Check out this infographic I created for an English class, discussing the genres of best (and worst) reviewed films:
McKnight_infographic – Click here to open the PDF.
Author Archives: Eva McKnight
It’s not what you know …
Networking is, hands down, one of the most valuable ways to stay current in the PR industry and make 
connections to be utilized in your job search. I attained my current internship at Formstack through an alumnus I worked with at Anderson University, and I feel very blessed to call her a good friend now. However, networking is not a finite action; no one can ever claim he or she has “finished” networking. We all must be persistent in our networking endeavors so we can evolve and deepen our connections with peers and colleagues. Recently, I sat in on a meeting where some of my peers were discussing networking connections they made over the summer. I met several credible professionals during my summer at Formstack (several of whom were mentioned by other students in the meeting), but I found myself overwhelmed by all of the name-dropping going on during the meeting. Reflecting on the meeting, I realized that networking is an ongoing action, but – like so many other aspects of life – it must be done in moderation. So here are some ways to create (and maintain!) positive and beneficial networking connections:
- If you connect with someone online, get to know them first before asking for favors. I have several Twitter connections that I have never met in real life, and possibly never will. However, I have guest blogged on their websites and asked advice from them. None of this would have been achieved if I didn’t already have a solid online relationship with them. Interact with connections you make online – reply to their Tweets, Retweet them, or mention them in Follow Friday (#FF) Tweets. This will make it less awkward when you’d like to utilize their social reach.
- If you meet someone in person, connect with them online. This is so important. If you meet someone at a conference or other networking event, connect with them as soon as possible so you can continue the networking relationship. Once this has happened, repeat tip number one.
- Don’t be the networking equivalent of a one night stand. If you meet up with a networking connection for coffee, don’t leave them hanging afterward. Send them an email thanking them for the meeting, and continue to interact with them online. Discuss upcoming conferences with them and plan to cross paths again.
- Don’t make it a competition. Remember: it’s not all about a number when it comes to networking. While you should always strive to meet new connections, focus on cultivating quality connections and maintaining them, rather than working towards a certain number. It’s less exhausting.
What do you do to maintain your networking connections? What do you tell yourself when you get overwhelmed by the networking process?
Image cred: Study Abroad 101
Other Published Works with Formstack
As an intern at Formstack, the majority of the works were on the organization’s blog. However, I did write some other content for the company, and the materials published from other avenues are listed below.
Website Content
Local/State Government Customer Page
How-To Guides
Updated Summer Social Media Posts at Formstack
Below is a list of my published online blog posts during my summer internship at Formstack (since my last blog post).
“Online Forms for State and Local Government”
“Customer Highlight: Nebraska Department of Roads”
“Formstack for Felines: Four Reasons Cats Need Online Forms” – My favorite thing I’ve written. Ever. Just saying.
“Hip California Company Creates Online Forms with Style”
“Scotland Council Makes Form Building a Team Effort”
In addition, I write the majority of the content on Formstack’s Twitter page. Please check it out here and let me know if you have any questions about the authorship of any specific Tweets.
New Post on Progressions!
Apparently, I’ve become quite the guest blogger. Maybe I should concentrate some of those efforts on my own blog, eh? 😉 Anyways, you should check out this post I wrote for Progressions, PRSSA National’s official blog. It’s about battling professional lethargy during the final weeks of summer. Check it out, and let me know what you think!
Top Web Apps Blog Post
Check out this blog post I wrote for Formstack about the top web apps college students should be using. If nothing else, you should at least click the link to see a really awkward photo of me from middle school.
Trying to be a good guest (blogger).
Hey friends! I recently wrote a guest blog post for my Twitter friend Ashley Mauder. It’s about balancing professionalism and personality on Twitter, and it includes some input from some pretty awesome PR professionals. Check it out here, and let me know what you think!
2012 Hoosier PRSA Pinnacle Awards – “Best of Show”
On May 16, 2012, I represented Fifth Street Communications at the 2012 Pinnacle Awards in Indianapolis, where we received a “Best of Show” award for our project work with Anderson University’s Office of Communications. Although AU has been our longest client, our partnership was unique this year because AU launched a new branding initiative last fall. Along with a new logo, the university emphasized five values that they wished to reinforce through our public relations efforts: integrity, responsibility, excellence, generosity and servant leadership. As manager of the university account, I pushed my associates to fan the campus and find unique stories that upheld these five values, from interesting alumni spotlights to notable faculty achievements. These stories were then profiled on the university website, social media and alumni resources. Last year, the university team produced 97 stories that reached current and prospective students, their families, alumni and countless other members of the AU community.
Photo from left: Account Manager Eva C. McKnight; client Chris Williams, director of university communications and community relations; Rebecca Beeler, associate professor of communication arts and faculty advisor; Associate Jonathon Hosea.
TACA Social Media
As an intern at The Anderson Center for the Arts (TACA), I launched and maintained the social media presence for this non-profit art gallery. Additionally, I trained the permanent staff members to continue utilizing these pages at the conclusion of my internship. Between the TACA promotional video featured in the last post and social media outreach, facility event rentals increased 15 percent during the last quarter in 2011. Please visit the links below to view TACA’s primary social media profiles.
@TACA_Arts (Twitter)
The Anderson Center for the Arts on Facebook
TACA Promotional Video
One of my long-term projects as an intern for The Anderson Center for the Arts (TACA) was to create a promotional DVD for the non-profit art gallery and rental facility. To create this video, I contacted approximately 25 former renters to obtain pictures from their events. While this video is available on Youtube (the link is below), TACA hands out DVD copies at Anderson networking events. fairs and private event consultations. Between this video and my social media efforts on Facebook, Twitter and WordPress, TACA has seen a 15 percent increase in facility rentals.
Eva Christine McKnight 