10 to 1 News

10 to 1 Public Relations Wins Three Hermes Creative Awards

by Erica

10 to 1 Public Relations Wins Three Hermes Creative Awards

10 to 1 Public Relations was recently recognized with three Hermes Creative Awards. The three awards recognize 10 to 1 Public Relations’ expertise in public relations campaigns, managing and recovering from crisis scenarios, and event-based public relations.

According to the awards organization:

Hermes Creative Awards is one of the oldest and largest creative competitions in the world. Winners range in size from individuals to media conglomerates, and Fortune 500 companies. Hermes Creative Awards honors the messengers and creators of the information revolution. Armed with their imaginations and computers, Hermes winners bring their ideas to life through traditional and digital platforms.

As a firm focused on creating the highest caliber PR campaigns and results for our clients, it’s especially rewarding when independent third-party organizations recognize our strategy creation and implementation efforts as among the best they’ve seen compared to our industry peers. I’m most proud that these three Hermes Creative Awards recognize our team’s hard work and dedication to serving our clients’ needs and achieving their goals.

Josh Weiss, Founder and President of 10 to 1 Public Relations

Here’s a recap of the winning campaigns that were recognized:  

Platinum Winner: “Establishing Worzalla as a Top Local Employer” – Strategic Campaigns/PR Communications/PR

Worzalla, a leading book printer, enlisted the agency’s help to strengthen its employer brand and attract top talent. Through a comprehensive PR strategy, 10 to 1 Public Relations crafted a compelling narrative that highlighted Worzalla’s positive work environment, employee benefits, and commitment to the local community. The campaign’s success in enhancing Worzalla’s reputation as a desirable employer contributed to its well-deserved recognition.

Platinum Winner: “Intel’s Groundbreaking” – Strategic Campaigns, PR Communications/Live or Virtual Event

Faced with the challenge of introducing a groundbreaking product, Intel turned to 10 to 1 Public Relations to devise a PR campaign that would captivate local audiences in Arizona. 10 to 1 Public Relations orchestrated an unforgettable experience that showcased Intel’s revolutionary technology. The campaign’s exceptional execution and ability to generate excitement surrounding the announcement made it a resounding success.

Gold Winner: “Preserving Risas’ Reputation” – Strategic Campaigns, PR Communications/PR Campaign

Risas, a prominent dental company, faced a reputational challenge that required expert handling. 10 to 1 Public Relations devised a comprehensive PR campaign focused on transparency, proactive communication, and stakeholder engagement. Through strategic messaging and meticulous crisis management, 10 to 1 Public Relations successfully safeguarded Risas’ reputation, earning the admiration of both industry experts and the public.

10 to 1 Public Relations adds these Hermes awards to its extensive roster of awards recognizing the firm’s outstanding work over the last decade.

10 to 1 Blog

What’s Next in Public Relations: Four Takeaways from the PRSA Western District Conference

by Erica

What’s Next in Public Relations: Four Takeaways from the PRSA Western District Conference

By: Erica Fetherston, Director, 10 to 1 Public Relations

The PRSA Western District Conference is an annual opportunity for public relations professionals from across the West to gather and discuss opportunities, trends, and challenges within the industry. With this year’s event in Tucson, it was just a short trip down I-10 to immerse myself in everything PR for a few days. 

While there were some incredibly impactful and thought-provoking sessions throughout the conference, there are several key points that stick out to me now that I’ve been back to work for a few days. Here are four things that I’ve been thinking about: 

1. AI will have a huge impact, but we aren’t sure how yet

Everyone is talking about ChatGPT and how it will change the public relations industry forever. We all agree there will be a huge impact as we learn how to leverage this new technology, but there are some major warnings to keep in mind. AI can be a useful tool to spark creativity or help with brainstorming, but it should not be trusted to create original written content that is completely factual and free of bias. Public relations professionals should not fear the integration of AI into our daily lives, as its rise will make our jobs as strategic advisors and critical thinkers will become all the more significant for our clients and organizations. If organizations are going to integrate it into their use, however, they should create clear policies to dictate how it should and can be used. 

2. Understanding and checking biases is constant work

As strategic communicators, it is our daily role to ensure that the messages we are distributing and the language we use avoid bias. Everyone has biases, no matter their experience or background, so the first step is understanding and recognizing what biases we may possess ourselves. Then, we must constantly review our own work and messaging to ensure that our biases do not have a negative impact on our intended goals. One tool we learned about was ‘asset framing,’ or defining by assets rather than deficits, problems, or challenges. Additionally, if we aim to communicate with a specific audience or group that we do not belong to or have experience with, it is recommended to reach out to that group to confirm what kind of language they prefer. This can be helpful as language and preferences are constantly changing, so it is always better to get those confirmations than to make assumptions. 

3. Thought leaders are leveraging LinkedIn more and more 

LinkedIn isn’t just for entry-level job seekers. There are millions of senior-level executives in every imaginable industry on the platform. Increasingly, these executives are using LinkedIn more frequently as part of their thought leadership strategy. They use the platform to share news and insights while engaging with their network to solidify their reputation as a thought leader in the industry. If a robust LinkedIn strategy is not part of your thought leadership campaign, it should be! 

4. Measuring the impact of PR continues to be a challenge

All public relations professionals know the challenge of reporting the impact of public relations wins and campaigns. We may secure an amazing earned media feature in a top-tier outlet for our client or organization, but what is the measurable outcome that we can report? The answer seems to be that it depends on what metrics matter most, and what metrics are achievable. There may not be a one-size-fits-all solution, as measuring impact changes from campaign to campaign or client to client based on the underlying goals. It is important to ask: What metrics matter? What metrics/data do we have access to? 

Many things may change but one thing will be true: Public relations professionals are often at the forefront of periods of transition and innovation due to the nature of our roles and responsibilities. Having to create and execute strategic communications around a global pandemic, social justice movements, an up-and-down economy, and so much more has prepared us to be some of the most adaptable and resilient pros out there. Opportunities like the PRSA Western District Conference only help us stay further ahead of the curve so we can deliver the best possible services to our clients and organizations. 

10 to 1 Blog

How to craft a compelling holiday campaign

by Erica

How to craft a compelling holiday campaign

Written by Katie Geraghty, PR Executive at 10 to 1 Public Relations

It feels like each day in our calendar year has been deemed a holiday in some capacity, allowing a perfect opportunity for your company to capitalize. Whether it be celebrating Veterans Day or Talk Like Shakespeare Day, holidays come in all forms each with its own potential audiences.

Identifying and amplifying holidays that relate to your organization’s mission or values allow for meaningful, relevant, and strategic media opportunities. As media relations experts, holidays of any kind give our team an opportunity to showcase clients through local promotions or events. Planning and executing these media campaigns keeps our creative juices flowing while gaining positive, local media attention for our clients.

Try it for yourself, here are 5 tips for your next holiday-based media stunt:

1. Identify campaign goals

Identifying the solid goals of the campaign as well as the target audiences are the key first steps to planning a successful campaign. Meeting with your team and all involved to clearly identify the goal for the holiday campaign is essential to its success. What’s that overused saying, ‘Rome wasn’t built in a day’. Go ahead and apply that logic here. Laying a solid foundation will allow you to reach new heights, heights being audiences of course.

2. Research, research, research

Investing quality time into understanding what the holiday represents is essential to avoiding any PR blunders. Identifying the true meaning of the holiday will better allow creativity to flow throughout the process of developing the holiday event.

After identifying an appropriate holiday to center a media event around, it’s important to identify how this ties directly to your client’s business goals and PR strategy. The final component of researching for the event involves identifying the appropriate markets and audiences, without the appropriate targets, the event will carry less impact and relevance!

3. Collaborate

Working together with your team to identify a few tie-ins to the holiday provides a great springboard to create better, more relevant ideas. In a creative field such as PR, we see the benefits of collaborating every day.

Bringing together a diverse team for a brainstorming session can be extremely helpful to hear various perspectives and develop an idea everyone can support.

4. Plan every detail

For every media event you coordinate, planning is truly at the core of ensuring the success of a campaign. Establishing clear timelines, deliverables, and roles will allow everyone involved to feel much more relaxed and comfortable throughout the process.

Nailing down the nitty gritty ahead of time will relieve stress points. We recommend working with your team to identify potential roadblocks and develop solutions ahead of time, so everyone feels prepared.

5. Evaluate the Results

Execution is a direct result of your planning efforts, but you’ll need to be flexible in case something doesn’t work as expected. Each event is a great opportunity to learn about the needs of the media and community, so allow yourself to be present and observant!

Taking the time to reflect on the event directly after will allow your team to better understand the successes and identify any missed opportunities. Reflecting, adjusting, and implementing these ideas will make your next event even easier.

If you ever need help, the team at 10 to 1 PR would love to help!

10 to 1 Blog

How to Better Personalize Your Story Pitch for Media

by Erica

How to Better Personalize Your Story Pitch for Media

By Madeleine Williamson, PR Coordinator at 10 to 1 PR

From an outsider’s perspective, pitching the media to cover a story may seem easy. After all, anyone can email a reporter information about a story. Right? However, only 8% of stories pitched to reporters make it to publication. In the public relations industry, it can be argued that pitching the media is one of the hardest tasks to do. 

Public relations professionals specialize in pitching. One strategy PR pros use to help their pitches make it to publication is building relationships with reporters. Building relationships with reporters benefits PR efforts in the long run and ultimately leads to successful storytelling for both the client and the media. 

So, how do public relations professionals build a relationship with a reporter? The first step is to better personalize your pitch. Personalizing a pitch for a reporter makes the story more likely to run while also building a relationship that will increase the likelihood that future stories will run, too. 

Here are 5 tips on how to better personalize your pitch:

  1. Do your research

You can’t pitch unless you know who you are pitching, and you certainly can’t personalize a pitch without learning about the reporter. Decide who you want to pitch your story to and why. Ask yourself the question: why would my pitch be relevant to this reporter? After you’ve decided that the pitch is relevant, then get a grasp on who the reporter is. This is what will help you to better personalize your pitch later. What topics do they cover most? How long have they been reporting on that industry? Do they write quick summaries or long articles that require weeks of research? Find out as much information about the reporter and their style of writing as you can.

  1. Recognize media complaints about pitches

Be aware of past complaints or requests from reporters you may be targeting. Common complaints from reporters include frustrations with the lack of imagery in pitches, or receiving irrelevant story topics when on tight deadlines. Make sure you are listening to these complaints and adapt your pitch accordingly. In fact, the next time you pitch that reporter, say that you remember them mentioning they are on a tight deadline and ask what more you can do to help, include photos in the original pitch, or give a specific example of how your pitch relates to the topic they report on. 

  1. Personalize the subject line

The subject line of any pitch is key to getting your pitch read. Reporters have to want to open your email. Luckily, personalizing the subject line of your pitch doesn’t have to be difficult. Remember, personalizing a pitch means making the reporter feel that you specifically chose to pitch to them. More personalized subject lines could reference past work done by the reporter, or specific sections the reporter covers in the publication they work for.

  1. Reference social media 

Social Media is a great tool to use when trying to personalize a pitch. Mention that you follow the reporter on Twitter and saw their tweet about a certain topic. Point out that you and the reporter are alumni from the same university if it’s listed in their bio. Most reporters appreciate when people engage with their content on social media. Showing a reporter that you see the work they are doing and care enough to reference a post will help your pitch stand out. 

  1. Keep in touch

Personalizing a pitch doesn’t stop once the pitch is sent. To keep in touch with the reporter and to continue to build a connection, follow-up is required. Thank the reporter for their hard work, ask the reporter if they are looking for any other story topics, or tell the reporter you read their story and enjoyed it. Just be sure that if you are sending a follow-up to the pitch it has a purpose. There is a difference between keeping in touch and bothering a reporter. 

Remember that building relationships with reporters by personalizing pitches will take time. Nothing happens overnight. Feel inspired to try some of these tips and see what works for you. Who knows, you might begin the start of a great new connection. 

10 to 1 News

10 to 1 PR to Host Ribbon Cutting and 10th Anniversary Celebration

by Erica

10 to 1 PR to Host Ribbon Cutting and 10th Anniversary Celebration

Join 10 to 1 Public Relations on October 12 as we celebrate our 10th Anniversary and hold a ribbon cutting for our new office!

Celebrate with us all day, or join us when you can. Our agenda:

11:30 AM – 1:30 PM: Ribbon Cutting & Light Lunch

The Scottsdale Chamber of Commerce will help coordinate a short ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11:45 AM and we’ll have a light lunch available.

1:30 PM – 4:30 PM: Open House

Stop by anytime to enjoy a personal tour of 10 to 1 PR’s new office.

4:30 PM – 7:30 PM Happy Hour

Enjoy beverages and light snacks to celebrate 10 to 1 PR’s 10th Anniversary. A short toast will occur at 5:45 to celebrate the milestone.

So that we can plan accordingly (translation: make sure there’s enough food and beverages), please register and select one, or multiple, times.

Thank you for all your encouragement and support over the years. We’d be thrilled if you stopped by to help us celebrate these milestones.

10 to 1 News

City of Scottsdale Proclamation Makes October 1 (10/1/22) 10 to 1 Public Relations Day

by Erica

City of Scottsdale Proclamation Makes October 1 (10/1/22) 10 to 1 Public Relations Day

Proclamation Honors 10 to 1 PR’s 10th Anniversary

Scottsdale, Arizona (September 29, 2022) – Scottsdale-based strategic communications firm 10 to 1 Public Relations was honored to learn that City of Scottsdale Mayor David Ortega signed a proclamation naming October 1, 2022 (10/1/22) as 10 to 1 Public Relations Day. The recognition comes as 10 to 1 Public Relations celebrates its 10th anniversary.

10 to 1 PR President and Founder Josh Weiss in the company’s Scottsdale office

“While 10 to 1 Public Relations represents companies across the U.S. and the world, we’ve always proudly called Scottsdale our home,” said Josh Weiss, President and Founder of 10 to 1 Public Relations. “For Mayor Ortega and the City to recognize our 10th anniversary with this proclamation means a lot as it recognizes not only our growth but also our commitment to our community.”

Founded in Scottsdale in 2012, 10 to 1 Public Relations has grown from a solo practice to a team of a dozen full-time employees. The company recently moved into its fourth Scottsdale office, necessitated by the company’s continued growth, even through the duration of the coronavirus pandemic.  

10 to 1 Public Relations has won various awards in recent years including several PR Agency of the Year awards from International, national and local organizations. It is the 2021 winner of the Better Business Bureau’s Torch Award for Ethics, and the 2019 honoree for the Scottsdale Chamber of Commerce’s Sterling Award. Clients include Intel, Rosendin, Plexus Worldwide, FirstBank, Runbeck Election Services, SFE, Risas Dental and Braces, Worzalla, Air Pros USA, and others. 

Text of Proclamation: 

Whereas 10 to 1 Public Relations was proudly founded in Scottsdale, Arizona in 2012 and is now celebrating its 10th anniversary; and 

Whereas 10 to 1 Public Relations’ founder and several of its staff have been active participants in Scottsdale commissions, board and organizations including the Scottsdale Transportation Commission, Scottsdale Leadership, the Greater Scottsdale Chamber of Commerce, the Scottsdale Railroad and Mechanical Society benefiting Scottsdale’s award-winning McCormick Stillman Railroad Park, Partners for Paiute Neighborhood Center and more; and 

Whereas 10 to 1 Public Relations has successfully encouraged several of its locally based clients to become active participants in Scottsdale organizations and charitable causes; and

Whereas 10 to 1 Public Relations has earned numerous international, national, statewide and local awards including as PR Agency of the Year, the Scottsdale Chamber Sterling Award in 2019 and the Better Business Bureau’s 2021 Torch Award for Ethics; and

Whereas the City of Scottsdale recognizes the contributions and civic pride that 10 to 1 Public Relations has in this community, 

Now, Therefore, I, David Ortega, Mayor of the City of Scottsdale, Arizona, do hereby proclaim October 1, 2022, as 10 to 1 Public Relations Day


About 10 to 1 Public Relations

For nearly a decade 10 to 1 Public Relations (10 to 1 PR) has been offering public relations services that are targeted, compelling, and achieve our clients’ goals. 10 to 1 PR’s creative plans and messages are distinctive and memorable with original, highly relevant approaches to storytelling that break through the noise and grab the attention of media outlets and target audiences. 10 to 1 PR offers a variety of services including media relations, product launches, crisis communication management, awards submissions, trade show media, and more. Learn more about 10 to 1 PR’s extensive services and success stories at 10to1pr.com.

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10 to 1 Blog

A Passion for Storytelling: Michelle Bolden of 10 to 1 PR

by Erica

A Passion for Storytelling: Michelle Bolden of 10 to 1 PR

In this series, we flip the script and put 10 to 1 PR team members in the interview seat. Get to know Michelle Bolden, PR Coordinator at 10 to 1 PR:

Tell us a little about yourself.

I recently graduated from Arizona State University with my BA in Communication. Creative expression is my safe space so naturally I’ve always loved writing and storytelling. Some of my passions are music, health and wellness, and trying new things.

What song would you sing during karaoke?

Emotions by Mariah Carey

What is your favorite way to spend a day off?

I’m a self care enthusiast so I would say doing activities that make me feel happy and recharged like practicing yoga, spending time in nature, reading, and listening to music.

Describe yourself in 5 words.

Bubbly, determined, caring, detail-oriented, imaginative.

If you had a superpower, what would it be and why?

I would like to have the ability to teleport. That way I could skip the traffic to work and go to Paris for my lunch break.

What is the best advice you’ve ever been given?

Slow down and savor all the tiny moments because they make up some of the best parts of your life.

Connect with Michelle on LinkedIn or [email protected].

10 to 1 Blog

Knitting it All Together: Rachael Clifford of 10 to 1 PR

by Erica

Knitting it All Together: Rachael Clifford of 10 to 1 PR

In this series, we flip the script and put 10 to 1 PR team members in the interview seat. Get to know Rachael Clifford, PR Executive at 10 to 1 PR:

Tell us a little about yourself.

I’m Rachael, and I’m a PR Executive at 10 to 1 PR. I’m curious and enjoy learning what makes others unique, two qualities I think make me well-suited for a career in PR. I graduated from Northern Arizona University with a degree in Strategic Communications, PR and Advertising. Before I joined 10 to 1, I interned and worked at various nonprofits in many marketing roles, but I always found myself most at home in a PR function. I like the variety of team members, clients, and industries I get to work with at 10 to 1. Every day is a new day!

Rachael (center) with some 10 to 1 PR team members
What is one lesson you’ve learned from your time in PR? 

Doing a SWOT analysis, a quick one or a deep one, will help you better understand a situation and will help you determine the best course of action. You can’t always control a situation, but you do have agency over your response.

What is your favorite way to spend a day off?

Going on a morning hike and then coming home to knit and watch the Great British Baking Show.

What song would you sing during karaoke? 

I think singing any ABBA song would guarantee a good time.

What is the best advice you’ve ever been given? 

Don’t overthink it. I’m the type of person who is all about the details, and I like to think through my next steps always, but sometimes it’s necessary to zoom out and go with my instincts.

If you had a superpower, what would it be and why? 

I would want to be able to speak any language. I’d love to be able to go anywhere in the world and be able to converse with people. Language also encodes a lot about culture, and many barriers would vanish if we took the time to understand where another person is coming from. 

Connect with Rachael on LinkedIn or [email protected].

10 to 1 Blog

Media Maven: Mackenzie Nintzel of 10 to 1 PR

by Erica

Media Maven: Mackenzie Nintzel of 10 to 1 PR

In this series, we flip the script and put 10 to 1 PR team members in the interview seat. Get to know Mackenzie Nintzel, PR Coordinator at 10 to 1 PR:

Tell us a little about yourself.

Hi there, my name is Mackenzie and as of August of 2021, I have been a PR Coordinator at 10 to 1 Public Relations. I became interested in public relations due to my love for hearing about others’ passions and using my writing abilities to be able to translate them into words through press releases and articles. I graduated summa cum laude from NAU with a degree in Strategic Communications with an emphasis in public relations as well as a minor in Cinema Studies. I have a big love for all media including movies, music, and video games and have always thrown myself neck deep into every interest I’ve ever had which now extends to my career in PR at 10 to 1!

What is your favorite thing about your career in PR?

I love working collaboratively with a team and getting to learn from others every day. The whole team at 10 to 1 has different backgrounds and experiences that I love being able to hear about and learn from as I find my place in the PR industry.

What is your favorite way to spend a day off?

I love to draw and wish I had more time to do it. So, when I do have a day off, I let all the inspiration I have bubbling up inside me from the week manifest by drawing. There is something really special about having a hobby that has such visible results to make my day feel productive.

What is your favorite movie?

My favorite movie is Ex Machina! I love stories that keep me guessing and have a lot of mystery surrounding them and this movie does that type of suspense perfectly.

Who inspires you?

Both of my parents inspire me daily. My dad has worked in the public relations field for my entire life and has been extremely helpful through my journey in college while my mom helps me learn life lessons by sharing her own experiences for me to grow from. They both show me what real kindness and love look like every day and I am forever grateful to them for all that they have done for me as I’ve grown into a young adult.

If you had a superpower, what would it be and why?

Teleportation. I would love to travel more than I’ve gotten the chance to, and I would love to make it even easier by being able to be anywhere I wanted instantaneously.

Connect with Mackenzie on LinkedIn or [email protected].