The first Philly PR Girl blog post was published on May 12, 2010 and 5 years later, it’s bigger and better than ever!
You, yes you, were a big part of our success. Whether you read an article, wrote a piece, shared a post, or told someone about our site – we appreciate it! Creating and building this little corner of the internet has been the most rewarding labor of love. Tonight, we get to celebrate with a party aboard the Patriot Harbor Lines on the Delaware River with drinks from our awesome sponsors, Pinot Boutique and Straub Beer. How perfect that we get to cheers to 5 years with family, friends, clients, partners, and other amazing individuals who helped to make Philly PR Girl into what it is today! In recognition of how far we’ve come, Kate looks back on the last 5 years…
What inspired you to create the Philly PR Girl blog?
I was working on a lot of national events and was (and still am!) in love with Philadelphia. I wanted to do something more “Philly”. Plus, everyone was always asking me “What’s going on this week in Philly?”
Did you have a vision of how it might grow and change over time? How similar or different is that vision to what’s come of PPRG over the last 5 years?
At first, it really was just for my friends and family. I had fun with it and blogged about events that I would go to or preview events that I would love to go to. I never thought in that first year that my little blog would turn into a full company five years later!
What are your top 3 favorite blog posts ever published?
I love the Drinking Through The Decades series (Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3) from 2012. Our First Friday Interview series is fantastic, and I love learning about fascinating Philadelphians with very different occupations. Also, This Week in Philly really helped to launch Philly PR Girl, so that has a special place in my heart. It’s really the backbone of our blog!
What are your top 5 most viewed blog posts?
Halloween Adventures in Philadelphia
First Friday Interview: MasterChef’s Courtney Lapresi
Where to Watch the Mayweather vs. Pacquiao Fight
First Friday Interview: Project Runway’s Dom Streater
Philly’s Best Parties for FIFA World Cup 2014
What is your favorite event that you’ve written about?
I would have to say the Wall Ball. It was the first time I attended an event’s red carpet to interview people. I was SO nervous. I wasn’t a journalist, but still they invited me to cover the event. I had the pleasure of interviewing The Roots!
Last summer, Philly PR Girl got a brand new logo and site design! How would you describe the PPRG blog/brand to someone not familiar with it?
For the people who say there is never anything to do in this city, it’s simply not true. We provide our readers with the best events, newest restaurant openings, and all around fun experiences they can have when they come to the City of Brotherly Love. Philly PR Girl LOVES Philadelphia – in a way, we are ambassadors for our city. I’ve always been one of those people that stop on the street when I see someone with a map and ask them if they need help. I love it when tourists ask me about restaurants or simply for directions, because I want them to think of Philadelphians as friendly people, and to enjoy our city as much as I do.
Back to our logo – the original design was created by my awesome cousin, and I loved it. But since the launch of Philly PR Girl as a company, I knew it was time to come up with something more sophisticated that still stayed true to the originally Philly PR Girl feel. Rebranding was a long process, but I’m obsessed with our new logo by Melissa of The Atelier, and have received nothing but positive feedback over it!
What’s the best compliment you’ve ever received regarding your blog?
I absolutely love when people tell me they look forward to reading This Week in Philly! It takes a lot of time and work to pick our favorite events in Philadelphia every week, and we take it very seriously because we know people look to it regularly for recommendations.
How has your life and your business changed since the creation of the PPRG blog 5 years ago? Everything has changed for me personally in the last 5 years. I went from a blogger, to a freelancer, to a full-time business owner. I get asked to attend, speak at, and host events all the time. I love my life. I love my business. I’m proud to be a business owner in Philadelphia. I’ve met so many amazing people along this journey, and I know I’m going to meet a lot more!
