Current Music : Can't Stop Dancing by Becky G


As I have mentioned earlier, I am working on a full-time job. And just recently, I was involved in a beauty and wellness project. Of course, I was fortunate enough to be a part of the sub-committee and I was being assigned to handle and manage the PR of our company, as well as our launching event.
Things did not went well at the start of the project, due to our options on the PR Companies we have. However, I managed to get hold on one of the PR companies. All thanks to Marcus, as he really helped me a lot on the PR and Catering side, as well as the event photos that were needed for press coverage.

WESTCOAST PR Company was the one that we decided to work with for our launching event. It was a very good experience working with WESTCOAST as I had gained a lot of knowledge, and also learnt a lot from them on Public Relations. To be honest, I have zero knowledge on Public Relations and crisis management, as I come from a Finance background.

When I was assigned to handle and manage the PR for our launch event, I actually did asked myself, "WHAT IS PUBLIC RELATIONS?" before engaging with the PR company. PR is a new thing for me.

So, what is Public Relations (PR) ?
PR : In marketing, PR is a strategic communication process that builds mutually beneficial relationships between organisations and their public audiences.

Well, there is an old saying, " Advertising is what you pay for, publicity is what you pray for. "

Basically, PR specialists are storytellers.
They bring the best of your company out, and showcase to your target/public audiences.
Of course, in order for the PR company to do an excellent publicity on building your company's image and reputation, as well as create a brand awareness on your homegrown services and products, one must be transparent, unbiased, and practical in providing information that you want your target/public audiences to know about YOU, YOUR COMPANY.

IN WESTCOAST,
PR is the way organisations, companies and individuals interact with the public and media. This can be done through direct communications with the target audience or indirectly through a 3rd party (the media, bloggers, key opinion leaders etc.) with an aim to create and maintain a positive image and build strong relations with the audience.

I would say that, WESTCOAST has done an excellent publicity for our company, helping us to build our company's image and reputation, and also to create brand awareness on our company's homegrown products and services.

Well, I have been liaising with WESTCOAST for almost a month, and I am very happy to work with Koh Mayanne (Westcoast Client Service Director), and together with Dr Choy (Business Developement) and also Tun Putri (Consultant).
Through my experience working with PR Company,  I must say that Public Relations require a lot of thorough planning, crisis management, and contingency planning on pre-event, during the event and post-event.
Therefore, they take note on every little details in order for the whole agenda and event to flow smoothly, as well as able to handle and crises faced during the event.

For example:-
1) Ribbon Cutting Ceremony-  PR agency would like to know what is the arrangement and sequence, as well as who stands next to each other
2) Lion Dance Ceremony - What will the VVIPs be doing during the lion dance, do they follow or just enjoy the lion dance? Will it be too loud to conduct media Q&A during lion dance?
3) Media Q&A - The dos and dons; what should be asked, and what should not be asked by the media and bloggers.
4) Usherers - Their dress code, protocols, briefing etc etc.

WESTCOAST always surprised me with their questions, on the little little details. And I will be sitting down there and thinking "Well, why I have never thought about that?" or " Owh ya, thank goodness they've thought about it, or else I would have forgotten about it.".
Clearly, I need to improve myself more, try to analyse the issue more, and be meticulous a little more.

However, the most important for a PR to work on is the PRESS. They are the one who work on the press release too. Press release is the one that matters the most as it will be send and distribute it out to third party such as the media, bloggers, journalists, and reporters. They are the ones who is going to promote your brand to the audiences, spreading it out like a virus. Therefore, press release should be written in a way to attract them. Press release it's not just about bullet points, or points that were copied out from the brochures word-by-word, letter-by-letter. In fact, press release, it's like an actual story narrated by the PR agency.
WESTCOAST has been helping us on the press release, and they really did a great job on our press release. I realize that, in order for the PR agency to do a great job on the press release, company has to provide transparent, unbiased and non-asymmetrical information to the audiences - that's what we call "The Art of Communication" and they are the expertise in it.

How my marketing lecturer always warned us not to use "We are the best....." or "We are the one and only company who provides...."
But, I realized that they are able to restructured the whole sentence so that media/blogger will not raised questions like " Why do you say you are the only company...." or " Are you sure you are the only company...."

After 3 weeks of countless meetings and working with WESTCOAST, I really learnt and gained a lot of knowledge on Public Relations, how it works and how do you communicate with the audiences and at the same time build trust and company image.
Public relation is just as important as Marketing. A company may have top products or services, but without any brand awareness or company image, the products and services may not reach to your audience or your audiences may not be aware of your company brand.

To know more about WESTCOAST PR Sdn Bhd
kindly check out their website at https://www.westcoast.my/
or FB at westcoast.my

Current Music : SEVE by Tez Cadey.


2017, hello readers!

It looks like I've been on hiatus for almost a year.
Yes, I had stopped blogging for a year. Of course, I would not let it go to waste.
As usual, someone asked me where I have been for this one whole year, as if my blog has been shut down. And, some even asked me what I am up to now.
Before I start writing about it, I would like to say a few words to all my friends who I met through writing blog, many many years back.

Dear, I have been reading and checking on your blog even though I, myself have not been writing for so long, so so long. Some of you may have shut down your blog, or some of you may have turn into a star blogger. Those who have been on hiatus/shut down, I just want to say, I miss reading your stories and keeping in touch with you all. And also, to those who has turn into a star blogger. I am glad to hear that, and keep up the good work and your passion. Of course, to those who are still reading my blog and stories, I hope we could still keep in touch. Drop me some message/comment so that we can keep our conversation going. 

First of all,  I would like to thank whoever has encourage and inspire me to continue my passion to blog and write about my story. And the people that I want to thank are new friends I made from the PR Company - Mayanne and Putri.
To be honest, they are the one who actually rekindle the fire in me, revive my passion in blogging and writing.

So, where have I been for this one whole year?
Remember my last post about HELP Gala Night 2015? Yes, after HELP Gala Dinner Night 2015, I was busy with my upcoming Final Year Project, assignments projects and exams. Then and there, I went through some ups and downs on my academics and also personal matters.

[Fast forward]

December 2015, I met someone that would change my life. It was my mum who actually brought me to see this person, right after I finish my exam. Before that, my mum was the one who met this person through her friend as she went to attend a talk during my exam day.
So, I promised my mum that I  would follow her to see this person as my mum knew what situations that I was facing. Instead of psychiatrist and psychologist, she brought me to see this person.

[Fast Forward]

Ever since I met this person, I decided to join his foundation to learn, to rebuild, to realign myself, as well as to help people who are in need, just like me.
I was taking one year time to readjust my body, slowly re-tune and re-align my body, soul and mind. Besides, I also took the time to heal and repair my body as the first time I went and see him, my body's health condition wasn't looking good. IT WAS REAAALLLLL..... BAD.

And, there goes my one year time in the foundation, working, learning and constantly rebuilding and growing. I decided to work for SWO Foundation after I completed my 3 years degree in HELP University. Then and there, I keep learning, keep falling, keep growing and keep rebuilding myself. It is not easy, but I am very,very happy that I manage to survive despite the hard times I faced in the midst of my learning process. I went through some life changes by my own experience. It was scary, yet fascinating. That is because every cloud has a silver lining. With such hardships that I was going through, I am able to carry myself up slowly, rebuild myself again and again despite how many times I fell, and also to re-align myself back bit by bit.
It takes time, a lot of patience, determination and also effort to carry myself forward. I am very happy of what I have went through, or else I won't be at where I am now.

Here comes the second question.
So, what am I doing now?
Well, I am currently working on a full-time job. I will not go so much details on this.
Most importantly, I am able to share my experience and my story in order to help people who are in need of comfort, listener, and also experience through my blog.

Just so you know, I am more active in SWO Foundation. I am managing SWO blog, as to provide a solution for readers and other people on how to manage themselves through my experience sharing.
Head to www.swomalaysia.blogspot.com to know more about yourself.

Current Music : Run by Lost Frequencies


It's a damn late post, I know. Owh well, who cares? LOL
Anyway, I attended HELP University's Gala Night 5 months ago. I decided to buy the ticket last minute because I thought, why not? It's my final year now, and I want to enjoy every moment I spend together with my friends.  This year, I'm not supervising any of the leaders and committees, STRESS FREE. All I need to do, is to doll myself up, sit back, eat and enjoy the night.
I just realised that I overspent compare to last year. I spent almost RM5** for this Gala Night, and I almost bang my head on the wall. I did my very last minute shopping  - make-up, evening dress, high heels, hairdo, etc. I was too busy with my assignments and I did not know that Gala Night was just one week away.
Anyway, I decided to go "normal". If you have read my post regarding HELP GALA NIGHT 2014, you know what I mean. LOL.



I don't know why, but both of the dress I wore to Gala Night are really a pain on my ass. I can sit still, I have to keep adjusting my transparent bra strap (blue dress) and keep pulling and holding my dress cause people keep stepping on my dress. I can't afford to pay this dress if there are any holes or flaws on the dress.
So, this year, I made up my mind that I want to go for short dress. I look everywhere so I found a rose gold evening dress from FOREVER21. This dress cost a bomb. Fuck it. And then, I went to Metrojaya and got a pair of gold high heels. Guess what? JINX. Fucking Jinx. I wasn't able to walk properly, and I couldn't stand too long nor walk around because it fucking hurts man. Owh, did I forgot to mention that I bought a 4 inch high heels? I barely walk the whole night, so I asked Vincent and Edison to get me some food and drinks. Damn.

Despite all the shit that my dress and high heels gave me that night, I do quite like them actually. Especially my dress, I love how the sequins were sewn on the dress. The upper part of the dress is "sheer mesh" (I don't know how you name it) with sequins on it and the lower part of the dress is chiffon. Basically, you don't wear anything in it. It does not look nice with bra since the back of the dress are "sheer mesh"/ bareback. It's either you wear it with a nipple tape or nubra. I wore a nubra with a transparent bra strap to secure it.

Besides that, I got my hairdo at Number76 Salon, Publika. It was Hikky-san who did my hair this time. I told her I want all my hair up, so that my hair is able to accentuates my features since I go for nude make up. (Not a big fan of heavy make-up, that's why.) I did some color touch-up on my hair too.

Well... before I got my ASUS ZenFone 2, I had a bad Samsung phone. Therefore, I have no choice but to ask Marcus to take our pictures since he was the camera man LOL.











 Peace out.