Five Things You Learn From Working In PR (+ The Inspirational Blogger Award!)

Here’s the thing: Unlike most bloggers you know, I started blogging in 2010 kind of out of boredom. That’s right, boredom (and a dash of Marketing savvy–but it was mostly boredom)

The six months that I spent as a PR intern at a local marketing agency in 2010 had me, among other things, research opportunities for our clients.

AND AS A RESULT OF THAT ^^WORK^^ I LEARNED A FEW THINGS:

1. All those product “recommendations” in magazines (e.g., “Product XYZ is awesome for split ends”  or “Oscar winner Jane Doe wears Mascara Y”) are actually paid spots. They don’t cost as much as an ad, but a LOT of work nevertheless went into making sure that that product got that specific mention. (For some clients, it was my job to ensure that a certain product got specific mentions.)

2. The blogosphere hasn’t been around for that long: I also know this because I had to research them [you?] all!) But the thing that I started to notice was that there wasn’t much tailored to Latinas like yours truly. And by “much” I mean “nothing.” As in, Latina magazine was pretty much it.

(Shameless plug: This job also taught me more than you could imagine to launch our successful natural soap business, Calantha Organics, btw!)

3) PR is fun: The quicker I got my work done, the more time I had to research more and more blogs, which helped to combat the boredom that arose from working so efficiently quickly.

4) PR = dinero: People get paid with/and/or free stuff to write about that stuff. Who DOESN’T want to be a part of that?

5) There was a niche that needed some filling: Clearly, I needed to jump on the bandwagon b/c I wanted free stuff and I had valuable things to say!

And jumping on the bandwagon I did! It wasn’t for the numbers or the fame (though those can become tedious/fun–depending on your perpective). Rather, it was to inspire fellow Latinas like me–Latinas who didn’t have a Hispanic college student who wanted to make something of herself to look up to. Because let’s face it, how many college-attending Latinas do YOU know? My point exactly.

So I started blogging. That first year was SLOW. (I had a job, school, plus a thesis to work on!) But I kept at it, because I knew (yay for stats!) that several someones out there were reading, coming back, and hopefully enjoying what I had to say.

Fast-forward around three years, when dear blogger (and blog-friend) Megan from Just A Small Town Girl calls knocking (figuratively) to nominate me (ME!) for…

THE VERY INSPIRING BLOGGER AWARD!

So, GRACIAS, Megan for your sweet nomination (everyone: see it below), because it means the world that you see me as inspiring.

This smart lady aspires to get her doctorate. If that’s not inspiring enough, she’s also very proud of her heritage and culture and defends it from negative stereotypes-Megan

I mean, I could tell y’all and brag about my being something, but then when someone else says it, it’s beyond friggin spectacular :).

And while we’re at it, Megan, you’re the kind of person that a lot of bloggers should aspire to become. Your desire to live as un-frivolously as possible is admirable, your anecdotes are actually funny (without you ever calling yourself a “funny blogger”), and your down-to-earth-small-town approach to life is very cool, too.

NOW FOR MY TASKS AN OFFICIAL NOMINEE, AKA “THE RULES”:
(Thanks, Megan, for the list, too, btw.) 

A. DISPLAY AWARD LOGO on your blog/post. >> √ Check!


B. STATE SEVEN THINGS about yourself. >> How about 25+? Woot woot! Learn more about me via my ABCs.

C. NOMINATE 15 BLOGGERS for this award and link back to them.
 >> I’ll go ahead and nominate eight instead–how about that? I’m fortunate to consider these all good blog friends with whom I share things that I don’t actually share w/my real-life “friends.” (#bloggerproblems?) They’re all really sweet ladies and I encourage you get to know them all!
     1. Hannah from Wonderfully Sewn: She’s in HIGH SCHOOL and knows more about life, God, and what truly matters than most “twenty-something”s and adults I know. She’s a sweetheart, a good role model, and so modest.
     2. Samantha from Hooah And Hiccups: She’s an Army wife (who I occasionally thank for her and her husband’s service to our country), has a beautiful son, and is pregnant with a girl. As someone who always wanted a big brother and who’d LOVE to have a boy before a girl, this last part’s made me a bit envious. (But the good kind! I can’t wait to meet mini-Samantha Georgia Peach>>long story.)
     3. Alex from Let Life Be Like Music: She inspired me to actually LEAVE Facebook, you guys! And it feels so good! (If you’ve been looking into getting rid of it, look no further, b/c she can help!) Everyone can definitely learn something from someone who willingly gave up an invention that’s essentially not contributing much to society.
     4. Tanya from Adventures of A Misfit Librarian: Her stories about her coworker from hell (which she refers to as Julia)’s antics will make you wish you worked at a library–or maybe not :). Plus, she always posts really cool songs that are guaranteed to get stuck in your head as well.
     5. Courtney from Exodus31Three: She’s a blogger full of all-around feel-good anecdotes whose husband was recently ordained a pastor. She’s also pregnant w/their first child, and together they love their fur babies to death. Just my type of person.
     6. Amy Charming from The Charming Blog: Charming name aside, Amy’s stories are also the kind of inspiring, feel-good reads you didn’t think you needed until you get through with them. She’s also Catholic (Catholics in blogland are rare, which is why I’m a fan of hers), prepping for a new home, and founder of a kick-butt blog-related empire. >> You’ll know what I mean if you check out her blog. 
     7. Kelsey from Stories of Kel: Kelsey’s the gal you wish you could become good friends with and lucky for me, she lives like ten minutes away from mi casa. She’s so-down-to-earth and the complete opposite of the pretentious bloggers that abound in blogland, which is very refreshing.

     8. Alesha from lifeology: Last but not least is another SLC doll with an adorable six-month-old mini doll and a firefighter husband. In light of the tragedy with the 19 firefighters in AZ, I remember commenting on an unrelated post and thanking her and her husband for their sacrifice and his service. Because that’s what these servicemen and women (and their families) deserve: Our undivided appreciation.

NOW CHECK THEM ALL OUT (PRETTY POR FAVOR), ENJOY, AND HAVE A BEAUTIFUL WEEK, LOVES!

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