• What I Learned at Boulder PR Firm Matter Communications

    “Wow, this place was awarded among ‘Best Places to Work’ five times in a row, TOO!?” I thought to myself as I applied for a position at Matter a little over three months ago. Could I really begin my Public Relations career at my dream agency? Coming out as a college graduate, it’s hard to be too picky when it comes to your first real job – but if I could have picked a place to start, it was Matter Communications.

    Lo and behold – three months later, I can now reflect back on my amazing time here at Matter and all that I have experienced in a short amount of time. Here are a few things that I believe set Matter apart from the pack:

    The People

    I never knew it was possible to feel like you know someone without ever having met them – especially in an agency that has five separate offices across three different time zones. While it’s different when it comes to coordinating schedules, it’s awesome to be able to have such a large company, yet feel so close to your teams. Our new Boulder office has already had many visitors come through from other offices – something that’s encouraged and practiced throughout the year among all the offices.

    The Culture

    While the Boulder office is still brand new and people who moved here from our main office in Newburyport are still adjusting to new life, we still make it a point to have fun and relieve stress whenever we can. Grabbing dinner and drinks after a long work day? Yep! Going to a Broncos game? You bet! Skydiving?? Okay, not skydiving. But, maybe one day…

    The Knowledge

    The amount of experience and pure skill that everyone possesses at Matter, whether having 15 years of experience or 1, is remarkable. Everyone just has those special qualities you need to be successful not only in a public relations, but in an agency. You can rest easy knowing that everyone around you is great at what they do, and can count on the expertise of your colleagues to be dependable and rock-solid – things I think that’s that makes Matter stand out.

    Can you ever truly be ready for life in the real world? Maybe. But being a part of a company that genuinely cares for its clients and employees in ways that I didn’t think were possible before I started working here, as well as being around great people, definitely helps to adjust. It’s been awesome seeing this company grow just in the short time I’ve been here, and I’m excited to be on this ride to see where it goes.

    Matter

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  • The Chronicles of Boulder PR

    On May 6, Matter Communications announced that it would open a new office in Boulder, Colorado. The tech, the startups, the passion for entrepreneurialism – what wasn’t to love? There is certainly a kinship between the People’s Republic and Matter’s headquarters in Massachusetts, so the announcement was met with excitement about what was to come.

    But wait, that was just a little over three months ago. What exactly has happened in that time? The short version: a lot. The long (and much more interesting) version:

    1. We socialized.

    When we said we wanted to be part of the community, we meant it. Less than a week after Matter shared the news of the soon-to-be Rocky Mountain office, we went to Boulder Startup Week, an event that celebrates the entrepreneurial spirit and provides resources to people looking to get into the startup scene. Our CEO, Scott Signore, spoke at Startup Stories about what inspired him to start his own company; we chatted with people at the job fair about who we are, what we do and how they could be a part of it; and we came away with one clear observation: Boulder is a place of enthusiastic, welcoming people.

    We also took our socializing to the digital world! We’ve had fun sharing the daily happenings of our office and spreading the word about local events on Twitter and Instagram – whether it’s in person or online, we love to connect!

    2. We moved.

    By June, a couple of members from the Newburyport team (myself included) relocated to Boulder, and we brought on a few more folks as well. And with that, the office was up and running and we had made downtown Boulder our home (1135 Pearl Street, Suite 203 to be exact). Before long, the larger culture of Matter began seeding its way into the Boulder office: team bonding activities, summer Fridays, and all the other perks Matter is known for.

    3. We worked.

    But of course, we came out here with a purpose: to work with local startups and support their PR goals. And we’re proud to say that even in our short time here, we’ve done just that. A few of the local companies – and stellar brands in the high tech space – that we’ve started working with include:

    • MobileDay: MobileDay is the creator of the one-touch conference call dialing app. If you’ve ever stumbled through the process of joining a call because you couldn’t remember which PIN to enter or you misdialed the number (in other words, what happens almost every time you join a conference call), MobileDay’s got you covered. Our first task was to help the company share the news that its app passed the 10 million call threshold, an indication that – like it or not – conference calls are on the rise, and people need a tool to eliminate the tediousness of the process.
    • JumpCloud: JumpCloud is the first Directory-as-a-Service®, securely managing and connecting employee identities to their IT devices, applications, and networks. The company has had a busy month, announcing the integration of Google Apps into its directory and the release of its RADIUS-as-a-Service (RaaS) solution, so companies can easily and quickly control and secure WiFi access. From local press like BizWest to tech trades like Network World, we’ve talked to them all about the effort JumpCloud is putting into making workplace security easy and manageable.
    • Stay Tuned for More: We’re networking like crazy and what we’ve learned is that there’s a real need for great PR work here in Boulder…something we’re excited to deliver on over the coming months and years!

    Needless to say, it’s been an exciting first few months here in Boulder, and the city is living up to those initial impressions we gathered following Startup Week. We work with companies that are passionate about what they do, and that combined with the energy of Pearl Street (and not to mention the incredible food), are sure to make the next few months just as interesting.

    Matter

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  • Week One: Another Kind of Internship at a Boulder PR Agency

    I have to admit that on the first day of my internship at Matter Communications I had some major jitters. I had no idea what to expect, and all I knew about PR, or account management in general, were the shady antics that Pete Campbell conducted on “Mad Men.”

    Having been a journalist with two internships under my belt, I knew I could handle the craziness that is a newsroom and crank articles out with an editor breathing down my neck. What I didn’t know was if I could handle the type of assignments that would be thrown my way at a PR agency. When asked to picture what an account associate did all day before this internship, all I could conjure up in my head were images of endless phone calls and an out of control office that was filled with people looking like they needed a nice long vacation.

    Fast forward to the end of my first week. Yes, phone calls were made, but to my surprise the office was, and is, a level-headed environment. Mind you this was just my first day, and I couldn’t help thinking that the calm was a fluke. As the week went by, I started to get more comfortable and settle in. I helped my team with research, which was something I did a lot as a reporter, and began to learn about key PR tools, like press releases, media lists, awards and editorial calendars.  Prior to this internship, the only contact that I had with the PR world was a constant flood of press releases in my inbox. What I‘m beginning to see is the amount of work that goes into writing a press release before it is ever sent.

    I have to give the PR world props; the energy in the office is great, and I learn so much just by listening to the conversations that happen around me. My coworkers, although passionate at times, are super helpful, nice and down to earth, and it’s great to see that they love the work they do. I’ve also found that data is prolific, and that’s something I want to learn more about. And, of course, I can’t wait to start learning how to manage accounts and even – gasp – pitch reporters.

    With about two weeks under my belt, I know that I still have a lot to learn, but I’m excited to continue this journey. My honest review? It’s different, but in the best way possible. Plus, no one has tried to poach a client from one another – the “Mad Men” fantasies have been put to rest.

     

    Matter

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  • 7 Life Lessons Learned in PR

    7 Life Lessons Learned in PR

    Tomorrow marks my 120th day working at PR Agency, Matter Communications. While they may seem like the fastest four months of my life, they also have been the most valuable. Working in public relations teaches you many things, some of which are important life lessons that will serve you both in your professional career and in everyday life.

    Here are seven life lessons I have learned in my first job in PR.

    1. If you’re going to have one exceptional trait, be reliable.
    I have come to realize that it is very easy to commit to something, yet not as easy to follow through. Whether it’s a deliverable to a client, or a simple response to an urgent email, being reliable is something that people remember. To be cliché, actions truly do speak louder than words, so make your actions heard.

    2. When you have something to say, say it.
    The importance of participation is drilled into us from elementary school through lecture classes in college. Raise your hand, participate and provide thoughtful input, for you never know how rewarding it might be for both yourself, and your team. Participation equals engagement, which shows your team you care about the matter at hand. And if you have a question-don’t be afraid to ask it because more likely than not, the person you’re asking will have asked them before.

    3. Words “matter”.
    Whether you’re writing an article or drafting a twitter calendar, your word choice is very important. Your choice of verbiage can make or break the message that you’re intending to send, so choose carefully. Read and re-read what you’ve written. If you aren’t sure you’ve nailed it, have a trusted colleague review.

    4. Embrace criticism.
    I was told in order to work in PR you must be thick-skinned. While I’ve found this is true, I’ve honed my skills as an Account Coordinator from gathering honest feedback and being open-minded to constructive criticism. It is important to your professional development to get rid of bad habits now, so they don’t continue to haunt you in the future.

    5. Have confidence in everything you do.
    This is something particularly hard when you’ve just started working at a new job. It’s time to silence that voice in your head that is telling you that you will fail. As soon as I started gaining the confidence to voice my opinions in team meetings, send important reports to a client, and share work that I had written, I noticed that it came with less errors and more positive feedback.

    6. People are mostly nice.
    There will be days that you send out the perfect pitch and reporters come flocking, and there will be days when you receive that nasty “not interested” one-liner. I have come to notice that the generous and appreciative responses you do receive, often outweigh the bad ones. You will find that people don’t necessarily fall into the stereotype you would assume (in a good way.)

    7. Having fun is important.
    It’s easy to get caught up in the world of meetings and deadlines, but it is essential to take time for yourself and laugh a little. Taking a yoga class with your colleagues or going out for a coffee break with a teammate can really make a difference in your day, while improving your work and uplifting your attitude.

    What’s the best life lesson you’ve learned working in PR?

    Kate Duchaney

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  • 4 Tips for Getting Work Done – Anywhere

    Here at Matter, our team of 80 plus employees works out of four main offices: the Newburyport headquarters, Boston, Providence and Portland, Oregon. In addition to those four offices, we also have other small offices that team members work out of, and we all share the need to occasionally work from home, especially since most of us are located in New England and road conditions can be dicey during the Winter months (is it Spring yet?). Furthermore, working in the public relations industry often means traveling for client events, tradeshows and media briefings, meaning almost any spot during those trips might be your desk for a short amount of time – your hotel room, a cab, a coffee shop, your lap. I personally work out of both the Matter Newburyport and Boston offices, and lately, I have been thinking about what makes a remote work environment conducive to, well… work.

    Outlined below are several tips I find helpful to keep in mind for successfully working remotely.

    1. Bring your office essentials. First of all, don’t make a “rookie mistake” and forget your laptop charger or your phone charger. Leaving these at your permanent office or at home can mean falling out of communication with colleagues and clients. But this tip is also about identifying what makes you personally effective at doing your best work and making that work-enabling environment a reality. If you usually keep snacks at your permanent desk (guilty) bring them to your remote work location; if you like your desk area really clean (oops, guilty again), bring disinfectant wipes.
    2. Don’t fall into an email vortex. When I’m up in Newburyport, I like to walk around the office to have face-to-face conversations with my colleagues, not only because I genuinely enjoy chatting with coworkers and it’s nice to stop sitting for a while, but also because this often makes for higher quality, clearer discussions than phone and email allow for. This isn’t always possible when you’re working remotely, so if you can, check in with colleagues via phone instead of sending emails all day.
    3. Don’t forget to put some clothes on. What? OK, this may sound like a given, but what I mean is, look the part. Just because you’re alone in your house on a snowy day or in a hotel room during a trip doesn’t mean you shouldn’t put your best face forward. In fact, I’m a firm believer in starting the day the exact same way every weekday. By treating it like any other work day, you’ll feel ready for a hard day’s work and confident about your professional self.
    4. Remember it’s often a privilege (unless it’s your only option) to work remotely. Everyone has trouble mustering motivation at different points in their career or on any given day. But it’s important to keep in mind that being able to work out of a location that’s more convenient for you (and perhaps less convenient for your colleagues or employer) is a nice perk. This means it’s essential to work just as hard, if not harder than you do on a typical day. Doing so boosts trust among colleagues and managers and helps ensure you maintain this privilege going forward. Win-win, right?

    Do you have any advice for working remotely? And what type of environment do you find most conducive to hard work? Tell us in the comments below!

    Matter

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  • Great Places to Work Matter

    Matter Communications was named among the Boston Business Journal’s 2012 “Best Places to Work.” That’s a big deal to us, because our employees nominated the company, and it was their surveys that won us the honor. We all work hard and also take the time to make our work environment supportive, creative and fun! There was plenty to see at the BBJ’s breakfast honoring all the winners: (more…)

    Tim Bradley

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  • The Subtleties of a Good Job

    Now that we’ve turned the calendar into the month of October, we also are kicking off the fall season. It’s somewhat bittersweet to open the fall, as it signals the end to summer here in Newburyport, but on the plus side there isn’t much that beats a walk through the town center as the leaves are changing. (more…)

    Matter

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  • Down to the Wire

    Thoughtful preparation months in advance. Planning phone calls with the client. Carefully crafted press releases and pitches. Emails filled with logistics. No matter how much preparation – whether it’s for a two hour media event, two day media tour or week long trade show – events always seems to come down to the last minute. Events are a crucial part of what we do in the PR industry and a great way to raise our client’s profile in a big way. But even the best planned events have their way of bringing on the stress and down-to-the-wire rush. (more…)

    Matter

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