Author Archives: Kelsey Makings
My Daughter Is Obsessed with YouTube… And Maybe It's Alright
Kelsey Makings | Jan 9, 2019
My four-year-old loves watching TV just like the rest of us, but her go-to isn’t Barney, Sesame Street or Mr. Rogers. It’s none other than… YouTube. Although I strive not to use the platform as a “digital babysitter” there are times that parents simply need to get things done. It was then, amidst seeing her […]
READ MORE
#FUNFACTFRIDAY- January
Kelsey Makings | Jan 4, 2019
This is it, folks! We have officially finished our first week of 2019. How has it been so far? To celebrate the beginning of a new year, I have compiled some interesting facts about the marvelous month known as January. January is named after the Roman god Janus, who was always shown as having two […]
READ MORE
The Importance of Getting Visual on Social Media
Kelsey Makings | Dec 20, 2018
Aside from my love of writing, I have a passion for creating graphics. I get to use a different part of my brain and my fingers get a break from clanking on the keyboard. Although I probably spend more time on them then I should, it makes a vast difference when creating visuals for social […]
READ MORE
Are You Listening?
Kelsey Makings | Dec 12, 2018
“Most people do not listen with the intent to understand, they listen with the intent to reply.” – Stephen R. Covey. Effective listening sounds elementary right? Turns out, it’s not. And it’s one of the biggest barriers in communication. The thing is, most of us don’t mean to be bad listeners. In fact, the opposite […]
READ MORE
Coffee, Breakfast and Paul Maryniak: What I Learned
Kelsey Makings | Dec 6, 2018
Yesterday, eight of us PR pros had the chance to connect in a more intimate setting in downtown Gilbert. The guest was none other than Paul Maryniak, a veteran newsman and executive editor of several Times Publications, including the East Valley Tribune, Ahwatukee Foothills News, SanTan Sun News, Scottsdale Progress and Gilbert Sun News. Ready […]
READ MORE
A Few Takeaways from the PRSA Media Breakfast
Kelsey Makings | Nov 28, 2018
I attended a PRSA media breakfast at the Arizona Republic yesterday morning. The event included a tour of the newsroom along with a Q&A session with four journalists, including Ryan Randazzo, business reporter, Catherine Reagor, real estate reporter, Stephanie Innes, healthcare reporter and Lauren Saria ,dining reporter.. Here are a few takeaways from each panelist. […]
READ MORE
Happy Thanksgiving!
Kelsey Makings | Nov 21, 2018
“Gratitude can turn common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joys and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.” – William Arthur Ward In honor of Thanksgiving, HMA Public Relations will be off Thursday, Nov. 22 through Friday, Nov. 23 We hope everyone has a wonderful, family- and friend-filled holiday. […]
READ MORE
Fun Fact Friday: Fonts Matter
Kelsey Makings | Nov 16, 2018
As Abbie and I were driving to a client meeting one day, there was one thing we really wanted to focus on… “What are we going to have for lunch after this?!” We were in a new area and unfamiliar with what was around us. Then, almost simultaneously, we spotted the same restaurant that had […]
READ MORE
How Instagram and Snapchat Are Boosting Voter Participation
Kelsey Makings | Nov 6, 2018
With statistics showing that younger people are less inclined to get out and vote, social media platforms such as Instagram and Snapchat, are finding ways to boost voter participation. Instagram is adding a set of new features including stickers that enable users to share when they have casted their vote. Friends and followers can then […]
READ MORE
Happy Halloween From HMA!
Kelsey Makings | Oct 31, 2018
Happy Halloween from all of us here at HMA Public Relations. In honor of the holiday, here are a few pictures from the team throughout the years! We hope you have a festive celebration and remember: you are never too old to dress up and eat candy. Enjoy!
READ MORE
What It’s Like to Accidentally Detox from Your Phone
Kelsey Makings | Oct 25, 2018
First and foremost, I blame the kids. Secondly, I blame the phone. And alright, I should probably hold myself responsible at some point in the mix. Regardless, I went three consecutive days without a phone. Now I had been having issues with this certain cellular device for quite some time. A certain three-year-old in my […]
READ MORE
Lessons Learned From Top Golf
Kelsey Makings | Oct 18, 2018
One can say I am competitive by nature. As an athlete, I took a loss pretty hard. As a Cardinals fan, well, I have had to learn how to accept an “L” more times than I would like. So, when the HMA team gathered at Top Golf to support Subway Kids & Sports, you can […]
READ MORE