So Long, Farewell

As I begin my final days at Frause, I can’t help but look back to the beginning of this amazing internship-- the days when I had no idea what a media list was, how to work the copier, or how important a cup of coffee can be. I have grown so much over the last 10 weeks. I feel as though I am leaving Frause with more professional skills and more experience than I ever expected.


Frause has given me such an awesome opportunity to get my foot in the door of the business and communications world, and I could not be more grateful. Thousands of college students take on internships every summer, but surely not all are blessed with an experience like mine. I hear stories from my friends about spending hours filing papers, going on endless coffee runs or licking 400 envelopes during their internships. Though I have done my fair share of this classic intern work, I have also been able to help the company and its clients in positive, influential ways. How many interns get to say they have written press releases, sat in on a new client meeting or worked with a client on a talk show? Not many.

When I begin my sophomore year next Monday, I know school will be harder and classes will begin becoming more specific to my major. But no classes will ever be able to teach me more about PR and communications than Frause has in these 10 short weeks.

One of the things I have enjoyed most throughout this internship has been writing for the Frause intern blog. It has been such a great opportunity for me to write about my interests and document my experience here. I encourage all of the blog readers to continue reading the next intern’s work because it truly is a “fly on the wall” view of how awesome Frause is.

- Katie Sells

Facebook Ads: A powerful resource when used correctly

According to the New York Times, a study done by market research firm Yankelovich revealed that the average American is exposed to up to 5,000 advertisements per day - and they are everywhere. Road signs, newspapers ads and online pop-up ads are constantly targeting consumers. I have found that one of the places where I am exposed to these thousands of ads is Facebook.

Facebook ads have become a powerful tool for companies because of the price and the ability to cater ads to consumers. Because Facebook is organized by networks, companies can aim their product or service at certain age groups, locations or interests. Recently Facebook advertising has come under scrutiny because users worry about how much of their profile companies are accessing when targeting them. In reality, advertisers have no access to user data. They submit keywords and Facebook matches their ad to users. Of course not all of the 500 million Facebook users actually click on the ads, but an advertiser can still get tons of exposure for less than $25 a day by choosing to pay for clicks vs. impressions and by setting a daily budget (for more information see here).

Facebook recognizes and respects that people want a certain degree of privacy online, but users often can’t help but feel judged by the ads that appear on their screens. When the first thing you see when logging on to Facebook is an ad for meeting other singles, joining a weight loss program or going to a new church you can’t help but wonder why these ads have been targeted to you and what they are implying.


Other ads are less personal and are simply incorrectly targeted. I’m not sure why Facebook thinks I would be interested in going to a club where the seventh best DJ in India is performing or why I need to begin preparing for kindergarten and a “lifetime of learning” but apparently these advertisers chose to target people like me.

On the other end of the spectrum there are some ads that seem to apply to me perfectly. So perfectly it almost feels like advertisers are stalking me. Ads promoting sorority paraphernalia, offering me discounts on dance performances in the Seattle area and reminding me to watch The Office on Thursday nights are constantly showing up. It’s freaky how well advertisers can cater their ads to my preferences.


It is these companies that are flawlessly aiming their promotions at me that have successfully harnessed the power of Facebook advertising. They have used this medium to find out what I like and how to sell me what I want. And, in all honesty, I actually do want to click on the ad offering me 50 percent off a Marc Jacobs handbag (despite it being creepy that the advertisers know I like the brand). Because of the 500-million-person market and the inexpensive cost of advertising, the return on investment is huge with Facebook ads and I can easily see Facebook ads surpassing Google ads in terms of popularity and success (if they haven’t already). When used correctly, Facebook ads could bring a company a lot of success. All in all, they are a resource that should definitely be taken advantage of.

If you’re interested in advertising on Facebook, be sure to check out the Guide to Facebook Ads for more information: http://www.facebook.com/adsmarketing/

- Katie Sells

Talkin' 'Bout My Generation

A few weeks ago while I was working at the front desk, Lisa, Frause’s office manager, sent me a Google Message asking me to check a contact on the Rolodex. I replied that I would gladly look up the contact but a panic quickly began to set in. Rolodex? I had no idea what I was being asked to look for. I frantically looked around the desk, opening drawers and searching on the computer desktop. Eventually I sheepishly went back to the chat and asked the question that has now become the joke of the office, “What is a Rolodex?”

Shocked that I had never heard of a Rolodex, Lisa asked Amy, the Frause intern from last summer (and our current assistant account executive) if she knew what a Rolodex was and the first thing that came to Amy’s mind was a watch. After everyone got a good laugh at our naïveté, we soon realized that our ignorance wasn’t just because we’re relatively new to the workplace- it’s generational.

My generation is just beginning to enter the “real world” and, as we cross from the realm of students to that of employees, a generational divide in the workplace is going to become increasingly apparent. Due to technology and the fast-paced world we have grown up in, we are different from any generation before us.



My generation (called Generation Y or Millennials) is incredibly technologically savvy, specifically with the Internet. We’ve been conducting Google searches, e-mailing and using social networking sites since elementary or middle school. We have diverse social lives thanks to the development of sites like MySpace, YouTube, Twitter and Facebook and we don’t think it is abnormal to put our information online. My generation sees social networking as part of a normal social life, rather than a revolutionary concept. We are comfortable with putting ourselves out into cyberspace and aren’t hesitant about Internet networking. Because of this, we can easily tap into the huge power of these websites without much strategic thought.

Another thing that is unique to Gen Y is texting. I have been able to text since I got my first cell phone at age 12 and it has always been my primary way of communicating. But because of my affinity for texting, I am not as comfortable picking up the phone to call someone. When asked to make a call here at the office, the first thing that always pops into my head is whether or not an e-mail will suffice. This isn’t because I’m lazy. It’s just because I am not used to making phone calls and I am not as comfortable with direct communication where technology isn’t there to act as a middleman.

Between our gravitation toward Internet networking and our disregard for one-on-one, interpersonal communication, Gen Y members are at an interesting place, especially because the opposite tendencies seem to be true among earlier generations.

Right now, as the members of Generation Y enter the workforce, I believe there will have to be a big shift in the methods of communication on both ends of the generational spectrum for business to continue to be successful. I will be the first to admit that the men and women of my generation need to become more fluent in the art of direct communication and need to get used to having conversations not mediated by a screen. At the same time, the more open previous generations become toward social media and maintaining online relationships, the easier it will be for them to reach younger audiences and perhaps clients. If all generations within the workplace do their part to learn and adapt to new communication methods, the increasing generational divide may eventually disappear, and, luckily for me, the Rolodex may disappear with it.

- Katie Sells

The Island Life

Whidbey Island has been on my list of places to visit ever since I was a little girl. Growing up I would always hear stories about my friends going to their cabins on the island or taking a day trip to Langley, but never once have I made the drive north for a visit myself.

That all changed two weekends ago when Bob and his wife Sue were generous enough to open their home (and farm) on Whidbey Island to the entire Frause team hosting the Frause annual summer barbeque.

The weather was gorgeous, and despite the unusually long ferry lines, everyone was happy to be there. The food could not have been better, leading the entire team to stuff our faces with everything from classic chips and salsa to decedent corn and blueberry salad and a summery berry trifle; all of which put my modest chocolate chip cookies to shame. And the entertainment of the evening? Watching three boys (all under the age of 12) play bartender and earn a sizable amount of tips for shoving beverages into every empty hand.



What I found to be the most interesting aspect of the barbeque was seeing all of my Frause coworkers outside of their office roles. I got to see people with their kids, husbands and wives, and boyfriends and girlfriends. I learned that some people moonlight as chefs and others are stellar at kickball. I learned some people have allergies, others tell good jokes, some go to Sounders games or even share my same interests in TV shows.



It was fascinating to see everyone outside of the Frause walls and to get to know them as people who do much more than send e-mails and give me Excel sheets to work on. Spending time with my coworkers outside of the office has enriched my relationships with the people here and has helped me get to know the Frause team on a more personal level.

- Katie Sells

Happily Lost in Translation

Like every Frause intern before me, I am ashamed to admit I have never used the King County Metro. But I will spare you another story about getting lost in Seattle and waiting 30 minutes for the wrong bus. In fact, I’m proud to say that I managed the bus system surprisingly well for my first trip.

Aside from miraculously surviving public transit, these first few weeks of my internship have opened my eyes to the world of public relations and have been filled with many learning experiences, including a crash course in the language of communications.

With only an introductory communications class under my belt, I honestly had no idea what to expect when I walked through the doors of Frause. At my first “breakfast huddle” I was introduced to everyone and greeted with open arms. But as the morning discussion turned to more business-related matters, I quickly became lost in translation. People began brainstorming about something called “retail and hospitality,” throwing out phrases like “B to B,” “lifestyle brand” and “SEO.” I had no idea what any of these phrases or acronyms meant and all I could do was take notes and smile. Finally, when someone brought up the particularly puzzling “CSR,” Bob took pity on me and asked, “Katie, do you know what that is?” And I had to admit I had no clue.

But that is the beauty of a Frause internship. Not knowing the right answer is fine here and I have found that my endless questions are not annoying, but welcomed. Frause even stresses that internships are all about learning the ropes and sharpening the necessary skills to survive in a professional world. Now after spending a few weeks around the puzzling PR lingo, I can’t wait to continue breaking the language barrier, even though I may have to take the bus to do so.

- Katie Sells

Good-Bye Frause!

I am sad to say that this is my last post on the intern blog. This week is my last and I’m still trying to figure out how the past ten weeks flew by so quickly. I guess it goes with the saying, time flies when you’re having fun.

Since I do have to say good-bye, I want to take a moment and thank everybody at Frause for such an amazing learning experience. There is more to school than what is learned in the classroom, and the knowledge I have gained with this internship will stay with me forever and only help me grow as a professional. The entire team has been nothing but supportive since my first day and I cannot thank you enough.

In other news, on Monday, June 14, at 12 p.m., I will officially become a University of Oregon alumnus. I am excited to have my entire family cheer me on as I walk across a stage while Professor Tom Bivins calls my name as a spring 2010 School of Journalism and Communication graduate.

From here, who knows what’s next for me! I am currently in search of a full-time career that will allow me to utilize my skills in media and client relations and social media, in a setting that allows me to learn something new every day.

Keep reading here to find out what kind of adventures are in store for the next intern. And if you want to read more from me you can check out my blog here. Thanks to everyone who read my posts!

Making the Most from an Internship

With the countdown to graduation dwindling and the pressure of finding the next step increasing, I have spent a lot of time talking with and listening to professionals. Something I hear all the time is, make the most of your internship and make connections with people you work with.

Public relations is about building and maintaining relationships. Building those relationships within an internship is just as important as building relationships with clients, audiences and the media. So how do you create relationships within an internship without being overbearing or annoying?

My piece of advice to all interns looking to improve their skills and make connections is to talk to your supervisor. Periodically check in throughout the course of the internship and ask how you’re performing. This gives you a chance to improve on weaknesses and continue with strengths. It also shows the supervisor that you care about your work and internship.

My other word of advice is to make the most of your contact with any clients. You never know where these connections might lead you in the future and being professional with a client is not only a positive reflection of the agency, but also yourself as a young professional.

These are some of my tips that have helped me be successful and have led me to other opportunities. Do you have some tips of your own?

Monday Funday Makes for a Team Bonding Experience

Last Monday, the entire Seattle office came down to Portland for a team building and bonding day. Working in the Portland office, and having conference calls with Seattle every morning, had made me anxious and excited to finally put faces with names. Arriving bright and early Monday morning, our quiet office was full of chatter, jokes and laughter from the Seattle team members.

This was the first time the entire Seattle office had come to visit Portland so everybody was excited. The day was spent with a lunch at the Portland City Grill with a beautiful view looking over the city, and a team building scavenger hunt where groups of five were sent searching for little-know and hard-to-find information about the city. In case you’re wondering, the Benson’s Bubblers team was the winner with 43 points! The most points in the history of the game. Team Babes followed closely behind in second place with 40 points.



All in all, the day was a success, putting rain and weather aside. The day trip was a perfect way for Frause employees to get out of the office, reconnect and spend some quality time together. It was also a great way for unfamiliar faces, like mine, to become familiar with the rest of the agency.

- Casey Colesworthy

An Intern's Perspective: Big vs. Small Agencies

It has been one month now, and I have truly come to appreciate my internship and Frause for everything it has to offer. As I make the final moves before graduation, I have been doing my best to research different agencies and what I would enjoy most. After having several informational interviews over the last few months in the Portland area, and now having worked in an agency, I’ve noticed some of the differences that were discussed in my interviews with regard to big versus smaller agencies. Here is what I have noticed:

1. Smaller agencies can allow you to connect personally with more of the staff

A smaller agency allows you more opportunities to get to know the entire firm. You learn their strengths and weaknesses, and they learn yours. Just this week I had Bob Frause, the CEO, compliment me on my first blog post. With any intern experience you will become familiar and comfortable with the people around you, but at a bigger agency you may never spend time with the senior-level staff, which can be frustrating for some.

2. Smaller agencies can give you the chance to watch the development of a project or campaign

One complaint I have heard from others, is how working at a bigger agency sometimes won’t allow you to see the direct results of your work. At Frause, I will have the chance to watch a public relations campaign unfold from beginning to end. By the time I finish my internship, I will see the final result of our work, which is rewarding and looks great for my portfolio and a résumé.

3. A smaller agency can allow for more face time with a client

With bigger agencies, many interns may never have the opportunity to meet a client face-to-face. Since interning, I have met two different clients and sat in on two different client meetings. It’s been a great experience and I feel lucky to have the trust and respect of the Frause employees to give me this great opportunity.

That being said, no two internships or agencies are the same, and each person will have a unique experience, but hopefully this can help give a better understanding of how agencies can differ from each other.

More to come next week!

- Casey Colesworthy