No organization ever expects to find itself amid a public relations crisis. However, the unfortunate reality is that unforeseen crises do happen, even to the best of us. And these crises can be most crippling when there’s no management plan in place. Even worse than combatting a crisis is doing so while caught flat-footed on your response, which can result [...]
Monitoring social media and listening to conversations about your brand, your competitors’ brands and critical issues facing your industry is important if you’re going to stay up to speed on trends. You may also glean information from these discussions that can be applied to your business to make it stronger. Given the importance of listening, I’ve decided to revisit some [...]
As public relations professionals, we are often focused on the external communication strategies for our clients, managing media opportunities, developing press releases and positioning executives as thought leaders. All of this is designed to reach their target audiences with key messages, but a critical cadre that should not be overlooked is an organizations’ own internal audience. Beyond policy updates and [...]
Every day, marketing strategists are on the hunt for new tools that will identify and analyze what platforms their target audiences are using and what content they want most. With SparkToro, a marketing enablement software company, marketers gain access to audience intelligence data, search engine optimization (SEO) analytics, and marketing research tools, all of which can help make their jobs [...]
When you devote time, effort, and energy to a project, it can feel like your work is a piece of yourself. If you’re emotionally invested in your project or unprepared to acknowledge that there may be room for improvement, feedback can feel like an attack on your self-worth and erode your confidence. However, receiving and using feedback is an essential [...]
Reputable journalists do their best to attribute the information they publish to a relevant, named source. Offering transparency about a source’s identity, connection to the story and direct quote benefits a journalist’s audience because it builds credibility and allows readers to trust the information. However, there are certain situations where explicit identification or direct quotes may put a source at [...]
The transition a company makes from a privately held entity to a publicly traded one is intensely fierce. With only one chance to do it right, there is a lot riding on a company’s trajectory when going public. Well before and throughout the IPO process, the public relations team plays an integral role in building the market buzz that is [...]
The recent UN climate report, published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), demonstrates a dire necessity for organizations worldwide to take a stand against climate change and mitigate further climate-related damage. The UN’s IPCC is the world’s leading authority on climate science, and its recent report confirms the undeniable tie between human activity and climate change—as well as [...]
I recently watched Dark Waters, which depicts the toxic chemical spills scandal that ultimately led to U.S. chemicals giant DuPont paying $671 million to settle more than 3,500 lawsuits in 2017. I had never heard of the scandal before watching the film, and learning more about it has consumed my free time since then. I highly recommend starting with this [...]
In the past 18 months, we've all been through significant change. The pandemic disrupted our work and personal lives with work-from-home requirements, laws around wearing masks, supply chain issues, childcare issues and more. Given this, it seems like the perfect time to consider how good one is at handling change. And, while I like to think that we as a [...]
As the saying goes, “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.” But when it comes to your brand, imitation (or rather, impersonation) can cause serious damage. What is Social Media Impersonation? Impersonation in social networks is when accounts use the name, image or other identifying elements of an individual, company or organization for fraudulent purposes. They are not to [...]
While the NCAA tournament is arguably one of the biggest events in college sports, the organization was recently under fire for the disparity in amenities offered to the male versus female athletes. Initially, the NCAA released a statement claiming it was not able to provide adequate amenities for the women due to the lack of space. Though shortly after, Oregon [...]
Political polarization. Cultural divide. Partisan gap. If you are anything like me, you’ve been feeling the division in our society intensely for the last couple weeks. Or maybe months? Or years? Take your pick. The Associated Press dedicated a 2016 series to the topic, saying “Americans are more divided than ever, gridlocked over social issues, race, gender and the economy...It’s [...]
Key messages are the bread and butter of public relations. They offer anyone representing a brand a collection of approved messages that can be confidently shared through any form of communication. Whether you’re preparing a spokesperson for an interview or developing a pitch, clearly reflecting key messages into all campaigns and written materials will ensure that your client’s brand stays [...]
Image credit: LeoStella Manufacturing a satellite used to take several years and require multi-million-dollar budgets. Today it is a different story. The space industry has gone through a radical transformation. The evolution of technology and a culture of agility has enabled companies such as LeoStella to develop satellites at a fraction of the cost, in a matter of months. LeoStella [...]
Now more than ever before, companies are expected to establish a clear stance on important social and political issues. In fact, a 2018 survey from DoSomething found that 76 percent of respondents said they have purchased, or would consider purchasing, from a company to show support for the issues they back. The survey also found that 67 percent of respondents had stopped [...]
On Monday, July 13, 2020, NPR broke the story that more than 1,200 current employees at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention signed a letter calling for the federal agency to address "ongoing and recurring acts of racism and discrimination" against Black employees. NPR contributors Selena Simmons-Duffin and Pien Huang note, “The letter offers a rare glimpse inside a [...]
For many businesses and organizations, the top priority is often profitability. However, as a new generation rises during civil unrest and a pandemic, we are beginning to see the spotlight shift to a focus on purpose-driven values. Public expectations are higher than ever, and many consumers want to see companies make a positive impact on society. Breaking through and building [...]
Many individuals and businesses are wondering how to respond to the crisis of racism and discrimination in America. Many of them want to support systemic change in our society and they know that they need to act. But knowing what to do and how to do it can be tricky. To help corporate leaders and communicators, we’ve come up with [...]
Growing up, my main source of news came from the television or newspaper. It seemed like a simple transaction. Accredited journalists discussed politics and ethics. I watched and listened, without a doubt in my mind that what they told me was true. Thanks to social media, news is constantly at our fingertips now. Determining what’s true has become a much [...]
Road to IPO: Key PR Tips for A Successful Journey