I connected to Adél Szegedi via my client Jack Milner as Jack had hired Adél to create illustrations for his upcoming book, Virtual Presentation Mastery. Woven through Jack’s book on how to enhance virtual presentations is a thread of humor and whimsy, which Adél amplified. I was impressed with her work and enjoyed the collaboration. Recently, my assistant Jillian Tully interviewed Adél about her work as a freelance artist. Here is their conversation:

How long have you been creating art?

Storytelling has been an essential part of my life since I can remember, and creating art is a kind of storytelling for me. I usually struggle with verbal communication and I can convey my thoughts and express myself better in writing, with music, and with visual arts—especially with illustration and animation.

What inspires you?

It mainly depends on the circumstances and situation I am in. But the connection between nature and humans is definitely one of the most interesting and inspiring things for me—everything is linked to nature eventually. Also, I draw on the small, usually unnoticeable moments in everyday life that most of the people tend to miss in this big hurry we live in. If I recognize something interesting, I pause for a moment, “zoom in” to these tiny reality pieces, and I try to understand them. I believe everything has meaning, we just have to find the right perspective to recognize it. 

Where do you pursue your training?

I was self-taught, and visual creation was only a hobby until I did an animation course, in which I learned the basics of filmmaking and to use my visual language better. At the moment, I am studying at the University of Westminster in London in a Contemporary Media Practice course. It’s a really varied and exciting course, working with several different mediums like film, animation, photography, and so on. One of my current projects is a group work: we are developing a hybrid installation, focusing on the visualization and sonification of the communication of fungi. 

How did you connect with Jack Milner to illustrate his book, Virtual Presentation Mastery?

I connected with him through my university. My school has a really good system to help students to find work experiences as soon as possible and provide good connections to other creatives who want to work with students.

What inspired you to create each piece of art for the book and the great cover art, too?

It was mainly an agreement with Jack; fortunately we communicated very well. As a start, he proposed the basic concept, then I had a little bit of time to dabble with it in my head. Afterwards I came up with the idea to use an animal as a character because it is gender-less and ageless, therefore, everyone can relate. Eventually, we agreed on going with a frog, who became a little funny spark to the whole theme of the book. 

What was the creative process like for you on this book project?

I start every design process with research: I was collecting pictures about frogs in real life as well as inspirations from other illustrators to create a mood board with the collected material. It provided a good basis to see how a frog’s body is built up and how others depicted it. After that, I just started sketching and eventually came up with a few versions of a frog character that I sent to Jack, who offered feedback. There weren’t too many disagreements on the character. Since it’s a business type of book, I had to keep it in mind to create a cartoon character, which is not too childish but conveys the cheerful tone of the book.

What was it like working with Janice on this project?

Janice was really nice and supportive and offered a good insight into the book illustration world. It was the first book I’ve ever illustrated, so I’ve never worked with other writers and their editors before, hence it was a very instructive first experience for me. 

What other work are you pursuing at this time?

I’m working mainly on my university projects and a few illustration and animation commissions. One of my favorite projects now is a music visualization that I’m developing with a composer friend of mine. Also, I’m working on my next short film; at the moment I’m developing the script and the character designs. 

How can people reach you to see samples and learn more?

I have a website where they can find my illustration and animation portfolio. Otherwise, they can reach me on Instagram, YouTube, and Vimeo as well.

The post Q & A with Freelance Artist Adél Szegedi appeared first on Beetle Press.

Last week, I blogged about the Media Consult I led with Mary Knight, the communications chairman for Zonta International District 1. Today, you can hear from Mary directly about her organization and what she learned in the consult. 

What is Zonta, and what inspires you to take part?

Zonta is an international organization, and our purpose is to empower women and girls to be the best they can be. We work around the world in a number of different avenues, including crises such as trafficking and domestic violence, helping women to reach a higher level of decision-making. We’re working in Massachusetts, especially on stopping child marriage. Girls as young as 12 or 13 can get married in the state, and we’re trying to move that age to 18. The work is truly inspiring.  

What prompted you to reach out to Janice recently for help?

I was charged with doing a training and putting together a tool for the individuals who are in charge of communications for each of our clubs throughout the district—New England states and Nova Scotia. I felt a little bit uncomfortable doing it on my own. So, I contacted Janice for tips and ideas. She was easy to work with. 

You took part in a Media Consult. How was that structured, and what did you learn?

It was structured just as I needed it to be, working on an existing document and going through it step by step, and rearranging things. Frankly, in 30 minutes, Janice was able to help impart best practices, tips, lessons learned. I was really inspired. I gave her a press release I was working on at the time, and we used that as the basis for our 30 minutes. Together, we constructed the press release, and as we went through it, Janice explained why she was recommending her edits and changes. Then she helped me send it to the key people in the area and in the format they would want it in. It worked! The release was picked up by all six publications I sent it to. It was wonderful, and I really learned a lot. Through that work with Janice, I was able to put a template together and some notes so that I could train others. 

What value did you find in the consult?

It was invaluable. I’ve sent a lot of news releases over the years, and they were not picked up by the editors and used in publications. I learned why. This was a big deal. I learned how to make sure that your first sentence offers a summary of who, what, where, when, and why. I learned what material to use in quotes. I learned how to properly send information to a specific editor as opposed to just a general email address. And I also learned to include the text of the press release in the email and attach it and that you shouldn’t embed pictures but instead attach them. I learned a lot!

Did you learn skills that you will now always have?

I absolutely did. 

Who else do you think might benefit from a Media Consult?

Frankly, I think anybody who does not do media relations, newsletters, news releases on a regular basis would really benefit. Janice has an awful lot to offer and learning what I learned in 30 minutes is a great return on my investment. Anybody who doesn’t do this regularly for a living and wants to be better would benefit from working with Janice. 

Anything else you think readers of Janice’s blog would like to know?

The thing I really liked about Janice is that she is really straightforward. She doesn’t pull any punches, and you know she is certainly a kind person to work with. I highly recommend her.

The post A Q and A on a Media Consult Experience appeared first on Beetle Press.

I connected with Jennifer Kelley three years ago and began writing blogs for the organization she leads, the Greater Lakes Region Children’s Auction. It’s an organization near and dear to my brother Allan’s heart, and I had heard much about it and wanted to help. (Jennifer and I also worked together on several books—one about the Auction’s 40th year in 2021 and one about her mother’s life.) Recently, my colleague Jillian Tully interviewed Jennifer about what it’s like to work with me on PR.

In brief, what is the work or mission of your organization?

The Greater Lakes Children’s Auction’s mission is to raise money for kids in need in the Greater Lakes Region community of New Hampshire. We engage with the community and financially support children in need with a vision to ensure that every child is empowered to succeed and positively impact the region. 

When did you begin working with Janice, and what specific services did she provide for you? 

I’ve been working with Janice for three years. She was interviewing what we call the Children’s Auction champions—volunteers who go above and beyond to help the organization. She wrote blogs about our champions, and I posted them on our website. Then I would put the stories in our monthly news blast, and Janice would write a press release on the champion and send it to the press. Today, she continues to write the auction champion articles and additional releases for the auction on broader topics. 

What was the quality of Janice’s work?

It was excellent. She really got to know the champions and added some color in sharing why people do what they do to help the Children’s Auction. So, it was very helpful. Additionally, I think the people Janice interviewed felt valued by the organization, which is always good. 

Did press releases Janice wrote for you attract attention from the media?

Definitely. She helped us do press releases all around the Children’s Auction champions, but then she wrote some additional press releases. That really helped people know more about the auction and realize that the auction is not just something that happens in December; we are an organization that works year-round to help fulfill our mission. 

What value did her other content creation efforts bring to your organization?

After writing over 40 articles, Janice took it upon herself to turn them into a book capturing some of the history of the past 40 years of the auction. She took on the mission single-handedly, also interviewing about 15 nonprofits we support to also tell their story. The book was a really nice way to commemorate our 40 years. Janice sold them to raise money for the organization, and the book is still for sale.

Who in your various audiences benefited from the work and in what ways?

The people that benefit the most are the kids who are served by over 80 local nonprofits providing services for low-income families and children in need. Our mantra is, “It’s all for the kids.” We want to enhance their lives. 

Do you consider Janice a partner in your marketing and public relations efforts?

Without a question. She started with just doing the auction champion articles which was huge, and we launched a whole campaign about highlighting a champion every single month in our news blast. Then she offered to do the book that she created. Now she is starting to do just a lot of press releases for us, so without question, she is a partner. 

The post A Client Q & A with Jennifer Kelley, Executive Director of Greater Lakes Children’s Auction appeared first on Beetle Press.

Note: I have been working with Jack Milner of the UK since the spring on the manuscript for his book, “2D to 3D: How to Be a Virtual Presentation Superstar.” Jack is a performer-turned-communication-coach who provides organizations with the tools to influence, persuade, and engage—whether through storytelling, presenting, or communicating within teams. His book acknowledges how rapidly the world pivoted to online meetings and presentations with the onslaught of COVID-19 and offers impactful tips to help them stand out in a virtual world. Working with Jack has been a great experience. Recently, my summer intern, Emma Listokin, interviewed Jack and what it was like to work with me. This is their conversation, verbatim.

When did you get into writing and why?

I got into writing when I was a teenager, so initially, I liked writing angsty and depressing stuff involving drugs and stuff like that—things I knew nothing about. At 14, a teacher did an exercise, and you couldn’t help but write a bit of nonsense. It was supposed to be a two-page essay, and in the end … it was 20 pages long. The following week my teacher handed back my work and said, “Jack, is it alright if I read your story to the class?” I said, “Yeah, yeah absolutely!”  He read my piece to the class, and they all roared with laughter, and that was the thing that got me started, that moment. That’s what I like, and that’s what I want to do. 

What prompted you to write a book? And why?

Like with most things for me—it was an accident! I was supposed to write a book about presentation skills from a different angle, and then COVID arrived, and one of my clients—Samsung—asked for a handbook on virtual presenting to go along with the course. I quoted 5,000 words and it ended up being 20,000 words. They were delighted, and then I thought, “You know, this is the beginning of a book here.” Others encouraged me, and I took the idea seriously. Then I got in touch with Janice, and I thought Janice felt like the right fit. 

How much of your book was written when you contacted Janice?

I think most of it was written, a really bad version of it, maybe not really bad, but most first drafts are pretty rubbishy. 

How did Janice help you hone in on an illustration style for the book?

I needed an illustrator for the book, and my neighbor connected me to two university students who are illustrators. I said to both of them that I don’t care what they come up with; it could even be animals. One came back to me with what you’d expect in a business book: a bit presentation like, but nice graphics. And I thought, “That’s good enough.” The other one came back and said, “I was going to go with snails, but I’ve decided because you said you were going to have a photograph of a frog to come back with frogs.” I said to Janice that I think I’m going to go with the first design, because my mentor said, “Jack, whatever you do, don’t do cartoons!” Janice came back and said the second design is really funny and original and quirky and matches my personality, and she helped persuade me toward the frogs and connect the theme to my manuscript. One of the mantras for this book is, “Janice is always right,” because it’s true! 

What stage is your manuscript at now?

It’s now at the stage where I’ve written close to the final draft, but there might be some final tweaks. It’s with a PR firm now that is shopping it around for publication through a traditional or hybrid company. Janice helped connect me to this firm because she thinks my book could have a wide reach. 

How did Janice help you advance your project to this phase? 

She genuinely cares about you and the work. If she gets frustrated, which she really never does, it’s more, “C’mon this can be better, and here are steps to make it better.” The first draft she shared a lot of things that could be improved and gave points that could be clarified. There were a lot of notes on the first draft, most of which I followed through on. Janice’s grammar is much better than mine, so she’s great for eyeing the grammatical errors. She instills confidence: A writer needs to be told what’s good about his work. Because without that, it’s much harder to write. 

What did you consider the most valuable part of working with Janice on your book? 

It’s two things. Firstly, having a clear process and deadlines so that you have a working structure to help you focus. And the second being Janice pushing this to be magic. We found a small moment of magic, and Janice spotted it, and that led from this book going from being ordinary to being much more than ordinary and that came from her inspiration and encouragement. Sometimes you need that encouragement to take a risk. 

What kinds of suggestions did Janice make? Did you act on all of them? If you had differences, how did you resolve them? 

We didn’t need to resolve anything. Janice gets writers and is a very good writer herself and all she’s trying to do is help you get your vision across in the way you want it and sometimes needs to nudge you. 

In what way did your manuscript turn out differently from what it would have been if you had not worked with Janice on it? 

I think if I hadn’t worked with Janice and worked by myself, it would have been okay, but what Janice has done has helped me put Jack into it and helped me be a bit more confident. I’m quite proud of it. That’s quite a big deal. 

What are your hopes for next steps?

I’d love it to get published. I’d love it to make a difference and sell a few copies, and up my fees for my master classes, and if it does all of those things, I’d be happy. 

Anything else you want readers of Janice’s blog to know? 

Janice helps you be you. … I’ve really enjoyed the chat and banter. She’s a really good person, a good human being. She’s fun, and she really likes people to be themselves and encourages that. She’s got a good sense of humor. I highly, highly recommend working with Janice. She’s also 100 percent honest. 

The post A Client Q and A with Jack Milner appeared first on Beetle Press.

I have worked with Ruth Griggs for nearly a decade, partnering with various clients and creating a range of materials together—from press releases to blogs to social media content. Recently, Ruth offered some thoughts on what it’s like to work with me and what value I add to her marketing team.

What is the work or mission of your organization?

RC Communications is a strategic marketing company, and through it, I work with a variety of creative partners. These colleagues help me execute the marketing plans I develop for my clients. I also lead the Northampton Jazz Festival, overseeing the board’s activities and managing everything from securing sponsorships to marketing and PR.

When did you begin working with Janice, and in what way?

I started to work with Janice in 2012. She first worked with me as a PR specialist for a nonprofit client in Springfield that serves individuals with disabilities, called Pathlight. Janice developed stories about how the organization was transforming individual lives, and she wrote and distributed press releases to the media as well. We continue to work together. Janice does all the PR for the Jazz Festival.

What specific services did she provide for you or your clients? 

She does everything from writing website content to press releases, ads, brochures—anything that has to do with writing. She has offered her services to benefit my clients since we first connected and worked together on Pathlight projects. We have worked together for dozens of clients, on many projects.

What was the quality of Janice’s work?

Very high. Especially when it comes to press releases. She is a master at knowing the proper strategy to employ and in composing a press release that will gain attention in the media. She has relationships with some of the local editors who help gain attention as well. 

Did press releases Janice wrote for you or your clients attract attention from the media?

Yes, definitely. She is very good with getting picked up in print in The Springfield Republican, the Daily Hampshire Gazette, and BusinessWest—and also on their digital news channels. 

What value did her other content creation efforts bring to your clients?

The best example stems back to our work for Pathlight. Janice taught me the concept of repurposing content, which is very powerful in the world of marketing. In marketing, you have to repeat messages over and over again before they sink into your audience. Janice was very effective at taking a success story about a Pathlight client and repurposing it for the organization’s website, as a press release, for annual reports, and on social media. That type of repurposing is the heart of marketing.  

Who in your various audiences benefited from the work and in what ways?

Any client who had Janice write a press release for them benefitted. When that press release was picked up in the media, that turned into more tickets sold, more people showing up at an event, more buzz in the community, more volunteers and donations. When Janice’s releases get picked up, they raise awareness. 

Do you consider Janice a partner in your marketing and public relations efforts?

Yes. Janice is a trusted and reliable partner. I depend on her to guide me on what to do with a certain press concern. I can strategize with Janice, and I can trust her judgment. Why? Because she has been a newspaper reporter. She has been an editor. She knows what will interest the media and what won’t. She has incredible knowledge, judgment, and experience with the press to guide me on what to do and what not to do when it comes to a press release. She is my go-to PR person. 

The post A Client Q and A with Ruth Griggs, owner of RC Communications, and president of the Northampton Jazz Festival appeared first on Beetle Press.

I have been working with Monica Curhan, senior vice president director of marketing at Florence Bank, a local, mutually owned bank in Florence, Massachusetts. Recently, she offered some thoughts on what it’s like to work with me and what value I add to her marketing team.

What is the work or mission of your organization? 

Florence Bank is a local bank focused on providing financial services to individuals and businesses in the community through outstanding customer service.

When did you begin working with Janice, and what specific services did she provide for you? 

I believe it was in 2017. Since then, Janice has assisted us with all things public relations. She interviews stakeholders and writes blog articles, writes, and distributes press releases, invites reporters to events, and handles them at events. A long-time resident of the Pioneer Valley, Janice knows the area, and provides valuable advice on how the market and media will respond to proposed initiatives.

What was the quality of Janice’s work?

Janice’s work is of the highest quality. She gets the facts right and tells a story that leaves the reader educated, informed, and entertained. I enjoy reading her work—whether it’s a press release, a blog article, or a book.

Did press releases Janice wrote for you attract attention from the media?

Yes. In fact, I can’t think of one press release written by Janice that did not get picked up by the media. 

What value did her other content creation efforts bring to your organization?

The articles Janice wrote for our website helped us to educate and inform our customers on all sorts of financial topics. Hosting informative content articles, written by Janice, drove traffic to our website.

Who in your various audiences benefited from the work and in what ways?

The bank’s brand benefits from the positive PR Janice generates for us. Customers benefit from the information and knowledge obtained through articles Janice has written. I benefit from her insight and advice regarding potential market reaction to proposed communication.

Did staff also benefit?

Janice taught some of my staff members the basics of writing and distributing press releases. Having her advise me and assist with the bank’s public relations efforts enhances the quality of our communication. 

Do you consider Janice a partner in your marketing and public relations efforts?

Absolutely! Janice is an extension of the Florence Bank Marketing Team.

The post A Client Q and A with Monica Curhan, Senior Vice President Director of Marketing, Florence Bank appeared first on Beetle Press.

I have been working for about five years with Jody Doele, co-owner and marketing director of Thornes Marketplace, a historic and eclectic shopping center in Northampton, Massachusetts. Recently, she offered some thoughts on what it’s like to work with me and what value I add to her marketing efforts.

What is the work of your mission of your organization?

I feel like a steward of this iconic landmark, and we feel responsible for the success of the community of small business owners who are in the building. That is the essence.

What made you want to reach out to Janice for help with public relations?

I had a realization that public relations—speaking to the public about Thornes and our mission—is an important part of our marketing strategy. I had for years relied on my own marketing background to get that done, and I realized that’s not a competency I have, and there are people who have years of experience doing it. And one of those folks is Janice. 

When did you begin working with Janice, and what specific services did she provide for you? 

We started working on a structured approach to public relations efforts about five years ago. Janice writes press releases for us quarterly. People think they can write a press release, and they send it off to folks, and they get cranky when the media doesn’t pick it up. Janice knows what the media wants. One of the ways she creates value is she vets our ideas about what is going on in Thornes, and we can ask her, “Which one of those has legs from a public relations standpoint?” What I think is important might not be important to the media or the general public. 

What was the quality of Janice’s work?

She creates and delivers in such a high-quality impactful way that is not only important to us but hugely helpful. In practical terms, the money we spend working with Janice creates maybe ten times the impact in the media. Doing this work is another way of reaching your customers or your potential customers, and many traditional means of doing so are very, very expensive. Because of Janice’s pricing and the impact we saw through working with her, continuing that relationship was a no-brainer. It’s one of those easy fixes you don’t always find in marketing.

Did press releases Janice wrote for you attract attention from the media?

Yes. Having done press releases myself and throwing them out into the big, black void of the media community, I saw that Janice’s were attended to on a very different level. I get interest that day or the next day from the folks I hope will be interested. That includes television and print and online. I think the media appreciates hearing regularly from important local businesses, and they know that once a quarter, they will be hearing from Thornes. They know they’re going to get a quality communication from us.

Who in your various audiences benefited from the work and in what ways?

Clearly, Thornes as a brand benefits from the coverage, but almost equally as important is the impact the content has on our employees and the people who work here. Thornes employees benefit from knowing they work for an authentic organization. The messages getting out there are positive and community based. It’s good for employees to see that. It creates pride. Our merchants—our tenants—really appreciate the fact that we frequently highlight them at no cost to them, and they see the building in the newspaper in a positive light. It makes them feel comfortable that they made the right decision, and all their hard work is well-placed. 

Do you consider Janice a partner in Thornes’ marketing and public relations efforts?

Yes. In my relationship with Janice, she is the one leading the charge and advising me on how best to proceed. That’s another significant way that working with her has created value for me. 

The post A Client Q and A with Jody Doele, Thornes Marketplace, co-owner and marketing director appeared first on Beetle Press.