So I'm nearing the end of my placement and after being sick for a very long time it was essential that I came back strong. Upon my return I was required to draw up the media releases for each state leading up to the national roadshow. These media releases detailed each states event and information on the oZAPP awards. The process of sending out the media releases was long but good practice in searching for the right information and resolving undelivered emails as you go. I spent the whole afternoon glued to my computer until each and every media release was sent.
One of the most important things I've learnt is that the traditional strategies, such as media releases, take a long time, especially updating the databases! But without these there would be a lot of missed out opportunities for promotion.
During the roadshow week, the spokesperson Bill Tai visited Perth and presented at SpaceCubed. This event was really well organised and took a lot of cooperation and teamwork between staff in Perth and France. This event proved to be a great learning experience as, despite pre-planning, we were faced with communication issues and venue access problems on the day of the event. The person we were working with at the venue failed to assist us (a group of four girls in heels) as we carried six boxes of glasses and alcohol up from the basement. The event ran well and no guests had a clue about the stressful setup!
Me and the other intern set up a table at the front to check in guests as they arrived and present them with name tags. A simple but essential job at an event. I actually enjoy tasks like that as it gives me the opportunity to organise all the information I have and give me a sense of control. Throughout the rest of the night I helped with tasks here and there and served drinks to the guests. The biggest challenge was packing up the event in time for one directly after when guests still had all our hired glasses! but we found a way around that eventually!
Not everyone had arrived by the starting time of the event so I continued to check people in while Bill spoke. By the middle of his presentation I was able to listen in and get a feel for the content. This was an eye opening experience as I had been writing the content and working on things involving Bill for so long that it was great to finally have the chance to listen to what he had to say and add to my understanding of the oZAPP's event. There was one particular quote that resonated with me from the presentation. Bill took his passion of extreme sports to compare Lain's theory with a surfing analogy to illustrate why it is timing and not perfection that is the most important factor when developing a company.
"Starting a company is a lot like surfing.
There are three places you can be with respect to the wave, in front, on, or behind it.
If you are behind, it is impossible to swim up the back and get in front to ride, being early feel a lot like being wrong, but if you hit it just right it just takes a couple of easy strokes and you are up and riding." Bill said.
I think this analogy can be applied to numerous life aspects including PR. In PR you have to be in the right place at the right time to be effective. If you let a crisis get out of control it can reach the point of no return and if you come in too early the campaign will not be effective, indeed timing is everything.
At the end of the night I finally had the opportunity to meet the man I had been writing so much about over the last few months. Bill was a genuinely lovely guy who has immense knowledge in the social media and startup industry. It was a pleasure to meet him and it definitely added to the experience of working on the event!
Official oZAPP image: Email signature and promo flyer
Official oZAPP Photos taken by Maya Kavanagh
Bill Tai presenting at Spacecubed as part of the oZAPP's National Roadshow
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