Thursday, June 13th, 2013
The conversation always starts the same. “How’s it going? Where are you living? What’s new?” The typical playing catch-up with family or friends. I’m proud to say that on most days, I take the Detroit People Mover to work. Then … Continue reading
Tuesday, June 11th, 2013
Coming to Franco last September as an intern, I was happy to hit the ground running. Just after the Labor Day weekend, I was introduced to my colleagues as they hurried around the office, catching up from the weekend and … Continue reading
Tuesday, June 4th, 2013
Being the hyperactive, never-sit-still-kind of guy that I am, I always need something to do. On days off work at Franco Public Relations Group, you can usually find me working on cars at my family’s tire shop or in the … Continue reading
Wednesday, May 29th, 2013
Giving back. Corporate responsibility. Philanthropy. I’m sure these are all words you’ve heard before. At Franco, we often help our clients identify opportunities to give back to the community. Giving back is not a requirement, but it’s the right thing … Continue reading
Tuesday, May 14th, 2013
I love event planning. It’s an art. An event planner needs to possess certain skills to host a successful event, such as attention to detail, organization and the ability to be flexible. Out of all my job responsibilities at Franco, … Continue reading
Friday, March 29th, 2013
I had the privilege of attending the unveiling of Dan Gilbert’s vision for Detroit yesterday; a vision that will undoubtedly become a reality, because as Gilbert pointed out, he doesn’t have a Plan B as it would distract from Plan … Continue reading
Friday, March 22nd, 2013
All public relations professionals have heard of it. Some follow it like the bible of PR; others consider it the bane of their existence. I fall somewhere in the middle, but it’s important to try to keep up with the … Continue reading
Thursday, March 14th, 2013
Yesterday, Dan Stocking posted a video blog about what he loves about his job. It turned out great, but he didn’t exactly nail it on his first take. The truth is, it is extremely hard to speak into a camera … Continue reading
Wednesday, March 13th, 2013
At Franco, our culture is based on a company-wide commitment to excellence. Excellence is more than providing a quality product; it’s much deeper than that. It’s the Franco team working in unison to achieve the best results for our clients. … Continue reading
Tuesday, February 26th, 2013
I received a cyber flash-from-the-past a few months back via a former colleague who posted a photo on Facebook from one of my earliest jobs in public relations. There was a fresh-faced me among my PR Associates co-workers atop downtown … Continue reading
Friday, February 22nd, 2013
Taking PR to new heights We’ve established that there is no such thing as a typical day in PR, but Jim Miller’s unusual experiences take unusual to a new level, literally. At his previous agency, Jim worked with the Michigan … Continue reading
Monday, February 18th, 2013
A friend recently called me a robot. After being slightly offended, I sat back and actually thought about it. She was right. I am a robot. I am scheduled, disciplined, regimented and extremely organized, and, like a robot, I follow … Continue reading
Wednesday, February 13th, 2013
Careercast.com recently released its latest jobs survey, including the top 10 most and least stressful jobs. Public relations came in at number five under most stressful. This isn’t surprising. As a PR professional, I know that some days are very … Continue reading
Friday, February 8th, 2013
At Franco Public Relations Group, we’re a short walk away from the festivities planned for this year’s Motown Winter Blast. Among them downtown Detroit visitors will be able to roast marshmallows of course. In celebration, we’re showing off our s’mores … Continue reading
Thursday, February 7th, 2013
The benefits of getting involved with or serving on the board of a professional or community organization are well known. You can expand your network, gain experience, improve professional skills and provide service to others. Check out Laure Cohen’s post … Continue reading
Tuesday, January 22nd, 2013
Last week, I attended the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas for the first time. I’ve helped clients prepare for announcements and exhibits at the show before; but being there in person was a very different (and awesome) experience. … Continue reading
Thursday, January 17th, 2013
Those who visit Detroit will often tag Midtown as the home of art and education. Playing home base for mainstays like Wayne State University, Detroit Institute of Arts and Detroit Historical Museum puts this neighborhood on the map, but there’s … Continue reading
Tuesday, January 8th, 2013
How To Get Your Ex Back A crushing day in PR When I kicked off this series, I had compiled quite a list of wild and wacky PR experiences. Well, they just keep coming. This episode? MONSTER TRUCKS. No, you … Continue reading
Wednesday, December 26th, 2012
My, how time flies! It’s hard to believe the year is already coming to an end. As I complete my first year as an official full-time employee, it seems like an appropriate moment to reflect upon the year. The Franco … Continue reading
Monday, December 17th, 2012
Businesses and organizations can effectively engage their audience by using online videos. As Franco PR’s “video guy” I sometimes get asked by clients and colleagues what types of videos they should create. The options are endless. Here are a few … Continue reading
Thursday, December 6th, 2012
The holiday season has kicked off which means plenty of parties where it’s absolutely required to indulge in the abundance of tasty treats. I’m sure you made plans to work it off at the gym over the weekend but after … Continue reading
Monday, November 12th, 2012
I remember a conversation I had with a mentor about two years ago. She had a connection with the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) for more than 15 years. What she said stuck in my head, “All of the … Continue reading
Wednesday, October 31st, 2012
I kicked off this series with my experience playing Delta Dental’s mascot, Marshall Molar. I thought I was the only one in the office who had mascot experience, but then Marie Stawasz told me about the day she was Henry … Continue reading
Tuesday, October 23rd, 2012
In my last Franco blog, I discussed how building relationships have changed. After writing that blog, I started thinking about what else we can do as professionals to develop relationships. Networking. Anyone can do it and it’s a great tool … Continue reading
Thursday, October 18th, 2012
Before I became an “official Franconian” I had a conversation with my longtime friend and co-worker Jim Miller about joining the team here at Franco Public Relations Group. I distinctly remember him using the location as an advantage. “There’s nothing … Continue reading
Friday, October 12th, 2012
Earlier this month, Ann Marie Fortunate blogged about the unpredictable days of PR. Her blog made me think – I’ve done some unusual things for my clients and I know other Franconians have too. I surveyed our staff and compiled … Continue reading
Tuesday, October 9th, 2012
The day of a PR professional is not what I would call routine or predictable. Sure, we typically start the day with coffee and e-mail (or at least that’s how I prefer to start my days), but from that point … Continue reading
Friday, September 14th, 2012
Motown, Hockeytown, the D, Motor City – we all know I’m talking about Detroit and I don’t know about you, but I’m awfully tired of our city being the poster-child for post-industrial demise. Instead, (as usual) I choose the “glass … Continue reading
Monday, August 6th, 2012
I find it fascinating how relationship development has changed. In the era of smart phones, computers and “going digital” personal connections tend to get lost. My friends don’t like to talk, they’d rather text. I might be a little “old … Continue reading
Friday, August 3rd, 2012
As the new kid on the Franco Public Relations Group block, I was oriented on the agency’s commitment to excellence. But, what company doesn’t say it’s committed to that these days? Now that I’m several weeks into this exciting next phase of my career, it’s apparent that my new colleagues don’t just give lip-service to excellence – Franco clearly delivers it. Continue reading
Tuesday, July 24th, 2012
I’ve always been interested in fashion. Mainly accessories: scarves, shoes, hats. My collection of hats has grown considerably over the years. I wear fedoras, baseball caps, berets, and my favorites, “writing hats.” These are the “hats” you to wear when writing for different mediums. Their styles are different. You have APA, MLA, AP, broadcast writing, etc. Writing for the internet is distinctive as well.
I learned this during one semester at Eastern Michigan University, I took three writing classes – broadcast, research and public relations. For each class I had to remember to wear a different writing hat. At times I would get confused and write 1,044 instead of one-thousand-forty-four in my broadcast writing class. Continue reading
Thursday, July 19th, 2012
Since I first started working in public relations, I’ve had the pleasure of working with a plethora of culinary experts and promoting some of the most talked-about restaurants, wine bars and breweries in the area. In doing so, I’ve learned … Continue reading
Wednesday, July 18th, 2012
You’ve landed your dream internship and the hard part’s over…or so you thought. You’ve heard the rumors about the job being intense, the pressure being on and the pace being fast. But did you believe it? Working at an agency … Continue reading
Tuesday, July 17th, 2012
What a universe we live in. And now we’re one step closer to understanding how it all began. This was the big news out of CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research in Geneva, for people who think about things … Continue reading
Friday, July 13th, 2012
Switching careers can be scary at any age. There’s uncertainty, hesitation and a slew of other emotions that can make you question your decision. Continue reading
Monday, July 9th, 2012
So you had your event and no media came, now what? As PR people, we can assist reporters by not only providing follow-up content such as a press release, but also providing high-resolution, newsworthy photos for their use. Continue reading
Friday, June 29th, 2012
Just like a three-legged race, client relationships are only successful if there is cooperation and agreement on where you are headed. Continue reading
Thursday, June 14th, 2012
In a world where breaking news is most often spotted first on social media before it’s blasted over the airwaves, it is essential to blend your social media and media relations strategies. Continue reading
Tuesday, May 29th, 2012
It’s amazing how little things can make a world of difference. Continue reading
Tuesday, May 15th, 2012
Everyone finds his or her own path to the PR world. For me, the road was winding. My career began not in public relations like many of my co-workers here at Franco Public Relations Group, but in journalism. I found … Continue reading
Thursday, May 10th, 2012
So Brad Pitt is the new Chanel No5 spokesmodel. Is it a branding coup (or “coo,” for those who get a little wobbly kneed looking at him)? Hunky guys have shared the space with beautiful women selling various products, but, ah, a man alone … Continue reading
Wednesday, May 9th, 2012
You just graduated from college, maybe even summa cum laude. But, if you don’t have experience in your field, finding a job can be a daunting task. The easiest way to get that much needed experience is to find an … Continue reading
Wednesday, April 25th, 2012
Morals, principles, common sense and partnerships all share a common component – ethics. From an early age, we’re taught to play nice with others. If you wouldn’t want something done to you, don’t do it to others is a lesson … Continue reading
Wednesday, April 18th, 2012
Thanks to the Internet, smart phones and Skype, the world is shrinking, and allowing quicker communication with people half the world away. With that, I’ve put together a few tips I’ve learned working with clients all over the world: 1. … Continue reading
Monday, April 9th, 2012
A long argument that I’ve had with other PR professionals is whether or not to double space after periods. By my writing, you can clearly tell which side of the debate I’m on. But others insist that two spaces after … Continue reading
Tuesday, April 3rd, 2012
Coming up with a great idea – it’s harder than it sounds. On your own, the process can seem impossible. Your past experiences and background may keep you from thinking outside the box. But surrounded by creative and seasoned PR … Continue reading
Tuesday, March 27th, 2012
I’m sure you’d never expect to hear your interviewer utter these invading words: “Can you please give me your Facebook login information? I’d like to check out your profile.” Continue reading
Thursday, March 22nd, 2012
Five easy ways to stay active at the office. Continue reading
Monday, March 19th, 2012
You’re fresh out of college with a degree in public relations. Now you need a job. Continue reading
Thursday, March 8th, 2012
Did you know the Belle Isle Aquarium opened in 1904? Or that Stevie Wonder has more Grammy awards than Aretha Franklin? I didn’t, until last night. The Franco Five (pictured at left: Ann Marie, Andrea, Lori and Lori’s daughter Michelle, and … Continue reading
Wednesday, March 7th, 2012
As I sat at my computer today, I received an instant Spark message from a colleague of mine who sits no more than 15 feet from my desk. Her inquiry, ironically was, “Do you have time to talk?” I started … Continue reading
Thursday, March 1st, 2012
Even if you don’t use social media for business, the warning to clean up your online image and avoid potential scandal has become constant, often directed at college-age students and budding professionals. Continue reading
Tuesday, February 21st, 2012
Have you noticed that networking is no longer confined to a roomful of professionals in suits anymore? It can happen in almost any environment, and very often occurs online. In the PR world, and here at Franco Public Relations Group, we connect regularly on sites like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
Whether I’m attending an important work event or invested in a PR chat on Twitter, I’ve noticed that an outgoing personality and the ability to small talk with the best of them can go far. Still, there are so many reasons to take time out for networking – both online and off. Here are a few to consider. Continue reading
Thursday, February 2nd, 2012
Somali pirates were in the news again recently after two of their hostages were rescued by SEAL Team 6, the free world’s real-life superheroes. A pirate or two confirmed the raid with the media. The pirates’ confirmation was considerably less … Continue reading
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Detroit, Mich. 48243
P: (313) 567-2300
F: (313) 567-4486
info@franco.com
"Franco has developed a solid social media campaign that has helped increase awareness and business to our downtown shops and restaurants. The service and follow through with our businesses has been excellent."
Navigate social networks with ease, even when negative comments arise
Friday, May 10th, 2013
One of the primary reasons some business owners and entrepreneurs say they are hesitant to dive into social media is that they worry about being exposed to negative feedback on public networks. However, you can protect yourself, your brand and … Continue reading →
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