Ho Ho Ho...Holiday Havoc Destinations

1. Celebration in the Oaks- This light exhibit will be sure to dazzle your eyes all the while enjoying a stroll through the Botanical Gardens, amusement park rides, and live music.
2. Street Car down St. Charles Ave.- Truly experience New Orleans during Christmas by riding the street car to gaze at beautiful houses that line the avenue draped in twinkling lights.
3. The Roosevelt Hotel- Enjoy one of the most famous hotels in New Orleans by walking through the block long lobby that instantly creates a glowing winter wonderland. 

Ho Ho Ho...Holiday Havoc Gift Guide Part 2

1. MCRN Bar- This online sweets boutique offers a macaroon of the month club. Makes a unique gift with different flavored macaroons delivered directly to all the foodies on your gift list.
2. Martin Wine Cellar- You can never have enough wine & bubbly for all the festive occasions this season - makes the perfect hostess gift. 
3. Box Paper Scissor- Designer journals, customizable stationary, art books & tech accessories - great for the discerning, hard-to-buy-for friend.

Ho Ho Ho...Holiday Havoc Entertaining

1. RioMar Seafood - Eat, drink, and be merry! A fresh, Latin twist on your seafood favorites - also offering a prix fixe Holiday Menu (3 courses + lagniappe = $45).
2. The Kupcake Factory - Cupcakes and cakes to complete any holiday meal! No holiday party is complete without sweets and there's always room for dessert. 
3. Bouligny Tavern - Perfect, cozy spot for a twist on classic cocktails and delicious small plates. 

*For other great destinations, check out Tom Fitzmorris's creme de la creme of restaurants with the best Christmas ambiance.

Ho Ho Ho... Holiday Havoc Outfits

1. Hattie Sparks - Holiday frocks & accessories - perfect for all of your holiday occasions 
2. Skip N' Whistle - Ugly Christmas Sweater t-shirts for tacky themed parties
3. Tallulah's Designs - Unique, one of a kind dresses - you'll be sure to be the only one at the party in one of these dresses

Ho Ho Ho... Holiday Havoc Gift Guide Part 1

1. Drink Deck - Urban exploration in the most unique way - for all bar and food enthusiasts. 
2. REpurposingNOLA Piece by Peace - Upcycled, designer bags and accessories - for the discerning friend who has everything.
3. St. James Cheese Company - Gift certificates to the finest selection of wine & cheese - for the foodies in your life.

Ho Ho Ho...Holiday Havoc Made Easier

Ho Ho Ho... 
Holiday Havoc Made Easier

It’s that time of year again, the time when there is an abundance of holiday parties that end up getting grouped together in your already packed schedule. Whether it’s an office party, a friend’s get together or your own holiday bash, our guide will help you prepare for it all! 

Stay tuned as we count down the days until Christmas with the perfect guide to holiday gifts, outfits, destinations and more, guaranteed to stir up some holiday cheer!  

Wishing You Peace, Prosperity & Publicity

   

   Wishing you and your loved ones a Merry

   Christmas and the Happiest of New Years!

Blogs Are the New Black

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Blogs Are the New Black

Local Firm Launches New Branch of its Company to Cater to Bloggers & Brands Alike

New Orleans, La., November 5, 2012 — Local public relations and marketing firm, Uptown PR, is expanding its services by launching an interactive new branch of its company to link the ever-growing blogger population with national brands.

Uptown PR’s Blog Coalition, acts as the medium between clients and outside businesses. As the blogger relations arm of the firm, this service connects brands with the appropriate blogger outlet to help them reach a designated target audience efficiently.

Members of the coalition are handpicked and attain the Uptown PR stamp of approval. Each blog has a specific audience and a significant following, which makes them credible and worthwhile to national businesses. The company represents a diverse group of bloggers who are located throughout the Southeast and nationally. Their expertise range from fashion to culinary arts and each blog has a truly unique style and personality. Some current bloggers include Upperlyne out of Nashville, The Elizabeth Chronicles based in New Orleans and Southern Femme in Birmingham, Ala.

Blog Coalition customizes campaigns to maximize viewership and generate interest for each client. Through partnerships, hosted events, online advertising and even content generation, Uptown PR’s Blog Coalition provides the support modern bloggers need in order to make the most of their sites. In turn, national brands and businesses can collaborate on campaigns that result in a distinct voice and national, more organic, reach for these brands. Thanks to these services, bloggers have more time to concentrate on upcoming opportunities and concepts for their brands.

“Bloggers today have a lot to manage with many ongoing projects or even other jobs. Blog Coalition is a service for anyone who wants to take their blog to the next level,” said Genevieve Douglass, founder and executive director of Uptown PR. “We are excited about launching this new branch of our company and look forward to working with reputable bloggers and businesses and connecting the two groups to form synergistic partnerships.”

About Uptown PR

Founded in 2011 and based in New Orleans, Uptown PR specializes in media relations, event and product promotion, social media and brand management. It offers integrated public relations and marketing solutions to develop and grow business for its clients.

Like on Facebook, follow on Twitter (@UptownPR), Pinterest and LinkedIn. For more information, visit www.uptown-pr.com.

Media Contact:    Genevieve J. Douglass — gdouglass@uptown-pr.com - 504.496.8314

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Get to know Kendall...

I am a college student who has a love for food, fashion, music and especially New Orleans. Here’s a little about what I love in our fair city…

N-EW ORLEANS

E-ating. What would life be without eating in New Orleans? This is what our world revolves around here in the city and I wouldn’t have it any other way!

W-ednesday at the Square. This has become my new favorite event here in the city. Listening to music, eating and spending time with friends all in the beautiful Lafayette Square.

O-ysters. Whether you like fried, raw or (my personal favorite) chargrilled, New Orleans has the best oysters in the world! Any holiday or birthday you can find me at Drago’s eating a dozen oysters.

R- estaurants. There seems to be a theme here and that is FOOD! Our restaurants are a perfect blend of culinary delights and atmosphere to draw you in and ensure you have a great time! From restaurants like Antoine’s that dates back to 1840 to new up-and-coming restaurant you can always find something unique that will fit your taste.

L-ive music. Jazz & Soul- we are the birth of jazz and all you need to do is take a walk down the street and you’ll see (or hear) that.

E-vents. There is always something going on in the city whether it is Mardi Gras, Music Festivals, Food & Drink Festivals or even Film Festivals. You will never be bored when spending time in NOLA.

A-ttitude. Nothing is going to hold us back from rebuilding our city! Pretty much everyone I know who lives (especially the locals) here has great pride and love for our city.

N-ightlife. Bourbon, Frenchman, Magazine- anywhere you go you’ll have a great time!

S-aints. WHO DAT! We are the best fans in the world. We are probably also the loudest and most obnoxious, but it’s all in good fun and because we love our team!   

Honorable Mentions: Crawfish, Galatoire’s Restaurant, Jazzfest , King Cake, and Drive-thru Daiquiris

Fincher and Finn Join Uptown PR’s 2012 Summer Internship Program

New Orleans (June 7, 2012) – Uptown PR, a public relations and marketing firm based in New Orleans is pleased to welcome its most recent additions, Lauren Fincher and Kendall Finn. Fincher and Finn were accepted into the firm’s Summer Internship Program last month.

Their duties include drafting press materials, creating and maintaining media relations and conducting research on the newest public relations tools. Fincher and Finn will also be responsible for promoting client and agency events along with updating social media sites for a large array of clients.

Fincher, originally from the Atlanta Metropolitan area, is delighted to be a part of the public relations industry in New Orleans. Prior to working at Uptown PR, Fincher served as an intern for the Arena Football League’s New Orleans VooDoo Football Team. While working with the VooDoo, Fincher used her writing and journalism skills as she wrote game stories, press releases, and player biographies. She also contributed various campus news stories to her college newspaper, The Maroon. Before moving to New Orleans, Fincher completed four years of the Video Broadcasting Program at Brookwood High School. Throughout her participation with this program, Fincher helped to produce weekly news shows making her efficient with operating cameras, editing software and other production equipment.

Fincher currently attends Loyola University, obtaining her bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication, with a minor in Spanish. Fincher is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., where she serves as the historian. She is responsible for planning and coordinating events held by her chapter as well as using social media outlets to promote them.     

Finn, a local New Orleanian, has worked in various jobs throughout the New Orleans community preceding her position at Uptown PR. She has had numerous jobs ranging from working as a teacher at First Baptist of New Orleans Early Learning Center to working at Chateau Golf and Country Club. Another noteworthy position was at Carver Darden Law Firm, where she served as an intern. During her time at Carver Darden, she learned about hard work and dedication through working with the attorneys in various tasks such as drafting client materials and helping attorneys prepare for trial.

Finn is approaching her senior year at Louisiana State University, where she intends to receive a bachelor’s degree is Business Marketing.  She is an active member of the Epsilon Chapter of Kappa Delta Sorority and has been involved in many community service activities through her sorority. Finn is very involved in the New Orleans community and looks forward to expanding her professional career in her native city.

“Our Summer Internship Program is a great way for young talent from around the Southeast to get a feel for the public relations industry,” said Genevieve Douglass, founder and executive director of Uptown PR. “It gives them an opportunity to learn what they like and don’t like about the field they are studying and allows them to have a better perspective for their career path before they graduate.”

About Uptown PR

Founded in 2011, Uptown PR specializes in media relations, event and product promotions, social media and brand management. Located in Uptown New Orleans, the firm offers integrated public relations and marketing solutions to develop and grow business for its clients.

Like it on Facebook, follow it on Twitter (@UptownPR) and LinkedIn. For more information, visit www.uptown-pr.com.

Media Contact: Genevieve J. Douglass — gdouglass@uptown-pr.com - 504.496.8314

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Getting to know Lauren

Hi, I'm Lauren Fincher and one of the newest additions to Uptown PR's Summer Internship Program 2012. I am an outgoing college student, who loves to be active! I’m passionate about my friends, family, and all things fabulous. After moving to New Orleans, I instantly fell in love with Crescent City culture!

L is for LAGNIAPPE. It is a traditional term from the rich Creole dialect mixture of New Orleans; it means "a little something extra,” which is exactly what you get from New Orleans – an experience unlike any other.

A is for ACTION.  There’s no doubt that New Orleans is an action-packed city. I’ve created so many great memories during festivals and parades.

U is for UNEXPECTED. While living in the Big Easy, I’ve learned to expect the unexpected! You’ll always run into something a little crazy.

R is for RELAXATION. The Big Easy isn’t a nickname for New Orleans for nothing! I’ve adapted the relaxed and easy-going attitude of all New Orleanians.

E is for EVERLASTING.  The culture and traditions of New Orleans are so rich. From the music to the language, every element of New Orleans is deep-rooted, making them hard to forget.

N is for NIGHTLIFE. There is never a dull night in New Orleans! Whether you are on Bourbon or Frenchman, there’s always a party! When my friends visit me, they are always so surprised that some bars don’t close until 5 am!

Leaving (and tracking) your virtual footprint…

Small businesses, large corporations, bloggers, and individuals…we’re all striving for the same thing: to become an online influence.  As we've seen in viral movements such as in the recent Kony 2012 campaign, which became a global phenomenon in less than a week via social media and various other online outlets, the Internet has the power to affect immediate and boundless change. 

Arguably as important as becoming an online influence in the first place is the ability to track such virtual impact.  Luckily, with websites such as Klout, you can easily measure and even leverage your online impact.  As the Klout website reminds us, you don’t have you be Oprah to have an influence these days.  In today’s age, virtually anyone (no pun intended) has the power and tools to affect change and drive action via their online domains. 

Using data from your various social networks, Klout analyzes your online influence and overall online presence, giving you your very own ‘Klout Score’. Beyond merely measuring your content output, Klout can actually evaluate the engagement you create.  The site provides you with information regarding your most influential content, most trusted opinions, and even how you compare to your friends. 

Understanding your own influence is key in being able to improve it.  Think you’re pretty influential? Only one way to find out…

By Casey Roberts, Client Service Associate

Uptown PR Welcomes Asmussen to the Growing Team

New Orleans, La. (Feb. 27, 2012) — Uptown PR, a New Orleans based public relations and marketing firm, recently added Hedda Asmussen to its rapidly expanding team. Asmussen joins Uptown PR as its second Client Service Associate alongside Casey Roberts.

As the most recent addition to the group, Asmussen is responsible for drafting press materials, creating and maintaining media relations and conducting research on the newest public relations tools. Her list of duties includes promoting client and agency events along with updating social media sites for a large array of clients.

Asmussen brings with her previous experience in both social media and marketing from her summer internship at FSC Interactive. During her time as an intern, Asmussen was responsible for updating Twitter and Facebook accounts along with compiling blog content and media lists. She is also currently working for the Shawn M. Donnelley Center for Nonprofit Communications where she is responsible for the research needed when working with nonprofit clients including grant and fundraising research.

A senior at Loyola, Asmussen will graduate in May with a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication with a concentration in Public Relations and a minor in English Literature. Currently the External Relations Coordinator for the PRSSA chapter at Loyola, Asmussen interacts with both the community and other PRSSA chapters searching for professional development opportunities. She is also an active member of Gamma Phi Beta and has been involved in the numerous community service projects the organization sponsors.

About Uptown PR

Founded in New Orleans in 2011, Uptown PR specializes in media relations, event and product promotion, social media and brand management. It offers integrated public relations and marketing solutions to develop and grow business for its clients. Like it on Facebook, follow it on Twitter (@UptownPR) and look for it on LinkedIn. For more information, visit www.uptown-pr.com.

Media Contact: Uptown PR — Genevieve J. Douglass — gdouglass@uptown-pr.com 504.496.8314

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Get to know Uptown PR's newest face!

Hi, my name is Hedda, a Costa Rican born New Orleanian wannabe with a passion for public relations. With a mom from Mississippi, a dad from Germany and having lived in Latin countries my whole life I always grin when asked where I’m from. I was born speaking three languages and although I have tried to learn both French and Dutch, languages do not seem to be my forte. I have two older brothers so my mother decided to name me Hedda. According to her it means female warrior and as the only girl I was going to have to be tough. Hedda is the anglicized form of Hedwig which makes it somewhat funny that I am now the proud partial owner of a dog named Sirius. I have lived in New Orleans for the past four years and have enjoyed uttering the phrase “Only in New Orleans” many times. One of my guilty pleasures are comedy shows, I’ve gone to the same local comedy night every Wednesday night for what feels like forever. I hope this little blurb about me has helped you get to know me a bit better.

Listen Up Business Owners…this may be of "Pinterest" to you…

So we’ve all heard it time and time again…social media is integral for the branding and business growth of any company, big or small. It’s more common these days to tweet a person than to actually ‘meet’ them…tagging a friend is no longer associated with the game we all used to play when we were kids…and the act of liking something has taken on a completely new role in the virtual landscape.

But the truth is: these very things are vital if you want to keep your marketing strategies up to date in the ever changing and constantly mobile world of online media. So if you’re on the social media bandwagon (as well you should be), throw out your corkboard full of inspirational images hanging in your bedroom and look into creating a virtual pinboard for your company on Pinterest, an online bulletin board for images of all kinds.

Launched in 2010, the site is a host to more than just images of delicious recipes or DIY design projects, Pinterest actually provides yet another valuable online marketing tool to drive traffic to your website. This social media website is driving more traffic to company websites and blogs than YouTube, Google+ and LinkedIn combined, according to a recent report from Cambridge, Mass.-based content-sharing site Shareaholic. The site can be used for all different types of businesses, with a large audience (over seven million users!) who share, host, pin and re-pin an extensive and diverse collection of content, products and images.

To learn more about how to use Pinterest as a marketing tool, check out the 10 Creative Ways to Use Pinterest for Marketing.

Casey Roberts, Client Service Associate - Uptown PR

Roberts Joins Uptown PR as Client Service Associate

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

New Orleans (Jan. 31, 2012) — Uptown PR, a public relations and marketing firm based in New Orleans is pleased to welcome its most recent addition, Casey Roberts. She joined the Uptown PR team earlier this month as a Client Service Associate.

In her new position, Roberts is responsible for drafting press materials, engaging in media relations and interaction and pitching new concepts for media coverage. She also assists with client and agency events and spearheads social media efforts to provide innovative social media ideas.

Roberts comes to Uptown PR with previous experience in marketing and sales. Most recently, she worked as a Brand Ambassador for EF College Break, where she utilized her skills in brand promotion, led presentations, and created original marketing materials. She has also worked with the local publication Where Y’at Magazine where she wrote reviews, designed graphics for their articles, and helped manage their various social media pages. Before moving to New Orleans, Roberts worked with a prominent event planner in the Dallas metro area for several years where she learned how to efficiently organize and supervise an event.

While currently finishing her studies at Tulane University, Roberts plans to obtain her bachelor’s degree in Communication, with a minor in Business. She is an active member in the Phi Eta Sigma Honors society, on the Marketing Committee of the Louisiana Alpha Chapter of the Pi Beta Phi Fraternity and is the vice president of public relations for the Tulane University Communication Majors Society. Roberts has also spent time tutoring children at the local New Orleans charter school, Lafayette Academy. For more information on her professional experience, visit her LinkedIn profile.

About Uptown PR

Founded in New Orleans in 2011, Uptown PR specializes in media relations, event and product promotion, social media and brand management. It offers integrated public relations and marketing solutions to develop and grow business for its clients.

Like it on Facebook, follow it on Twitter (@UptownPR) and look for it on LinkedIn. For more information, visit www.uptown-pr.com.

Media Contact: Genevieve J. Douglass — gdouglass@uptown-pr.com - 504.496.8314

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New Year, New Offer

Is your brand cohesive? Recognizable?

Do you use the same logo, colors, font, etc., across the board?

If not, you're not being consistent in your company's messaging and could confuse potential customers/clients, causing them to patronize another company instead. (And if you're using a Gmail email account for your business, don't even get me started).

That is why, now through the end of March 2012, Uptown PR is offering FREE brand consultations.

Branding is one of the most important components to a company's professionalism and messaging. Your brand should speak for itself, establishing your business's identity.

So don't miss out on this timely offer. Get your new year off to the right start and make 2012 the best year your business has seen yet.

Don't be shy, call or email us today to make your appointment - http://www.uptown-pr.com/dont_be_shy.html