Conventional PR wisdom will tell you that you can’t force something to “go viral.” Sure, you can make every effort to produce content that is hilarious, meaningful, catchy, valuable, or just so very cool that people want to share it with their friends. But no matter how real it gets in the Whole Foods parking lot, or how many dance parties take place in Apple stores, you truly cannot control what catches on and what doesn’t.

But sometimes a client offers a deal so amazing it takes on a life of its own, as was the case with the deal Kangaroo Express offered its guests: Pay $6.99 for a reusable cup, refill it with fountain or frozen beverages as many times as you like at any of the 1,600+ locations throughout the Southeast – all summer long.

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Spring has official sprung in North Carolina, and at Largemouth Communications we've already begun to launch exciting new campaigns for this summer. Before taking that giant leap, we thought we'd take a moment to look back at just a few of the "greatest hits" this Raleigh public relations agency has obtained in recent months. Read More

I am steadily approaching the end of my internship at Largemouth.  And, while a semester may seem like a long time, the 50 some odd visits to the office, all unpaid, tore across my crowded calendar.  I managed to submerse myself completely in my newfound agency setting for four- hour periods before returning, often racing down I-40, to my current collegiate career, and final Italian class of my tenure at NC State.  While it was exhausting at times, I knew it would be well worth it at the end, because, an internship is, without a doubt, the best way to prove that you deserve a job.

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Public relations is all about the message you want to convey, but words are not the only way to get a message across. Images can instantly connect audiences to brands through PR materials including annual reports, fact sheets and non-traditional outlets such as Facebook pages. I'm taking a photography class, and I've discovered that you don't need to use guesswork when choosing images - there are "rules" you can follow to help you find the most visually pleasing ones.

Just keep in mind that in some cases, rules are meant to be broken, at least when it comes to photography. Think of these more as guidelines.

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Since the Battle for Bean Street is all about leveraging the competitive spirit in us all, whether we root for UNC, NC State or Duke, we thought it would be cool to get the media involved in a competition of their own. The celebrity free- throw competition at the B-Ball on Bean Street by Mentos event was fueled by not only the competitive spirit between universities, but also between news outlets.

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The latest report from the Pew Project for Excellence in Journalism confirmed that as of the end of 2010, more people get their news from the Internet (41 percent) than from newspapers (31 percent) - and the ad dollars followed. I get most of my news online and enjoy unique ways of receiving information digitally that cannot be replicated in print.

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Someone asked me recently, why do I love what I do? The short answer is that I love helping clients share the stories that are shaping history - and in the process I'm constantly learning new ideas and perspectives. One example is the smart grid, which I have had the opportunity to explore by working with Sensus, a global smart grid technology company.

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At Largemouth, we understand the importance of considering legal ramifications of all types of communication and PR, which is why I decided to take part in a webinar titled, "How To Avoid Legal Pitfalls with Your PR Initiatives."

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While former UNC basketball player Donald Williams may be known for his three-point shooting, the autograph session Largemouth held at a Kangaroo Express in Chapel Hill last week was a slam dunk.

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Our high schools were designed 50 years ago to meet the needs of another age. Until we design them to meet the needs of the 21st Century, we will keep limiting -- even ruining -- the lives of millions of Americans. -- Bill Gates

Last week I had the honor of visiting a leadership class at the Renaissance School at Olympic High School in Charlotte to talk about a topic that all PR professionals will understand: the challenge of channeling creative output in a way that accomplishes an objective. Renaissance is one of the five schools that comprise the Olympic Community of Schools and focuses on the Arts, Humanities, Social Justice issues, and cultural awareness.

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What a great week working for our clients, with highlights including CORT Appearing on The Apprentice and The Pantry CEO interviewed on CNBC.

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It is amazing how fast time flies when you're busy! August just flew by and it is already time for our second Shout Out blog post where we shout through the Megaphone our top hits from the last month and give you a glimpse into just how great our clients truly are. Enjoy!

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Yes, you're on the right website. Largemouth, with the help of Uncle Jake Media, has redesigned its home page. First impressions mean everything, and we wanted our home page to be more client-focused and friendly because, let's face it, we're a friendly bunch!

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When I tell people I recently graduated from UNC - Chapel Hill, they get a rather apologetic look on their face and ask me what I'm up to now. I position my hand to catch their jaw drop when I tell them that I am (happily) employed.

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We're cheering into the megaphone at the Largemouth office as we celebrate five years as a premier public relations agency in the mid-Atlantic region. The cliché holds true that time flies when you're having fun working for fantastic clients and with truly talented people.

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It's no secret that trade show and conference attendance has suffered during the recession, but these events still play a critical role in an organization's marketing strategy. They present an opportunity to network with peers, learn about your competition and share your successes, and they remain one of the best opportunities to connect with a concentrated group of your target audience. But with every dollar closely guarded, it's important to make sure you get the most out of your experience.

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I had the pleasure of hearingDani Burns speak last week at the Charlotte PRSA Young Professionals luncheon. She shared her valuable insights on building your personal brand and advice on managing your online presence. Dani raised a great point when she spoke about using Google reader to aggregate blog content, using the tool to gather information in one place where it can be read at your convenience. This led me back to something I’ve also been thinking about: the power of learning from the ideas and challenges that my peers are sharing via their blogs, content that I have come to think of as my continuing education.

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PR pros, have you joined the PR Week Fire Brigade? Paul Armstrong, author of the Don’t Fear the Firehose blog, is directing conversation each week on some of the hottest topics in PR. This week’s topic: Content isn’t king anymore. Free is.

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Last week I had the pleasure of attending the first-ever nationwide Media Leaders event that took place simultaneously in seven cities: New York, Austin, San Francisco, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles and … Raleigh?!  Yes, that’s right. I was so proud to see North Carolina’s capital listed among these other major cities. I have happily lived, worked and played in the Raleigh-Durham area for several years now. Over time I have seen our area receive increased recognition across the country as a technology hub with Research Triangle Park and an education center with the many renowned colleges and universities in our midst. I am proud to see Raleigh is being recognized for its active social media scene.

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I recently sat in on a social media Webinar by Brian Solis, who is recognized for his thoughts on the convergence of PR, traditional media and social media. Here's what I learned...

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