, EVP at Porter Novelli;
• Bob Farrace, Director of Public Affairs at the Marketing Design Group; and
• Mark Hamrick, Senior Economic Analyst and Washington Bureau Chief at Bankrate.com.

The group collectively shared the following 10 observations and insights:

1.     “FOMO” can lead to inappropriate decisions.

Many PR practitioners today are so overwhelmed by the pace of change in social media that they suffer from FOMO (the “Fear of Missing Out”) – say, on an opportunity to score big with a well-placed tweet or clever Snapchat video that goes viral.

Thus, many PR firms (particularly digital agencies) are quick to try to harness the power of new technologies or platforms on behalf of their clients, even when it might not be the most efficient use of a budget.

The answer to this lies in:

2.     Integration.

Many PR firms market themselves as “integrated” and “full-service” without first adopting the necessary culture to support those claims.

Rather, “integration” is a mindset, not a service offering – it’s something you do as a firm, not something you sell.

But another key to success is to “stay within your lane.” Clients want to hire the best, no matter where it is found. Thus, firms need to be honest with themselves and play to their strengths by identifying and marketing their core competencies rather than trumpeting their ability to “do it all.”

3.     There is an arms race for talent.

All of the panelists agreed that attracting high-end creative talent in DC is difficult.

For traditional PR agencies, the best digital practitioners and designers are so rare locally that they “may as well be unicorns.”

Thus, investment in human talent and technology remains a constant challenge.

4.     There has been no better time in history to work in communications.

For all the challenges of the new digital landscape and explosion in social media channels over the last few years, the ease of reaching consumers and the velocity of change keep things exciting.

Twenty years ago, the only major distribution channels for advertisers were television, radio, newspapers and magazines. In addition, there was little or no pressure to report on exact viewership numbers or return on investment.

Today, robust analytics allow firms to show clients exactly how many viewers watched a video, visited a website, or liked an Instagram photo.

5.     Words matter.

How you talk about aspects of your PR campaign internally influence your results. For instance, is that element a platform, a concept, a theme, a tagline, or an insight?

Without consistent framing – setting a consistent vocabulary internally — you  cannot properly express your value proposition to clients.

6.     You must offer functional excellence.

This should go without saying, but while clients may buy the “sizzle” — the biggest, splashiest pitch presentation in the room — it’s the “steak” (the execution) that keeps the account for the long term.

7.     It’s up to the PR and marketing practitioners to demonstrate marketing’s ROI.

CEOs often expect their marketing people to be business people first, and marketers second. Marketers often need help in explaining how their work translates into business value.

Research has thus become a key component for marketing campaigns, as it offers metrics to support the expense of an effort.

8.     Hiring has changed.

One speaker told a story about Marty Baron, the current editor of The Washington Post. Asked how hiring prospective reporters today is different than 20 years ago, he noted that you used to hire for potential and train new reporters on the job.

Today, he hires new reporters primarily for their existing skillsets in hopes that they will help raise his organization’s game.

Likewise, in the PR arena, speakers noted that, since communications skills are a given, they are more likely to hire employees with the additional insights that academic backgrounds in history, English, or IT could bring rather than those with academic backgrounds in communications per se. The same goes with recruiting the mid-level hire, where key talent is just as likely to hail from Accenture, Deloitte, or IBM as from large PR agencies like Ogilvy or Edelman.

9.     Freelancers are key.

Often today, the best creative talent prefers to remain as freelancers so that they can charge top dollar for campaigns they want to work on and enjoy greater flexibility.

At Porter Novelli, for instance, “having 39 1099s on our payroll is not unusual.”

10.  Expectation-setting is key.

One speaker related how important it is to set expectations of success with clients from the outset.

In the example she used, a public relations team’s campaign led to fewer website visits in a 90-day period than the marketing team’s direct email campaign.

While this initially made the public relations team’s efforts look less effective, the difference was in the make-up of the distinct audiences: those reached by the email campaign were overwhelmingly existing customers, while those reached by the PR campaign were overwhelmingly new customers who had never before visited the client’s site. Thus, the PR team’s efforts resulted in an expanded overall audience.

By properly setting expectations and success metrics with the client from the outset, the PR team could have avoided confusion and the need for an initially defensive posture following the campaign’s completion.

DCC's Social Media Pointers

I am a 21-year-old college student, and part of the 86 percent of millennials that own a smartphone.[1] I keep in touch with family and friends on Facebook, get my daily news from Twitter, connect with employers and classmates on LinkedIn, and share my weekend activities on Instagram.

And it’s not just millennials. An estimated 79 percent of internet-using adults aged 30-49 are regular users of Facebook, as are 64 percent of those aged 50-64 and 48 percent of those aged 65 and up.[2] It’s obvious: social media is necessary to reach all audiences nowadays and is crucial if you want your business to succeed.

When used strategically, social media delivers significant benefits:

• In a study of marketers and their social media habits, over 91 percent saw increased exposure for their business when they devoted at least six hours a week to social media.
• Similarly, 75 percent of marketers reported increased traffic to their website if they spent six or more hours on social media per week.
• Over half of marketers who invested at least two years in social media strategies reported that new partnerships were gained because of it.
• Over half of the marketers who spend at least 11 hours a week on social media report reduced overall marketing costs for their business.[3]

Maybe your business does have a few social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter and/or LinkedIn, but you’re not seeing the results you want. Here are some tips, both from a social media user perspective and a communications perspective, that will likely increase exposure for your business on social media:

• Find out where your audience is. If they’re only on standard social media platforms like Facebook or LinkedIn, that’s great. But maybe you have clients who use Pinterest, Instagram, Snapchat or Vine. Do some research and find out if you may be neglecting an audience because they use different social media channels.
   
• Tailor content for each platform. Be mindful of how different platforms operate and tailor your message accordingly. Some social media sites require less formal language than others; some allow for more words or characters than others; some use primarily photos instead of text. Businesses succeed on social media when they meet their audiences on different social media platforms and specifically tailor their content for each platform.
   
• When possible, include a visual. Facebook users watch a collective 100 million hours worth of video a day,[4] and photos posted to Facebook have an 87 percent engagement rate, which is much higher than any other type of content posted on the site.[5] You’ll get more eyes on your content if you have eye-catching visuals that motivate users to engage.
   
• Keep your posts and updates constant. Each platform is different in terms of the ideal frequency of updates. For example, most experts believe that LinkedIn requires only one post a day, but Twitter can be two or three times a day.[6] The key is to make sure you don’t let your posts slip, creating the appearance of being absent or irregular. Scheduling social media posts through websites such as Buffer or Hootsuite can help your business stay on track with different social media accounts.

I just counted, and I have thirteen social media apps on my phone at the moment, most of which I use daily.

It may seem overwhelming at first, but once your business cleverly taps into the breadth of opportunity that social media offers, the benefits can be huge.

[1] http://www.pewinternet.org/2015/10/29/technology-device-ownership-2015/

[2] http://www.pewinternet.org/2015/08/19/the-demographics-of-social-media-users/

[3] http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/report/ for all statistics in this list.

[4] http://www.recode.net/2016/1/27/11589140/facebook-says-video-is-huge-100-million-hours-per-day-huge

[5] http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/photos-generate-engagement-research/

[6] https://blog.bufferapp.com/social-media-frequency-guide

Intern Diaries: My 14 Days at DCC

14 days may seem short to most, but my 14 days at DCC have been among the richest of my life.

DCC has shown me what it means to act as a truly trusted communications adviser. From DCC, I’ve acquired skills ranging from how best to pitch a story to how to efficiently gather every last pertinent contact for a media list.

Of the many lessons I’ve learned from my team, two resonated with me most.

Work hard.

Simple, right?

Well, not really.

I’ve always considered myself a hard worker, but I learned what it really meant to work hard when I walked into this building.

It takes determination, investment, interest and care to truly work hard.

Each and every team member at DCC possesses each of those qualities and demonstrates them all when dealing with clientele. Working with DCC, you only put forth your best.

Thanks to DCC, I know what a good work ethic truly looks like.

Collaborate.

Never underestimate the power of small. This is perhaps my largest takeaway from my time here. Today, DCC is a 6-person firm, but they can do what few can. We’re a team here. It doesn’t matter who you are. If you’re a CEO, an intern, an associate - whoever you are - you work together.

As a 16-year-old, it isn’t every day that you find yourself in an executive business development meeting. At DCC, I was present in every meeting, because despite my age, despite my experience, I was part of the team.

DCC is not just any team. It’s a team of smart, talented, creative, assertive and collaborative individuals. We learn from one another, thrive off of one another, and work with one another. It is to this teamwork that DCC owes its success.

After just 14 days and 5 new people, I leave with one thing:

Inspiration. 

Video Marketing: From “Nice to Have” to “Must-Have”

You know that online video is “hot,” right?

Let’s begin with some statistics.

96% of business-to-business (B2B) companies are using video in their marketing and communications campaigns, and 73% of these companies report a positive impact on their marketing results.[1]

And nearly three-quarters of Washington Insiders report consuming online video several times a week, with congressional staff and federal executives showing the strongest appetite.[2]

We could go on, but you get the idea. Video has gone from “nice to have” to “must-have” for any business or nonprofit that wants to get its message across in 2016.  

Through a partnership with Frederick Digital Media, DCC is now offering a full array of affordable video services for our clients. Our partner Paul Farrell offers 30+ years of corporate PR experience and 10+ years of videography and editing experience, serving clients throughout the DC region.

Our video services include:

• Single and multi-camera field production
• 3-camera studio in downtown DC
• Video post-production
• Video streaming and podcasting
• Video program production
• DVD production
• Video-driven websites
• Broadcast commercials
• Product/service marketing videos
• Training/instructional videos
• Workplace communications videos
• Training for on-camera performance

And with our low overhead, you won’t find a better value in the DC region.   

Check out this video we produced recently for our client IPC, an association of electronics companies, to capture the highlights of their CEO “fly-in” to Washington, DC.

To see more videos produced by the DCC-Frederick team, check out our new YouTube channel.

Then call us today to discuss how we can help meet your communications needs through high-quality, affordable video.

[1] According to a 2015 survey conducted by the Web Video Marketing Council.
[2] National Journal Group study, 2015.