STP MILLS & Co

Public relations is, at its core, a way for companies and brands to build mutually beneficial relationships with their audiences and customers. To be sure, traditional PR still has a place at the table. Everything from influencing public perception with outstanding marketing campaigns and developing effective crisis communication strategies to holding news conferences and organizing successful events falls under the umbrella of traditional PR.

However, traditional PR is no longer enough.

PR is rapidly evolving, thanks mostly to the dawn of the digital age and the birth of the 24-hour news cycle. Now, an advanced form of PR thrives, and it’s based on digital methods of communicating and sharing. Bottom line: It’s crucial for your business to be firmly engaged in digital PR.

Are you working with a PR firm that understands how to blend the old with the new? Here’s a checklist to help you determine if your agency is up to scratch:

Digital PR

1.

You can’t do great PR without understanding digital PR.

Brands must act like media companies and PR must provide the channels to broadcast the content. Today, people turn to social media and news sites instead of reading the print news.

2. You must stay on top of new technology. You have to keep up with your audiences and know the new technology they’re using. Adopt those platforms early and capture new members before the competition arrives. This is also how you can make sure your content is always easily accessible from anywhere.

3. Inbound marketing is the future of PR. The days of cold calling are over. Inbound marketing focuses on attracting your target audiences by providing valuable content and resources.

Media relations

4. You must build relationships – with journalists and with your audiences. Focus on giving reporters great stories, not just touting your company. The marketplace is crowded and noisy; you won’t stand out if you’re sending one-way messages into the void.

5. PR isn’t a 9-to-5 job. PR must be fast, flexible and nimble because the 24-hour news cycle never stops. Reporters and civilians alike use smartphones to their advantage to capture visuals to share – they no longer need a photographer to capture breaking news. Apps like Stringr allow anyone to capture video for news outlets and other uses. When breaking news happens, localize your position on the national news whenever you’re able.

6. You must demonstrate that your company cares. If you want to stand out and elevate your company in the eyes of consumers and the media, you have to be people-driven first. PR will fail you if you’re only profit-driven.

7. Trust and transparency are absolutely mandatory. PR requires transparency. Make a false statement in the news, and you can be sure an employee will post comments calling you out and reporters will dig up the truth.

Social media 8. The power of global social media has made the world a small town again.

You can’t approach PR impersonally anymore. There must be engagement – especially with social influencers, who are important and can change buying behaviors.

9. Social media has given consumers a voice. News stories now support reader comments, and people share, tweet and screenshot these comments as much as the stories. Sometimes, a comment becomes a news story in its own right. All media is a conversation and you have to listen to your audience’s feedback so you can improve.

10. Leverage visuals – photos, videos, GIFS and infographics. High-quality visuals are the best way to draw people to your content. While that has always been true, it’s more critical now than ever.

Measurement

11. Measurement is an integral component of successful PR. Most PR traditionalists don’t know how to measure and don’t want to. However, you can’t just rely on media clips, AVEs and impressions when there are so many more ways to measure awareness. Planning ahead and measuring your progress proves that your PR efforts are on the right track.

12. “I hate math” doesn’t cut it anymore. For decades, people with an interest in marketing went into PR because they didn’t like math and didn’t want to talk about numbers. That mindset doesn’t work today. PR is a measurement sport, and to be competitive, you must embrace numbers to prove your success. Planning strategically and setting SMART goals are the first steps.

13. Clients expect great work and they'll measure your work on your outcomes. PR people are often focused on great outputs, style and grammar, yet clients don’t pay as much attention to the quality of small details as their PR people do. They simply expect their trusted PR pros to know how to create high-quality outputs and to use them to earn great outcomes. Companies want to frame a terrific cover story on the wall, not a terrific news release.

Reputation

14. The internet can tarnish your reputation instantly. In this current sensitive climate, one small mistake or simple misinterpretation can go viral quickly and ruin your company’s reputation. If you’re speaking in public, giving an interview or tweeting, the internet allows for real-time fact checking and questioning and will take pains to verify every statement you make.

15. Online reviews are essential for every company. Publicity isn’t enough now – consumers have myriad options and they research each before they buy. You need to deliver on your claims and provide great customer experiences. Review management software helps you manage and promote your reviews.

Other considerations

16. Companies are looking for good business people who specialize in PR. Having a business acumen is critical to being a good partner. If your PR efforts aren’t supporting an overarching business objective, your clients won’t value your efforts and you can’t sustain them.

17. PR must have the wow factor. People’s attention spans keep getting shorter. You only have three seconds to wow your audiences and the news media before they move on. Creativity and originality are crucial in a crowded and competitive marketplace.

Are you questioning whether or not you can make working from home work? As you dream of what it may be like to finally achieve work-life harmony, you may find yourself stymied by the same roadblocks or obstacles that stop many aspiring home based business owners from turning their dream into a reality.

With any new venture, you may find it hard to navigate the decision to work from home.

Here are a few common concerns and how thousands of at-home business owners, who use the Arise Platform, paved their way to a smooth, easy road to working-from-home:

1. Time Management Time is the enemy for every home-based business owner who is also responsible for the upkeep of their home, and the well-being of their family. At times, it may be difficult to know when the at-home work day ends and when attention to your family and other personal obligations begin. Set boundaries by establishing a starting point and a stopping point and keep firm to your schedule.

Using the Arise Platform: For over a decade, our network of independent, work-at-home agents have enjoyed the flexibility of working from home while delivering customer service, sales and technical support for Arise clients. As a business owner, you determine your own schedule (in up to ½ hour increments!), supporting clients on the days and during the hours that work best for you and your family, and making time management well… more manageable.

2.Less Structured

While the freedom associated with working from home can be liberating, some professionals require a more structured working environment to succeed. Designating office space, maintaining regular work hours, and even getting dressed to start the day are just a few in-home work habits to consider in promoting structure, self-discipline, and motivation.

Using the Arise Platform: Arise is committed to providing its business owners the tools they need to build the life and career they want. Arise provides the technology infrastructure, support and client opportunities – the Arise Network of mini-call centers leverage this support as they determine the best way to structure the other aspects of their business. Setting the alarm, however, is up to you.

3.Social Isolation Oftentimes, people who work from home complain of isolation and loneliness. One loses the social aspects that can sometimes make working in an office environment more enjoyable. Since the workplace provides an outlet to meet people and make friends, professionals working from home have to be more creative and resourceful. Schedule time that caters to social interaction by going to the gym, scheduling a lunch date, or taking a walk with a neighbor.

Using the Arise Platform: Today’s digital and virtual world has generated more opportunities for individuals to pursue successful work-from-home business opportunities while still feeling connected to people socially. Companies like Arise provide customer contact support for its clients by virtually connecting small businesses started by people like you to world-class companies and their customers, so you’ll have plenty of opportunity for human interaction.

4.High Start-Up Costs Start-up businesses can be expensive and risky. Investing in high out-of-pocket start-up costs takes away from immediately pocketing the income you are ready to earn. There are plenty of companies today that provide real work-at-home business opportunities with little to no start-up costs. Be sure to research companies that appeal to you first and confirm they are legitimate and ethical before signing up.

Using the Arise Platform: Unlike most franchise or start-up businesses that can involve initial investments of thousands or millions of dollars, using the Arise Platform is an extremely economical business opportunity with start-up costs averaging as little as $200-$500*, plus the cost of equipment. Arise is a legitimate business opportunity and has been featured as an industry leader on national news outlets, such as Good Morning America, Fox News and CNN. Additionally, since 2005 Arise has been a Better Business Bureau (BBB) accredited business with an A+ rating.

5.Self-Doubt Creating a better work life balance and making money from home sounds tempting. However, our own self-doubt oftentimes ignites fears that hinder our ambition to try something new. Getting caught up in decision-making keeps you second-guessing yourself, thus intensifying self-doubt. Be bold and unleash your inner confidence. If you believe you can be successful working from home, both personally and professionally, you will be.

Using the Arise Platform: Sometimes opportunities sound too good to be true. While partnering with Arise may seem like one of them, we have thousands of people who prove using the Arise Platform delivers on its promises.

If you have been driving around as a way to earn that extra income, there is a better and less stressful opportunity for you. Whether you are making extra money to pay off bills, save for a vacation, or splurging on a new pair of shoes, you can get the job done in the comfort of your own home as your own boss.

A RIDESHARING SIDE GIG CAN BE STRESSFUL

When you use your car to earn extra money, it can get old real fast, and so can your car. You also have to take into consideration the following:

The wear and tear on your car and extra maintenance expenses

The extra amenities you need to stock in your car in order to ensure that you get that 5-star satisfaction rating

Sitting in traffic all day under pressure to get your riders to their destinations in time

The fear of picking up strangers in unknown destinations and different parts of town

Inexplicably getting less than a 5-star rating and starting to worry about your score

When you factor in all of the above stressors, the luster of the ridesharing idea starts to fade as fast as the new coat of wax you put on your car.

THERE IS AN EASIER WAY TO EARN EXTRA INCOME WITHOUT LEAVING HOME

You can launch your own home based call center using the Arise Platform to provide inbound customer service support to F500 clients.  Arise provides a unique opportunity for entrepreneurial individuals to launch their own virtual call centers and be their own boss without a huge investment in equipment, and you never have to leave your home. You can even work in your comfy pajamas if you choose.

When you’re the boss, the choices are all yours again and you have the power back in your court. You get to set your own hours, select the projects that match your skills and earnings expectations, and hire agents to grow your business. You control your earning potential based on how large you grow your business, the frequency you and your agents work and the results your company produces. Controlling your earning potential will allow you to enjoy the fruits of earning an extra income.

Make today the day you move forward with your work from home dream.

You want to work from home. You want to be your own boss. You want to end the commute. And now it’s easier than ever.

STP Mills and Company Inc provides a technology platform that connects customer service representatives running small call center businesses with prestigious clients, many of which are Fortune 500 companies.

Start your own small call center business (it’s easier than you may realize), and work at home running a mini-call center company, or work as a customer service representative for an existing small call center business in the Arise Network!

Provide contact center services from home

Support some of the largest companies in the world

Work at home – No commute! No clothes to buy! No day care expenses!

Are you ready to be your own boss? If you want the pride and reward that comes with running your own customer support business in your own way, on your own terms, then running a mini call center from home using Arise platform is for you.

Not ready to be your own boss?

A great way to gain experience in the call center industry is by working for a call center company that has already registered to use the Arise platform. It’s the first step in gaining knowledge about the industry, and the details of providing services to clients using the Arise platform, before choosing to start your own company. Many of the thousands of small call center companies using the Arise platform are hiring agents, and you can learn more about them as part of the registration process.

Interested in this opportunity?

Register today and connect with the nation’s largest cable and internet provider as well Intuit TurboTax, Carnival Cruiselines and other world-class client opportunities providing call center services and inbound sales support using the Arise platform.

When serving their country, most veterans transitioning to civilian life say their service gave them a completely new perspective on what they are capable of. It also gives them an edge in their post-service careers.

If you are veteran, you are uniquely prepared to succeed in being your own boss due to important business skills you’ve honed during your military service. In fact, entrepreneurs and veterans are similar in many ways.

The characteristics you learned are equivalent with those that entrepreneurs and business leaders possess: discipline, leadership, responsibility, tenacity, commitment and organization. Skills that come naturally to veterans – commitment toward setting and achieving goals, perseverance, willingness to take on great challenges and seeing opportunities instead of risks – are the foundation of any successful boss.

Statistics support the fact that the 24 million American veterans are succeeding in their post-military life with careers as small business owners:

1 in 10 small businesses nationwide are veteran-owned (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs)

Collectively, vets own 2.4 million small businesses (Forbes)

Small business run by veterans employ almost six million Americans (Forbes)

They generate more than $1.2 trillion in receipts (Data from the U.S. Census Bureau)

In the private sector workforce, veterans are 45 percent more likely than those with no active-duty military experience to be self-employed (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs)

If you are a veteran looking for the right small business opportunity, consider a network of independent, primarily work-at-home professionals who use Arise’s technology and infrastructure to deliver call center services, including customer service, sales and technical support to Fortune 500 clients.

you will enjoy the flexibility of earning a living while working-from-home (or on the road), and being your own boss – even if you are still serving.

Now that you’re not thousands of miles away from family, working from home affords you the luxury of participating – rather than missing – life’s important moments while still earning an income. It’s the ideal work-life balance for former military personnel. Even if you are still on active duty, because Arise’s infrastructure platform is virtual, being a customer service professional in the Arise network is a career that moves with you. As your own boss, you schedule your own hours and decide how much or how little you work.

This is an opportunity that’s ideal for veterans. Join the millions of vets who have established their own small business and find the freedom, flexibility and financial success you deserve. 

Get started today

When serving their country, most veterans transitioning to civilian life say their service gave them a completely new perspective on what they are capable of. It also gives them an edge in their post-service careers.

If you are veteran, you are uniquely prepared to succeed in being your own boss due to important business skills you’ve honed during your military service. In fact, entrepreneurs and veterans are similar in many ways.

The characteristics you learned are equivalent with those that entrepreneurs and business leaders possess: discipline, leadership, responsibility, tenacity, commitment and organization. Skills that come naturally to veterans – commitment toward setting and achieving goals, perseverance, willingness to take on great challenges and seeing opportunities instead of risks – are the foundation of any successful boss.

Statistics support the fact that the 24 million American veterans are succeeding in their post-military life with careers as small business owners:

1 in 10 small businesses nationwide are veteran-owned (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs)

Collectively, vets own 2.4 million small businesses (Forbes)

Small business run by veterans employ almost six million Americans (Forbes)

They generate more than $1.2 trillion in receipts (Data from the U.S. Census Bureau)

In the private sector workforce, veterans are 45 percent more likely than those with no active-duty military experience to be self-employed (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs)

If you are a veteran looking for the right small business opportunity, consider a network of independent, primarily work-at-home professionals who use Arise’s technology and infrastructure to deliver call center services, including customer service, sales and technical support to Fortune 500 clients.

you will enjoy the flexibility of earning a living while working-from-home (or on the road), and being your own boss – even if you are still serving.

Now that you’re not thousands of miles away from family, working from home affords you the luxury of participating – rather than missing – life’s important moments while still earning an income. It’s the ideal work-life balance for former military personnel. Even if you are still on active duty, because Arise’s infrastructure platform is virtual, being a customer service professional in the Arise network is a career that moves with you. As your own boss, you schedule your own hours and decide how much or how little you work.

This is an opportunity that’s ideal for veterans. Join the millions of vets who have established their own small business and find the freedom, flexibility and financial success you deserve. Get started today.

For so many women, two very important callings in life are often in conflict with one another – motherhood and having a career. The struggle to achieve both, and doing it blissfully, is well-documented. It is the subject of many articles, books, research, debate, and films. For other moms, the choice to stay at home with their children is influenced by pure finances. They simply can’t afford to not work. The bottom line is: for every mom, making the decision to stay home with your kids, or join the workforce, can be a difficult process and there is no right answer. Every woman must make the choice that brings her the closest to fulfilling her hopes, dreams, and her calling. Fortunately, there is an opportunity to accomplish these two very important callings in life, without sacrificing your own livelihood in the process. See how a business opportunity fielding phone calls can fulfill both your life callings: It’s Motherhood Calling: Stay At Home for Life’s Important Moments What’s more important in life than…well, life. Doing the things you love. Spending time with family. Being present for the important moments in your kids’ lives.  For most people, work takes a distant second to living life to the fullest.   Work-life balance has happened for tens of thousands of moms who made the call to STP Mills & Co, and it can happen for you, too. As a customer service professional, you set your own schedule around other important parts of your life. You are your own boss. Work wouldn’t feel like its interrupting your life; it becomes a pleasant part of it. You control your work- your work doesn’t control you. 

You are in control over your financial future. You determine your earning potential based on the frequency you work and the results you produce. You decide how large or small you want your check to be, and whether you make thousands, or hundreds of thousands, dollars a year. Working from home can be the best investment you make in your personal and professional fulfillment. Partnering with STP Mills and Co gives you the opportunity to provide sales, customer service, and technical support to some of the world’s most prestigious and trusted brands. You can pick an opportunity in an industry that’s best suited to your interests. If you are searching for a solution to satisfy your own callings, log on today.