By Drew Boehmker
B
EEP BEEP! Have you heard the news? Last week Scooter Media moved to its new home at 418 West 6th Street in Covington. With “moving mania” in full swing around the office, it has become readily apparent that many of the lessons we thought about as we prepared for the big move could also be applied to the work Team Scooter does each and every day.
Lesson #1: Visualize things differently.
One of the best parts about moving into the new place has been the opportunity to see our workspace in a completely different light. We’ve found that even something as simple as rethinking the way our desks are arranged can create a radically different feel (and we’ve had a lot of fun figuring out what feels best!).
Indeed, whether you’re a recent PR graduate or a seasoned veteran, everyone in our field can benefit from the same concept of taking a step back and looking at things in a fresh and different way. Are you stumped trying to get media coverage for a new client? Take a break from pitching fast and furiously to really consider your approach. Can you target different outlets, or approach journalists another way? (PR Daily has some excellent tips on pitching via social media, for example.) Sometimes, even your tried-and-true pitching tactics can use a fresh coat of paint.
Lesson #2: Use your space effectively.
As the newest member of the Scooter Media team, I love hearing about what our current space used to look like before our team grew to what it is today. As Scooter as grown, we’ve had to forego some of the “cutesy” (if aesthetically pleasing) features of the office in order to ensure every member of the team has a space that can help them work at maximum efficiency.
The same can be said for much of your PR writing. As someone who loves creative writing, one of my biggest struggles is keeping my PR writing clear and concise while also maintaining a little bit of the style that helps to set it apart. In PR writing—much like the current office—you only have a limited amount of space, whether it’s several short paragraphs for a pitch or 140 characters for a tweet. With that in mind, you should constantly be evaluating whether you are making the space you do have work for you in the best way possible.
Lesson #3: Declutter, declutter, declutter.
As a dedicated Hoarders watcher, my personal favorite part of the move is the opportunity to clean out our desks and get rid of all the things that we don’t need to take to the new place. We’ve all got them—those things we allow to sit in our drawers forever even though we know they no longer serve any real purpose. Sometimes it takes a move to really look at things individually and cast off the clutter.
The same is true for your PR plans and social media strategies. Is there any “clutter” that you can eliminate? Are there things you do out of habit that aren’t driving the kind of results you need? Especially when it comes to social media, it’s always good to be evaluating whether you actually need to be on all of the platforms your brand is using. At best it frees extra time in your busy day; at worst it makes you realize the time can be better spent on another platform. Get rid of the things that aren’t serving you, and you just might find the time to devote to even better activities.
Lesson #4: Don’t be afraid to call in help for the heavy lifting.
Probably the most fun part of the move so far has been the team spirit occurring throughout the office. Yes, we’re all PR professionals, but when it comes down to it every single member of our team is right there together, rolling up our sleeves and getting paint on the walls.
In the same vein, as PR pros we shouldn’t be afraid to ask for help when it is necessary. Sometimes asking your team for advice can help you see things in a new light (see #1 above), or assist with the research you need to hammer out a successful pitch or media relations campaign.
Ultimately, while moving isn’t always the most fun thing to think about or coordinate, it certainly helps to shake things up a bit and will definitely cause you to see things in a new way.
