Buzzing About

You can do almost anything on social media these days – buy and sell items, plan vacations, watch the news, put together the perfect outfit, get sports scores, find out who was booted off the Bachelor, keep up with the neighborhood gossip – the list goes on and on. Social media is one of the best ways to get your message out to the public – whatever that message might be.

According to Pew Research Center, 74 percent of adults use social media networks and with so many people engaging in social media each and every day, you want to make sure you post content at the best time to reach the largest audience and gain the most interaction. So, what are the best times to post to Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest and Instagram?

As a big part of our daily routine, we’ve done a lot of research on this topic and came up with the following days and times for each platform. Thanks to research collected by CoSchedule from sources including QuickSprout, SurePayroll, The Huffington Post, Buffer, TrackMaven, Fast Company, and KISSmetrics – it is right here at our fingertips. So, let’s break it down.

FACEBOOK

Facebook is by far the most popular social media platform, with users of all ages. People utilize Facebook at work and at home, on both mobile devices and desktop computers. The best time to post on Facebook is later in the week and on weekends: 3:00 p.m. on Wednesdays, 1:00-4:00 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays, and 12:00-1:00 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Most people tend to be in a good mood going into the weekend, so Neil Patel suggests posting humorous or upbeat content to engage users on Fridays.

TWITTER

Like Facebook, people use Twitter on both mobile devices and desktop computers, both at work and at home. Most people scroll through the feed during down times such as commutes and lunch breaks, so the best times to tweet are weekdays from 12:00-3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. Short and simple, just like Twitter.

LINKEDIN

LinkedIn is mostly used by professionals in the working world, who tend to use it during the workweek. LinkedIn is used during working hours, just before the workday starts, and just after it ends, making the most optimal times for posting to be midweek from 5:00-6:00 p.m. Other ideal times include Tuesdays from 10:00-11:00 a.m., and Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 7:30-8:30 a.m., at 12:00 p.m. and from 5:00-6:00 p.m. The worst time to post on LinkedIn is during the night, between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. This is easy to remember by simply thinking about your audience.

PINTEREST

Pinterest users are most active in the evening and tend to skew heavily female. Our guess is that mothers start browsing and pinning after the kids are in bed to research their next project – birthday parties, kitchen remodel, next week’s meal plan, etc. (or maybe that is just us!). That being said, the best time to post is in the evening on any day of the week, especially Saturdays from 8:00-11:00 p.m.

INSTAGRAM

Instagram is designed for use on mobile devices, and users tend to access it all the time, any time. So, post away – whenever you like! However, it is recommended to avoid between 3:00-4:00 p.m.

We suggest adjusting post times for each platform and monitoring the engagement – some times might vary depending on the audience you are trying to reach. Social media is a science, and it just takes some tweaking to fit the needs of your message.

Looking for more tips on social media? Need help with prospecting, engaging and converting new leads? Check out this downloadable Social Media Prospecting and Lead Generation E-book.

In the fast-paced world that we live in, brands are constantly trying to grab a very distracted consumer’s attention. Just like the 70s trend of flare leg jeans and the 80s trend of parachute pants, logo design has trends that come and go. And while these trends can add excitement and freshness to your brand, remember to incorporate trends in a way that will have longevity and be true to the brand’s identity. 

Many sources for logo trend reports are available, but one of our favorites is JUST Creative. As the year progresses, more and more trend reports will surface, but we love what we’ve seen so far—an air of simplicity and reference to the past. Over the past few years, simplicity and retro design have ruled supreme in the world of logo design trends, and we aren’t sad about that. 

6 Forecasted Logo Design Trends for 2016:

1. Flat:
   Flat design has been, and will continue to be, the top style as it lends itself to an easily recognizable logo and registers the best across all media platforms. This style is simple with clean lines and little to no textures, shadows, patterns or gradients.
   
   
   

2. Handmade:
   Handmade logos use calligraphy and hand lettering in combination with other design elements to give a look that isn’t entirely handmade but also not entirely digital. These logos are excellent at showing a unique personality of a brand.
   
   
   
   
   

3. Kinetic/Dynamic:
   The kinetic or dynamic style of logo changes, yet remains the same, giving it the ability to make the consumer aware of directions and divisions of a company by breaking down the information of a brand into smaller pieces.
   
   
   
   

4.  Negative Space:
   The use of negative space in logo design creates a challenge for the consumer and communicates more than what is seen upon first glance. Logos that utilize negative space communicate more to the consumer without using numerous design elements.
   
   
   
   
   

5.  Letterstacking:
   Letterstacking is a style that breaks down words and rearranges them in a creative way. This has become a popular style for brands with long text. 
   
   
   
   

6. MonoLines:
   A type of iconography, this style uses a line that doesn’t change in thickness and resembles a wire to design the entire logo. Upon first glance, this style seems intricate; however, it is a very clean, fresh style.
   
   
   
   
   

Remember, when using a trend in your logo design, choose one that can adapt to your brand’s voice and will have longevity, like a good pair of flare leg jeans. Just like every new fashion trend isn’t suited for every person (ahem, shoulder pads), each logo design trend is not always suited for every brand. We look forward to sharing more trends as they are released from other great resources like Logo Lounge throughout the year. For examples of logos JJPR has created, visit our portfolio.

Social media is a huge part of marketing for almost every industry under the sun these days. With people of all demographics using social media to get their news, shop and share interests with friends, the highly competitive platforms can have a huge impact on your audience without you ever leaving your desk. 

But, before you embark on your social media marketing adventure, what rules do you need to keep in mind? Here are a few social media tips to help:

1.) Research, research, research

Knowing your topic is crucial. Make sure you fact check every detail in your social media content and always use credible, reliable resources that deliver current information. Keyword phrases are useful when composing messages based around the topics your audiences are interested in and searching for. 

2.) Know your audience

Being aware of who you are talking to is just as important as knowing your topic - maybe even more important. Use insights and analytics reports to build “personas” for your typical listeners based on their demographics and interests. This will help you to accurately define your voice and craft the most effective messages.

3.) Timing is everything

Using analytics reports to see when your users are online and when they’re most responsive can help you be more effective in your social media outreach. Many platforms allow you to schedule posts in advance, or use a third-party app (like HootSuite or Buffer) to schedule content for multiple platforms.

4.) Different strokes for different folks 

Once you’ve established the demographics of your audience, you can determine which social media outlets will be the most effective to get your message to them. For instance, Twitter is the more popular outlet for men, whereas women make up the majority of users on Facebook. 

5.) Interact with your fans

No one likes to talk and not be heard, and that includes your social media followers. Prepare a few standard responses to commonly asked questions, and designate a social media manager from your team that will receive alerts and promptly take action to best serve your social media goals.

Want more of the best ways to develop leads from your social media marketing?

Check out this downloadable Social Media Prospecting and Lead Generation E-book.

As 2015 comes to a close, reflecting on the portfolio of work that has been created by the JJPR team is, well, humbling. Our small but mighty team works collaboratively with some amazing clients to create smart, resourceful campaigns that ultimately help their bottom line. And that makes us smile.

So, while it was hard to narrow the list, here are our top 15 picks from 2015:

Advancing Southwest Alabama

 The future of manufacturing in the Southwest Alabama region is bright and people are taking notice. After the Southwest Alabama region received a national designation by the U.S. Department of Commerce as one of the first 12 “Manufacturing Communities in the U.S.” through the Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnerships (IMCP), JJPR was honored to name and brand this designation for our region, (IMCP didn’t quite roll off the tongue). After lots of research and development, the committee selected Advancing Southwest Alabama as the name of Southwest Alabama’s manufacturing community initiative and chose this logo to brand themselves. We also had the opportunity to develop a website to promote manufacturing successes in our region.

Publicizing the Port

We would be remiss if we didn’t include the Alabama State Port Authority on our list. Each quarter, we enjoy producing the Alabama Seaport magazine, the longest continually published Port magazine in the country, as well as producing their advertising and placing media. From expansions to new partnerships, being part of this vital economic driver for our local, regional and national economy is pretty sweet, kind of like our iced tea.

Creating Chemistry with BASF

 In mid-2015, we began working with the world’s leading chemical company, BASF, and their McIntosh, Alabama, operations. This 150-year-old company creates chemistry that enables us to enjoy many products and solutions that contribute to improving our quality of life. And we’re enjoying telling their story and the many great things they do in our community every day, from sponsoring the BASF Kids Lab at the Gulf Coast Exploreum to providing educational grants for K-12 schools in our area to enhance science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) learning.

Power it Up

This year we had the opportunity to work with Baldwin EMC, the largest electric cooperative in the state of Alabama and one of the fastest-growing electric cooperatives in the nation, on a couple of fun, creative projects that were also aimed at helping our community. We teamed up with their awesome internal marketing team to build two creative campaigns to convey the Power of Giving.

Land in Baldwin

As a Baldwin County, Alabama-based business, we are passionate about being part of projects that help drive the local economy. So we got a little giddy when we had the opportunity to create new branding and a website for the South Alabama MegaSite, a 3009-acre Certified MegaSite and Advantage Site strategically located on the I-10 aerospace and automotive corridor with easy access to the Port of Mobile, air, and rail. We know people are going to find that Baldwin County is shovel ready.

The Camellia Company

What woman in the South doesn’t swoon over beautiful heirloom children’s clothing? Well, the ladies at JJPR can easily say we loved every minute of the research and development that went into branding this new children’s clothing line that is being developed right here in the Port City by two savvy female entrepreneurs. Let’s just say if you are a fan of bonnets, monograms, and signature polos, you will go crazy over this new line.

Eventful Year for Children’s

We have a soft spot for children - that’s why our work with Children’s of Alabama is naturally one of our favorites. Helping promote and support events that benefit young patients and their families who have to travel from the Gulf Coast to Birmingham for medical treatment of serious illnesses makes this work most rewarding. From Tee Off Fore a Cure to Barn Bash and Children’s Cup Regatta to the first-ever Reel Hope Classic Fishing Tournament, we were honored to be part of these events for Children’s which exceeded expectations for support and attendance.

Celebrating Milestones

2015 marks the 20^th anniversary for Hargrove Engineers + Constructors. If there has ever been an entrepreneurial success story, this is it and we love having the opportunity to tell this story. From its humble beginnings in 1995 with two people and a big idea based out of a home office in Mobile, Alabama, Hargrove has grown to more than 1,150 team members in 11 locations throughout the U.S. Hargrove provides unparalleled service in engineering, procurement, construction management, and technical services in the industrial, commercial, and government sectors, and its mantra of “the Right People, in the Right Place, at the Right Time” results in collaborative partnerships with amazing results.

Bean-Counting Branding

Accounting definitely doesn’t have to be boring, at least that is what we decided when we had the opportunity to work on this new brand for Hieronymus CPAs, a Mobile-based accounting firm led by father and son accountants Mark and Brooks Hieronymus. Hieronymus CPAs has built their business on the same values as JJPR – a focus on providing quality customer service to local companies, small and large, with the expertise of supersize firms, all while keeping family priority.

Branding the Eastern Shore

Representing the voice of all business on the Eastern Shore, the Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce engaged us to help develop a new brand identity for the Chamber. After conducting primary and secondary research, we’ve developed a new brand for the organization as well as for their new investment program to communicate the Chamber’s identity as a service organization providing beneficial services to their members to promote business development. Additionally, the brand will help convey them as a flexible, dynamic organization promoting business, building community relationships, advocating on behalf of business, and advancing tourism and workforce development for our area. We can’t wait until they throw back the veil in early 2016 on the new brand.

Fairhope Educational Enrichment Foundation

We love a meaty research project, and we were honored when the Fairhope Educational Enrichment Foundation approached us to help gain insight through primary, quantitative research to set priorities for the Foundation’s programming and best create messaging that resonates with its audiences for strategic planning and marketing efforts.

Innovation PortAL

Our team worked with a group of visionary leaders to help develop the business plan for Innovation PortAL, a new business incubator and accelerator for the South Alabama region. We are currently working on the brand identity, so stay tuned for the reveal in 2016. In the meantime, you can learn a little more at this landing page we created at www.innovation-portal.com.

DISC for Daphne

We love when a big idea comes together, so we were pumped when the Daphne City Council approved the new Daphne Innovation and Science Complex (DISC), a 30-acre technology park that will offer high-end office space on the Eastern Shore ultimately drawing businesses that will bring thousands of high-paying jobs right here to our community. Helping build a brand identity and collateral materials to market DISC, we were excited to be part of what is anticipated to be a major catalyst for economic development in our area.

No Bodies Please

When two super-smart female entrepreneurs with healthcare credentials using every letter of the alphabet walk into your office to brand their new company, the first word that comes to mind might be intimidating. So we had to ask all the right questions and make sure we pinpointed exactly what they were looking for in their brand. Our favorite part of the kick off meeting was when they said “no bodies please” - we knew we were going to adore this client. We must have nailed it because this project for Specialized Therapy Services goes down in the books as the quickest decision ever on a branding project. These ladies know exactly what they want and we can’t wait to watch their business flourish.

Put a Tent On It

Having called on our friends John and Brad and their amazing team over at Port City Rentals countless times for client events, the tables (and tents) were turned when they called on us to develop an all-new brand for Mobile's largest and oldest full-service tent and event rental company. We die for this new look we’re putting on this 40-year-old company, and we think you will too.

We have been tremendously blessed to work with every single client and every single project this past year, not just these 15. Each one is a collaboration and for that we are grateful to be part of sharing their products and services with the world. And we can’t wait to continue those collaborations in 2016. Happy New Year!

“We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.” - Winston S. Churchill

Each day, fulfilling our clients’ needs brings us a sense of pride and accomplishment. We love what we do. And it keeps food on the table. But, in addition to our 9-5, we each try to make giving to others a priority. Not because it’s “the right thing to do,” but because it’s what makes the world go round. As 2016 approaches, we’re reflecting on 2015 with hopes that we can share more joy in the New Year.

(For Christmas this year, we made a donation to the Ronald McDonald House of Mobile in honor of our clients.)

Big Brothers Big Sisters 

We helped develop a theme for their first-ever annual “Big” campaign and walk to encourage people to join in the Big Brothers Big Sisters initiative. The theme: Start Something Big - Give One. Get One. Be One. We also helped design the T-shirt for their walk.

Camp Grace’s Yellow Day 

For the second year, we helped promote and develop materials for Camp Grace’s annual Yellow Day event, celebrating the many camps and charitable organizations that host camps at Camp Grace each year. 

Baldwin County Task Force 

JJ was appointed to a community group of engaged Baldwin County citizens charged to study the public education system and make solid recommendations to advance education in our community. The recommendations they made are now being acted upon in the school system and great progress is being made!

Children's of Alabama 

In addition to being a longtime client, JJPR sponsors several local events benefiting young patients who have to travel to Children’s of Alabama in Birmingham for medical treatment of serious illnesses. We help with their social media and PR needs to spread the word within our community. Jessica and Kelsey volunteer on the Tee Off Fore a Cure committee helping plan and implement the event. This year the 10^th annual Tee Off raised $78,000!

Kelsey also volunteered on the planning committee for the first-ever Reel Hope Classic fishing tournament, which exceeded expectations for support and attendance!

Red Shoe Society 

Leigh, Kelsey and Jessica are members of the Red Shoe Society, which is the young leaders' arm of the Ronald McDonald House Charities. The Red Shoe Society is committed to creating awareness and raising funds for the House through a variety of social and volunteer activities. In 2015, all three served on the Red Shoe Brew committee, with Leigh serving as chair and Jessica designing the logo. The team is already committed to helping with the House's largest fundraiser in 2016 - Little Black Dress.

We also chose the Ronald McDonald House of Mobile to make a contribution on our clients' behalf for Christmas this year. The JJPR team donated new bedding for a guest room and toys for Santa's Workshop, a place where parents staying at the house can come and pick up Christmas gifts for their children to open on Christmas Day. (Cue the tears.)

Community Foundation of South Alabama 

JJ serves on the board of the Community Foundation of South Alabama, which assembles and directs philanthropic assets to make southwest Alabama a better place. The entire JJPR team was instrumental in helping with their annual meeting in 2015 and 2014, including developing materials for and promoting the event.

Impact 100

Each year, JJPR assists Impact 100, an organization of women committed to making a significant, lasting difference in the lives of Baldwin County citizens, in promoting its activities including the annual membership drive and the impactful grants awarded each year to local non-profits, providing them the financial resources to accomplish extraordinary things. JJ is also giving back through her membership dues, which are used in their entirety for those awesome grants.

We’re always looking for more ways to give back. We’d love to hear your stories of giving back this past year. Let’s share the joy that is the spirit of this season and take it into 2016!

JJPR, based in Daphne, Ala., took home a total of four awards from the Southern Public Relations Federation (SPRF) Lantern Awards held Tuesday, Sept. 23, at The Grand Hotel Marriott Resort, Golf Club & Spa in Point Clear, Ala. SPRF’s Lantern Awards recognize outstanding work in the field of public relations from professionals in Alabama, northwest Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi.

JJPR received the program’s top award, the Lantern Award, for design and development of the Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance’s quarterly newsletter, Baldwin Insider Quarterly, as well as for the event planning and promotion for Yellow Day, The Movie.

“We are honored to be able to collaborate with amazing clients everyday,” said JJPR President Jennifer Jenkins, APR. “Great clients equal great work.”

JJPR’s full list of 2015 SPRF awards include:

LANTERN AWARDS
• Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance – BIQ Newsletter
• Yellow Day, The Movie – Movie Premiere

AWARD OF EXCELLENCE
• JJ Eyes – Logo Development

CERTIFICATE OF MERIT
• Children’s of Alabama – Tee Off Fore A Cure Event

The Southern Public Relations Federation is a network of public relations professionals from Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi in member organizations including the Public Relations Council of Alabama (PRCA), the Emerald Coast Public Relations Organization (ECPRO), the Public Relations Association of Louisiana (PRAL), and the Public Relations Association of Mississippi (PRAM). JJPR has been a member of the Public Relations Council of Alabama (PRCA) since the agency’s inception, and the agency’s president, Jennifer Jenkins, APR, is a past president of PRCA and president-elect of SPRF.

JJPR, based in Daphne, Ala., took home a total of four awards including a Judges’ Choice Award from the Public Relations Council of Alabama’s (PRCA) Medallion Awards held Thursday, April 2, at the Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Spa at the Convention Center. PRCA’s Medallion Awards recognize outstanding work in the field of public relations from professionals throughout the state of Alabama.

JJPR received a Judges’ Award and a Medallion Award for its event promotion for Children’s of Alabama’s Tee Off Fore A Cure. In addition, the agency received awards for its work with Yellow Day, the Movie and Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance.

“Our clients inspire us everyday, and we’re honored to be able to produce award-winning work for them,” said JJPR President Jennifer Jenkins, APR. “Our focus on client collaboration and partnership produces creativity and results for our client’s bottom line.”

JJPR’s full list of 2015 PRCA awards include:

JUDGES CHOICE AWARD & MEDALLION AWARD
• Children’s of Alabama – Tee Off Fore A Cure Event

AWARD OF EXCELLENCE
• Yellow Day, The Movie – Movie Premiere

AWARD OF MERIT
• Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance – BIQ Newsletter

The Public Relations Council of Alabama is a network of more than 500 public relations professionals with six chapters throughout Alabama. JJPR has been a member of the Public Relations Council of Alabama (PRCA) since the agency’s inception, and the agency’s president, Jennifer Jenkins, APR, is a past president of PRCA’s statewide organization as well as the PRCA Mobile chapter.

Today has been one of those crazy days, like most days – meetings, conference calls, pitching, designing, writing – you get the drift. But we were on a mission today, and that was to give our new blog a name.

Even though we have been talking about it for a while and admiring many cleverly-named ramblings, we have procrastinated as usual on dedicating time to naming the blog and promoting ourselves (our clients are always priority one.)

We had some funny ones, some absolutely terrible ones, and then we stumbled onto something… Recently while our team was managing an event for a client, one of our amazing vendors fondly coined the JJPR team “The Honeycomb.”

As he put it, a bunch of blondes (and brunettes) buzzing around, making things happen, getting it done. But he was on to something – we really are worker bees buzzing around creating a “buzz” for our clients.

Then we stumbled onto this great quote – and knew it summed up who we are and what goes on behind the scenes at JJPR.

“When you hear buzz around the beehive, you know they’re making honey in there.” - Terrence Howard

And that is how “Buzzing About” was born.