Business Archives - The Oklahoma 100

Live Stream Your Message to Engage Audiences

Downtown Oklahoma City live streamed the Dean A. McGee Awards, the premier annual downtown leadership event.

All organizations need an audience. Whether you’re selling products or services, or are a nonprofit or religious group, without people, you have no audience.

Live streaming is an excellent way to engage your audience with your unfiltered message. The anticipation generates buzz that excites people. Research finds live video generates 10 times as many comments as on-demand video. Cisco reports mobile video is expected to grow 62% by 2020.

Businesses are concluding that live streaming helps their bottom line, due to reaching broader and more engaged audiences. This trend isn’t slowing down, only rising in popularity. Lights! Camera! Action!

Father’s Day Gift Guide

No matter what type of dad you have, here are five gift ideas guaranteed to make him smile.

What do you get the dad who has everything? Amazon, the world’s favorite online store, has perfect Father’s Day gifts guaranteed to win dad’s approval.

Dapper Dad – Signature Parker Fountain Pen for the sophisticated father.

DIY Dad – Upgrade your handy dad’s tool kit with the brushless motor Dewalt Compact Drill and Driver combo kit.

The Culinarian – ChefSteps Joule Sous Vide. You’re welcome.

Renaissance Dad – The Echo Dot and iRobot Roomba 980 are must-have gifts for anyone (but especially your “cool” dad).

Go with the Flow Dad – You can’t beat the classic gift card.

Check out the full list here.

technology

Sprint’s Family Summer Survival Guide

Use the summer months to teach your kids about safety on their mobile devices.

Now that school has ended and parents are starting to panic about what to do with the kids this summer, it is the perfect time to talk about technology responsibility with your tweens and teens.

Sprint employees can show parents how to set controls on their accounts to monitor cellphone and data usage – giving parents peace of mind!

Covering your devices with screen protectors will help shield them from messy fingers and accidental drops. Planning a family road trip? Better grab some Beats headphones for the teens. This way, they can listen to their music and you can enjoy yours!

– Taylor Ketchum, Jones PR

AARGH! Moving Beyond Crisis in Business

Only 54% of companies in a Burson-Marsteller study had a crisis plan in place, yet 80% of business leaders felt they would experience a crisis at some point.

There are dozens of examples of how *not* to react in crises. United Airlines’ recent fiasco is just one such example. The reality is that PR can help you navigate these turbulent waters and keep the ship afloat. Transparency and responses that align with company philosophy and reputation are at the foundation of crisis management.

I use the AARGH theory to maneuver through these situations: Assess, Activate Plan, Respond, Gauge Reaction, Heighten Response. It’s about telling YOUR story, telling the truth and telling it first. You have a better chance of coming away with lessons learned, rather than business lost.

– Jane Dvorak, The Colorado 100

Governors Toast Capitol’s 100th Birthday

Five Oklahoma governors spoke at a gala at the Oklahoma History Center, which kicked off the Centennial Celebration of the State Capitol building. Pictured from left are Governors David Walters, George Nigh, Mary Fallin, Brad Henry and Frank Keating. (Photo by Vicki Clark, OKC FRIDAY)

Another fabulous celebration orchestrated by OK Events Lee Allan Smith brought together five Oklahoma governors to celebrate the State Capitol’s 100^th birthday. The gala, which was held at the Oklahoma History Center with a magnificent backdrop of the Capitol, helped raise money for art to be installed in the renovated Capitol.

Joining the governors were two Miss Americas, Jane Jayroe Gamble and Lauren Nelson; “America’s Songwriter” Jimmy Webb, and rising star Olivia Kay. Former Gov. David Boren was unable to attend due to recovering from heart surgery. Festivities concluded with a firework show and a rousing rendition of “Oklahoma.”

CEO Kevin Stitt: the Gateway Advantage

After Kevin Stitt graduated from Oklahoma State University, he entered the mortgage business and decided to pursue an entrepreneurial venture. With only a computer and $1,000 dollars, Stitt began Gateway Mortgage Group in the state of Oklahoma.

Today, Gateway buys, originates and services home loans in 38 states across the nation. What’s Gateway’s driving mission? To strengthen families and to passionately serve the 80,000+ individuals a month through the company’s servicing operation.

Stitt proudly proclaims that he believes Oklahoma is the best place to start a business in the country.

Learn more about Kevin Stitt and Gateway here.

Fidget Spinners: the New Fad

Fidget Spinners are the latest toy sensation and they're now taking over classrooms and offices everywhere.

A big question on everyone’s mind right now: what are these “fidget spinners” and why all the hype?

The toy itself is simple, yet has become a viral sensation. These pocket-sized gadgets are designed with the intent to relieve stress by flicking the paddle-shaped blades while squeezing down on the center core, spinning the blades.

Some claim that fidget spinners also help improve focus by allowing you to do what you normally try not to do: fidget. Though others deem the toy itself a major distraction — you can be the judge after you take it for a spin.

– Christian Franklin, Jones PR

Reframing to Persuade

Frame your argument thoughtfully if you want people to pay attention.

Convincing someone to see things your way is more complex than you might think. In fact, neuroscientists and social psychologists have long asserted that people alter facts to align with their preconceived beliefs.

According to George Lakoff, retired UC Berkeley professor of cognitive science and linguistics, if you want to create messages to persuade, you have to understand other worldviews, and facts and rational debate have less value than you’d think. We can use this when seeking to persuade.

Arguing from our worldview can cause others to dig in and defend their position. Seek understanding, then frame your argument accordingly.

– Lisa Cutter, The Colorado 100

CEO Kevin Stitt: Growing Stronger Communities

Founded by J. Kevin Stitt in 2000, Gateway Mortgage Group has grown to become one of the largest privately held mortgage companies in the country.

In January 2000, Kevin Stitt established Gateway Mortgage Group to pursue his passion for helping families and communities grow stronger through home ownership.

Today, Gateway Mortgage Group has expanded its footprint beyond Oklahoma and has established itself as one of the nation’s largest privately held mortgage companies with over 135 offices in 35 states.

What is Kevin’s key to success? Never forget the reason you started – your original vision. Gateway (and Kevin) remain community-focused by providing financing for homes, creating more jobs and making a difference through local and national leadership.

Learn more about Kevin Stitt and Gateway here.

Education

Oklahoma Job Market Looking Good for College Grads

The Oklahoma job market remains strong for graduating college students.

The Oklahoma job market is on the rise for college graduates. Oklahoma Works predicts the job market will have 3,000 openings in business and more than 11,000 in nursing in the state in the next eight years, while a majority of Oklahoma college graduates are graduating with either a degree in business or nursing, according to NewsOK.

These high-demand occupations are just two of 100 listed by Oklahoma Works, and the hourly wages for these jobs varies between $12.73 to $93.86. Oklahoma’s job market was rated in the top 20 for college graduates by ZipRecruiter.

– Page Jones, Jones PR

technology

Tulsa Company Offers Crowdfunding Platform for Startups

Small businesses comprise over half of our economy and 60 percent of new job growth, yet young entrepreneurs often face obstacles in raising capital.

Forbes magazine recently ranked Tulsa the #1 Best City for Young Entrepreneurs, yet raising capital is a common obstacle for entrepreneurs trying to expand a small business.

Tulsa-based Momentum3 has partnered with New York-based GrowthFountain to launch Momentum3Growth, a crowdfunding platform designed specifically for profitable technology startups. Before Momentum3Growth, there was little help for founder-only companies that may not have employees yet, but have revenue and a successful business model.

With over 750,000 members, GrowthFountain has expanded Momentum3’s services by exposing its companies to potential investors, which increases the probability of funding success for young startups.

Economic Impact of Drilling in Oklahoma

The oil industry is important to Oklahoma, but do you know the real economic impact of drilling in green country?

Oklahomans know that the oil industry has a significant impact on our state, but do you know just how big that impact really is?

Check out what one rig operating fully for one year does for our state:

• Supports 681 jobs

• Drives $195.6 million in economic activity

• Spawns $4.2 million in local and state taxes

Impressed? Multiply those numbers by 123 – the number of active horizontal long lateral rigs operating in Oklahoma as you read this.

Thanks to the Oklahoma Oil & Gas Association for commissioning the study to discover the economic impact of drilling in our great state.

– Kelly Hughes, Jones PR

public relations

Influencer Marketing: How to Do It Right

Research, commit, invest

It’s quite the buzzword around the world, but does influencer marketing work? If done right, it certainly can, but if done wrong, it’ll see you burning through cash with little to no return.

– Research – don’t only look at social influencers’ follower counts – find out their passions and interests, and check who their followers are too!

– Commit – this isn’t a hit-and-run exercise – be in it for the long haul to reap long-term returns.

– Invest – recognize the right influencer’s value by rewarding – payment, privileges and perks!

Done right, influencer marketing can create customers who create customers. Now that’s influence!

– Tara Rogers-Ellis, The Dubai 100

Wicked Good 100

The Right Media Hit Isn’t Always the Most Comfortable

Take each media hit and evaluate its effectiveness. Although not all of them will be your ideal hit, most still help to build lasting relationships with the media.

My company has been in business for 15 years and with that tenure we’ve garnered some great media hits – People Magazine, the Today show, Sports Illustrated, etc. What I’ve realized is that in some cases clients push back on certain opportunities because they believe the topic or outlet doesn’t highlight their product or service directly.

Although this might be true, we have to think big picture. The reason the client is being chosen is because they are seen as an expert. By doing such interviews, it’s likely the media contact will seek your opinion over others’ for future media opportunities.

– Tara Frier, The Boston 100

Triggers Changing Marketing Model

Businesses must learn to adapt their marketing models to reach the right people with the right messages.

Businesses must adapt their marketing models to stay relevant in reaching their audiences with the right messages. At PROI Worldwide’s Global Summit in Sydney, Dr. Georg Kolb of Munich discussed three triggers:

Networking in the new model is connecting people by data. One-to-one communications remain essential, but now through technology. Second, analytics provide the tool for relevancy of audience and messaging.

Third is content marketing. Businesses must touch consumers at every channel through integration and storytelling. Jones PR represented Oklahoma at the Summit, and PROI Worldwide is ranked the sixth-largest global independent network by The Holmes Report.

Writing Skills You Need In a Crisis

A crisis cannot be successfully handled without a capable writer.

When managing a crisis, the first thing you need is a solid writer. They must be able to impart empathy, honesty and relatability in a few paragraphs.

During a crisis, you’ll be deploying messages across multiple channels – CEO statements, social media posts and internal employee emails. Good writing is the crux of these. Here are three things your writer must know.

1. The real reason for the crisis. If your writer doesn’t have all the facts, the writing could gloss over, or completely ignore, crucial issues.

2. The ability to convey true empathy.

3. Brevity. There’s always lots to explain.

– Natalie Ghidotti, Ghidotti Communications

Big Data Drives Business Decisions

Big data is only getting bigger in the world of business.

Access to big data is becoming increasingly available due to more connected technologies, and critical to businesses to stay a step ahead to survive.

Based on the success our agency is having with using data for our clients to drive decisions, I was invited to speak at an international conference on Data, Analytics and Performance Measurement, and will be joined onstage with experts from LexisNexis, London, Sydney, Paris and Singapore.

It is always an honor for Oklahoma to be recognized as a leader in any industry, and in the data technology area, it is a profound statement on Oklahoma’s workforce.

Best Advice from QuikTrip Co-Founder Burt Holmes

Burt Holmes convinced a former junior high school classmate, Chester Cadieux, to invest in and operate the store they decided to call QuikTrip. Burt and Chester opened the first QuikTrip on Sept. 25, 1958, in Tulsa. (Tom Baddley/Flickr)

When Burt Holmes worked for his father, he said, “You take care of your business, and it will take care of you.” Holmes shares more advice he used in his own business in an interview with Tulsa World.

Know your shortcomings. “I need to be surrounded by good accounting people. I am not good at that.”

Know people. “I know a lot of people, and I know a lot about a lot of people. That’s a strength.”

People make the deal. “You can have the greatest concept in the world … but if you don’t have the people, you won’t win.”

– Page Jones, Jones PR

Communications Is the Conduit to Rebuild Trust

Three out of four respondents agree a company can take actions to both increase profits, and improve economic and social conditions in the community where it operates.

Trust in business can be difficult to come by, and per the 2017 Edelman Trust Barometer, the general population’s trust in business, government, NGOs and media has rapidly declined recently.

Trust in business dropped in 18 countries and credibility of leadership roles dropped to an all-time low of 37 percent.

To maintain trust with clients, businesses must keep consistent, reliable, open communications. By directly addressing issues you can instill trust and loyalty in your audience that you have their best interests at heart.

When it comes to public relations, upholding the principles of ethics is a key trust builder.

– Jane Dvorak, SLJ 100 Communications

Working From Home … Efficiently!

Working from home has its perks, but don't let your comfortable surroundings get in the way of productivity.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly 25% of all employed Americans do some or all their work from home.

It has its bonuses: low overhead, no commute, flexible schedule and reduced daycare costs. However, at-home employees can get distracted by household tasks, procrastinate and lack creative collaborations.

Tips for at-home efficiency:

• Develop and follow a timed schedule

• Schedule household tasks on breaks

• Pack a lunch so you don’t overindulge

• Schedule conference calls regularly with co-workers/clients/vendors

• Create a real office space

Follow these directives and you’ll optimize your workload from the comfort of home.

– Margrette Mondillo, Goodwin Group PR

Digital Age

Why You Need to Invest in Video Marketing in 2017

Utilizing high-end marketing messaging with great videographers may be the key to success in 2017.

Last year truly exhibited the power of video. Who hasn’t seen the viral success of videos like “Chewbacca Mask Mom” or Tasty videos? These are perfect examples of how good content gets watched and shared. It’s vital for businesses to incorporate video into their marketing strategies.

“People connect with video, especially if it’s presented in a way that’s authentic,” said videographer Jeff Dailey. “Video marketing should tap into how a product or service impacts real people and then demonstrate that through video narratives.”

As more companies use video as a marketing strategy, it’ll be important to start with great content.

– Natalie Ghidotti, Ghidotti Communications

Giving Back to Your Profession

Brenda Barwick, APR, met with University of Maryland’s faculty and students as the outside evaluation team for certification of its public relations academic program.

It is an honor when your industry’s national association asks you to review university programs to certify they are on par with how the profession is evolving. Public Relations Society of America has a Certification in Education for Public Relations program for studies in public relations at universities worldwide.

The program was established in 1989 and as of today, 42 schools are certified, and they must recertify every six years. If offered the opportunity, I encourage business leaders to spend time with faculty and students who will fill your shoes someday. You will be invigorated and hopeful for your industry.