Public Relations and the Power of the Unexpected

pleasant surprise and PR

One of the hallmarks of good communications, good branding, good marketing, good crisis management and effective public relations is consistency. When people know what to expect from you – hopefully good things – your brand, your reputation and your effectiveness is enhanced.

When your stakeholders have the time to anticipate something good, and then you meet their expectations, the entire process works to deepen the impact of whatever you do.… Read the rest

Media Relations: Don’t Guarantee Specific Media Results

media relations

Let me tell you about two situations where companies wanted me to guarantee specific media results. Both were foreign-owned firms, which is relevant from a media culture perspective.

The first one was a steel service center that sold piping for industrial uses. It had approached me about possibly working with them on public relations matters in the U.S.  … Read the rest

Creating Personas: Know Your Targeted Audience

marketing personas

It doesn’t have to be a guessing game.

A few quick words about getting to know your targeted audience. Whether your organization has been around for a while or it’s a start-up, one of the oftentimes missed opportunities is to really dig in, identify and get to know your targeted audience or market.

In the communications business, this focus gravitates to the creation of the persona or avatar of your ideal stakeholder and targeted audience. … Read the rest

Common Podcast Launch Mistakes

Shaping Opinion Microphones

Let’s get right to it. One of the biggest mistakes you can make when it comes to launching a podcast is going out too soon.

There are a lot of platforms and technologies out there that can make it so easy to create and launch that first episode that you could easily skip all of the most important steps that go into launching a successful podcast.… Read the rest

Baseball and the Fine Art of Selling ‘Hope’

baseball

The following blog post was originally posted on January 28, 2020, just before the pandemic that would change everything. Baseball wasn’t the same that year or since. In anticipation of next week’s MLB Opening Day games across the country, we’re re-posting this slightly updated version.

The grass on baseball fields in Florida and Arizona is getting lush right now, ready for the annual rite that is Major League Baseball spring training and those sunny exhibition games.… Read the rest

Do We Have to Be Right to Lay Claim to Freedom of Speech?

free speech

There is a shell game being played by a number of politicians, Big Tech executives, news media executives and journalists, and well-known PR people that goes like this:

  • The First Amendment exists to protect the news media’s right to free speech. Nothing should be done to inhibit a free press.
  • When Big Tech censors and bans users, it’s a private company and so it does not fall under the jurisdiction of the First Amendment when it comes to giving users freedom of speech.
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