Press Clippings
Publications
Social Media
Rebranding
Video
Email Marketing
Website
Master’s Projects
Press Clippings
Boston Globe
City Year’s focus on education made a difference for these people
WCVB’s Chronicle
Celebrating 30 years of City Year
Fast Company
Can This Manic Dog Make the Internet Safer for Kids?
How Today’s Toddler And Tween Video Games Could Create A Future Without #Gamergate
How To Make Yourself Indispensable At Work
Boston Globe
Devices give blind filmgoers Oscar-worthy experience
Edith of ‘Downton Abbey’ looking to leave heartbreak behind
The New York Times
In the Fight Against Poverty, It’s Time for a Revolution
Woman’s Day
The Kindness of Strangers, Helping the Homeless
CNN, The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer
46 million on food stamps
PBS Nightly Business Report
AmeriCorps Employee Notes Job Satisfaction in Making a Difference
The New York Post
Summer in the City
PBS NewsHour
Generation Next: Young Grads Turn to Service Amid Tight Job Market
Additional clips have appeared on major media outlets including MSNBC, Washington Post, USA Today, NPR, WBUR, Boston Herald, Boston Magazine, as well as major entertainment and media, advertising, and tech outlets.
I have helped conceive, outline and draft op-eds, byline articles, and letters to the editor for several clients which have appeared in technology, trade, and local news outlets.
Publications
City Year Boston | 2017-2018 Impact Report
Digital-first report for CYB (first of its kind) with in-depth articles linked to website, interactive visuals, and video. Debuted with email and a month-long social media campaign to distribute it.
LIFT | Impact Report 2011 (view below)
Social Media
I have contributed to a number of social projects for various employers, including:
- Growing Aspen Leadership Group’s LinkedIn follower count by 500% in one year with consistently high engagement that outperformed our leading competitors
- Conceiving a campaign for Teacher Appreciation Week to showcase City Year Boston’s partnership with teachers in various Boston neighborhoods
- Advising SHIFT Communications clients on social promotion to maximize the reach of earned media stories
- Helped coordinate long-term editorial projects and paid campaigns on Facebook to target and acquire new audiences for WGBH.
- Created all social media accounts and managed all content for LIFT for three years and was able to build and increase engagement for the organization.
Rebranding
Video (storyboarding, scripting and editing, distribution)
Email Marketing
Aspen Leadership Group
Redesigned standard ALG newsletter to be more organized and visually impactful. Worked with team to improve subject lines, send times, email performance, and list retention. Implemented processes to improve list health and audience segmentation. Developed a new women’s philanthropy newsletter.
City Year Boston
I have helped create and copy-edit a wide range of email content, including event messaging, periodic newsletters, fundraising appeals, and alumni and sponsor stewardship. As head of City Year Boston’s communications team, and a thought partner with our fundraising team, I developed storyboard concepts and visual components, then streamlined messaging to increase response rates. I revived non-solicitation newsletters to offer supporters more incentive to give, developed a new list of public officials to increase our community awareness and engagement, and coached colleagues to produce concise, punchier, and action-oriented copy. In collaboration with my team, we saw fundraising totals from appeals increase and more open rates from public leaders.
Alumni Stewardship: It’s Time for the Monthly Briefing – 30th Anniversary Edition!
Newsletter/Event: Here We Go! 30 Ways in 30 Days Kicks Off 9/1
Fundraising Appeal: Believe in the power of education? Here’s your best investment
End of Fiscal Year Thank You: We want to thank you
LIFT
New Advocates, Client Update, and Opportunity Nation: The Latest from LIFT
CNN Feature, We’re Hiring, and Dates to Remember: The Latest from LIFT
Tonight: CNN’s “The Situation Room” Features LIFT Client’s Experience with Food Stamps
9,000 Clients Served, Celebrating with the Mayor, and More: The Latest from LIFT
Cambridge Housing Authority
Website
Aspen Leadership Group
- Developed new website for Aspen Leadership Group in partnership with a development team. Chose new WordPress theme and built out text content, imagery, and . Added blog functionality, social media connections to team bios, more robust client testimonials and case studies, and showcased publications.
- Added site functionality to increase sales and candidate prospects ability to connect with the ALG team. Added log-in to ALG’s career portal that previously didn’t exist. Added forms to collect inquiries and confirm receipts to site visitors. Added email marketing subscription options throughout the site. Added social media buttons to funnel increased engagement.
- Used SEO features within WordPress to increase page readability and boost relevance in Google search results.
City Year Boston
- Built out “Support Us” section of website from one static page to multiple segments. New pages acknowledged existing supporters, while also organizing information for prospects, segmented by audience for individual giving, corporate sponsorship, and foundations. Trained colleagues to update Volunteer Opportunities in real-time for frequent visitors.
- Built out “Press Release and Publications” section of website to archive press releases and build SEO when coverage didn’t materialize; included press features and op-eds on Executive Director’s bio page, a well-trafficked webpage, to drive thought leadership.
- Initiated an editorial strategy with periodic feature articles highlighting more aspects of City Year’s model, including more language relevant to education professionals than internal jargon. For corps-centric posts, included recruitment calls-to-action and drove traffic to them through social media.
LIFT
- In partnership with digital backend developer, transitioned website from previous brand (National Student Partnerships) to LIFT. Worked on interim splash page, domain redirects, and overall website redesign, and wrote all website copy. The new user experience was based around three core actions: awareness, engagement, and donating.
- Managed Google Grant for Adwords and built baseline measures for traffic drivers. Initiated blogging strategy to increase SEO around keywords and topics.
Master’s Projects
2012/8
CSR’s Role in the Tech Sector
M.S. in Public Relations professional project
2012/6
Join the Club: Celebrating Summer Music at the Cavern Club (Liverpool)
Global MarComm project
2012/3
Reebok Store Launch Media Plan Presentation
Media Relations project
2011/9
Rightside Productions Press Portfolio
Writing for Media Professionals portfolio
COLLEEN FLYNN 