Zing

Zing gives back!

Ask your average person on the street what they think the world of Public Relations is about and they will no doubt throw the words ‘champagne’ and ‘parties’ at you but here at Zing we also believe that being a company gives us a responsibility to give something back.

With that in mind we are happy to announce the completion of the Zing School in Bangladesh.

You read that right - Zing built a school!

We teamed up with one of our own charities, the World School Foundation, and CO-ID Foundation donated funds to help build a school at Middle Monohur, an island off the edge of Bhola Island.

The island is small and is located in one of the most heavily populated areas around Bhola Island and one of the most “backward.”

We are delighted that the school is now finished and we’ve been told that the school will be a great benefit to the community when it opens next month.

But how, I hear you ask, did we do it?

With the help of our friends at the CO-ID Foundation who organized everything on the ground, Zing provided the means to secure construction materials and engaged the community to build the school for local children.

Building the school wasn’t without challenges. The building process battled hailstorms, monsoons and a caretaker Government that stalled the entire process. However, with democracy returned to Bangladesh and the elements working in our favour, the school was finally completed.  

We will upload some images once the kids start school.

The Zing Mentoring Program

Life at work can be tough. No matter where you work or how much you love your job, there are times when you need someone to turn to for advice.

Zing recently implemented a new program to help us all deal with the highs and lows of working life. Remember your first day of school when you were allocated a buddy to show you the ropes? Well, we now have one of those at work.

We teamed up with our sister agency, Bang, and established a mentoring program that involves all of us. Everyone in the company has been allocated a mentor, someone who is more senior than they are and who can provide wisdom about all things career related. Your mentor either works at Zing or Bang and they can work in any of the divisions we have (PR, events and experiential, design or accounts).

We meet with our mentor once a month, somewhere outside of the office like the local café (or pub *ahem*), to chat about how our life at work is going. We don’t necessarily discuss our client work (we have our Account Directors to go to with client related issues), instead we talk about our working life.

My mentor is one of the girls on the events team here at Zing. Together, we are working towards improving a few key areas of my working world that I suggested a little tweaking.

She’s helping me learn skills to get me moving up the career ladder. We’re working on computer skills together – she’s teaching me how to give my Powerpoint presentations the professional touch. She is also helping me come up with different strategies to tackle problems and providing an understanding ear when I just need someone to talk to.

Not only am I feeling more comfortable at work knowing there is someone there to approach with my issues who’ll do her best to help me out, but I’ve also gained a friend out of the program. And you can never have too many of those…

Kate is an Account Executive at Zing

An A-MAISE-ZING night out!

We like to think we’re a pretty fashionable bunch here at Zing, but it’s not often we’re lucky enough to sit front and centre at a runway show. So when we came across a fantastic opportunity for our client GLACEAU vitaminwater to partner up with denim label Maise to launch their spring summer 09/10 collection we immediately began mentally preparing our outfits.

The Maise show took place in an old warehouse on Cleveland Street and a number of Zingers and myself braved the harsh Sydney downpour to join Sydney’s fashion set and view the designs from Claire Greeve’s latest collection.

Taking inspiration from the collection's name "The M Team" the warehouse was completely transformed into an underground lair with a ‘Street Fighter meets gym class’ vibe complete with bleacher style seats and sports nets filled with vitaminwater. Pulsating lights were hung above the entry and that catwalk and helped enhance the atmosphere at the event.

The show started with the screech of an air horn followed by a really cool mix of the Black Eyed Peas ‘Boom Boom Pow’ by Chew Fu.

The models sashayed down the runway in netted body suits with 80’s style shoulder pads and some very cool, but seriously dangerous looking, customised shoes with mini basketballs spiked in the heels. I could picture one of those little basketballs causing some serious injury, but being the professionals that they are the models all strutted their stuff unscathed. 

My favourite part of the night was, of course, the freebies! Girls were walking around with bowls full of chunky plastic Maise rings – one of which adorns my right hand as I type. It was the talk of the office the next day as all the girls flocked round my desk to check it out.

Check out some pics from the night below (Images courtesy of Cybele Malinowski):

Sam Howie is a Senior Account Executive with Zing 

To Tweet or not to Tweet - that is the question

The latest trend, and when I say trend I mean media explosion, in social networking is Twitter.

Everywhere you look, everything you read and nearly all websites have leapt on to the Twitter bandwagon. 

It caused the break-up of Jennifer Aniston and John Mayer. It was used by Ashton Kutcher to showcase his much older wife’s behind and saw him lead a media battle against CNN to get the coveted ‘first to a million’ followers.

Lindsay used it to lash out at her now ex-girlfriend Sam Ronson. In fact, who isn’t “tweeting?” Oprah tweets, Miley Cyrus tweets, Lilly Allen tweets, Tila Tequila tweets, Snoop Dogg tweets, Mariah Carey tweets, Demi Moore tweets, Heidi Montag tweets. In fact a full list of celeb tweeters can be found here: http://www.bloggersblog.com/celebritytwitterlist/
 
However, did you know that Twitter is “dangerous?” I kid you not. CNN recently reported that Twitter has the potential to “numb our sense of morality” and “make us indifferent to human suffering.” I bet you are asking yourself, how is this possible?

Well, scientists claim that the speed in which we are processing information, as a result of Twitter, actually hinders our ability to fully feel emotions.  In scientific terms, this phenomenon is called a “stimulus overload.” This isn’t the first we’ve heard about this process – video games, television commercials – have all been blamed for destroying our moral compass and turning our hearts black.
 
There is no denying that Twitter increases the rate in which information is spread but I think it is doing more than just that. I believe that Twitter is actually facilitating communication by making it convenient, instantaneous and concise.
 
Think about it.

With just a mobile phone, an individual person can access Twitter to share information and respond to multiple people at any given time and in any given place. They don’t need to call or text every person in the address book or have access to a computer to send a mass email with a message they wish to share.

What’s more, the 140-character limit tweet, makes communication simpler, our messages more straightforward thereby encouraging us to communicate more often as opposed to writing long-winded emails or engaging in time-consuming phone calls.
 
Call us bias, but at Zing we are always looking for news ways to connect with the online realm. So for us, Twitter is a fabulous way to keep up with our friends, clients, media and co-workers.

But the question remains will Twitter be the death of human emotions or the means in which humans can connect with each other to share emotions? - in 140 characters or less, of course ;)

Darcie 

Darcie is an Account Executive in the Online PR department. She also Tweets.

 

Some Useful Links:

Australian media on Twitter can be found here

Useful Twimailer site to help you decide to follow your followers can be found here

Check out your Twitter Grading here

Analyse your Twitter friends here

 

And why not follow some Zingers on Twitter:

Zing

Geoffrey Emerson @thejeffster

Scott Rhodie @scottrhodie

Darcie O'Malley @darciedownunder

“SO YOU THINK YOU CAN PUBLICISE?”

Parties, celebs, champers – that’s what PR’s all about, right? Well sometimes yes, and sometimes no.

But to organise the party and invite the celebrities and drink the magnums of champagne takes time, patience and a lot of hard work

Now this sounds obvious, but you’d be surprised by the number of interns (or more fondly known here as Zingterns), who walk through the door of our office expecting to be the belle of the ball in their second week.

This is where I come in. My name’s Kate and I’m an Account Executive here at Zing. I know all about interns, as I was one! A year and a half ago I started an internship here at Zing and I’ve been working at the company ever since.

I thought I’d share with all you potential Zingterns a little bit about what you can expect when you come and join the team here in Surry Hills.

We offer two types of internships at Zing – long-term and short-term ones.

Long-term internships are for those of you who can give up a month or two full-time to come in and work here. You’ll be doing the admin jobs in the office – answering the phone, packing media mailers, organising media and blogging databases etc but we’ll also put you on your own accounts and give you projects to work on.

You’ll be acting as your account’s account coordinator, and will have all the responsibilities that go along with the position.

Short-term internships run either full time for two to four weeks or a few (two or more) days a week for about two months. You will take on a more admin heavy role, helping with all the tasks we do here day in and day out.

You won’t be running the show and you will be doing some unglamorous jobs, all unpaid, but you will also be spending time in one of the top consumer PR agencies in the country – and getting on the job training that you will find essential when you finish your course.

You will get out of your internship what you put into it. Listen to everything that’s going on in the office, talk to people about what they do, ask questions, work hard and have fun. Internships are a great stepping-stone into the PR world.

The key here is that it’s not enough just to say you’re had work experience – it’s how you use it and what you do with it that counts. You will get out of your internship what you put into it

After spending time at Zing, you will have met 24 amazing people (not just PRs – we have events, experiential, design and video departments), read every magazine and newspaper there is, brainstormed huge campaigns for brands like Coca-Cola, LEGO and McDonald’s, familiarised yourself with the Australian media landscape and even had a glass of champers of two!

Interested? Send your CV and a bit of info about yourself to kateb@zing.net.au and I’ll see what I can offer you and if you are not convinced then check this out:

Look forward to hearing from you budding PRs,
Kate

Guess who just won B&T PR agency of the year....?

That's right...on Friday night, Zing was the winner of the B&T ‘PR Agency of the Year’ award!  

We're all completely over the moon, especially as our work in online PR seems to have been a major part of why we were chosen above other agencies.  

Not only does this news really acknowledge the hard work of the team here at Zing, but is also a great accolade for our clients. 

Thanks guys for helping us make it an award winning year. 

On the night, Preya, Jocelyne, Geoff, Rebekka and I attended the awards ceremony. Check out some of the photos from the night...yours truly in my smart blue striped suit...

Sean 

Account Director - Online PR

sean@zing.net.au

Our favourite blogs part deux.

I love blogs and I love food, so here are are just some of my favourite food blogs. Enjoy!

Grab Your Fork

As a foreigner living in Sydney, I am always looking for restaurant recommendations. Grab Your Fork is my bible when it comes to choosing the location of my next meal out. Not only can readers browse reviews by location, but also by the type of cuisine. User-friendly, honest and packed with photos… this blog should be in the repertoire for every food-loving Sydneysider!

Oh, Times Online just ranked it number 4 food blog IN THE WORLD! Congrats Helen!

Bottom line: Bookmark this blog immediately, if not sooner!

Not Quite Nigella

No details are spared in this blog. Not Quite Nigella  takes beautiful photos of the food she makes and  enjoys at a variety of restaurants in Sydney and London. A self-professed cake enthusiast, her talent for creating stunning and unique treats is obvious to regular visitors of her blog. Readers beware, your mouth will water and your stomach will rumble when you read this blog. 

Bottom line: Not Quite Nigella? I beg to differ.

Chocolate Suze

Chocolate Suze has been blogging for years and it shows in her posts! A blogger All-star, her posts are both personal and witty. Chocolate Suze takes her readers on culinary journeys everywhere from Ramen eating contests in Sydney to markets in Malaysia.  Word on the street is that she makes a delicious biscotti.

Bottom line: You will smile, you will laugh, you will be hooked on Chocolate Suze! Before you know it, you too will be saying “Yarm.”

Fig & Cherry

In my opinion, Fig & Cherry is perhaps one of the most visually attractive food blogs in Australia.  Like the design, the recipes on this blog are simple yet elegant. One of these days, I WILL try to make the “Healthy Potato Salad.” 

Bottom line: Fig & Cherry, you make it look too easy!  Happy 1 Year Blogiversary!

Bon Appetite!

- Darcie (darcie@zing.net.au)

Darcie is Account Co-ordintator in the Online PR department at Zing. She spends her days reading blogs.

Look what we did...!

I don't normally use this blog as a channel to talk about our successes or clients so forgive if I break my own rules. 

We're in the running for two B&T awards this year! Firstly for agency of the year (see our video below)

And also for PR strategy of the year for our Mother relaunch. The Mother PR strategy included quite a bit of online PR with an online influencer program so I'm really excited about this one. 

We'll find out if we've won anything Dec 5th so stay tuned! 

Our fav blogs this week...

We're lucky here at Zing because part of the job description as a PR is to be very familiar with blogs and all social networks - so I get to read them every day! Being on Facebook is actually me doing work! Love it......As a result, we're continually finding great content that is not only relevant to our clients and our industry but also a great read in general. 

Below are few of Zing’s favourite reads at the moment. Some are old friends and others new acquaintances, but be sure to add these guys to you’re your google reader- otherwise you’re missing out!

Mooiness

From a dog eating fruit to political insights, there’s never a dull day with Mooiness. We first ran into this guy during our Mother Energy Drink adventures and he’s been a great contact ever since. Down to Earth, yet right on the money Mooiness knows his stuff.

2Threads.com

Forget ‘finger on the pulse’, 2Threads is the pulse! You couldn’t ask for a better mix of fashion, fun and fabulousness. The 2Threads team is incredibly approachable and always willing to offer great feedback (good or bad) on the products and brands we represent. What’s more, they welcome user-generated content so you can be a cool kid too!   

Beauty Editor

Your one-stop-shop for all things beauty, the gorgeous Katrina Lawrence gives you unlimited access to the hidden gems of the beauty world. Join the fight against free radicals with a simple click of the mouse.
 

Life Hacker

Plug in and log on, it’s tech time. The team at Life hacker are scrupulously professional but this attitude is certainly paying off! Their posts are consistently relevant and insightful, perhaps the reason why Life Hacker is one of Australia’s most popular websites.

Marketing Mag

The goss about the industry from those in the industry, Marketing Mag is your key to the PR/Marketing/Advertising treasure chest. 

Change you HAVE to believe in....

Ok - so contrary to what some people think of the state of online PR in Australia's PR agencies, here at Zing we pride ourselves as being pretty clued up with all things to do with social media marketing and the bloggosphere. And so we should, we've been doing it long enough.

We've been successfully  implementing online PR campaigns for many of our clients including McDonalds, Mother Energy Drink, glaceau vitaminwater, Bacardi Lion, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment and more for about 1.5 years now. In that time I have seen the attitude to online PR change dramatically to the point where new clients are coming out of no where specifically requesting our services in this area.

All good news for my team! I'm the Account Director of online PR (or the "won't be redundant in 3 years' team). Which brings me to my next point. PR's,  I can't stress this enough, change and adapt or risk becoming irrelevant and redundant in your industry. 

I admit it's not easy to change....although it hasn't been that hard for the offline Zinger team to get their heads around it, I do understand that it doesn't come naturally to everyone. It is important to teach them the skills and give them the confidence necessary to think outside the box that is the traditional media landscape. Of course, now all the Zingers are super skilled up in that area and talk about bloggers and social networks as easily as they do editors and journalists.  As a result, we're seeing a whole new world of opportunities open up to us. 

Change = Good for business.  

Check out the poll below and let me know what you think about online PR. Is it something you use regularly or need to know more about it before dipping your toe in?

And of course, please feel free to leave comments...would love to chat more about this topic as  i feel very passionate about it. 

Sean

(Account Director - Online PR, Zing)