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# Communiqué PR

Communiqué PR Strategic Public Relations Blog

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## Posts

- [Blog](https://www.communiquepr.com/blog/)
- [CISION’s 2023 State of the Media Report Takeaways](https://www.communiquepr.com/cisions-2023-state-of-the-media-report-takeaways/18750/) - Communiqué PR staff | Each year, CISION releases its State of the Media Report, examining the media landscape and providing insights into how strategic communicators can best work with journalists. The 2023 report surveyed more than 3,000 journalists for their feelings on technology, the industry and its biggest challenges. The relationship between reporters and PR practitioners is constantly evolving.
- [PR’s Role in Amplifying Shiftboard’s Report on Hourly Workers](https://www.communiquepr.com/prs-role-in-amplify-shiftboards-report-on-hourly-workers/18731/) - Communiqué PR staff | Shiftboard, a global leader in workforce scheduling, shed light on the evolving landscape of hourly employment with its recently published 2023 State of the Hourly Worker report. They surveyed over 2,250 U.S. adults ages 18 – 65, which included 1,630 who self-identified as shift or hourly workers, to uncover the needs and priorities of today’s
- [Public Relations: The Art of Exceptional Client Service](https://www.communiquepr.com/public-relations-the-art-of-exceptional-client-service/18748/) - Colleen Flynn | In the fast-paced world of public relations, exceptional client service is the cornerstone of a prosperous career. The most successful PR professionals not only meet client expectations, they exceed them. This success comes from establishing clear communication, setting realistic expectations and maintaining integrity with the media. Understanding the Essence of Client Service: Client service goes
- [Delta-Q Technologies Expands RQ Series with New High-Performance Charger](https://www.communiquepr.com/delta-q-technologies-expands-rq-series-with-new-high-performance-charger/18744/) - Carley Gray | Delta-Q Technologies (Delta-Q), a leading provider of battery charging solutions, recently announced the release of its new high-performance charger, the RQ700. A part of the RQ Series, the RQ700 provides a high-volume, cost-effective charging solution for battery-powered light e-mobility, industrial and commercial equipment. To create a successful announcement, our CPR team worked with Delta-Q to
- [Mosaicx Helps Businesses Harness the Power of Conversational AI](https://www.communiquepr.com/mosaicx-helps-businesses-harness-the-power-of-conversational-ai/18727/) - AnnMarie Carson | AI is reshaping the way businesses engage with customers. Staying at the forefront of evolving customer expectations is critical to keep pace with competition and maintain customer loyalty. Mosaicx is making it their business to help companies do just that. Mosaicx is a cloud-based solution that uses conversational AI, machine learning and natural language processing
- [How Data and Analytics Can Support the Success of PR Campaigns](https://www.communiquepr.com/how-data-and-analytics-can-support-the-success-of-pr-campaigns/18724/) - Azlynn Stokes | In the shifting PR landscape, data and analytics are powerful tools for PR professionals. By harnessing data-driven insights, PR campaigns can be strategically planned, executed and measured for success. A recent Forbes article shows how data and analytics can enhance a PR campaign’s success. We know data and analytics are important when measuring the impact
- [Blumira’s Spring 2025 Momentum: Advancing Security Solutions and Strengthening MSP Partnerships](https://www.communiquepr.com/blumiras-spring-2025-momentum-advancing-security-solutions-and-strengthening-msp-partnerships/21778/) - Megan Nielson | Blumira kicked off 2025 with an impressive demonstration of innovation and channel commitment. Two announcements reinforced the company’s position as a leading cybersecurity provider. Our team is proud to have helped communicate these announcements through carefully crafted press releases and strategic media outreach, all of which generated meaningful editorial coverage in target industry publications. Blumira
- [Looking Back: Blumira Levels Up Thought Leadership](https://www.communiquepr.com/looking-back-blumira-levels-up-thought-leadership/21579/) - Megan Nielson | Blumira redefines security operations for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) with its comprehensive threat monitoring and response platform. Throughout the first half of 2024, Blumira led the industry with impactful announcements and insightful thought leadership. The company also swept the award season. In this post, we unpack some of Blumira’s 2024 triumphs. It’s important to
- [Making Use of Wikipedia: Best Practices for Your Brand](https://www.communiquepr.com/making-use-of-wikipedia-best-practices-for-your-brand/4622/) - Communiqué PR staff | In the last 11 years, Wikipedia has become one of the most influential and searched sites on the Internet. Because of its Internet prowess, it is a great tool to promote a business or product. A Wikipedia page for your brand influences search engines, validates your presence, tells your brand’s history—and it’s free. At Communiqué
- [Five Competencies Necessary for Success in PR](https://www.communiquepr.com/five-competencies-necessary-for-success-in-pr/4800/) - Communiqué PR staff | In September 2012, I began an internship at Communiqué PR and it has been an amazing learning experience. My internship has allowed me to gain a better first-hand understanding of the PR profession by giving me insight into how clients and journalists work, as well as providing me with a taste of agency life. By
- [Five Competencies Necessary for Success in PR](https://www.communiquepr.com/five-competencies-necessary-for-success-in-pr-2/4794/) - Communiqué PR staff | In September 2012, I began an internship at Communiqué PR and it has been an amazing learning experience. My internship has allowed me to gain a better first-hand understanding of the PR profession by giving me insight into how clients and journalists work, as well as providing me with a taste of agency life. By
- [LinkedIn Introduces Comprehensive Company Pages](https://www.communiquepr.com/linkedin-introduces-comprehensive-company-pages/4840/) - Communiqué PR staff | LinkedIn has become well known as a tool to market your company, network with colleagues, build relationships with potential clients or employees and highlight your expertise. Communique PR actively uses LinkedIn for a variety of purposes from networking to recruiting, and we recommend it to businesses and job seekers alike. As a heavily used recruiting
- [New Year, New Social Media Presence: PRDaily’s Recommendations for Invigorating Social Media](https://www.communiquepr.com/new-year-new-social-media-presence-prdailys-recommendations-for-invigorating-social-media/4928/) - Communiqué PR staff | With the growing popularity and use of social media, companies can use an array of channels to connect with audiences. However, with the increasing number of social media sites and tools, it can be difficult to establish a meaningful social media presence. The New Year is the perfect time to update and polish your social
- [Spring Cleaning for Your Facebook Profile](https://www.communiquepr.com/spring-cleaning-for-your-facebook-profile/5041/) - Communiqué PR staff | While social media platforms continue to grow and increase in popularity for both companies and individuals, Facebook generally caters to users’ personal lives. Because the platform is typically personal, Facebook profiles have become notorious for preventing opportunities and leaving bad impressions due to inappropriate content and/or pictures. If you are my age (early 20s) and
- [Five Tips to Writing Effective Email](https://www.communiquepr.com/five-tips-to-writing-effective-email/5068/) - Communiqué PR staff | As an intern at Communiqué, I am only in the office three times a week. Because of this, I must effectively communicate with our team while I am in the office. As with most workplaces, our main source of communication at Communiqué is email. Because of this, we have a large amount of email coming
- [Jump Start Your Next Blog Post: Helpful Tips from PRDaily](https://www.communiquepr.com/jump-start-your-next-blog-post-helpful-tips-from-prdaily/5333/) - Communiqué PR staff | Blogging has become a key way for businesses and individuals to communicate in today’s online world. Blogs can cover a range of subject matter, from business to fashion, and are an excellent tool to give your brand a voice as well as keep people updated on events or important changes. In order to harness the
- [Gaining Popularity on Facebook: Five Quick Tips](https://www.communiquepr.com/5389-2/5389/) - Communiqué PR staff | Curating content for a social media platform requires time and energy, so it can be disappointing when you find something worth sharing with the Facebook world, and it doesn’t get the shares or likes you thought it would. However, there may be an explanation if your business’ Facebook posts aren’t receiving the attention they might
- [Customer Reviews - Friend or Foe? A Useful Infographic](https://www.communiquepr.com/customer-reviews-friend-or-foe-a-useful-infographic/5448/) - Communiqué PR staff | Warren Buffett once said, “It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it.” In today’s world, a reputation could probably be ruined in far less time than that. As the popularity and usage of social media and review websites grow, it is likely that users will post their experiences with
- [Is Word of Mouth Enough?](https://www.communiquepr.com/is-word-of-mouth-enough/5533/) - Communiqué PR staff | In order to celebrate one of our colleague’s embarking on a journey to San Francisco, the whole Communiqué PR team recently visited Seattle’s Fremont Brewing Company. It was my first time there, but before I even walked through the door, I could feel the energy from the outdoor seating area. It was full of smiling
- [Infographic: The Recipe for Measuring Content Marketing](https://www.communiquepr.com/infographic-the-recipe-for-measuring-content-marketing/5617/) - Communiqué PR staff | Companies are almost always looking for new marketing trends and techniques to reach more consumers. The latest trend appears to be content marketing. Content marketing allows companies to connect with their audience making them more relatable. The problem with content marketing is, unlike traditional media campaigns that look mainly at sales, it is difficult to
- [Phone Skills—A Thing of the Past?](https://www.communiquepr.com/phone-skills-a-thing-of-the-past/5678/) - Communiqué PR staff | Over the summer, while I worked at Communiqué full time, I would receive upwards of 40 emails a day, and I’m just an intern. Emails are one of the most commonly used forms of communication because we now live in a world where large amounts of information need to be shared in very little time.
- [5 Ways to Increase Your Blog Readership](https://www.communiquepr.com/5-ways-to-increase-your-blog-readership/5795/) - Communiqué PR staff | Every month at Communiqué PR, we celebrate the success of our blog and its contributors by sharing stats, including the most views and the average time spent viewing the post. Analyzing these statistics allows us to track the growth of our blog and determine which topics appeal to our audience. Building a committed and involved
- [GeekWire Gala: Totally Tech With a Personal Touch](https://www.communiquepr.com/geekwire-gala-totally-tech-with-a-personal-touch/5872/) - Communiqué PR staff | I recently attended the GeekWire Gala at the Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI) in South Lake Union. With more than 1,000 of Seattle’s tech industry professionals in attendance, GeekWire delivered an event to remember. From the amazing food to the lively DJ to the great conversation, there was no room for disappointment. As expected,
- [Kigo Kitchen Making an Impact on South Lake Union](https://www.communiquepr.com/kigo-kitchen-making-an-impact-on-south-lake-union/6059/) - Communiqué PR staff | How do you market “healthy”? Steve Hooper seems to have the winning formula. We recently sat down with the CEO and co-founder of the newly opened Kigo Kitchen to discuss his strategy to establish the quick and casual restaurant as a place worth trying. Hooper’s company is headquartered on Capitol Hill, but last year he
- [How to Build a Media List](https://www.communiquepr.com/how-to-build-a-media-list/6204/) - Communiqué PR staff | Finding a list of journalists who may be interested in your pitch is no easy task. The success of a pitch or press release often rides on the shoulders of a thoroughly developed press release. When approaching a media list, I find myself facing asking questions like: How do I find journalists who will be
- [Infographic: How ‘Non-sexy’ Brands Become Popular on Social Media](https://www.communiquepr.com/infographic-how-non-sexy-brands-become-popular-on-social-media/6297/) - Communiqué PR staff | When it comes to social media, some brands have it easy. If they have an interesting product that people widely enjoy, gaining followers is not as daunting a task. For instance, GoPro has 888,000 followers on Twitter because they are constantly posting interesting photos and videos captured by their cameras. Starbucks is another brand that
- [Brands Use #TBT to Start Conversations](https://www.communiquepr.com/brands-use-tbt-to-start-conversations/6346/) - Communiqué PR staff | I recently wrote about “non-sexy” brands gaining popularity on social media. One of the ways they were doing this was by focusing on having conversations and interacting with their followers rather than simply fixing their followers’ attention on product promotion. Ragan’s PR Daily has highlighted yet another secret to gain momentum on social media: Use popular
- [Avoid Getting Lost in the Crowd](https://www.communiquepr.com/avoid-getting-lost-in-the-crowd/6493/) - Communiqué PR staff | Attending any event can be intimidating and present a ton of pressure to stand out among a large crowd. Just last month, SWSX, an event took place in Austin, Texas, that offered its unique convergence of original music, independent films, and emerging technologies. Mark Dewings, head of brand and marketing communications at SoundCloud, offered PR
- [Who’s the “Scumbag” Now?](https://www.communiquepr.com/whos-the-scumbag-now/6636/) - Communiqué PR staff | On May 5, our very own Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) posted a tweet that received a large amount of backlash. In an attempt to deliver a traffic update with a touch of humor, SDOT referenced the popular meme “Scumbag Steve.” Referring to this meme, SDOT tweeted a picture of slowed traffic near the site
- [Vālant Medical Solutions Secures $11 Million in Funding](https://www.communiquepr.com/valant-medical-solutions-secures-11-million-in-funding/6882/) - Communiqué PR staff | Valant Medical Solutions recently enlisted our help to assist with an announcement of $11 million in private equity investment. Valant is a leading provider of cloud-based, electronic health records (EHR) and e-billing software for behavioral health practices. This funding will enable Vālant to fund future growth in the behavioral health market segment and to broaden
- [Did I Get Your Attention?](https://www.communiquepr.com/did-i-get-you-attention/6955/) - Communiqué PR staff | Journalists’ inboxes are often full of emails pitching a variety of different stories. As a beginner in the PR industry, I am realizing with every pitch I send that getting their attention is anything but easy. So the question becomes, how do you get them to read your pitch? How do I make my email
- [Numbers Don’t Lie](https://www.communiquepr.com/7103-2/7103/) - Communiqué PR staff | Today’s consumer has access to an abundance of information from the Internet and social media, making them the most informed they have ever been. So, this poses an important question: Which information is the most influential? Is it the customer reviews, the social media campaigns, the endless types of advertising, or possibly expert content? The
- [Smartsheet Introduces New Data Visualization Tool for Enterprises](https://www.communiquepr.com/smartsheet-introduces-new-data-visualization-tool-for-enterprises/7227/) - Communiqué PR staff | This week has been a very exciting one for our client Smartsheet, a leading provider of a collaboration project management tool. On Monday, Oct. 20, 2014, Smartsheet announced its new tool, Workmap. Workmap allows users to visualize work and the various people contributing to it in Smartsheet. By breaking down the traditional organizational chart view
- [Seattle Rallies to Support Diabetes Community](https://www.communiquepr.com/seattle-rallies-to-support-diabetes-community/7312/) - Communiqué PR staff | 670,500 adults in Washington state have diabetes; that is nearly 10 percent of the population. This number is predicted to grow to nearly one million by 2025. When learning these staggering statistics, I was shocked. Of course, I was aware of diabetes and I have personally seen the hardships it creates because my cousin was
- [PR is Cumulative](https://www.communiquepr.com/pr-is-cumulative/7587/) - Communiqué PR staff | Patience is a virtue, especially when it comes to PR. When beginning work with a new client, there is an excitement in wanting to share their story with the world and, more specifically, with journalists who can help you share that story. However, with journalists receiving hundreds of pitches daily, cutting through the noise requires
- [With the Announcement of a New Minimum Wage Policy, Will the Industry Defy Gravity?](https://www.communiquepr.com/with-the-announcement-of-a-new-minimum-wage-policy-will-the-industry-defy-gravity/7708/) - Communiqué PR staff | Dan Price, co-founder and CEO of Gravity Payments, recently announced that the minimum wage salary for the company would be raised to $70,000. The payment processing company made the drastic and unprecedented announcement on April 14, and it continues to garner coverage and remain a conversation topic over a week later. We commend Dan on his
- [Kiss Writer’s Block Goodbye—55 Blog Post Ideas (You Can Thank Me Later)](https://www.communiquepr.com/kiss-writers-block-goodbye-55-blog-post-ideas-you-can-thank-me-later/7816/) - Communiqué PR staff | When it’s time to write a blog post, more often than not, I find myself searching for inspiration. I want the post to be intriguing, educational, helpful, relevant and relatable for readers, but finding a topic that encompasses all of these attributes is, without fail, incredibly difficult. As I scoured the news, blogs and Google
- [Turning Down Time Into Valuable Time](https://www.communiquepr.com/turning-down-time-into-valuable-time/8150/) - Communiqué PR staff | Unlike the retail industry, PR professionals are usually able to snag a little down time around the holidays. Clients are on vacation; journalists are out of the office; and news is not the public’s top priority. So, for us, that means a little less billable work. But just because the work isn’t billable doesn’t mean
- [Behind the Scenes Look at the Introduction of Caitlyn Jenner](https://www.communiquepr.com/behind-the-scenes-look-at-the-introduction-of-caitlyn-jenner/8290/) - Communiqué PR staff | Possibly one of the most talked about event events of 2015 was the farewell to Bruce Jenner and the introduction to Caitlyn Jenner. Jenner has been in the spotlight for decades and is a household name to all generation because of Olympic achievements and reality television stardom. In April of 2015, the much-anticipated interview with
- [To Tweet or Not to Tweet?](https://www.communiquepr.com/to-tweet-or-not-to-tweet/8428/) - Communiqué PR staff | When developing a PR strategy for our clients, one of the first questions we ask is, “Does the company and the CEO have a social media presence?” If the answer is yes, then we determine how we can amplify our results through those channels and assist in growing followers for the company and executive. If
- [An Overview of Xconomy’s Seattle’s Life Science Disruptors 2016](https://www.communiquepr.com/an-overview-of-xconomys-seattles-life-science-disruptors-2016/8535/) - Communiqué PR staff | It’s no secret—Seattle has a hot tech scene. From the industry giants like Amazon, Microsoft, Expedia and Zillow to the new Google and SpaceX offices, Seattle has become a technology powerhouse. The city is also home to an abundance of startup companies that continue to innovate and disrupt countless industries. Given that our firm has
- [Live Stream Video—A New Tool for PR Pros to Master?](https://www.communiquepr.com/live-stream-video-a-new-tool-for-pr-pros-to-master/8679/) - Communiqué PR staff | This year, the NFL announced it will live stream Thursday Night Football games on Twitter, Facebook launched its new video streaming capabilities through Facebook Live, and in 2014 Snapchat experienced a growth of 57 percent. The idea of video streaming via social media is clearly an idea that is sticking with consumers and driving high
- [The Game of PR – What We Can Learn From Our Favorite Game of Thrones Characters](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-game-of-pr-what-we-can-learn-from-our-favorite-game-of-thrones-characters/8888/) - Communiqué PR staff | I’m admittedly a little too into HBO’s Game of Thrones. Through the months of March, April and May you can find me around the office discussing new theories and predictions and analyzing characters’ developing personalities. With the recent finale and the laundry list of Emmy nominations, I was inspired to take a closer look at
- [How to Host a Legendairy Event: An Overview of the Darigold Farm Tour](https://www.communiquepr.com/how-to-host-a-legendairy-event-an-overview-of-the-darigold-farm-tour/8951/) - Communiqué PR staff | Over the last year, Communiqué PR has been working with Darigold, a dairy co-op, and in that time we have promoted its new naturally white cheddar cheese, planned and hosted an event for the Sunnyside Plant expansion, and shared an abundance of delicious Darigold recipes. After a year of great results highlighting the products, the
- [The Social Media Element You Forgot to Include in Your Plan](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-social-media-element-you-forgot-to-include-in-your-plan/9023/) - Communiqué PR staff | As PR professionals, we are often asked to provide counsel or create strategies around social media platforms on behalf of our clients. We all know that social media is an excellent way to engage with target audiences, develop brand voice, establish thought leadership, and share useful content. However, one element has failed to be included
- [Spaceflight Announces Terra Bella as Co-Lead on First-Ever Dedicated Rideshare Mission](https://www.communiquepr.com/spaceflight-announces-terra-bella-as-co-lead-on-first-ever-dedicated-rideshare-mission/9118/) - Communiqué PR staff | Our client, Spaceflight Industries, has had several big announcements over the few several weeks—the latest was a major customer announcement. Spaceflight, the launch services and mission management arm of Spaceflight Industries, announced that Terra Bella will serve as a co-lead on Spaceflight’s first-ever dedicated rideshare mission, SSO-A. The mission is scheduled to launch from Vandenberg
- [Measuring Results—How Do We Quantify PR Results?](https://www.communiquepr.com/measuring-results-how-do-we-quantify-pr-results/9211/) - Communiqué PR staff | Whether we’re kicking off an engagement with a new client or executing an announcement for an existing client, the first step is setting expectations and establishing what success look likes for our client. Depending on the company’s business objectives, an article in a top-tier business publication or a series of bylines placed in an industry
- [With 2017 Around the Corner, What Does the Future of Media Look Like?](https://www.communiquepr.com/with-2017-around-the-corner-what-does-the-future-of-media-look-like/9347/) - Communiqué PR staff | With the rise of digital, how we consume news has shifted – and new outlets are feeling the effects. In the last two months, The Associated Press, The Wall Street Journal, Gannett, Univision, Bloomberg and Thomson Reuters have all announced job reductions. Just last week, The Seattle Times announced that it was offering a buyout
- [The 3-Ingredient Recipe to Standing Out](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-3-ingredient-recipe-to-standing-out/9434/) - Communiqué PR staff | Standing out is tough. As PR professionals, we can empathize with that statement. We battle daily for journalists’ time and attention. We have to consider which story is most likely to catch their eye, what assets we can we provide to entice them to request an interview, and how to package all of it into
- [Testing, One, Two Three: The NYT Weighs Which Headlines Resonate with Readers](https://www.communiquepr.com/testing-one-two-three-the-nyt-weighs-which-headlines-resonate-with-readers/9621/) - Communiqué PR staff | An interesting article recently shared on Times Insider, The New York Times’ behind-the-scenes insight page, revealed that the paper has been running a test on which headlines are attracting more readers. Mark Bulik, a senior editor, unveiled the test is part of an effort to increase the paper’s readership. The experiment is a relatively simple
- [New Study Shows What Journalists Want in an Online Newsroom](https://www.communiquepr.com/new-study-shows-what-journalists-want-in-an-online-newsroom/9684/) - Communiqué PR staff | As PR professionals, we often find ourselves explaining the importance of an online newsroom to the companies and organizations with whom we work. Newsrooms are a great way to highlight earned coverage and offer another medium to build thought leadership and share company updates and milestones. They serve a variety of audiences, including current and
- [Facebook Combats Fake News by Educating Users About How to Identify It](https://www.communiquepr.com/facebook-combats-fake-news-by-educating-users-about-how-to-identify-it/9719/) - Communiqué PR staff | Fake news has been a hot topic since the months leading up to the 2016 presidential election and for good reason. On Facebook, fake election-related news stories generated more user engagement than top stories from credible news publications, including The New York Times, Washington Post, Huffington Post, NBC News, and others, according to a BuzzFeed
- [Best Practices: Skype Interviews](https://www.communiquepr.com/best-practices-skype-interviews/9779/) - Communiqué PR staff | With journalists working remotely from all over the country and PR professionals working with clients in a variety of cities and even countries, the PR industry rarely feels the limits created by location. However, broadcast often seems like the one of the last mediums to feel its constraints. Recently, we’ve secured several broadcast interview opportunities
- [Infographic: The Future of PR](https://www.communiquepr.com/infographic-the-future-of-pr/9802/) - Communiqué PR staff | The media industry has undergone dramatic change over the last 10-15 years. We’ve written numerous times about the shifts in the landscape and how to navigate them. However, rarely is there quantifiable information about how the evolution of the media landscape affects the PR industry. MediaMiser released an infographic outlining the future of PR, stating
- [Spaceflight Purchases a Rocket Lab Electron to Expand its Dedicated Rideshare Service](https://www.communiquepr.com/spaceflight-purchases-a-rocket-lab-electron-to-expand-its-dedicated-rideshare-service/9848/) - Communiqué PR staff | Our client, Spaceflight Industries, recently announced that it has purchased an Electron rocket from New Zealand-based Rocket Lab. Spaceflight, the launch service and mission management arm of Spaceflight Industries, built its business on the concept of ridesharing. Rideshare consists of procuring available capacity on existing launches and assisting satellite providers in securing the excess capacity
- [How to Successfully Join Political Conversations](https://www.communiquepr.com/how-to-successfully-join-political-conversations/9912/) - Communiqué PR staff | Through various social media platforms, including Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn, brands not only have an avenue to engage with customers, but a way to build a personality and express the brand’s values. And it doesn’t stop with brands. These platforms, along with opportunities to contribute content to well-established media outlets, enable executives to express their
- [Learnings From Hosting a Behind-the-Scenes Tour of Rickreall Dairy](https://www.communiquepr.com/learnings-from-hosting-a-behind-the-scenes-tour-of-rickreall-dairy/9999/) - Communiqué PR staff | A couple of weeks ago, I headed south to Salem, Ore., to assist in hosting a farm tour at Rickreall Dairy, a farmer-owner of our client, dairy co-op Darigold. While the time away from the office, interacting with the cows and enjoying the fresh air, feels like an adult field trip, there is a lot
- [Working With Influencers: How to Make an Impact With Your Audience](https://www.communiquepr.com/working-with-influencers-how-to-make-an-impact-with-your-audience/10087/) - Communiqué PR staff | Influencer marketing has become an incredibly popular method brands use to reach their consumers—especially social media. A study conducted by Tomoson in 2015 proved exactly why this has become one of marketers’ favorite news tools, stating brands make $6.50 in revenue for every $1 they spend on average on influencer marketing. In fact, so many
- [Spaceflight Reaches Two Impressive Milestones in One Week](https://www.communiquepr.com/spaceflight-reaches-two-impressive-milestones-in-one-week/10155/) - Communiqué PR staff | Last week was an eventful one for our client, Spaceflight Industries, announcing two important milestones for the company’s satellite rideshare and mission management service, Spaceflight. The first announcement revealed that Spaceflight had been awarded its first contract from NASA Kennedy Space Center Contract (KSC) for launch and integration services. The multi-year contract covers launch services
- [For the Love of Blog: Don’t Forget to Include Blogging in Your 2018 Plan](https://www.communiquepr.com/for-the-love-of-blog-dont-forget-to-include-blogging-in-your-2018-plan/10258/) - Communiqué PR staff | Speaking from experience, blogging can sometimes seem like a daunting task. Finding topics that your readers will view as interesting is challenging and then developing them into posts that maintain someone’s attention and adds value can sometimes feel nearly impossible. However, blogging is an impactful tool that provides a platform to highlight results, share perspectives
- [Looking Back on 2017](https://www.communiquepr.com/looking-back-on-2017-3/10302/) - Communiqué PR staff | The past year proved to be a busy, productive and fun year at Communiqué PR. In addition to continuing to partner with our existing clients, we started working with several new clients during 2017, including Phytelligence, Whitepages, and WGU Washington. Below is a summary of the activities and results we secured on behalf of some
- [Introducing Salted Caramel Milk! Darigold Adds New Flavor to Old-Fashioned Milk Line](https://www.communiquepr.com/introducing-salted-caramel-milk-darigold-adds-new-flavor-to-old-fashioned-milk-line/10321/) - Communiqué PR staff | Last week, Darigold released its new Salted Caramel Milk, a decadent beverage made with farm-fresh whole milk, utilizing the highest-quality ingredients. The delicious new flavor joins an already impressive line-up of vanilla, chocolate and strawberry flavored milk. Communiqué PR was tasked with assisting in the announcement of this new product and knew that in order
- [Rule 40: How the World’s Largest Stage Stays Focused on Athletes and Competition](https://www.communiquepr.com/rule-40-how-the-worlds-largest-stage-stays-focused-on-athletes-and-competition/10368/) - Communiqué PR staff | Currently athletes from around the globe are competing on the world’s largest stage—the Olympic Games. The opening ceremonies in Pyeongchang brought in 27.8 million viewers. For the 2016 Rio Olympics, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) estimated that half of the world’s population, roughly 3.6 billion people, would watch at least one minute of the games.
- [Anyone Can Lead: Takeaways From Harvard’s Professional Development Training](https://www.communiquepr.com/anyone-can-lead-takeaways-from-harvards-professional-development-training-2/10409/) - Communiqué PR staff | I recently had the opportunity to go back to school and attend a professional development course at Harvard University’s Extension School. The specific course I participated in was Managing Yourself and Leading Others and entailed two full days on Harvard’s campus with a very diverse group of about 50 individuals. The course was incredibly valuable,
- [The Evolution of Facebook’s Messaging](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-evolution-of-facebooks-messaging/10458/) - Communiqué PR staff | The last few months Facebook has been the center of the media’s attention. In case you haven’t sifted through the articles, the gist of the story is this: Cambridge Analytica, a political data firm hired by President Trump’s 2016 election campaign, gained access to private information from millions of Facebook users. The backlash has been
- [Key Takeaways From Muck Rack’s State of Journalism Report](https://www.communiquepr.com/key-takeaways-from-muck-racks-state-of-journalism-report/14857/) - Communiqué PR staff | Last month, Muck Rack released a report in which they surveyed more than 500 journalists across the U.S. and world to understand their perspectives on the state of journalism. The survey covered topics such as objectivity, reporting in the current political climate, social media and shareability, data and analytics and the use of press releases.
- [Spaceflight Announces Future Launches With Virgin Orbit and Rocket Lab](https://www.communiquepr.com/spaceflight-announces-future-launches-with-virgin-orbit-and-rocket-lab/14965/) - Communiqué PR staff | In the month of June, our client Spaceflight, the company reinventing the model for launching small satellites into space, shared two exciting announcements detailing future launches with both Virgin Orbit and Rocket Lab. The first announcement we released focused on three upcoming missions with Rocket Lab, scheduled to take place in 2018 and 2019. All
- [The State of the Media According to Pew](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-state-of-the-media-according-to-pew/15041/) - Communiqué PR staff | For nearly 15 years, Pew Research Center has distributed an overview of the state of the media, analyzing different forms, target audiences and consumption. It also looks at how media organizations are performing as businesses, analyzing outlets’ ability to capture attention as well as revenue. Rather than issuing one report, Pew distributes eight separate fact
- [Spaceflight Made History With Record-Breaking Launch](https://www.communiquepr.com/spaceflight-made-history-with-record-breaking-launch/15132/) - Communiqué PR staff | At the end of last year, our client Spaceflight, the leading mission management and launch service provider, launched the largest number of satellites ever from a U.S.-based launch vehicle – a historic achievement that was years in the making. The first-of-its-kind mission, named SSO-A for the orbit it was launching to, was dedicated to smallsats.
- [Key Takeaway’s from Cision’s Report: Influencing Through Earned Media](https://www.communiquepr.com/key-takeaways-from-cisions-report-influencing-through-earned-media/15423/) - Communiqué PR staff | In September 2018, Cision, a leading public relations and earned media software company and services provider, commissioned Forester Consulting to understand how marketers perceive their communications’ teams and the value of earned media. Its surveys quantified marketing perceptions, providing unique insights. These insights allow us to adapt our positioning or behavior to either continue supporting
- [CISION’s State of the Media: 2010 vs. 2019](https://www.communiquepr.com/cisions-state-of-the-media-2010-vs-2019/15548/) - Communiqué PR staff | In 2010, Vocus, a public relations software company that would eventually become CISION, released its first State of the Media report. Now, nine years later, CISION released the 10th annual State of the Media report. The report shares unique insights about the industry and specifically highlights journalists’ perspectives on different topics and trends, serving as
- [Spaceflight and BlackSky ‘Make it Rain’ With Successful Rocket Lab Launch](https://www.communiquepr.com/spaceflight-and-blacksky-make-it-rain-with-successful-rocket-lab-launch/15649/) - Communiqué PR staff | On June 28, 2019, our clients, Spaceflight and BlackSky, participated in the successful launch of a Rocket Lab Electron that launched from Launch Complex 1 at the southern tip of the Mahia Peninsula, on the east coast of New Zealand's North Island. As a nod to the rainy weather at both the location of Spaceflight’s
- [Defining Success and Highlighting the Value of PR](https://www.communiquepr.com/defining-success-and-highlighting-the-value-of-pr/15762/) - Communiqué PR staff | I recently stumbled across an article in PR Daily that highlights that PR professionals’ No. 1 concern is proving value. According to a report by Muck Rack, the top challenges facing PR professionals are difficulty measuring impact and lack of quantifiable measurements. Interestingly, within the last two weeks, I’ve received multiple requests from clients to
- [A Recap of Business Wire’s Meet the Media](https://www.communiquepr.com/a-recap-of-business-wires-meet-the-media/15821/) - Communiqué PR staff | On Sept. 5, 2019, I attended Business Wire’s Meet the Media luncheon to connect with journalists based in Seattle to learn more about how to effectively engage with them. The event had an impressive lineup of journalists from various media outlets, including broadcast journalists, managing editors, reporters and business editors. The luncheon was structured similar
- [Entering a New Decade: What Changed Over the Last 20 Years?](https://www.communiquepr.com/entering-a-new-decade-what-changed-over-the-last-20-years/15859/) - Communiqué PR staff | As we approach the end of the 2010s, I’ve been speaking with several clients about building out campaigns that center around the end of the decade. This includes reflecting on the last 10 years for their respective industries as well as organizations and developing predictions for the next 10 years. With this idea top of
- [Spaceflight Prepares for Additional Launches in 2019](https://www.communiquepr.com/spaceflight-prepares-for-additional-launches-in-2019/15943/) - Communiqué PR staff | Spaceflight, a rideshare service and mission management provider, has had an incredibly busy 2019 and though we’re nearing the end of the year, the company has no plans to slow down. Spaceflight has had an exciting 12 months, closing 2018 with its historic SSO-A mission, launching a record-breaking 64 satellites to space. Since then, the
- [Understanding Trust Part II: The Importance of an Effective Apology](https://www.communiquepr.com/understanding-trust-part-ii-the-importance-of-an-effective-apology/16006/) - Communiqué PR staff | Earlier this week, my colleague, Jennifer, published a blog post about understanding trust and why it matters. The post was inspired by a series of articles published in the Harvard Business Review analyzing the current lack of trust with large companies, including Boeing, Facebook and Nike. The final article, “The Elements of a Good Company
- [Three Tips for Maintaining Long-lasting Client Relationships](https://www.communiquepr.com/three-tips-for-maintaining-long-lasting-client-relationships/16036/) - Communiqué PR staff | I recently came across an article in Harvard Business Review titled, “The Loyalty Economy,” in which the author describes the importance of customer value and explains why customer loyalty is in the best interest of shareholders and management. It’s well known that maintaining a healthy, loyal customer base is significantly less costly and time-intensive than
- [Announcement Recap: Spaceflight Industries Signs Definitive Agreement to Sell the Launch Business](https://www.communiquepr.com/announcement-recap-spaceflight-industries-signs-definitive-agreement-to-sell-the-launch-business/16152/) - Communiqué PR staff | On Feb. 11, 2020, our long-time client Spaceflight Industries, the parent company of Spaceflight and BlackSky, announced the signing of a definite agreement to sell Spaceflight, Inc., the company’s rideshare launch business. Mitsui & Co., Ltd., in partnership with Yamasa, Co., plans to acquire the launch company to expand its portfolio and enter the space
- [COVID-19 Dominates News Cycles – What Does That Mean for All Other News?](https://www.communiquepr.com/covid-19-dominates-news-cycles-what-does-that-mean-for-all-other-news/16210/) - Communiqué PR staff | COVID-19 is dominating all conversations. Like me, I’m sure most people are lucky if they make it a full hour without talking or reading about COVID-19. Though my PR career isn’t decades long, I can’t think of another time when something has so clearly dominated the news and for such a long time – with
- [Buurst Introduces New Business Model to Disrupt the Cloud Industry](https://www.communiquepr.com/buurst-introduces-new-business-model-to-disrupt-the-cloud-industry/16293/) - Communiqué PR staff | Earlier this month, one of our newest clients announced a new business model, new company name and new funding. The client, a data performance company previously known as SoftNAS, will now be known as Buurst, unveiled that it was changing how it would charge for its services. As with every announcement, we worked closely with
- [The State of the Media in the Time of COVID-19](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-state-of-the-media-in-the-time-of-covid-19/16356/) - Communiqué PR staff | Each spring Cision releases its State of the Media Report, analyzing trends in the media, uncovering insights into journalists’ view on the state of the industry, and describing preferences on how they prefer to work with PR professionals. I keep an eye out for it each year, knowing that it will provide information that will
- [Understanding Racial Inequality: Takeaways From a Session with The Racial Equity Institute](https://www.communiquepr.com/understanding-racial-inequality-takeaways-from-a-session-with-the-racial-equity-institute/16423/) - Communiqué PR staff | On June 26, the PR Council hosted a session called “Groundwater: An Intro to Racial Equity,” led by Monica Walker and Stephanie Baker from The Racial Equity Institute. As members of the PR Council, we had the privilege of participating in this eye-opening session. The current attention to racial inequities and the resurgence of the
- [A Series of Announcements From Spaceflight Inc. Illustrate Exciting New Strides for the Company](https://www.communiquepr.com/a-series-of-announcements-from-spaceflight-inc-illustrate-exciting-new-strides-for-the-company/16510/) - Communiqué PR staff | A rendering of Spaceflight’s Sherpa-FX vehicle. Image courtesy of Spaceflight Inc. In mid-July, our client Spaceflight Inc., the leading satellite rideshare and mission management provider, announced its plans to launch its next generation orbital transfer vehicle, Sherpa-FX, on a fully dedicated rideshare mission with SpaceX. Spaceflight’s Sherpa-FX is the first innovative orbital transfer vehicle and
- [How to Effectively Navigate Social Advocacy – Following Through on Purpose and Values](https://www.communiquepr.com/how-to-effectively-navigate-social-advocacy-following-through-on-purpose-and-values/16782/) - Communiqué PR staff | 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
- [Productivity Hack: Celebrate the Small Victories](https://www.communiquepr.com/productivity-hack-celebrate-the-small-victories/16879/) - Communiqué PR staff | Admittedly, when determining the topic I wanted to write about for this blog post, I really struggled to identify one that inspired me and sparked my interest. After reading a variety of publications, searching recent news, and reflecting on recent experiences and campaigns across multiple days, I was still drawing a blank. Given that I’d
- [Lessons Learned from a Virtual Media Tour](https://www.communiquepr.com/lessons-learned-from-a-virtual-media-tour/16924/) - Communiqué PR staff | The unique circumstances of this year have required businesses to get creative, rethink strategies and adapt to a new normal. By now, we’re all familiar, probably too familiar, with video calls. While they may be tiresome, the new comfort around this form of interaction has sparked a great opportunity to support virtual media tours. While
- [2020 Year-End Results: Spaceflight Inc.](https://www.communiquepr.com/2020-year-end-results-spaceflight-inc/16999/) - Communiqué PR staff | A rendering of Spaceflight's Sherpa-FX vehicle. Image courtesy of Spaceflight Inc. 2020, despite the challenges it presented, proved to be another exciting and successful year for our client Spaceflight Inc., the leading launch services and mission management provider. The space industry didn’t go unaffected by the challenges the pandemic presented, yet Spaceflight still executed five
- [2020 End of Year Results: Light Rider](https://www.communiquepr.com/2020-end-of-year-results-light-rider/17079/) - Communiqué PR staff | Given all the unique circumstances of the past year, the media were often focused on critical updates about the state of the pandemic, the national protests around social injustices, or the presidential election. With the media’s attention largely focused on the events over the course of the year, it was more challenging than ever to
- [PR Lessons from Meghan and Harry’s Interview](https://www.communiquepr.com/pr-lessons-from-meghan-and-harrys-interview/17153/) - Communiqué PR staff | The world has been buzzing since the announcement of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s tell-all interview with Oprah. Since airing on March 7 in the U.S., the internet, talk shows and celebrities have not stopped talking about the content of the interview and its potential impact. The highly anticipated interview, as well as the aftermath,
- [Carbon Robotics Unveils its Laser-Powered, Autonomous Robots to Eliminate Weeds](https://www.communiquepr.com/carbon-robotics-unveils-its-laser-powered-autonomous-robots-to-eliminate-weeds/17221/) - Communiqué PR staff | Image credit: Carbon Robotics On April 13, our client Carbon Robotics, introduced its Autonomous Weeder, a 10,000-pound autonomous robot that leverages computer vision, artificial intelligence (AI), and laser technology to safely and effectively drive through crop fields to identify, target and eliminate weeds. Carbon Robotics’ groundbreaking application of this technology is revolutionizing agriculture. The company’s
- [Orbite Unveils its First Signature Space Program: Astronaut Orientation](https://www.communiquepr.com/orbite-unveils-its-first-signature-space-program-astronaut-orientation/17295/) - Communiqué PR staff | Astronaut Orientation may sound futuristic, but the reality is, it will be available this year. Our client, Orbite, the premier space training company for ultimate adventurers, recently unveiled the details of its first offering: Astronaut Orientation. It’s important to note that this isn’t space camp for adults. This is an authentic, thoughtful and experiential program
- [Building and Maintaining Momentum as Spaceflight Prepares to Execute an Industry First](https://www.communiquepr.com/building-and-maintaining-momentum-as-spaceflight-prepares-to-execute-an-industry-first/17361/) - Communiqué PR staff | Our client Spaceflight Inc. is no stranger to executing industry firsts. In December 2018, the company launched the largest number of satellites from a U.S.-based launch vehicle, and in Feb. 2019, the company launched the first privately funded lunar lander on the first-ever rideshare mission to Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO). In June of 2021, Spaceflight
- [Less Than 10% of Pitches Result in Coverage—How to Develop an Effective Pitch and Build Relationships](https://www.communiquepr.com/less-than-10-of-pitches-result-in-coverage-how-to-develop-an-effective-pitch-and-build-relationships/17457/) - Communiqué PR staff | Most, if not all, PR professionals are often left wondering if their pitch was opened and what the targeted reporters thought of it. Well, now we have some insight into whether or not journalists are opening email pitches or filing them away. Recently, a report by Propel analyzed 1 million pitches sent to journalists to
- [Carbon Robotics Secures $27 Million in Funding to Meet Demand for Autonomous Weeder](https://www.communiquepr.com/carbon-robotics-secures-27-million-in-funding-to-meet-demand-for-autonomous-weeder/17510/) - Communiqué PR staff | Image credit: Carbon Robotics On Sept. 1, 2021, our client Carbon Robotics, an agriculture robotics company, revealed that it had secured $27 million in Series B funding to accelerate the company's growth. The funding will be used to scale production of the company’s products, grow its engineering team, establish regional sales and support for customers
- [Capturing Media Attention: Executing an Effective Media Outreach Campaign](https://www.communiquepr.com/capturing-media-attention-executing-an-effective-media-outreach-campaign/17623/) - Communiqué PR staff | Earlier this year, I came across a report by Propel that analyzed 1 million pitches sent to journalists to better understand if email pitches result in media coverage. That report found that of more than 726,000 emails sent, only 29% were opened, 3% got a response and 8% resulted in media coverage. Yet, a new report from
- [2021 Year-End Results: HeadLight](https://www.communiquepr.com/2021-year-end-results-headlight/17700/) - Communiqué PR staff | Throughout the year, the infrastructure construction industry took center stage. Attention on the sector was primarily due to the negotiations for a bill that would dedicate trillions in funding to improve our nation’s infrastructure. So, when we kicked off our partnership with HeadLight, a visual-based inspection technology, at the beginning of 2021, we knew there
- [Carbon Robotics Unveils New LaserWeeder](https://www.communiquepr.com/carbon-robotics-unveils-new-laserweeder/17777/) - Communiqué PR staff | In the spring of 2021, our client Carbon Robotics, an agriculture robotics company, became a sensation when it revealed a “laser-shooting” robot to eliminate weeds. This innovative and organic approach to weeding would help farmers solve one of the most challenging, time consuming and costly parts of farming. So, when the Carbon Robotics shared the
- [Why Internal Communications Shouldn’t be an Afterthought](https://www.communiquepr.com/why-internal-communications-shouldnt-be-an-afterthought/17857/) - Communiqué PR staff | 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
- [Elon Musk’s Acquisition of Twitter: What PR Professionals Should Keep in Mind](https://www.communiquepr.com/elon-musks-acquisition-of-twitter-what-pr-professionals-should-keep-in-mind/17919/) - Communiqué PR staff | Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter has dominated headlines for the last few days. The news has led to differing perspectives and left many asking what it means for the future of the platform. While only time will tell how this ownership change will impact Twitter’s future, PR professionals should be considering impacts and changes now.
- [Lessons Learned from Airlines Responding to a Rocky Return to Increased Travel](https://www.communiquepr.com/lessons-learned-from-airlines-responding-to-a-rocky-return-to-increased-travel/18001/) - Communiqué PR staff | It’s no secret that the airline industry has had a tough go the last couple of years. In 2020, the year the pandemic reached the U.S., airline travel dropped by 60%. This year, air travel has continued to make a strong comeback with the amount of international travel increasing and domestic flights carrying 83% more
- [Measuring Meaningful Results](https://www.communiquepr.com/measuring-meaningful-results/18066/) - Communiqué PR staff | Public relations is not an exact science. While we can effectively outline anticipated results for an announcement or proactive campaign, there is no guaranteed outcome. So how can we establish meaningful KPIs with our clients that are achievable, measurable and define success? Of course, there are a range of quantitative results that can be tracked,
- [Best Practices: Making the Most of Media Presence at Conferences](https://www.communiquepr.com/best-practices-making-the-most-of-media-presence-at-conferences/18328/) - Communiqué PR staff | With conferences back in action, many companies are investing significant time and resources to participate in events again. As such, it’s important to do everything you can to maximize your organization’s presence. Conferences are a great opportunity to network, meet with potential customers, and build thought leadership through speaking engagements. While most attendees are industry
- [QorusDocs Secures $10 Million to Support Accelerated Demand for Proposal Management Software](https://www.communiquepr.com/qorusdocs-secures-10-million-to-support-accelerated-demand-for-proposal-management-software/18407/) - Communiqué PR staff | On Oct. 4, 2022, our client, QorusDocs, a global leader in the RFP and proposal management software industry, announced it secured $10 million in additional funding led by WestRiver Group. The new investment will be used to address increasing customer demand for QorusDocs’ proposal management software in growing verticals, such as legal, IT services and
- [<strong>Making the Most of Unique Data</strong>](https://www.communiquepr.com/making-the-most-of-unique-data/18514/) - Communiqué PR staff | Leveraging Unique Data to Drive Awareness and Build Thought Leadership More and more, we are finding that clients are interested in developing and publishing their own surveys or reports, highlighting original findings about their respective industry. And while the unique insights often offer insights in customers’ perspectives and interests, original data is also an excellent
- [Reaching Hyper-local Audiences: Crafting a Compelling Pitch](https://www.communiquepr.com/reaching-hyper-local-audiences-crafting-a-compelling-pitch/18720/) - Communiqué PR staff | Proactive pitch campaigns often target national or even global audiences. However, when you’re working with organizations that have products or services that appeal to audiences in specific regions or locations, it’s important to capture the attention of those local audiences. How do you reach these audiences? With pitches tailored designed to resonate with their specific
- [<strong>Are thank you notes a thing of the past?</strong>](https://www.communiquepr.com/are-thank-you-notes-a-thing-of-the-past/18553/) - Communiqué PR staff | In today’s day and age, thank you notes seem to be a rare thing. Following interviews and calls, our team often discusses how important this small, yet impactful action really is. Thank you notes were once a staple of interaction, especially from a personal standpoint, but are they still relevant in a business setting? Yes.
- [<strong>Carbon Robotics Unveils LaserThinning</strong>](https://www.communiquepr.com/carbon-robotics-unveils-laserthinning/18617/) - Communiqué PR staff | Over the last three years, Carbon Robotics’ groundbreaking developments have captured the attention of customers and top-tier media. The company, a leader in AI-powered robotics, is addressing the agricultural industry’s biggest challenges, inducing labor shortages and the cost and availability of herbicides. Most recently, CNN featured Carbon Robotics on a segment about how automation is
- [When and Why to Pursue Business Awards](https://www.communiquepr.com/when-and-why-to-pursue-business-awards/18665/) - Communiqué PR staff | Business awards are an important part of a comprehensive PR program. They validate a company’s accomplishments, raise awareness of its products and boost morale. But developing and submitting award nominations can be time-consuming. That’s why it’s critical to evaluate each award for its potential impact and the company’s likelihood of winning. Below are some reasons
- [Lowering Stakes to Improve Morale](https://www.communiquepr.com/lowering-stakes-to-improve-morale/18972/) - Communiqué PR staff | Chief marketing officers (CMOs) have, on average, the shortest tenure in the c-suite. In 2022, the average CMO at a top 100 U.S. advertiser had been in that role for just over three years. This creates high-pressure, stressful environments. Marketing and communication teams often face changing business landscapes, the pressure to hit difficult metrics, and
- [The Power of Effective Storytelling](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-power-of-effective-storytelling/19066/) - Communiqué PR staff | In the November/December issue of the Harvard Business Review, Frances Frei and Anne Morris explained how storytelling can drive bold organizational change. While the piece focuses on changing a brand from the inside out, it shows that storytelling powers transformation by connecting and inspiring people. Frei and Morris break down the elements of successful storytelling,
- [Advertising Ethics: Looking at U.S. and Japanese Media for the 2020 Tokyo Games](https://www.communiquepr.com/advertising-ethics-looking-at-u-s-and-japanese-media-for-the-2020-tokyo-games/17400/) - Communiqué PR staff | As one of the most highly publicized sporting events in the world, it should come as no surprise that companies use the Olympics to truly capitalize on advertising and brand awareness. From Visa’s Go World commercials, which grossed over 28 million social media impressions before the 2012 London Games, to P&G’s Thank You, Mom campaign, which earned $500 million in global
- [5 TikTok Tips Every Content Creator Should Follow in 2021](https://www.communiquepr.com/5-tiktok-tips-every-content-creator-should-follow-in-2021/17470/) - Communiqué PR staff | Over the years, TikTok has quickly become one of the leading social media apps in the world and currently has a staggering 689 million monthly users. For content creators, TikTok is a key platform to promote their work, products, personalities and ideas in creative ways to a global audience. However, the saturation of videos and
- [Four Steps for Identifying and Managing Post-Pandemic Exhaustion in the Workplace](https://www.communiquepr.com/four-steps-for-identifying-and-managing-post-pandemic-exhaustion-in-the-workplace/17560/) - Communiqué PR staff | It's no secret the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the world in more ways than one this past year. Working professionals had to massively adjust their daily schedules as companies moved to remote work business models. Although many professionals reported benefitting from these work-from-home transitions, others are still grappling with the impactful changes remote work has
- [How Proposal Management Software Supports Future Remote Work Models](https://www.communiquepr.com/how-proposal-management-software-supports-future-remote-work-models/17667/) - Communiqué PR staff | Due to COVID-19, many workforces worldwide shifted into remote work weeks. Although much of daily life has returned to “normal” this year, remote work isn't going anywhere for some businesses. In fact, nearly three-quarters (74%) of U.S. companies plan to permanently shift employees to remote work after the COVID-19 pandemic ends. Due to this, tools
- [Publication Spotlight: National Law Review](https://www.communiquepr.com/publication-spotlight-national-law-review/17733/) - Communiqué PR staff | Our “Publication Spotlight” series showcases media outlets that resonate with our current and future clients. This week’s spotlight is on the National Law Review, a free-to-use, no log-in database of curated legal and business articles, news, and analysis, established in 1888. Below is an overview of the National Law Review and a summary of my
- [SparkToro – the Marketing Tool All Strategists Need in Their Toolkit](https://www.communiquepr.com/sparktoro-the-marketing-tool-all-strategists-need-in-their-toolkit/17822/) - Communiqué PR staff | 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
- [How PR Firms Can Improve Security Measures Amid the Uptick in Cyberattacks](https://www.communiquepr.com/how-pr-firms-can-improve-security-measures-amid-the-uptick-in-cyberattacks/17928/) - Communiqué PR staff | Over the past few weeks, the world has watched the Ukrainian-Russian crisis evolve into a significant conflict, impacting hundreds of thousands of people and businesses. After the conflict broke out, U.S. cybersecurity agencies reported an 800% increase in cyberattacks over a 48-hour period. Additionally, President Biden warns that a flood of significant cyberattacks may be
- [Spaceflight Inc. Successfully Debuts its Latest OTV, Sherpa-AC](https://www.communiquepr.com/spaceflight-inc-successfully-debuts-its-latest-otv-sherpa-ac/17970/) - Communiqué PR staff | Image credit: SpaceX Last week, our client Spaceflight Inc., the leading global launch services provider, debuted its new Sherpa-AC, the latest variation in the company’s Sherpa orbital transfer vehicle (OTV) portfolio. The Transporter 5 rideshare mission onboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 lifted off from Cape Canaveral on May 25 and headed to a Sun Synchronous
- [The Harry Styles Effect: What his songs can teach us about compelling writing](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-harry-styles-effect-what-his-songs-can-teach-us-about-compelling-writing/18044/) - Communiqué PR staff | With over 74 million monthly listeners, Harry Styles is the fifth most-streamed Spotify artist worldwide, with more than 15 million equivalent album sales. Statistics like this beg one simple question – how has Harry Styles made such an impact on the music industry? Taking a page out of my colleague Megan's book (she recently analyzed
- [4 Lessons We Can Learn From The Sopranos’ Paulie “Walnuts” Gualtieri About Effective PR Strategies](https://www.communiquepr.com/4-lessons-we-can-learn-from-the-sopranos-paulie-walnuts-gualtieri-about-effective-pr-strategies/18320/) - Communiqué PR staff | On July 8, 2022, actor Tony Sirico suddenly passed away at the age of 79. Although his professional career spanned decades, most recognize Sirico for his award-winning performance as Paulie “Walnuts” Gualtieri in The Sopranos. As a high-ranking member of the DiMeo Crime Family, Paulie had his fair share of arrogant, funny and down-right ruthless
- [The Four R’s: Tips for reusing thought leadership content](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-four-rs-tips-for-reusing-thought-leadership-content/18381/) - Communiqué PR staff | It’s no secret that PR professionals spend a great deal of time developing thought leadership opportunities for clients. As a result, we’re often left with an abundance of ideas and content. However, things don’t always go according to plan, and we’re often left with these questions: How do we ensure content reaches the right audiences?
- [What you should consider before pursuing paid placements](https://www.communiquepr.com/what-you-should-consider-before-pursuing-paid-placements/18449/) - Communiqué PR staff | When it comes to thought leadership, paid placements are often go-to tools. A well-placed thought leadership piece can help an executive position themselves as a subject-matter expert in their industry. However, media placement opportunities have changed dramatically. Many outlets have adopted the pay-to-play model. PR professionals should consider several factors before pursuing a paid placement
- [Preparing company messaging in the light of recent events](https://www.communiquepr.com/preparing-company-messaging-in-the-light-of-recent-events/18491/) - Communiqué PR staff | These are polarizing times. Many companies not only have to navigate layoffs, economic headwinds and fiercely divided politics, but they must also create meaningful and savvy communications that resonate with key stakeholders and employees. Reaching different audiences that might be at odds is a challenge, but there are ways to craft forward-thinking communications that strike
- [<strong>A Year in Review: BitTitan in 2022</strong>](https://www.communiquepr.com/a-year-in-review-bittitan-in-2022/18528/) - Communiqué PR staff | As 2023 begins, I thought it would be interesting to look back at some of the 2022 coverage for BitTitan, a top-tier provider of migration and managed services automation solutions, trusted by IT professionals worldwide to effectively deploy and manage cloud technologies. Its flagship product, MigrationWiz, is the go-to SaaS solution for migrating mailboxes, documents,
- [<strong>Rapid Response: Best Practices for Managing Timely Media Requests</strong>](https://www.communiquepr.com/rapid-response-best-practices-for-managing-timely-media-requests/18577/) - Communiqué PR staff | In PR, rapid response situations often arise. For example, inbound media inquiries often need a quick turnaround because of journalists’ deadlines. In addition, journalists posting queries on websites such as HARO and Qwoted often require responses within short timeframes. These types of requests are common, so it’s a good idea have processes in place to
- [<strong>Best practices for interviewing a subject matter expert</strong>](https://www.communiquepr.com/best-practices-for-interviewing-a-subject-matter-expert/18611/) - Communiqué PR staff | In PR, subject matter experts are invaluable when developing content for bylines, speaking opportunities and other messaging purposes. Interviewing a subject matter expert gives PR professionals a unique perspective that will ensure they are meeting their clients’ goals. However, interviewing a subject matter expert is no simple task. If not done correctly, PR professionals may
- [Carbon Robotics Raises $30 Million in Funding to Scale AI-Powered LaserWeeder™ Platform](https://www.communiquepr.com/carbon-robotics-raises-30-million-in-funding-to-scale-ai-powered-laserweeder-platform/18688/) - Communiqué PR staff | Carbon Robotics, a leader in AI-powered robotics, continues to reap the agricultural-industry benefits of its innovative state-of-the-art LaserWeeder. Earlier this year, the company announced a new capability for the LaserWeeder – LaserThinning. The company is also seeing tremendous sales growth of the LaserWeeder and plans to deliver implements to growers across 17 states in the
- [Crafting a Compelling Proactive Pitch: Tips to Consider](https://www.communiquepr.com/crafting-a-compelling-proactive-pitch-tips-to-consider/18702/) - Communiqué PR staff | Proactive pitching is a powerful way to win media coverage for a client, even when there’s no major news to announce. It also allows PR pros more control over their work. However, proactive pitching can be tricky. It’s a craft that PR pros should constantly hone. Creating a compelling proactive pitch takes time and practice.
- [What Clients Should Know About Working With Journalists](https://www.communiquepr.com/what-clients-should-know-about-working-with-journalists/18856/) - Communiqué PR staff | A major part of public relations is working closely with journalists. These relationships help drive awareness and coverage for clients. They are essential to their business goals and objectives. To build and preserve good working relationships with journalists, it’s important that clients of PR agencies understand a few important things. By being prepared for the
- [Considering a PR partner? Here’s how to find the best fit.](https://www.communiquepr.com/considering-a-pr-partner-heres-how-to-find-the-best-fit/19051/) - Communiqué PR staff | If you’re looking for a PR partner to help support your business objectives, there are many factors to consider. You’ll want an agency that meets some key requirements that best fit your business needs. Not sure what those requirements are? Keep reading to find out more. Objectives When you meet with a prospective PR agency,
- [A Year in Review: BitTitan in 2023](https://www.communiquepr.com/a-year-in-review-bittitan-in-2023/19084/) - Communiqué PR staff | As we move into 2024, I decided to reflect on BitTitan's 2023 coverage. BitTitan is a top-tier provider of migration and managed services automation solutions, trusted by IT professionals worldwide to effectively deploy and manage cloud technologies. Its flagship product, MigrationWiz, is the go-to SaaS solution for migrating mailboxes, documents, public folders, and Microsoft Teams
- [Looking Back: BitTitan’s Success in Q1 2024](https://www.communiquepr.com/looking-back-bittitans-success-in-q1-2024/19132/) - Communiqué PR staff | In the world of cloud technology, BitTitan shines brightly, consistently setting new benchmarks in service automation and digital transformation. Throughout Q1 2024, BitTitan led the industry with insightful thought leadership and byline placements in notable publications. In this blog post, we unpack BitTitan's Q1 triumphs. From redefining the contours of cloud migration to understanding the
- [Looking Back: BitTitan’s Successful Q2 2024](https://www.communiquepr.com/looking-back-bittitans-successful-q2-2024/21612/) - Communiqué PR staff | In the rapidly evolving world of cloud computing, BitTitan stands out as a trailblazer. Established in 2007, BitTitan specializes in providing automated cloud migration and managed services automation solutions. With its flagship product, MigrationWiz, the company empowers businesses of all sizes to seamlessly transition to the cloud, enhancing productivity and operational efficiency. After a successful
- [Crisis Preparedness and Response: The Essential Role of PR in a Rapidly Changing World](https://www.communiquepr.com/crisis-preparedness-and-response-the-essential-role-of-pr-in-a-rapidly-changing-world/21621/) - Communiqué PR staff | In today’s hyper-connected world, information moves at lightning speed. A seemingly minor issue can quickly escalate into a full-blown crisis, potentially damaging a company’s reputation and bottom line. As a result, businesses are placing a greater emphasis on crisis preparedness, with public relations teams at the forefront of developing robust crisis communication plans. These plans
- [Carbon Robotics Celebrates a Year of Exceptional Growth in 2024](https://www.communiquepr.com/carbon-robotics-celebrates-a-year-of-exceptional-growth-in-2024/21731/) - Communiqué PR staff | Carbon Robotics made 2024 a landmark year. It continued to revolutionize the agricultural industry with its state-of-the-art, AI-powered LaserWeeder technology. From the U.S. heartland to Denmark's innovative farms, Carbon Robotics’ mission to empower farmers, protect the environment and enhance crop yields captured the media's attention. In 2024, 228 articles featuring Carbon Robotics were published across
- [Behind the Scenes of a Winning Award Submission: Managing Complexity, Collaboration and Deadlines](https://www.communiquepr.com/behind-the-scenes-of-a-winning-award-submission-managing-complexity-collaboration-and-deadlines/21739/) - Communiqué PR staff | Winning an American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) award is more than just celebrating a project—it’s about telling a story of innovation, teamwork and positive community impacts. The Washington ACEC award for HNTB’s Lynnwood Link Extension project with Sound Transit highlighted the team’s remarkable engineering achievements. It also showcased the collaboration and strategy that made
- [Telling the Right Story: How to Nail External Messaging for Related Companies](https://www.communiquepr.com/telling-the-right-story-how-to-nail-external-messaging-for-related-companies/21775/) - Lucy Meneghello | Companies growing through acquisition or diversification often face a nuanced communications challenge: clearly communicating the relationship between brands. Getting this positioning right is crucial. It avoids confusion, protects reputations and tells a clear, compelling brand story. Our team recently guided a client through this challenge. The work centered on defining the right external language to
- [Seeding the Future of Farming: How Carbon Robotics’ Innovations Are Cultivating Industry Momentum](https://www.communiquepr.com/seeding-the-future-of-farming-how-carbon-robotics-innovations-are-cultivating-industry-momentum/21771/) - Kyli Ussery | As agriculture is reshaped by labor shortages, operational inefficiencies and environmental pressures, Carbon Robotics stands out as an agtech innovator. Using a farmer-first mindset and deep expertise in AI and robotics, the company has rolled out two major product announcements in recent months, each with the potential to redefine farming. From the precision of the
- [The Truth Test: Why Vetting Sources is Crucial in Today’s Media Landscape](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-truth-test-why-vetting-sources-is-crucial-in-todays-media-landscape/21767/) - Colleen Flynn | In today’s fast-paced media environment, misinformation and "fake news" can easily gain traction. Information can be shared rapidly across social media, blogs and online platforms—sometimes before it can be fact-checked. Now more than ever, it’s important to ensure the media outlets you’re working with are credible and trustworthy. PR professionals are in a unique position
- [Why Multimedia Press Releases: Boosts Your News](https://www.communiquepr.com/why-multimedia-press-releases-boosts-your-news/21762/) - Jennifer Gehrt | Companies are constantly looking for ways to capture attention and tell compelling stories. The multimedia press release is an essential tool to do this. What is a Multimedia Press Release? Multimedia press releases combine traditional text-based press announcements with visual and interactive elements such as images, videos, infographics, audio clips and social media posts. This
- [Navigating Global Media Relations: Insights from ZAPI GROUP’s Success at bauma China](https://www.communiquepr.com/navigating-global-media-relations-insights-from-zapi-groups-success-at-bauma-china/21757/) - Carley Gray | Markets aren’t limited by maps. Business growth often requires engaging audience around the globe. However, successful media relations in different countries require more than just translating a press release. Each global region has a distinct media landscape, cultural norms and language guidelines to navigate. To conduct successful media relations abroad, PR professionals should consider these
- [Reflecting on 2024: A Year of Growth and Success for Communiqué PR](https://www.communiquepr.com/reflecting-on-2024-a-year-of-growth-and-success-for-communique-pr/21735/) - Colleen Moffitt | With 2024 behind us, we’re celebrating a year filled with growth, achievements and a special milestone: Communiqué PR’s 20th anniversary. Over the past two decades, we’ve partnered with incredible clients, tackled exciting challenges and built a team that’s second to none. The successes of 2024 were made possible by the trust of our clients and
- [2024 in Review: How Mosaicx Redefined Conversational AI in CX](https://www.communiquepr.com/2024-in-review-how-mosaicx-redefined-conversational-ai-in-cx/21724/) - AnnMarie Carson | The new year is a time for reflection. Today, we’re reflecting on one of our client’s achievements and what we’ve learned from developing campaigns, sharing company news, and staying attuned to industry evolution. Mosaicx is a leader in the customer experience (CX). Its Conversational AI uses voice recognition and digital messaging to help customers find
- [The Media Landscape is Changing. What Does it Mean for PR?](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-media-landscape-is-changing-what-does-it-mean-for-pr/21718/) - Megan Nielson | What do niche news channels, TikTok journos and a shrinking newspaper industry have in common? Each is helping to rewrite media consumption rules faster than ever. Staying relevant in today’s whirlwind media landscape requires more than keeping up—it demands a strategy shift. The interplay of audience preferences and emerging platforms presents communicators with an exciting
- [Develop Reactive Messaging Before a Crisis Hits](https://www.communiquepr.com/develop-reactive-messaging-before-a-crisis-hits/21698/) - Lucy Meneghello | In PR, reactive messaging is no longer an option—it’s a necessity. This strategy encompasses the development of a response to inbound media inquiries or other requests for comments following a major event. As the name suggests, most organizations develop this response reactively. But the best reactive messaging isn’t created in the moment. It’s prepared in
- [<strong>You Need an Internal Communications Strategy. Here’s How to Do It</strong>](https://www.communiquepr.com/you-need-an-internal-communications-strategy-heres-how-to-do-it/18581/) - Communiqué PR staff | Today, there are a plethora of tools that an organization may use to communicate with employees. These include email, company intranet, video conferencing solutions like Zoom, instant messaging platforms like Slack or Microsoft teams and more. Creating an internal communications strategy, including guidelines for how to use tools, can benefit communicators in their efforts to
- [<strong>Four Tools to Build an Effective Press List</strong>](https://www.communiquepr.com/four-tools-to-build-an-effective-press-list/18642/) - Communiqué PR staff | PR pros know that behind every piece of media coverage is an effective press list. Your client might have a great story to tell, but getting the right set of eyes on that story can be challenging. Securing media coverage means having the right information at the right time, and then getting that info in
- [Press Release Metrics That Matter: Business Wire Edition](https://www.communiquepr.com/press-release-metrics-that-matter-business-wire-edition/18684/) - Communiqué PR staff | Business Wire’s online analytics report, NewsTrak, can help you quantify the success of your press releases. But with so much data available, how do you determine which metrics matter most? In this post, I’ll highlight the metrics PR professionals should use to measure the impact of press releases distributed on Business Wire. Armed with this
- [Top Tips to Future-Proof Your Business](https://www.communiquepr.com/top-tips-to-future-proof-your-business/17728/) - Communiqué PR staff | Transformations to the digital world and workplace are happening all the time and impact how we interact with our organizations daily. This shift has emphasized the need for collaborative tools, new communication techniques, increased security and maintenance of competency as team members span across various locations and business practices shift. Keeping up with the times
- [Six Women Leading Today's Tech Industry](https://www.communiquepr.com/six-women-leading-todays-tech-industry/17800/) - Communiqué PR staff | Happy Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day! This past Tuesday, March 1, marked the beginning of 2022’s Women’s History Month, a time dedicated to acknowledging powerful women worldwide and in our everyday lives. Many of us are already familiar with some influential women who changed the tech industry today as we know it, such
- [Building Confidence in the Workplace](https://www.communiquepr.com/building-confidence-in-the-workplace/17878/) - Communiqué PR staff | Good self-confidence is something that no one is naturally born with and is something most of us are consistently working to build. Many people, especially those who identify as women, struggle with confidence early in their careers. This often results in a lack of women who self-promote, especially compared to men.
- [How to Manage Unforeseen Leaks](https://www.communiquepr.com/how-to-manage-unforeseen-leaks/17948/) - Communiqué PR staff | I’m good at keeping secrets. For over a year and a half, I was able to keep a project that I’d been working on under wraps – not even my parents knew. The project is the largest I’ve worked on in my life thus far, so I was (and am) adamant about keeping my mouth
- [Managing Marketing During Times of Inflation](https://www.communiquepr.com/managing-marketing-during-times-of-inflation/18037/) - Communiqué PR staff | No matter the sector, the talk has been the same – how can we ride out the current inflation? In times of inflation, money’s purchasing power wanes, causing prices of goods and services to rise. Essentially, inflation weakens the power of the dollar. Rising inflation often goes hand-in-hand with the possibility of a recession. According
- [How Construction SMBs Are Managing Digital Transformation](https://www.communiquepr.com/how-construction-smbs-are-managing-digital-transformation/18287/) - Communiqué PR staff | COVID-19 transformed the construction industry. The pandemic forced companies to fast-forward technology implementations to cope with stalled projects, funding shortages, staffing challenges and supply chain issues. The result? A rapidly automating industry. Job sites are utilizing cloud-based technologies to keep up with digital transformations. These effects are evident in small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), including
- [The Rise of the Four-Day Workweek](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-rise-of-the-four-day-workweek/18691/) - Communiqué PR staff | The idea of a four-day workweek has been gaining popularity. Around the world, companies and governments are experimenting with this alternative to the traditional five-day workweek. The pandemic shifted workers’ mindsets. Individuals began to value time with families, loved ones and selves over time at the office. People also began to recognize how fragile we
- [Six Essential Writing Tips for Public Relations Success](https://www.communiquepr.com/six-essential-writing-tips-for-public-relations-success/19147/) - Communiqué PR staff | In the dynamic world of public relations (PR), the power of well-crafted writing cannot be overstated. When considering a PR partner, one of the most crucial factors to evaluate is their ability to create engaging content and write compelling PR materials. Clear and engaging writing is a vital link between businesses and the public. This
- [Navigating Media Relations During Industry Disruptions](https://www.communiquepr.com/navigating-media-relations-during-industry-disruptions/21615/) - Communiqué PR staff | Ever feel like media relations is the art of hitting a moving target? You’re not alone. With the media landscape evolving at breakneck speed, PR professionals are finding it increasingly difficult to maintain and build relationships with journalists. Recent mass layoffs at major publications like The Wall Street Journal have only added to the volatility.
- [Campaign Trail PR Lessons: What Brands Can Learn About Storytelling](https://www.communiquepr.com/campaign-trail-pr-lessons-what-brands-can-learn-about-storytelling/21693/) - Colleen Flynn | The recent presidential election provided a masterclass in storytelling. Campaigns worked tirelessly to craft narratives that resonated with their diverse audiences, inspiring trust and galvanizing support. While politics and public relations operate in different spheres, brands seeking to elevate their PR efforts can learn from political campaigns’ storytelling strategies. Here are seven key lessons from
- [A Guide to End-of-Year PR Reporting](https://www.communiquepr.com/a-guide-to-end-of-year-pr-reporting/21689/) - Kyli Ussery | As we wrap up 2024, PR professionals are diving into end-of-year reporting to assess their work. Evaluating the success of PR campaigns is essential for shaping future strategies, setting realistic goals and demonstrating PR’s value to key stakeholders. In the words of management expert Peter Drucker, “What gets measured, gets managed.” The right metrics give
- [How to Build Connection in Remote Teams: Insights from Harvard Business Review](https://www.communiquepr.com/how-to-build-connection-in-remote-teams-insights-from-harvard-business-review/21684/) - Jennifer Gehrt | A recent Gallup "State of the Global Workplace" report highlights that about 20% of employees worldwide experience loneliness daily. That number rises to 25% among fully remote workers. Experts say this is troubling because it impacts an individual’s well-being. Lonely employees also tend to be less engaged and productive. Fortunately, Constance Noonan Hadley from Boston
- [ZAPI GROUP Exhibits Unparalleled Range of Charging Solutions at The Battery Show North America 2024](https://www.communiquepr.com/zapi-group-exhibits-unparalleled-range-of-charging-solutions-at-the-battery-show-north-america-2024/21680/) - Carley Gray | ZAPI GROUP, a global leader in electrification headquartered in Italy, recently announced its presence at The Battery Show North America and the launch of the ZIVAN SG9. The new ZIVAN SG9 is a 9 kW off-board charging solution for off-highway vehicles and machines. ZAPI GROUP showcased the ZIVAN SG9 along with its full range of
- [Recap: Supporting Tideworks’ 2024 Customer Conference and Product Milestones](https://www.communiquepr.com/recap-supporting-tideworks-2024-customer-conference-and-product-milestones/21652/) - AnnMarie Carson | Last month, we had the pleasure of supporting our client, Tideworks Technology (Tideworks), as they launched their new Data Platform solution and hosted the 2024 Tideworks Customer Conference. Communiqué PR assisted with event planning and sharing the new Data Platform product with key media. It was an exciting month for Tideworks and a fun opportunity
- [Nike’s Reorganization Shows Why Investing in PR Builds Trust](https://www.communiquepr.com/nikes-reorganization-shows-why-investing-in-pr-builds-trust/21649/) - Azlynn Stokes | In September, Nike announced that former senior executive Elliott Hill would replace John Donahoe as president and CEO. This was an effort to boost recent years of lackluster sales. Under Donahoe, Nike focused solely on quick returns, at the cost of funding and interest to their PR and marketing departments. This ultimately hurt the company
- [Acumatica’s Award-Winning Streak: A Testament to Innovation and Excellence](https://www.communiquepr.com/acumaticas-award-winning-streak-a-testament-to-innovation-and-excellence/21636/) - Kyli Ussery | Acumatica, the leading cloud ERP provider for small to mid-sized businesses, has again garnered significant awards across various categories. This recognition reinforces its reputation as a top performer in the tech industry. From workplace culture to product excellence, Acumatica’s achievements highlight the company’s unwavering commitment to innovation, customer satisfaction, and corporate responsibility. Here’s a look
- [Driving PR Success: Four Takeaways from My Car-Buying Experience](https://www.communiquepr.com/driving-pr-success-four-takeaways-from-my-car-buying-experience/21644/) - Megan Nielson | Buying a car can feel like a whirlwind of decisions, negotiations and gut checks—much like navigating public relations. As I recently ventured through the car-buying process, it struck me how many PR lessons I could glean from this experience. From asking the right questions to building trust and understanding the market, the skills required in
- [Best Practices for Effectively Managing Organizational Change](https://www.communiquepr.com/best-practices-for-effectively-managing-organizational-change/21632/) - Colleen Flynn | "Change is hard at first, messy in the middle, and gorgeous at the end." - Robin Sharma In any organization, managing change—whether it’s a reorganization, merger, acquisition, reduction in force, or the implementation of new technology—can be challenging. These transitions often have complex, far-reaching effects that require careful planning and execution. However, matrixed organizations face
- [Best Practices for Managing Review Cycles](https://www.communiquepr.com/best-practices-for-managing-review-cycles/21626/) - Jennifer Gehrt | A large part of a PR professional’s role is managing the review of content: press releases, pitches, plans, contributed articles, thought leadership pieces, scripts, speeches, and more. Given this, an efficient and effective review cycle is essential for ensuring that work is completed accurately and on time. A well-structured review cycle can be the difference
- [How to Leverage LinkedIn’s New Company Following Feature](https://www.communiquepr.com/how-to-leverage-linkedins-new-company-following-feature/21618/) - Carley Gray | On LinkedIn, monitoring activity from customers, partners, and competitors is crucial to understanding your industry’s landscape and growing your network. Companies use information from LinkedIn feeds for business development, competitor analysis, and communication strategies. Engaging with other accounts’ posts, for example, can also boost your company’s profile and enhance relationships. In my last blog post,
- [Navigating B2B Influencer Marketing](https://www.communiquepr.com/navigating-b2b-influencer-marketing/21604/) - AnnMarie Carson | One of the most significant strategic shifts in modern marketing has been the rise of influencer marketing. This tactic is often associated with consumer brands, but it’s making headway in the B2B sector. The marketing power of influencers lies in their ability to build trust, enhance brand credibility and drive engagement among a highly targeted
- [Respecting Deadlines: How to Prioritize Your Own Deadlines and Support Clients Meeting Theirs](https://www.communiquepr.com/respecting-deadlines-how-to-prioritize-your-own-deadlines-and-support-clients-meeting-theirs/21601/) - Azlynn Stokes | Deadlines are constant companions in any profession. They mark our progress, measure our commitment, and often, increase our stress. Whether you're striving to meet your own deadlines or helping clients meet theirs, effective practices can help boost productivity and alleviate stress. Here are some tried-and-true strategies to manage your own deadlines: Understand Scope and Requirements:
- [Brand Evolution: Carbon Robotics’ Shift from Startup to Esteemed AgTech Leader](https://www.communiquepr.com/brand-evolution-carbon-robotics-shift-from-startup-to-esteemed-agtech-leader/21584/) - Colleen Moffitt | Carbon Robotics began as a promising startup. It’s now recognized as an agtech leader. The company’s numerous industry awards and extensive media coverage in 2024 reflects its growing influence and commitment to revolutionizing sustainable farming practices. Known for its innovative LaserWeeder, Carbon Robotics has raised a total of $85 million in funding and has continued
- [The Strategic Role of Surveys in Change Management](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-strategic-role-of-surveys-in-change-management/21575/) - Kyli Ussery | Driving internal change requires significant time and resources, not to mention effective and strategic communication strategies. These strategies inform employees about the upcoming change, explain how it affects them, and actively involve them to ensure their concerns and suggestions are considered. The survey is an indispensable tool for understanding the perspectives of internal team members.
- [Creating a Press Room](https://www.communiquepr.com/creating-a-press-room/4/) - Jennifer Gehrt | Recently, we provided a client with some suggestions on what kind of content to populate his company's press room with. Given his company's Web 2.0 and social-networking focus, we suggested some ideas on how to create an innovative, informative, provocative and interesting online media newsroom. Before you delve into the tactics of creating your online
- [Social Networking Sites and Ad Revenue](https://www.communiquepr.com/social-networking-sites-and-ad-revenue/12/) - Jennifer Gehrt | This morning there is an article in the Wall Street Journal about social networking sites (Social Sites Don't Deliver Big Ad Gains) and how the ad revenue from these sites has been disappointing. According to the WSJ, Facebook, Google and other players have been struggling to generate significant revenue from advertising. I found the article
- [YouTube Videos; Effective Marketing Platform  or Not?](https://www.communiquepr.com/youtube-videos-effective-marketing-platform-or-not/13/) - Jennifer Gehrt | Tom Trinneer, a friend and former client of Communiqué PR, suggested I blog about YouTube and how corporations are using videos to promote their images and achieve their business objectives. He also suggested I check out Microsoftís video to promote Microsoft Surface, below. Right away I was intrigued. Clearly, video can be a very effective
- [Seattle Fosters Tech Entrepreneurship](https://www.communiquepr.com/seattle-fosters-tech-entrepreneurship/14/) - Colleen Moffitt | Today's article in the NY Times, ’Seattle Taps Its Inner Silicon Valley, was of interest to me as it highlights what has become very evident to those of us immersed in the technology industry here – Seattle is a hotbed for technology innovation and development. Author John Markoff touches on the impact companies such as
- [Mystery Game Entices All](https://www.communiquepr.com/mystery-game-entices-all/16/) - Communiqué PR staff | Today Big Fish Games announced worldwide availability of Mystery Case Files (MCF): Madame Fate. Now, for those who are unfamiliar with Big Fish Games (the biggest fish in the casual games pond), the company develops family fun games, which can be played on home PCs or Macs. Although MCF: Madame Fate was launched exclusively at
- [Beyond Your Good Name: How PR Can Leverage Reputation to Help Meet Business Objectives](https://www.communiquepr.com/beyond-your-good-name-how-pr-can-leverage-reputation-to-help-meet-business-objectives/23/) - Communiqué PR staff | We recently announced our fourth anniversary, marking the beginning of our fifth year in business. Since the firm's founding in 2004, we have experienced tremendous growth, which can largely be attributed to our reputation of delivering stellar results and fostering great relationships. For example, stellar results and great relationships can be seen in the national
- [The Importance of Preparing Before an Interview](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-importance-of-preparing-before-an-interview/26/) - Colleen Moffitt | A recent interview on Hardball provided a painful reminder on how important it is to prepare for a press interview. Texas state senator, Kirk Watson, was interviewed by Chris Matthews regarding his support for presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama. When asked repeatedly to highlight some of Sen. Obama's legislative accomplishments, Watson tried unsuccessfully to bridge
- [iamota Unveils iamota impact](https://www.communiquepr.com/iamota-unveils-iamota-impact/27/) - Communiqué PR staff | iamota, a Mobile Application Service Provider (MASP) that helps agencies and brands of all sizes access, interact with and sell to mobile consumers, recently announced general availability of its first product, iamota impact. iamota impact is a Web 2.0-style, on-demand mobile service that allows users to quickly and easily create and launch their own campaigns,
- [Leveraging the Blogosphere; Insights from CPR](https://www.communiquepr.com/leveraging-the-blogosphere-insights-from-cpr/33/) - Jennifer Gehrt | Many companies struggle with how to respond to bloggers - let alone engage and interact with them. With more than 75 million blogs on just about every topic imaginable, it is overwhelming to think about monitoring and engaging bloggers. The key, like so many things in life, is focus. You need to figure out who
- [Communiqué PR Shares Industry Perspective with PRWeek and Workinpr.com!](https://www.communiquepr.com/communique-pr-shares-industry-perspective-with-prweek-and-workinprcom/34/) - Communiqué PR staff | Communiqué PR's founders Jennifer Gehrt and Colleen Moffitt recently caught up with two PR-oriented publications, PRWeek and Workinpr.com. Editors spoke to Jennifer and Colleen about their perspective on current industry trends, best practices and how PR has changed over the past 15 -20 years. Check out the PRWeek article to learn about leveraging search engine
- [The Power of a Personal Story](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-power-of-a-personal-story/38/) - Communiqué PR staff | The impact of story telling can lead to greater exposure for your company. Stories have the ability to arouse a reader's emotions. Creating an emotional connection is extremely powerful since readers are then more likely to not only remember the story but share it with others. It's public relations' job to lend expertise that creates,
- [Coverage Analysis: A Powerful Strategic Tool](https://www.communiquepr.com/coverage-analysis-a-powerful-strategic-tool/39/) - Communiqué PR staff | "It doesn't matter what you said, it only matters what they think you said."This quote underscores the importance of coverage analysis and understanding how your messages are resonating with marketplace audiences. Analyzing media coverage is an often underutilized tool that can help you determine how your messages are being perceived. Armed with this information, you
- [Leveraging Partner News for Maximum Impact](https://www.communiquepr.com/leveraging-partner-news-for-maximum-impact/41/) - Communiqué PR staff | News announcements made in conjunction with your company partners offers great leverage to tell not only their own story, but further develop yours. It's a successful way to reach a broader audience base while also remaining top of mind with the press. These announcements can demonstrate growth for your company, for example, as well as
- [Corporate Social Responsibility: More Than Publicity](https://www.communiquepr.com/corporate-social-responsibility-more-than-publicity/45/) - Communiqué PR staff | "As long as any business depends on its customers, their concerns, at whatever level, should also be the concerns of the business." This quote from Forbes magazine succinctly describes the philosophy behind corporate social responsibility, or CSR. Proponents of CSR laud its capacity to combine success in business with sustainable practices. Yet despite these positive
- [Public Relations and the Economy](https://www.communiquepr.com/public-relations-and-the-economy/50/) - Communiqué PR staff | When budgets shrink and companies look to cut costs, what gets the axe first? This question is particularly relevant during difficult economic times as procedures are streamlined and excess spending is trimmed. It would be easy to brush off public relations and marketing as expendable luxuries which are not intrinsic to a company's bottom-line. But
- [Identifying Key Messages](https://www.communiquepr.com/identifying-key-messages/51/) - Communiqué PR staff | To target unique audiences and journalists, marketing materials and story pitches must be refined. A story idea for a technology publication, for example, will be vastly different from one aimed at a women's magazine. But tailoring strategies to reach a variety of audiences is only effective when certain key messages about a company or product
- [E-mail Notifications](https://www.communiquepr.com/e-mail-notifications/70/) - Communiqué PR staff | Subscribe to the Communique Blog to get the latest articles!
- [Social Media: A Critical PR Tool for Companies](https://www.communiquepr.com/social-media-a-critical-pr-tool-for-companies/71/) - Communiqué PR staff | The emergence of social media is significantly changing the current media landscape. The days of newspapers, magazines and network news programs have given way to a new generation of information sharing on the Internet. Blogs, social networking sites such as Second Life and Facebook and video-sharing sites like YouTube have changed the way information is
- [Nintex Announces Commercial Availability of Nintex Reporting 2008](https://www.communiquepr.com/nintex-announces-commercial-availability-of-nintex-reporting-2008/72/) - Communiqué PR staff | On August 8, one of Communiqué PR's clients, Nintex, announced the commercial availability of Nintex Reporting 2008. To see the full announcement, click here. Nintex Reporting 2008 allows organizations to monitor, audit and gain valuable insight from the content and activity information within Microsoft's SharePoint technology. It allows system administrators and business owners to make
- [Public Relations and the Client-Facing Role](https://www.communiquepr.com/public-relations-and-the-client-facing-role/77/) - Communiqué PR staff | Public relations professionals continually strive to achieve meaningful results for their clients. Whether it's placing a feature story in a top publication, receiving a notable mention on a morning broadcast segment, or building strong brand awareness through well-written press releases, to achieve these results these PR efforts must be focused and strategically planned in order
- [Congratulations to SNAPin Software](https://www.communiquepr.com/congratulations-to-snapin-software/89/) - Communiqué PR staff | We are pleased to share the news that Communiqué PR client SNAPin Software has been acquired by industry giant Nuance Communications. On Tues., Aug. 19, Bellevue, Wash.-based SNAPin Software announced its acquisition by Nuance, a provider of speech-and-imaging software. SNAPin produces self-service software, and offers two mobile handset solutions titled SelfService Care and SelfService Campaign.
- [Big Fish Games Announces $83.3 Million in Venture Funding](https://www.communiquepr.com/big-fish-games-announces-833-million-in-venture-funding/97/) - Communiqué PR staff | Big Fish Games, the world's leading online destination for games and interactive entertainment, announced on Friday, Sept. 12, that it closed $83.3 million in common stock financing. To see the full announcement, click here. The financing from Balderton Capital, General Catalyst Partners and Salmon River Capital is significant as it reinforces how, despite the economic
- [The Future of the AP](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-future-of-the-ap/98/) - Jennifer Gehrt | According to a recent article in PRWeek, The Associated Press could be on the decline with newspapers. The piece, entitled "Economy, Internet affect AP's news role," asserts the AP's role is shrinking with newspapers as a result of "of plummeting advertising revenue and the public increasingly turning to the Internet for non-local news." Founded in
- [Search Engine Optimization and Your Press Release](https://www.communiquepr.com/search-engine-optimization-and-your-press-release/99/) - Communiqué PR staff | You've probably been hearing a lot about the importance of search engine optimization (SEO), the practice of improving the volume and quality of traffic to a particular Web site. You are likely aware that you need to make certain your company's press releases and other media materials receive high rankings on search engines, such as
- [Attachmate Unveils Verastream Host Integrator 6.6](https://www.communiquepr.com/attachmate-unveils-verastream-host-integrator-66/100/) - Communiqué PR staff | On Sept. 22, one of Communiqué's newest clients Attachmate announced the availability of Verastream Host Integrator 6.6. Click here to see the full press release. Attachmate's Verastream Host Integrator 6.6 is a mainframe application integration solution that eliminates the technical complexity and code generation associated with legacy integration, offering IT organizations a low-risk, low-cost approach
- [Gartner Claims At Least Half of Social Media Campaigns Will Fail](https://www.communiquepr.com/gartner-claims-at-least-half-of-social-media-campaigns-will-fail/101/) - Communiqué PR staff | In a recent interview with CNET, Gartner research analyst Adam Sarner predicted that 50 percent of social-media campaigns taken on by Fortune 1000 companies will fail. Sarner states that this is in large part due to the fact that companies aren't engaging with social communities with a mutual benefit in mind - they are not
- [Writing a White Paper](https://www.communiquepr.com/writing-a-white-paper/102/) - Jennifer Gehrt | Colleen and I are putting the final touches on our book Strategic Public Relations: 10 Principles to Harness the Power of PR. As we prepare to deliver the final manuscript to the publisher, we solicited feedback from an experienced CEO friend asking him to read the entire book to determine if the content was valuable
- [Leveraging Newsworthy Trends for Feature Stories](https://www.communiquepr.com/leveraging-newsworthy-trends-for-feature-stories/103/) - Communiqué PR staff | These days, the national media seems to be focused on two stories: the upcoming presidential election and the economic crisis. In the past few months, the media has churned out thousands of stories with hundreds of different angles on each of these topics - everything from how the economy will impact the holidays to how
- [Experimental Advertising Techniques and the Economy](https://www.communiquepr.com/experimental-advertising-techniques-and-the-economy/104/) - Communiqué PR staff | With the financial crisis looming ever larger, it is no surprise that some businesses such as AT&T and General Motors are slashing marketing budgets in an effort to stay afloat in this volatile economic environment.According to recent articles, advertising agencies will be among the first shops to feel the impact of the economy as companies
- [When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Blogging](https://www.communiquepr.com/when-the-going-gets-tough-the-tough-get-blogging/105/) - Communiqué PR staff | When facing difficult news such as layoffs, many companies used to draft meticulously scripted press releases - if they shared the news at all. But this strategy is fast becoming a recipe for disaster as employees turn to their blogs to voice frustrations and announce corporate layoffs. In a recent New York Times article, Claire
- [Tips for Writing a Byline Article](https://www.communiquepr.com/tips-for-writing-a-byline-article/106/) - Communiqué PR staff | Byline articles are an excellent way to retain ownership of key messages and establish thought leadership. Executives can insert their point of view and reach target audiences by writing or commissioning these articles. But bylines can be tricky to write and require a careful balance to ensure that they are both informative and readable. Below,
- [Magazines Continue to Shift Its Focus Toward the Internet](https://www.communiquepr.com/magazines-continue-to-shift-its-focus-toward-the-internet/107/) - Communiqué PR staff | A recent article in PRWeek reports that several of the industry's top publishing houses have recently reduced their budgets and workforce. One prominent company that is scaling down is Rodale, publisher of Men's Health, Prevention, and Runner's World, Time Inc. owner of Time, Sports Illustrated, and Fortune and Condé Nast whose titles include Vogue and
- [Thought Leadership – What Is It and Why Is It So Important?](https://www.communiquepr.com/thought-leadership-what-is-it-and-why-is-it-so-important/108/) - Communiqué PR staff | As newspapers and magazines continue to cut jobs, it is becoming increasingly difficult for small-to-mid sized companies to compete with larger organizations to garner media attention. So how can a company position itself as a valuable asset and tool for journalists while building trust, credibility and brand awareness with its customers? By becoming an industry
- [Best Practices for Securing Accurate Stories](https://www.communiquepr.com/best-practices-for-securing-accurate-stories/109/) - Communiqué PR staff | According to Dan Gillmor, former columnist with the San Jose Mercury News, the four pillars of journalism include thoroughness, accuracy, fairness and transparency. Understanding a journalist's creed can help us identify best practices for working with them. Accuracy is a shared goal between journalists and PR professionals. As we think about how we can help
- [Measuring the Value of PR](https://www.communiquepr.com/measuring-the-value-of-pr/110/) - Communiqué PR staff | PRWeek recently published an article about the importance of measuring the return on investment (ROI) of PR initiatives. According to Seth Duncan, a research manager at Context Analytics, "in a challenging economy, it is likely many PR pros will see increasing pressure to show their value to their organizations' bottom line."Measuring the financial value of
- [What's Good for PR Can Be Good for the Planet](https://www.communiquepr.com/whats-good-for-pr-can-be-good-for-the-planet/111/) - Communiqué PR staff | What's Good for PR Can Be Good for the PlanetIn 2006, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment released a documentary film titled, "Who Killed the Electric Car?" The film examined the creation and demise of General Motors' EVI electric car in the 1990s, blaming the auto and oil industries. In response, General Motors claimed a lack of
- [Big Fish Games Unveils Mystery Case Files: Return to Ravenhearst](https://www.communiquepr.com/big-fish-games-unveils-mystery-case-files-return-to-ravenhearst/115/) - Communiqué PR staff | On Nov. 26, Big Fish Games launched Mystery Case Files: Return to Ravenhearst, the highly anticipated fifth title in the blockbuster hidden object-adventure Mystery Case Files series. The series, which started in 2005 with Mystery Case Files: Huntsville, is the number one brand in the casual games industry and has sold more than 2.5 million
- [Big Canvas Changes Social Networking Landscape With Visual Conversations](https://www.communiquepr.com/big-canvas-changes-social-networking-landscape-with-visual-conversations/119/) - Communiqué PR staff | Social networking - there's no doubt it's here to stay. According to Wikipedia, social networking is defined as the building of online communities of people who share interests and/or activities, or who are interested in exploring the interests and activities of others. The rise of popular social networking sites such as Facebook, Flickr, MySpace and
- [Communiqué PR – the Best of 2008](https://www.communiquepr.com/communique-pr-the-best-of-2008/125/) - Communiqué PR staff | As 2008 comes to an end, we want to reflect on the highlights for the firm and our clients from this past year. It's been a fantastic year filled with several client successes as well as personal successes. Despite the recent economic downturn, we have much to be thankful for and celebrate. Throughout the year,
- [The Mossberg Influence](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-mossberg-influence-2/126/) - Communiqué PR staff | Walt Mossberg is a very influential figure in the technology industry. In August 2004, David Brown, anchor of Marketplace stated, "Mossberg is both feared and respected by makers of computers and other digital gadgetry." His rock-star status in the tech industry has prompted companies to want to get in front of him and win his
- [The Power of MSNBC.com](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-power-of-msnbccom/127/) - Communiqué PR staff | Recent data from Nielson Online reveals MSNBC.com attracts more unique visitors than both Yahoo! News and CNN.com (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28268304/). With more than 41.8 million unique visitors in November alone, MSNBC.com is a powerful online outlet to target when looking to reach a broad consumer audience. Given this outlet's significant reach and credibility with consumers, there is
- [Health Care and the Economy – Communicating Social Issues During a Recession](https://www.communiquepr.com/health-care-and-the-economy-communicating-social-issues-during-a-recession/129/) - Communiqué PR staff | A recent article in the Boston Globe examined how the economic climate is impacting healthcare. In the article, Reporter Lisa Wangsness cites a recent CNN poll that shows the economy as the most important issue currently facing the country, with healthcare coming in second. Despite the poll, Lisa states, "Many health policy specialists and political
- [Make Learning and Saving a Goal in 2009](https://www.communiquepr.com/make-learning-and-saving-a-goal-in-2009/130/) - Communiqué PR staff | One of the most popular New Year's resolutions is to save money. In fact, The Today Show recently asked their readers to share their money resolutions for 2009 and received a flood of responses. Viewers' resolutions included: 1. Assess what you have and make use of it. 2. Look great for less. 3. Save money
- [Facebook Provides Increased Competition for News Media](https://www.communiquepr.com/facebook-provides-increased-competition-for-news-media/131/) - Colleen Moffitt | Facebook is becoming the first stop for many people when they want to learn about the latest news in their community. Individuals are reporting on the events in their communities with photos and personal commentary, making Facebook an excellent source for local happenings and news. We witnessed this phenomenon first hand in Seattle when individuals
- [When to Engage Editorial Boards](https://www.communiquepr.com/when-to-engage-editorial-boards/132/) - Communiqué PR staff | An editorial board is a group of people, usually at a print publication, who set the tone and direction of the newspaper or magazine. They are chartered with preparing the paper's editorials and they determine what the publication will say on a range of issues as well as dictate which issues or political candidates the
- [Internet Surpasses Newspapers as News Source](https://www.communiquepr.com/internet-surpasses-newspapers-as-news-source/133/) - Communiqué PR staff | According to a Dec. 2008 survey by the Pew Research Center for People and the Press, more U.S. consumers get their news online than from newspapers. The survey reveals that 40 percent of consumers rely on the Internet for news, surpassing newspapers as the main news source for the first time since Pew started administering
- [Client Service and Boutique Agencies](https://www.communiquepr.com/client-service-and-boutique-agencies/140/) - Communiqué PR staff | A recent article in PRWeek titled "Client Service Remains a Staple for Smaller Firms" makes a great case for why small PR firms are the best choice for many companies, especially in a down economy. The article points out several reasons why small firms have a competitive edge, including: Client Service - Small firms can
- [TechFlash and Whrrl Launch Parties](https://www.communiquepr.com/techflash-and-whrrl-launch-parties/141/) - Jennifer Gehrt | Last night Colleen Moffitt, Melissa Liton, Paulette Zimmerman and I had the opportunity to attend TechFlash's launch party at the Palace Ballroom. What a fun night! It was terrific to catch up with the movers and shakers in Seattle's tech community. Highlights of the TechFlash event included mingling with Jeremy Lewis of Big Fish Games;
- [Blagojevich's PR Strategy: Self-Defense Or Simply Desperation?](https://www.communiquepr.com/blagojevichs-pr-strategy-self-defense-or-simply-desperation/145/) - Colleen Moffitt | In Linton Weeks' recent NPR article regarding Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, Weeks writes that the governor has opted for a strategy of "self-defense by public relations onslaught." I wonder if this really is a strategic approach to counter the current impeachment proceedings and sway public opinion, or merely the desperate attempt of a man who
- [Writing the Winning Press Release](https://www.communiquepr.com/writing-the-winning-press-release/146/) - Jennifer Gehrt | As a best practice, we like to ask our clients a set of questions before we begin writing a press release on their behalf. We consider this a Communiqué PR best practice with three significant benefits. Shared Expectations First, the process of asking these questions ensures that we are on the same page with regard
- [Mobidia & Our Results Working With Industry Analysts](https://www.communiquepr.com/mobidia-our-results-working-with-industry-analysts/147/) - Communiqué PR staff | Over the past two months I have had the pleasure of working with Mobidia to increase the company's profile leading up to Mobile World Congress in February. Mobidia's technology provides mobile operators with a software platform that expands the capacity of their existing networks, and speeds the delivery of data to subscribers. It is a
- [Is Your News Really Newsworthy?](https://www.communiquepr.com/is-your-news-really-newsworthy/148/) - Jennifer Gehrt | A variety of elements determine the newsworthiness of an announcement. As many newspapers and magazines continue to see a decline in readership, they are increasingly looking to achieve relevance with their audience and are striving to publish articles that have a high news value and can capture the interest of their readers. In order to
- [Helpful Marketing Blogs](https://www.communiquepr.com/helpful-marketing-blogs/149/) - Communiqué PR staff | Marketing and public relations go hand in hand, and it is important to understand both disciplines when considering how to best reach your customers. Creating synergy between marketing and PR is one of the best ways to achieve business goals and communication objectives, and successful PR campaigns will often include some marketing aspects. As we
- [Big Fish Games' Hiring Makes for Good News](https://www.communiquepr.com/big-fish-games-hiring-makes-for-good-news/150/) - Communiqué PR staff | We have all seen the news regarding our suffering economy, both nationally and locally. "Company now targets 20% workforce reduction; more layoffs are possible," "Boeing Layoffs Swell to 10,000," "Starbucks to lay off 6,700, Close 300 Stores." These are just a few of the headlines from recent news. While we will continue to be bombarded
- [PR in a Recession:  How Organizations Can Continue to Derive Business Value From PR](https://www.communiquepr.com/pr-in-a-recession-how-organizations-can-continue-to-derive-business-value-from-pr/151/) - Communiqué PR staff | Every day we hear news about the recession: the current state of consumer confidence, how many people are being laid off and how the economy is impacting various industries. PR is certainly no exception. A recent PRWeek article reports that many companies are asking their PR agencies to go on hiatus this year in an
- [Media Buzz About Big Canvas](https://www.communiquepr.com/media-buzz-about-big-canvas-media-buzz-about-big-canvas/152/) - Communiqué PR staff | Over the past few months, Communiqué has had the opportunity to work with Big Canvas Inc. to secure coverage of its iPhone applications. Big Canvas is a creative developer of applications for the Apple iPhone. Beginning with its flagship application PhotoShare, Big Canvas applications have been growing in popularity and generating buzz because they allow
- [Economy Threatens Children's Health](https://www.communiquepr.com/economy-threatens-childrens-health/154/) - Communiqué PR staff | Today the Seattle Post-Intelligencer published an op-ed article by Dr. Thomas Hansen, CEO of Seattle Children's Hospital, which discusses how the steep rise in children with chronic illnesses over the last 50 years is pushing hospital executives to closely monitor and incorporate disease trajectories into the strategic planning. The article, located on page a13 of
- [The Power of Twitter](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-power-of-twitter/159/) - Communiqué PR staff | Twitter, a microblogging and social media site, is continuing to gain popularity thanks to its open design and dedicated followers. A recent survey from Compete.com found that Twitter is the third largest social media site in the country when measured by total page views, and although it only has about six million unique visitors, it
- [Writing a Book: The Pros and Cons](https://www.communiquepr.com/writing-a-book-the-pros-and-cons/160/) - Communiqué PR staff | Thinking about writing a book? This is a terrific way to establish thought leadership in your industry and share your ideas. A book builds credibility for yourself and your company, attracts broad publicity and provides opportunities to engage the media. But while writing a book can have some tremendous benefits, it is no small task
- [Tips for Working With Broadcast Reporters](https://www.communiquepr.com/tips-for-working-with-broadcast-reporters/161/) - Communiqué PR staff | Last week we had the opportunity to sit down with a local broadcast reporter and secured her perspective on current trends within broadcast media and offered tips for working with broadcast reporters. Below I have outlined some of the information from that discussion. Trends The economy is affecting broadcast media. There has been wide coverage
- [Twitter Etiquette](https://www.communiquepr.com/twitter-etiquette/162/) - Communiqué PR staff | A recent article in CIO Magazine describes a key aspect of Twitter: etiquette. The article says, "the Twitter community has its own set of unwritten guidelines - or etiquette - that dictates good (or bad) behavior on the service. Some people call it Twittequette." For newcomers, learning the right way to engage the Twitter community
- [Can PR Save A-Rod?](https://www.communiquepr.com/can-pr-save-a-rod/163/) - Communiqué PR staff | How to Handle Crisis Communication the Right Way New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez has been under a lot of scrutiny lately as news that he took performance-enhancing substances was leaked to the public. In an interview with ESPN's Peter Gammons, Rodriguez admitted to taking "banned substances" and expressed his regret and apologies for
- [Obama Administration Rallies Support through Americaís Stories](https://www.communiquepr.com/obama-administration-rallies-support-through-americas-stories/164/) - Communiqué PR staff | The Obama Administration has done an amazing job of harnessing the power of the Internet to reach the public, communicate the president's position on important initiatives and gather personal stories of the American people. Through social media tools, e-mails and blogs, President Obama is encouraging open communication and asking his most important audience - you
- [How to Pitch a Reporter](https://www.communiquepr.com/how-to-pitch-a-reporter/166/) - Communiqué PR staff | Peter Shankman, host of the popular HARO service, recently hosted a call with a panel of journalists to share advice on how to pitch reporters effectively. On the call were journalists from NPR, Reuters, Crain's New York, the Indianapolis Business Journal and the St. Paul Pioneer Press. The journalists unanimously confirmed that pitches remain a
- [Save Mr. Yuk](https://www.communiquepr.com/save-mr-yuk/167/) - Communiqué PR staff | In January, Communiqué began working with the Washington Poison Center (WAPC) to help the organization raise awareness of the budget cuts proposed by Washington State Governor Christine Gregoire. Specifically, our goal was to inform key audiences - state residents, members of the legislature and the media - about the potential impact these budget cuts would
- [Alaska Airlines Announces Inflight Wi-Fi Service Trial](https://www.communiquepr.com/alaska-airlines-announces-inflight-wi-fi-service-trial/169/) - Communiqué PR staff | As PR professionals with clients in the high-tech industry, we see first-hand, how technology impacts everyday lives. The evolution of mobile phones, Wi-Fi hotspots and mobile WiMAX has shifted our lifestyle to an "always-connected" culture. Given this, we are especially excited about helping Alaska Airlines launch the customer trial of its new satellite-based wireless Internet
- [Controversial Ketchum Tweet Teaches an Important Lesson about Social Media](https://www.communiquepr.com/controversial-ketchum-tweet-teaches-an-important-lesson-about-social-media/171/) - Communiqué PR staff | As social mediums such as Twitter, Facebook and MySpace continue to gain popularity, there's one thing that's very important to keep in mind - the line between personal and professional communication is disappearing. A recent incident involving a Ketchum employee exemplifies the importance of self-censorship when it comes to social media. According to PRWeek, a
- [RCR Wireless Becomes the Latest Victim of the Economic Downturn](https://www.communiquepr.com/rcr-wireless-becomes-the-latest-victim-of-the-economic-downturn/172/) - Communiqué PR staff | Today, RCR Wireless, one of the most well respected mobile and wireless publications in the industry announced it would cease publication of its print and online entities after 25 years. RCR Wireless is one of several publications who have recently made the decision to close down due to the current economic climate. A few weeks
- [New PR Works Radio Show Features Top Public Relations Professionals Sharing Tips of the Trade](https://www.communiquepr.com/new-pr-works-radio-show-features-top-public-relations-professionals-sharing-tips-of-the-trade/173/) - Communiqué PR staff | Navigating the changing media landscape while simultaneously outsmarting the economy can be a challenge for PR professionals. It's important to share our experiences, knowledge and expertise so we can learn from the triumphs and tribulations of others and ultimately, emerge successful. Despite the myriad of social networking sites and the "always connected" lifestyle we all
- [Are Podcasts Considered Mainstream Media?](https://www.communiquepr.com/are-podcasts-considered-mainstream-media/175/) - Communiqué PR staff | According to a recent report by eMarketer, podcasts quickly becoming viable vehicles of communication in mainstream media. Podcasts were born as a result of blending social media with iPods as a vehicle for anyone to broadcast their opinions or discuss topics of interest. "The popularity of podcasts has created an environment in which increasing numbers
- [The Gupta Influence](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-gupta-influence/176/) - Communiqué PR staff | Last week Dr. Sanjay Gupta, one of the healthcare industry's brightest media stars, took himself out of the running for the position of surgeon general within President Barack Obama's administration. Dr. Gupta is best-known as CNN's chief medical correspondent, hosting the network's weekend health program "House Call" with Dr. Sanjay Gupta and making frequent appearances
- [Blogging Done Right: YouLookFab.com](https://www.communiquepr.com/blogging-done-right-youlookfabcom/177/) - Communiqué PR staff | We've written often about the importance of blogging to engage customers, share company news, establish thought leadership and improve search engine rankings. A great example of a blog that has improved - and even created - business for its author is YouLookFab.com, by Angie Cox. A former specialist buyer for ladies' wear, Angie now runs
- [Parade and SELF Pick Mystery Case Files: Return to Ravenhearst](https://www.communiquepr.com/parade-and-self-pick-mystery-case-files-return-to-ravenhearst/178/) - Communiqué PR staff | Last fall, Communiqué worked closely with Big Fish Games to build awareness and demand for Mystery Case Files: Return to Ravenhearst, the fifth title in Big Fish Games' blockbuster hidden-object adventure series. As part of those efforts we secured in-person meetings with consumer lifestyle media well in advance of the actual launch to provide these
- [Starbucks VIA Ready Brew & Twitter](https://www.communiquepr.com/starbucks-via-ready-brew-twitter/190/) - Jennifer Gehrt | One of the very first things I do every morning is check Facebook, Twitter, read the news and drink coffee. It is a relatively peaceful morning ritual - except when my beloved dog Scout wants to play. The other morning while checking Twitter, I noticed that the word "Starbucks" was trending on the site. I
- [Leveraging HARO to Gain Consumer Reaction to Starbucks VIA](https://www.communiquepr.com/leveraging-haro-to-gain-consumer-reaction-to-starbucks-via/192/) - Jennifer Gehrt | After my experience trying Starbucks VIA, I was curious to see what other people think about the company's instant coffee so I did an informal e-mail poll. I posted a query on Peter Shankman's HARO to see what other consumers think of the new brew. We have successfully used this tactic before to secure customer
- [Dan Hesseís Sprint Ads](https://www.communiquepr.com/dan-hesses-sprint-ads/193/) - Communiqué PR staff | Sprint Nextel has announced that it will no longer feature its CEO Dan Hesse in its television advertisements. You may remember the black and white ads featuring Hesse promoting the wireless revolution. For example, in one ad Hesse is shown working on a laptop in the back seat of a New York City cab to
- [Thoughts on the Seattle Post-Intelligencer](https://www.communiquepr.com/thoughts-on-the-seattle-post-intelligencer/194/) - Jennifer Gehrt | Even though we have known for weeks that the Seattle Post-Intelligencer was likely to cease its print edition, it is still a shock to see the last print issue of the 146-year old newspaper, and know that 160 people will lose their jobs. I always enjoyed both the Seattle Times and the P.I. and found
- [The AIG Bonuses: A PR Perspective](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-aig-bonuses-a-pr-perspective/196/) - Communiqué PR staff | The news that insurance giant AIG will pay $165 million in bonuses to employees has not been warmly received. At a time when millions have lost their jobs and the recession worsens, the nation is outraged that taxpayer money is being spent on multi-million dollar bonuses for the very people who some believe largely contributed
- [Coca-Cola Fan Page Takes Facebook by Storm](https://www.communiquepr.com/coca-cola-fan-page-takes-facebook-by-storm/198/) - Communiqué PR staff | Companies looking to leverage the power of Facebook to attract the masses may want to take a lesson from Coca-Cola fans Dusty Sorg and Michael Jedrzejewski. With a fan base of 3.3 million users, Sorg and Jedrzejewski's Coca-Cola Facebook fan page is one of the most popular pages on Facebook - second to Barack Obama
- [Netflix for Books](https://www.communiquepr.com/netflix-for-books/201/) - Jennifer Gehrt | Recently I had an opportunity to catch up with Dustin Hubbard, founder and CEO of Paperspine, about his online book rental service. As you can imagine with the economic downturn, it is an interesting time for his 16-month-old start-up business. While many businesses have felt the ill effects of the recession, he has seen no
- [Working With Journalists](https://www.communiquepr.com/working-with-journalists/203/) - Communiqué PR staff | There are numerous factors to think about when pitching a story to a journalist, corresponding with them via e-mail or even speaking with them during interviews. Some of us have learned this the hard way, and some of us will learn from other's mistakes. There are a number of journalists who have publicly blacklisted individual
- [Business Lessons From Emerging Markets](https://www.communiquepr.com/business-lessons-from-emerging-markets/206/) - Communiqué PR staff | We are in many ways living in unprecedented times. As banks and major companies crumble and the economy worsens, there seem to be increasingly fewer historical examples on which to base our current policies. But as Martin S. Roth and Richard Ettenson point out in a March 23 Wall Street Journal article, there is an
- [Measuring Media Relations Takes a Multifaceted Approach](https://www.communiquepr.com/measuring-media-relations-takes-a-multifaceted-approach/208/) - Communiqué PR staff | Measuring the impact and results of a media relations campaign is critical to the long-term success of an organization. Evaluating a campaign provides valuable insight that can help an organization evolve by answering questions such as: Were the strategies executed successful? Were our marketing and PR dollars used wisely? Did we meet our objectives? To
- [Digital's Role on Public Relations](https://www.communiquepr.com/digitals-role-on-public-relations/209/) - Communiqué PR staff | Given the current economic conditions and the demise of many print publications, conversations are increasingly taking place online through networks and platforms such as Twitter and Facebook. We recently wrote a blog post about the power of Twitter and the impact of Facebook on companies like Coca-Cola. There's no doubt social media is a hot
- [Tecplot 360 Helps Scientists Better Understand Flow Separation](https://www.communiquepr.com/tecplot-360-helps-scientists-better-understand-flow-separation/215/) - Communiqué PR staff | Tecplot, Inc., one of Communiqué PR's newest clients, recently helped scientists from MIT shed light on a century-old mystery surrounding flow separation. After reading this study, I was intrigued to learn more about flow separation and how Tecplot's solution helped scientists better understand this complex phenomenon. Flow separation occurs when the air traveling over a
- [Position for Acquisition – How PR Can Be the Key to the Right Deal](https://www.communiquepr.com/position-for-acquisition-how-pr-can-be-the-key-to-the-right-deal/218/) - Colleen Moffitt | Many industry experts predict that the merger and acquisition market (M&A) is going to turn around later this year. This theory was outlined in several recent articles including one by TechFlash's John Cook, "When will the high-tech M&A bottom feeders emerge?" and another from IDG News's Marc Ferranti "Wall Street Beat: M&A, Oracle Stress the
- [The Joke Press Release – Is it Appropriate for April Fools' Day?](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-joke-press-release-is-it-appropriate-for-april-fools-day/220/) - Colleen Moffitt | A few years ago one of our clients approached us about developing and distributing an April Fools' Day "joke" press release. Clearly there are pros and cons to these types of announcements. A successful joke press release can garner significant attention and build dramatic awareness for a company. However, a joke release in poor taste
- [Internal vs. External PR Roles](https://www.communiquepr.com/internal-vs-external-pr-roles/228/) - Communiqué PR staff | The overarching goal of a public relations team is to provide strategic support for a company and its products and ensure the highest quality of communications to foster a positive public perception of the company. When organizing a PR team, there are many factors to consider. There is no right or wrong organizational structure for
- [What You Should Know Before Pitching Broadcast](https://www.communiquepr.com/what-you-should-know-before-pitching-broadcast/226/) - Communiqué PR staff | Broadcast media have rules and preferences for pitches that, when followed, can make the difference between placing a story and having your pitch sent to the recycle bin. Before pitching broadcast media, it's important to do your homework and know the answers to these questions: Who is the appropriate producer to pitch given the subject
- [The Best of CTIA 2009](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-best-of-ctia-2009/230/) - Communiqué PR staff | Another CTIA has come and gone, and despite the low attendance (presumably due to the economy), below is some interesting news that we believe came out of the show. The tone of the show was set by keynote addresses from executives at T-Mobile, Clearwire and RIM who all stressed the importance of continued growth through
- [CNN Examines War Against Autism](https://www.communiquepr.com/cnn-examines-war-against-autism/233/) - Communiqué PR staff | April is National Autism Awareness Month; and given the staggering numbers of children diagnosed with autism, it's probably safe to assume you know someone impacted by this condition. Autism is a brain development disorder characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior. According to the Center for Disease Control and
- [Apple iTunes Rocks the Digital Music Industry](https://www.communiquepr.com/apple-itunes-rocks-the-digital-music-industry/235/) - Communiqué PR staff | Today Apple officially launched its new three-tiered pricing system for its iTunes digital music store and eliminated the "one price fits all" model. Back in January, the company announced it would implement a new variable pricing structure in which songs would be offered at one of three pricing tiers: 69 cents, 99 cents and $1.29.
- [Value of Press Hits](https://www.communiquepr.com/value-of-press-hits/238/) - Communiqué PR staff | The uncertain economic climate continues to affect marketing and public relations budgets. However, a recent study from Text 100, a global boutique PR consulting firm, illustrates the positive impact public relations can have on a company's brand value. The study, outlined in a recent PRWeek article, found companies that produce more complicated products benefit more
- [What are Twitter Hashtags?](https://www.communiquepr.com/what-are-twitter-hashtags/239/) - Communiqué PR staff | Twitter can be an invaluable resource. From chatting with friends to connecting with new people, this social network provides a way to instantaneously share information. But the sheer volume of conversations and links can be overwhelming, and many people find it difficult to navigate. So we were pleased to learn about a Twitter feature designed
- [Associated Press Reins in Content](https://www.communiquepr.com/associated-press-reins-in-content/240/) - Communiqué PR staff | The Associated Press (AP) announced on Monday, April 6 that it would crack down on Web sites and search engines that use the work of the news organization without first obtaining permission from them and agreeing to share profits. In an effort to "exercise some control" over the practice of reposting articles and gaining profit
- [Alaska Airlines Announces Key Findings of Inflight Wi-Fi Service Trial](https://www.communiquepr.com/alaska-airlines-announces-key-findings-of-inflight-wi-fi-service-trial/241/) - Communiqué PR staff | On February 26, Alaska Airlines announced the trial launch of its new satellite-based wireless Internet service, Alaska Airlines Inflight Wi-Fi. The launch of this service, which can be used by passengers to browse the Web; access online music, games, podcasts and webcasts; send and receive e-mail and connect to Virtual Private Networks (VPN), garnered more
- [Strategic Public Relations Makes Its Debut; Communiqué Celebrates Fifth Anniversary](https://www.communiquepr.com/strategic-public-relations-makes-its-debut-communique-celebrates-fifth-anniversary/242/) - Communiqué PR staff | Last night was the official launch party for Colleen and Jennifer's book Strategic Public Relations. The event took place at the Palace Ballroom and featured tasty tidbits from Tom Douglas. Books were flying off the table and despite the fact it was tax day, the turnout was fantastic. It was wonderful to catch up with
- [Our Favorite Photos from the Book Launch Party](https://www.communiquepr.com/our-favorite-photos-from-the-book-launch-party/245/) - Communiqué PR staff | Below are some of our favorite photos from the celebration of Communiqué's fifth anniversary and the launch of Strategic Public Relations: 10 Principles to Harness the Power of PR, written by our very own Jennifer Gehrt and Colleen Moffitt. Rich Tong of Ignition Partners and co-author of The Marketing Playbook Satoshi Nakajima, founder of Big
- [Local Newspapers of the Future?  A Look at Hyperlocal News Sites](https://www.communiquepr.com/local-newspapers-of-the-future-a-look-at-hyperlocal-news-sites/265/) - Communiqué PR staff | Local daily newspapers across the nation are in bad shape, and many Americans fear losing a keystone of their communities: local news. National newspapers and broadcast media have their place, but local papers inform and enrich the communities they serve with stories about politics, business, arts and culture. For instance, USA Today isn't likely to
- [News Coverage of the Tea Parties: Objective or Partisan?](https://www.communiquepr.com/news-coverage-of-the-tea-parties-objective-or-partisan/266/) - Communiqué PR staff | Taxes can be a contentious issue in America, especially in this economy. On tax day last week, hundreds of thousands of people across the country protested at gatherings called "tea parties" to voice their opposition against what they view as wasteful government spending. The parties got their name from the infamous Boston Tea Party when
- [TechFlash 100 Ranks Social Involvement of Seattle Companies](https://www.communiquepr.com/techflash-100-ranks-social-involvement-of-seattle-companies/267/) - Communiqué PR staff | Last week, TechFlash.com published a list of the top 100 Seattle companies that are drawing the most Web traffic and attention on Twitter, blogs and with other media. Working closely with YouNoodle, a start-up which monitors a company's media buzz, TechFlash ranked companies on a scale of zero to 100. The higher the number, the
- [Big Fish CEO Lands on Cover of Seattle Business Monthly](https://www.communiquepr.com/big-fish-ceo-lands-on-cover-of-seattle-business-monthly/272/) - Communiqué PR staff | This month, Seattle Business Monthly readers will see the face of Jeremy Lewis, Big Fish Games' president and CEO on the cover of the magazine. The magazine chose Jeremy for the cover to compliment the publication's feature story "Breaking the Rules" about local companies thriving in a down economy. Big Fish Games is profiled in
- [The Recession and Advertising: Pursuing an Older Generation](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-recession-and-advertising-pursuing-an-older-generation/277/) - Communiqué PR staff | It's a sign of the times: As younger consumers lose discretionary income, advertisers are shifting their attention to an older generation. This shift has implications for print and broadcast as those media outlets which cater to an older generation are faring better in this economy. Older generations were previously ignored by advertisers because they were
- [OnRequest Images in the News](https://www.communiquepr.com/onrequest-images-in-the-news/283/) - Communiqué PR staff | We recently placed a byline article on behalf of our client, OnRequest Images, in the Atlanta Journal Constitution. The article, written by OnRequest CEO Carla Stratfold, details why photos play a key role in branding. Carla notes that companies are gaining market share by using custom photography and digital assets to showcase their most affordable
- [Major Brands Learn to Embrace Twitter](https://www.communiquepr.com/major-brands-learn-to-embrace-twitter/284/) - Communiqué PR staff | Twitter is growing at breakneck speed, and major brands can no longer afford to ignore it. According to social media guide Mashable.com, Twitter grew an astounding 752 percent in 2008. And according to market tracker Hitwise, traffic to Twitter went up 43 percent after Oprah joined Twitter on her show. For comparison, Facebook grew about
- [Publicity Stunts – Fan or Foe](https://www.communiquepr.com/publicity-stunts-fan-or-foe/285/) - Jennifer Gehrt | Normally I am not a fan of publicity stunts. Often stunts seem too gimmicky, costly and offensive. And if they're not well orchestrated they can be a disaster. Consider Snapple's attempt to build the world's largest popsicle. It flooded Union Square in downtown Manhattan and the fire fighters had to be called in to block
- [Why Do Some Countries Prosper? This and More at the First Annual Milliman Lecture in Economics](https://www.communiquepr.com/why-do-some-countries-prosper-this-and-more-at-the-first-annual-milliman-lecture-in-economics/289/) - Communiqué PR staff | It's an age-old question: Why do some countries flourish while others flounder? Even in an economic downturn, we live amongst staggering wealth in America while many countries are mired in poverty. MIT Professor Daron Acemoglu has said, "Economic inequality has detrimental effects on economic growth in general." "Recognizing the role of institutions and why societies
- [Managing a High Volume of Media Inquiries](https://www.communiquepr.com/managing-a-high-volume-of-media-inquires/294/) - Communiqué PR staff | A high volume of media inquiries is, for most PR agencies and their clients, a dream come true. But managing an onslaught of inquires can be tricky and requires a strategic approach to ensure consistency and overall success. One of our clients, Veratect Corporation, a biosurveillance company that tracks disease outbreaks and civil unrest globally
- [Public Relations and the Obama Administration – 100 Days of Fresh Air](https://www.communiquepr.com/public-relations-and-the-obama-administration-100-days-of-fresh-air/295/) - Colleen Moffitt | Last month, PR Week included a guest article from Laura Gross, in which she reviewed the first 100 days of the Obama administration from a PR perspective. Ms. Gross takes the position that the Obama-Biden team is showing leadership through its transparent, open, and frequent communication. While she identifies areas for improvement overall, she concludes
- [How to Connect with Reporters and Influencers on Twitter](https://www.communiquepr.com/how-to-connect-with-reporters-and-influencers-on-twitter/296/) - Communiqué PR staff | There's been a lot of discussion about the popularity of Twitter and its growth over the past year. Twitter's popularity has extended into the media with many high profile and prolific journalists (think CNN's Larry King, NBC News' David Gregory and Wall Street Journal's Walt Mossberg) using the micro-blogging site to interact with their readers
- [Pop-Up Stores Coming to a City Near You](https://www.communiquepr.com/pop-up-stores-coming-to-a-city-near-you/298/) - Communiqué PR staff | This week, Target plans to open a pop-up store in downtown Chicago, the first time the company has used one of its pop-up stores in the Midwest. For the uninitiated, a pop-up store is a temporary store that is open for a limited time - typically in a major city or mall - to create
- [New iPhone 3.0 OS Software Poised to Create New Mobile Economy](https://www.communiquepr.com/new-iphone-30-os-software-poised-to-create-new-mobile-economy/301/) - Communiqué PR staff | Apple recently announced plans to release its iPhone 3.0 operating system software upgrade later this summer. This announcement has gained significant attention from the media about what the upgrade will mean not only for iPhone users but also for developers. Among many of the new capabilities for users including copy-and-paste functionality, a landscaped keyboard and
- [What's in a Font?](https://www.communiquepr.com/whats-in-a-font/303/) - Communiqué PR staff | In a recent Wall Street Journal article, Emily Steel explores the world-wide movement to ban the Comic Sans font. This raises an interesting point about the importance choosing the right fonts in business. Comic Sans has become synonymous with materials for kids and communicates a light-hearted, upbeat sentiment. Originally intended by its creator to mimic
- [Connected Services Drive Innovation in the Wireless Industry](https://www.communiquepr.com/connected-services-drive-innovation-in-the-wireless-industry/308/) - Communiqué PR staff | Communiqué PR recently completed a project with Dashwire, an independent connected services platform provider. Dashwire offers an industry-leading connected services platform solution that delivers mobile-to-Web consumer services. This means mobile users can sync and manage their personal contacts, text messages, calls, photos, videos and settings from their phone to the Web. The connected services market
- [The Words We Love to Overuse](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-words-we-love-to-overuse/322/) - Communiqué PR staff | A recent post in the New York Times "After Deadline" blog - an online section devoted to examining questions of grammar, usage and style - examined the words writers love to overuse. Since we're increasingly called upon to create more written content on behalf of our clients, we find this blog helpful to improve our
- [Amazon's Kindle DX Aims to Replace College Textbooks](https://www.communiquepr.com/amazons-kindle-dx-aims-to-replace-college-textbooks/325/) - Communiqué PR staff | While reading about Amazon's recent launch of the Kindle DX, the large screen addition to the Kindle family, I was surprised to learn textbooks are a $9.8 billion dollar industry. In a bold move to become a major player in this market, Amazon introduced the Kindle DX in hopes of "spearheading a paperless revolution," as
- [Facebook vs. MySpace](https://www.communiquepr.com/facebook-vs-myspace/330/) - Jennifer Gehrt | Recently I presented at the 2009 Communicators Conference in Portland, Ore. My discussion focused on the changing media landscape and its effect on communication. It was fun and interesting to talk about the changes I am seeing. With so much transition occurring in our industry, I think it pushes each and every one of us
- [Leveraging the Power of Twitter](https://www.communiquepr.com/leveraging-the-power-of-twitter/332/) - Colleen Moffitt | The power of Twitter is evident. For the first time an individual can broadcast a message to millions of people in an instant. But how companies will leverage that power to achieve their business objectives is not yet as evident. I recently participated in a panel hosted by Perkins Coie and Madrona Venture Group focused
- [Marketing Executives Provide Tips for Surviving the Recession](https://www.communiquepr.com/marketing-executives-provide-tips-for-surviving-the-recession/341/) - Communiqué PR staff | In a recent Advertising Age article, authors Marissa Miley and Michael Bush offered readers marketing tips for surviving the recession. They aimed to answer the question, "How are you (marketing executives) supposed to discern what is right for your brand?" With a focus on providing tips from in-the-field professionals, Marissa and Michael garnered the perspectives
- [Creating a Corporate Blog](https://www.communiquepr.com/creating-a-corporate-blog/342/) - Communiqué PR staff | Corporate blogs can be an excellent way to establish thought leadership, build communities and drive additional traffic to an organization's Web site. For example, since Communiqué PR started its blog in January 2008, we have seen a 200 percent increase in Web traffic and the blog has been a terrific way to give our clients
- [Businesses Cannot Afford to Ignore Twitter – Five Steps to Take Now](https://www.communiquepr.com/businesses-cannot-afford-to-ignore-twitter-five-steps-to-take-now/343/) - Colleen Moffitt | Social media is changing business. Twitter enables anyone to broadcast anything to millions of people in an instant. The short 140 character updates seem casual, yet the impact of one message can have significant and sometimes drastic implications. Known brands such as Ketchum, JetBlue, Southwest and Domino's have all learned first-hand the effect Twitter can
- [Digital Strategies are Not Cutting It for CMOs](https://www.communiquepr.com/digital-strategies-are-not-cutting-it-for-cmos/344/) - Communiqué PR staff | Heidrick & Struggles, an Atlanta-based recruiting firm, recently conducted a survey to evaluate the success of digital strategies in marketing activities, such as social media, search engine optimization (SEO) and business intelligence. They surveyed 111 senior marketing executives at firms with $1 billion or more in annual revenues and found that while many marketing executives
- [Are Twitter Channels a New Trend?](https://www.communiquepr.com/are-twitter-channels-a-new-trend/347/) - Communiqué PR staff | Twitter has an important role in business. Professionals are connecting over Twitter, building relationships and sharing information. But Twitter is a complex web to navigate and finding others can be difficult, especially because many people use screen names. As is often the case online, a simple problem breeds hundreds of solutions in the form of
- [Preparing for a Speaking Engagement](https://www.communiquepr.com/preparing-for-a-speaking-engagement/350/) - Communiqué PR staff | Speaking engagements at industry tradeshows or events are a terrific way to build thought leadership amongst peers and potential customers. But for many, the thought of presenting in front of a large group can be a scary one - to say the least. Preparation is essential to giving a good presentation and with a little
- [New Search Tool Better Than Google?](https://www.communiquepr.com/new-search-tool-better-than-google/345/) - Communiqué PR staff | As PR professionals, we are always interested in learning about new search tools that will impact the ever-changing digital media landscape. Virtually everyone utilizes search engines for research including journalists and PR professionals. WolframAlpha, which made its debut on May 15, could change how we find information through search engines. WolframAlpha is a powerful search
- [Using Twitter and Facebook to Fundraise for the Seattle Children's PlayGarden](https://www.communiquepr.com/using-twitter-and-facebook-to-fundraise-for-the-seattle-childrens-playgarden/353/) - Communiqué PR staff | With more than 25 million users worldwide Twitter has become a powerful medium for both businesses and consumers to connect. Similarly, Facebook, with more than 200 million users, has redefined the way we communicate. Communiqué PR recognizes the major potential these two social mediums possess and has decided to launch its first campaign centered around
- [Six Easy Tips to Improve Your Blog](https://www.communiquepr.com/six-easy-tips-to-improve-your-blog/355/) - Communiqué PR staff | Once you've created a blog for yourself or your company, how can you ensure your content is interesting and valuable to readers? Here are a few simple tips to create a great blog: 1. Create compelling content. Don't just rephrase articles or blog posts you read elsewhere. Write about your area of expertise or personal
- [Can Digital Portfolios Gives Newspapers a Second Chance?](https://www.communiquepr.com/can-digital-portfolios-gives-newspapers-a-second-chance/356/) - Communiqué PR staff | It's no secret that the newspaper industry is in serious trouble. The changing media landscape coupled with the economic downturn has forced the recent closure of longtime newspapers such as The Rocky Mountain News and Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Even TIME offered its predictions on the top 10 major newspapers that will fold or go digital this
- [PepsiCo's Open Newsroom Experiment – How Corporations are Using Social Media](https://www.communiquepr.com/pepsicos-open-newsroom-experiment-how-corporations-are-using-social-media/359/) - Communiqué PR staff | At a time when journalists are being laid off left and right, PepsiCo has a very compelling offer: chronicle the Internet Week conference using social media and receive $750. Internet Week is June 1-8 in New York City, and PepsiCo is calling journalists, students, social media experts and anyone else to capture the week's events
- [Chevron Enlists Former CNN Reporter to Ward off Bad PR](https://www.communiquepr.com/chevron-enlists-former-cnn-reporter-to-ward-off-bad-pr/362/) - Communiqué PR staff | Chevron recently faced one of the largest class-action lawsuits in history, filed by Ecuadoreans who accuse Texaco (a company acquired by Chevron) of poisoning the rain forests. This lawsuit and an upcoming negative broadcast story on ë60 Minutes prompted Chevron to take an offensive approach to combat negative allegations. The company hired former CNN national
- [Twitter for Social Change](https://www.communiquepr.com/twitter-for-social-change/365/) - Communiqué PR staff | Twitter continues to see explosive growth - according to comScore, Web site traffic to Twitter.com accelerated 131 percent in March while the Wall Street Journal (Twitter handle @wsj) reported on May 26 that Twitter now has more than 32 million users. Corporate brands, celebrities and political leaders are all using Twitter to communicate with one
- [How will the WSJ Impact Pitching Strategies?](https://www.communiquepr.com/how-will-the-wsj-impact-pitching-strategies/351/) - Communiqué PR staff | The Wall Street Journal Editor Robert Thomson recently told the Financial Times that the publication plans to introduce a micro-payment system for individual articles and premium subscriptions to the Web site this fall. The WSJ's premium plan will target readers interested in niche industries including energy, commodities, wealth management, and more. It will place more
- [Tips for Creating a Winning Award Submission](https://www.communiquepr.com/tips-for-creating-a-winning-award-submission/370/) - Communiqué PR staff | Awards are a superb way to reinforce perceptions about an organization, establish thought leadership and create creditability for a product or service. Winning awards can also help generate new business for an organization and can be leveraged as a marketing tool when speaking with media, partners and customers. In some instances, awards can also spark
- [The Economy and PR: Tips to Connect with Frugal Consumers](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-economy-and-pr-tips-to-connect-with-frugal-consumers/372/) - Communiqué PR staff | In a recent article for Advertising Age, Avi Dan shares his predictions for consumer behavior and what it will mean for marketers. Says Dan, "Unemployment will remain high, consumer confidence low and consumption depressed." According to Dan, this is a recipe for a new consumer behavior: frugality. Dan explains, "The economy is shrinking to levels
- [Threadless T-shirt Campaign and the Benefits of Crowdsourcing](https://www.communiquepr.com/threadless-t-shirt-campaign-and-the-benefits-of-crowdsourcing/374/) - Communiqué PR staff | In yet another example of how businesses are engaging Twitter, Threadless T-shirts has partnered with Twitter to crowdsource designs for a new line of "Twitter Tees." Twitter users submit and vote on tweets to appear on Threadless Tees. Says Cam Balzer, vice president of marketing at Threadless parent company Skinny Corp, "The beauty of crowdsourcing
- [King 5 News and the PlayGarden](https://www.communiquepr.com/king-5-news-and-the-playgarden/377/) - Communiqué PR staff | Recently we have been helping the Seattle Children's PlayGarden with a Twitter fundraising campaign to complete the construction of various projects, such as Mount Jordan, a volcano-themed climber that is even accessible to children in wheelchairs. The PlayGarden is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing a place for both mentally and/or physically disabled children and
- [The Future of Social Media](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-future-of-social-media/378/) - Communiqué PR staff | With the onslaught of new social media technologies, many marketers are trying to look ahead and prepare for what's next. But given its rapid growth, how can we predict the future of social media? According to Forrester's Jeremiah Owyang, the first step is to look at the problems inherent in today's social mediums. By noting
- [Hearst Magazines Sets the Bar High](https://www.communiquepr.com/hearst-magazines-sets-the-bar-high/381/) - Communiqué PR staff | While many magazines are feeling the pinch of the recession, Hearst Magazines is growing. The Hearst family of magazines - Good Housekeeping, Cosmopolitan, Food Network Magazine and Oprah Magazine, to name a few - have almost all held steady in circulation, according to a New York Times article by Richard Pérez-PeÒa. And their combined advertising
- [A New Kind of Newsroom](https://www.communiquepr.com/a-new-kind-of-newsroom/387/) - Communiqué PR staff | Dedicated journalists across the nation are refusing to quit - even when they've been laid off. In a New York Times article, David Carr reports on a new journalism trend spurred by this economy: newsrooms owned and operated by journalists. These newsrooms have a few marked differences from those run by top daily newspapers. There
- [The Top 10 Most Influential Tech Bloggers](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-top-10-most-influential-tech-bloggers/391/) - Communiqué PR staff | Many of our clients are in the technology industry, so we often work with tech bloggers. These bloggers have become increasingly influential as customers look online for advice before making big purchases. And while there are many important tech bloggers, a few stand out as the most influential. So without further ado, here is our
- [MySpace Announces It Will Lay Off 400 Employees](https://www.communiquepr.com/myspace-announces-it-will-lay-off-400-employees/397/) - Communiqué PR staff | MySpace, the one-time leading social networking site owned by News Corporation, announced earlier this week it will lay off approximately 400 employees, or nearly 30 percent of its staff, in an effort to return to a "start-up culture." Owen Van Natta, CEO of MySpace and former Facebook executive, said in a statement that MySpace would
- [The Fate of Free Papers](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-fate-of-free-papers/389/) - Communiqué PR staff | This economic downturn has hit the newspaper industry hard, and free papers have taken the biggest blow. In a June 7, 2009 New York Times article on the subject, Eric Pfanner describes the plight of the free newspaper. He writes, "They rely entirely on advertising, which is more volatile than revenue from newsstand sales and
- [Find Your Next Job on Twitter?](https://www.communiquepr.com/find-your-next-job-ontwitter/394/) - Communiqué PR staff | We've been blogging a lot lately about how organizations can leverage the juggernaut that is Twitter, but according to a recent article on CNNMoney.com, more and more professionals are using social networking sites to find new job opportunities. Reporter Jessica Dickler says, "In the worst job market in 25 years, building an online presence is
- [Tips for Launching in Beta](https://www.communiquepr.com/tips-for-launching-in-beta/396/) - Communiqué PR staff | If you have a Google Gmail account, you may notice the word, ëbeta' tagged below the logo. Or perhaps you were able to experience Bing, Microsoft's new decision engine and consumer brand, in advance of the company's worldwide deployment on June 3. Both Bing and Gmail represent products that were launched in beta form. So,
- [When Playing to Stereotypes Goes Too Far](https://www.communiquepr.com/when-playing-to-stereotypes-goes-too-far/399/) - Communiqué PR staff | Gender-focused public relations and marketing campaigns can be effective - if executed properly. However, some companies have found that targeting specific genders can cause controversy and negative consumer feedback. Just recently, Dell launched a new Web site targeted towards women called Della. The site, which soft launched on April 30, is being criticized for "pandering
- [Netbooks and the Future of Media](https://www.communiquepr.com/netbooks-and-the-future-of-media/401/) - Communiqué PR staff | "Information wants to be free." According to Simon Dumenco with Advertising Age, this statement is a truism that is destroying traditional media models. He opines not only does information want to be free, technology itself - computers and software - also want to be free. There is still a lot of discussion about the future
- [Hulu vs. TV: The Future of Broadcast Media](https://www.communiquepr.com/hulu-vs-tv-the-future-of-broadcast-media/403/) - Communiqué PR staff | "Hulu, an evil plot to destroy the world. . ." While Hulu may not be destroying the world, it is undoubtedly impacting the broadcast media landscape with its customizable online video service that offers free TV shows, movies, clips and other online destination sites. Hulu was founded in March 2007 and is co-owned by NBC
- [Reader's Digest Searches for Niche Audience](https://www.communiquepr.com/readers-digest-searches-for-niche-audience/405/) - Communiqué PR staff | For the past 87 years, Reader's Digest has been a prominent general-interest family magazine intended to appeal to the broad American public. In an effort to revamp and reorganize its image and survive the changing media landscape, Reader's Digest announced it will shift to a more conservative focus and will increase its coverage of inspiring
- [iPhone 3G S - Love it or Hate it?](https://www.communiquepr.com/iphone-3g-s-love-it-or-hate-it/407/) - Communiqué PR staff | Recently, Apple unveiled the latest version of its wildly popular mobile phone, the iPhone 3G S. The highly anticipated device boasts new features such as video and editing functionality, voice control, peer-to-peer networking and improved battery life. And of course as the "S" stands for speed, users can expect to download Web content and launch
- [PR Sweeps the Cannes Lions Advertising Festival](https://www.communiquepr.com/pr-sweeps-the-cannes-lions-advertising-festival/410/) - Communiqué PR staff | For the first time ever, PR agencies from around the globe were invited to participate in this year's annual Cannes Lions Advertising Festival to demonstrate their ability to successfully convey a brand message through their campaigns. While the most prized award, the "Lion" award, went to an advertising campaign, it was a PR campaign that
- [Today's Parent Contributed Article](https://www.communiquepr.com/todays-parent-contributed-article/392/) - Communiqué PR staff | With the demise of print publications, magazines and newspapers are becoming increasingly dependent on outside content such as contributed articles from industry experts and public relations professionals. Contributed articles offer organizations a great way to establish thought leadership, discuss a topic it's passionate about and retain ownership of key messages. Jennifer Gehrt, co-founder of Communiqué,
- [Bing versus Google – How Healthy Competition Builds Media Buzz](https://www.communiquepr.com/bing-versus-google-how-healthy-competition-builds-media-buzz/416/) - Communiqué PR staff | Microsoft's new search engine Bing has been grabbing headlines since its official launch on June 3. Expected to rival search engine giant Google, Bing is gaining popularity and, according to recent comScore Networks data, is boosting Microsoft's market position. So what makes Bing the new search engine darling? Is it the friendly user interface or
- [Twitter vs. Iran](https://www.communiquepr.com/twitter-vs-iran/413/) - Communiqué PR staff | It's unlikely that the founders of Twitter ever imagined their social media site would become the vehicle for a political uprising. Or that it would have the capacity to replace traditional journalism and media resources. But that's exactly what Twitter has done. Within the last three weeks, Iranian protestors have used Twitter, YouTube and personal
- [iTunes New Pricing Model – Is it Working?](https://www.communiquepr.com/itunes-new-pricing-model-is-it-working/419/) - Communiqué PR staff | Back in April, we blogged about Apple's move to eliminate the "one price fits all" model for its iTunes digital media store, opting to shift to a three-tiered pricing model. While this news was met with some trepidation by media, music labels and consumers, a new article from Billboard's Antony Bruno and Glenn Peoples suggests
- [Are Online Games the Next Generation of Journalism?](https://www.communiquepr.com/are-online-games-the-next-generation-of-journalism/421/) - Communiqué PR staff | At the 2009 Games for Change Festival, New York Times Op-Ed Columnist Nicholas Kristof delivered a surprising keynote address saying that online games can be a powerful reporting platform for educating people about global issues such as the environment, poverty and human rights. His epiphany came during a chance encounter with online game, "Darfur is
- [Peter Shankman and the State of Media Relations](https://www.communiquepr.com/peter-shankman-and-the-state-of-media-relations/423/) - Communiqué PR staff | Peter Shankman, creator of Help A Reporter Out (HARO), recently sat down with PRWeek to offer his perspective regarding the current status of media relations. His point of view is very relevant as his creation of HARO has been described as "redefining the art of networking."HARO is a free service that distributes up to five
- [The Power of Networking: Fostering Relationships and Building Business](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-power-of-networking-fostering-relationships-and-building-business/425/) - Communiqué PR staff | Many of us know or have experienced the benefits of networking. Actively fostering existing relationships and building new ones can lead to new business leads, job opportunities or help you recruit new talent to your organization. It also provides individuals the opportunity to increase their knowledge and skill set and build their reputation in a
- [Radio Media Tours](https://www.communiquepr.com/radio-media-tours/426/) - Communiqué PR staff | A radio media tour (RMT) is defined as a series of interviews offered to radio stations throughout the country during a specific time period. RMTs are typically conducted via telephone with radio reporters, news producers or talk show hosts. The interviews are either live or taped and typically last about 10 minutes. While RMTs are
- [Crossing the Privacy Line? City of Bozeman Asks Candidates to Submit Social Media Affiliations & Login Details](https://www.communiquepr.com/crossing-the-privacy-line-city-of-bozeman-asks-candidates-to-submit-social-media-affiliations-login-details/431/) - Communiqué PR staff | It recently became public knowledge that potential job candidates for the city of Bozeman, Mont., were being asked not only to reveal their online social media affiliations, but also release their username and passwords during the application process. The request for applicants to submit their social media usernames and passwords has stirred mixed emotions with
- [Sharpie Stays True to Print While Dabbling in Social Media](https://www.communiquepr.com/sharpie-stays-true-to-print-while-dabbling-in-social-media/434/) - Communiqué PR staff | A recent case study in Advertising Age examined Sharpie's new campaign designed to encourage consumers to associate the Sharpie brand with creativity and expression. The goal of the "Uncap What's Inside" campaign was to inspire consumers to "uncap" their creativity and express their individuality as a low-cost way to "accessorize their lives." Newell Rubbermaid -
- [Social Media Measurement Tools Continue to Evolve](https://www.communiquepr.com/social-media-measurement-tools-continue-to-evolve/436/) - Communiqué PR staff | Social media has dramatically changed the way organizations interact with customers and key audiences. Opportunities to engage directly and in real-time through social networking platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and blogs have given way to new levels of engagement with instant feedback. As more organizations evaluate how to leverage social mediums, many are asking questions
- [First Gadget-Oriented Social Network Encourages Consumer Reviews](https://www.communiquepr.com/first-gadget-oriented-social-network-encourages-consumer-reviews/437/) - Communiqué PR staff | Since 2002, technology writer Peter Rojas has been developing Web site interfaces for the news and reviews of electronic gadgets. He has been involved with the creation of popular technology blogs such as Gizmodo and Engadget, and is now embarking on yet another start-up to change the way gearheads learn and communicate about electronics. Earlier
- [Bing to Feature Twitter Updates](https://www.communiquepr.com/bing-to-feature-twitter-updates/439/) - Communiqué PR staff | Bing, Microsoft's new search engine which officially launched on June 3, is making headlines yet again as the company "dips its toes into a hot new area of real-time search." The company revealed on July 1 it will include the latest Twitter updates from popular users such as actor Ashton Kutcher, technology journalist Kara Swisher,
- [The Fate of Daily Newspapers . . . Sinking or Swimming?](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-fate-of-daily-newspapers-sinking-or-swimming/441/) - Communiqué PR staff | It's evident that the current economic downturn as well as the changing media landscape has dramatically affected daily newspapers - this can be seen in the closure of many newspapers across the country as well as many cost-cutting measures such as layoffs. A report from the Inland Press Association states that print dailies have "seen
- [Personal Branding for Journalists](https://www.communiquepr.com/personal-branding-for-journalists/443/) - Communiqué PR staff | Just as companies build brand awareness for products and services, journalists are now building brand awareness for their name. For journalists, creating a name is critical as they work to establish an area of expertise and build credibility among readers. This is especially important for freelance journalists who contribute to a variety of news outlets
- [Public Relations Lessons From Silicon Valley](https://www.communiquepr.com/public-relations-lessons-from-silicon-valley/445/) - Communiqué PR staff | A recent article on PR and start-ups in the Silicon Valley by Claire Cain Miller of the New York Times, reminds PR professionals that the media landscape continues to evolve and the role PR plays is crucial to helping clients navigate these new waters. Cain Miller recounts a recent brainstorming session she attended with publicist
- [Responding to a Brand Attack via Social Media](https://www.communiquepr.com/responding-to-a-brand-attack-via-social-media/447/) - Colleen Moffitt | On Monday, July 6, Dave Carroll, a musician from the band Maxwell Bros, posted a YouTube music video complaining about the poor customer service he received from United Airlines regarding a broken Taylor guitar. The guitar (worth about $3,500) was damaged on a flight to Nebraska more than a year ago. The video immediately generated
- [Transparency Is Not an Option](https://www.communiquepr.com/transparency-is-not-an-option/449/) - Communiqué PR staff | Transparency is an issue that continues to arise as social mediums and online communications gain momentum. Social media provides companies with a great opportunity to represent their brands and interact and build relationships with key influencers and consumers. However, if a company fails to be completely transparent in its online communications, the result can be
- [Digonex Featured on NPRís Morning Edition](https://www.communiquepr.com/digonex-featured-on-nprs-morning-edition/453/) - Communiqué PR staff | Yesterday, our client Digonex, a provider of real-time, automated, dynamic pricing technology was featured on National Public Radio's (NPR) Morning Edition in a story on the impact dynamic pricing technology can have on the digital music industry. The piece coincides Digonex's partnership announcement with The Orchard, an entertainment solutions provider focused on building and monetizing
- [Twittergate](https://www.communiquepr.com/twittergate/451/) - Communiqué PR staff | Recently, a French hacker known as the "Hacker Croll" broke into Twitter CEO Evan William's e-mail account and uncovered confidential documents containing information about Twitter's business plans as well as user accounts and passwords. Since then, a controversy has unfolded over Michael Arrington's announcement that he would publish some of the documents he received including
- [Nonprofit Success in Social Media](https://www.communiquepr.com/nonprofit-success-in-social-media/455/) - Communiqué PR staff | Jason Falls of Social Media Explorer recently published a post titled, "Three Keys to Nonprofit Success in Social Media," and outlined what he believes are the three keys to realizing success for nonprofits in social media. 1. Have a compelling story to tell. 2. Make a specific ask or establish a specific goal to reach.
- [New York City Devises a Plan to Revive the Media Industry](https://www.communiquepr.com/new-york-city-devises-a-plan-to-revive-the-media-industry/456/) - Communiqué PR staff | New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg recently unveiled a plan to help get the media industry back on its feet. Known for being the media capital of the world, the city's strategy includes eight plans that focus on innovation, research, retraining and new technology. According to an article in Ad Age, the strategy includes the
- [Interactive Marketing Proves More Effective Than Advertising](https://www.communiquepr.com/interactive-marketing-proves-more-effective-than-advertising/458/) - Communiqué PR staff | Forrester Research recently published its Five-Year Interactive Marketing Forecast report and shared information about its results with the readers of Advertising Age. In an article titled, "Advertising Will Change Forever," Josh Bernoff, an analyst with Forrester Research, explains how interactive marketing methods have proven more effective than traditional advertising. The report predicts that interactive marketing
- [New Twitcam Lets Twitter Users Stream Live Video](https://www.communiquepr.com/new-twitcam-lets-twitter-users-stream-live-video/460/) - Communiqué PR staff | Twitter users can now broadcast themselves live using a new service called Twitcam. The service, introduced by Livestream, provides users with an opportunity to add live streaming video to their Twitter feed and host live chats. In a press release by Livestream, the company said, "Twitter-centric services for sharing photos and videos have been exploding
- [Twitter Generates $48 Million of Media Coverage](https://www.communiquepr.com/twitter-generates-48-million-of-media-coverage/462/) - Communiqué PR staff | AdAge recently published an article about a report from VMS, a news-monitoring service, which claims that Twitter has received nearly three billion impressions in the past month. According to the report, these impressions are worth nearly $48 million. There has undoubtedly been a lot of hype about Twitter. It has made its appearance on CNN,
- [Pizza Hut Launches New iPhone Application](https://www.communiquepr.com/pizza-hut-launches-new-iphone-application/463/) - Communiqué PR staff | Pizza lovers rejoice - Pizza Hut recently launched a new iPhone application that will let you order your Friday night takeout directly from your phone. The free application, which launched in mid-July, has already received more than 100,000 downloads on the iPhone and iPod Touch. Pizza Hut, with more than 13,000 outlets in nearly 100
- [OnRequest Images – Recent PR Results](https://www.communiquepr.com/onrequest-images-recent-pr-results/465/) - Jennifer Gehrt | We thought you'd be interested in our recent results for OnRequest Images, the leading provider of powerful, custom photography services for the Global 2000. In the past several months, we have placed and written the following byline articles on behalf of CEO Carla Stratfold. These articles can be a fabulous way to establish thought leadership.
- [The Future of One Time Password Technology](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-future-of-one-time-password-technology/467/) - Jennifer Gehrt | In July 2009, Communiqué PR began working with Aveso Displays, a developer of printed electronic displays for the credit and security card industry. The company's solution can be used for One Time Password (OTP) technology. For those of you who are not familiar with OTP technology, it is often used by large enterprise companies or
- [The Costco Connection & Our Book Sales](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-costco-connection-our-book-sales/469/) - Colleen Moffitt | As many of you know, our book Strategic Public Relations: 10 Principles to Harness the Power of PR was featured in the August issue of Costco Connection, a lifestyle magazine for Costco members. We are delighted about this review as the magazine reaches more than seven million households and businesses. As a result of this
- [Puget Sound American Marketing Association – September Luncheon](https://www.communiquepr.com/puget-sound-american-marketing-association-september-luncheon/471/) - Communiqué PR staff | Jennifer Gehrt will be speaking at the Puget Sound American Marketing Association luncheon on September 9, 2009. Jennifer will be speaking about how marketing professionals can leverage the power of Twitter with her presentation entitled, "Twitterphoria: Adding Twitter Power to Your Marketing Mix, Today." If you're interested in learning more about how to leverage Twitter
- [Praise for UW Professor Kathleen Fearn-Banks](https://www.communiquepr.com/praise-for-uw-professor-kathleen-fearn-banks/473/) - Communiqué PR staff | Each year, Communiqué PR hosts a visit from Professor Fearn-Banks' Communication 444 Public Relations and Society class. It is a very fun time for us as we get to talk to the next generation of PR professionals about the work we do. This year, six students visited our boutique PR firm. We focused our discussion
- [News Organizations Share Content](https://www.communiquepr.com/news-organizations-share-content/475/) - Communiqué PR staff | The current economic climate is causing many shifts to occur in the media industry. In an unprecedented move, rival print dailies such as The Washington Post and The Baltimore Sun are now collaborating and sharing news content because of a lack of resources and man power. Additionally, in June four New York broadcasters announced they
- [PR Review Meeting](https://www.communiquepr.com/pr-review-meeting/477/) - Communiqué PR staff | We recently participated in a mid-year PR review with one of our clients to review our activities and results garnered. To clearly outline the work we completed, we prepared for the meeting by developing a PowerPoint presentation which included the following information: Review of the client's business and communication objectives The benefit of PR and
- [The Rise of Mommy Bloggers](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-rise-of-mommy-bloggers/478/) - Communiqué PR staff | On August 12, one of our clients, Big Fish Games, announced the launch of Faunasphere, a browser-based casual multiplayer online game. To drive coverage of the new game, we reached out to gaming bloggers and journalists, as well as mommy bloggers. In order to find out how this influential audience, mommy bloggers, operate and like
- [Aggregator Launches Short Press Release Service](https://www.communiquepr.com/aggregator-launches-short-press-release-service/480/) - Communiqué PR staff | Muck Rack, a Web site that aggregates journalists' tweets, recently announced the launch of a short-message press release service, which enables companies to publish releases, with links, up to 130 characters long at a cost of $1 per character. The announcements are published on Muck Rack's release page as well as its Twitter feed. As
- [SAM Medical Products Announces CELOX Trauma Gauze](https://www.communiquepr.com/sam-medical-products-announces-celox-trauma-gauze/482/) - Communiqué PR staff | On August 10, our client SAM Medical Products, a privately held developer and manufacturer of innovative medical products used for emergency, military and hospital care, announced the launch of CELOX Trauma Gauze. CELOX Trauma Gauze is a new dual-product hemostatic gauze used to control traumatic bleeding, and cool and protect first- and second-degree burns. The
- [Big Fish Games Launches Faunasphere](https://www.communiquepr.com/big-fish-games-launches-faunasphere/484/) - Communiqué PR staff | Recently, one of our long-time clients Big Fish Games, the world's leading online destination for games and interactive entertainment launched Faunasphere, a browser-based casual multiplayer online game (CMO). Players adopt and care for cute and quirky creatures, known as Fauna, and collaborate to build and explore beautiful virtual worlds. Faunasphere provides rich social networking elements
- [Law Seminar International 2009](https://www.communiquepr.com/law-seminar-international-2009/486/) - Communiqué PR staff | On September 11, Colleen Moffitt, co-founder of Communiqué PR, will be presenting at an event entitled, "The Rise of the Social Internet and Social Media Law" sponsored by Perkins Coie and Law Seminar International. The event will feature speakers from companies including: Avvo, Inc., Children's Advertising Review Board (CARU), Facebook, LinkedIn, Microsoft, Perkins Coie LLP
- [Whole Foods . . . Not so Wholesome Anymore?](https://www.communiquepr.com/whole-foods-not-so-wholesome-anymore/488/) - Communiqué PR staff | John Mackey, CEO of Whole Foods, recently found himself in hot water when he published an op-ed piece in the Wall Street Journal, candidly expressing his personal opinions about healthcare reform. In the article, Mackey argued we should move, "toward less government control and more individual empowerment" and outlined eight reforms that would improve healthcare
- [Smartphone App Stores - Thoughts From Gizmodo](https://www.communiquepr.com/smartphone-app-stores-thoughts-from-gizmodo/490/) - Communiqué PR staff | Communiqué PR has a number of mobile industry clients so we thought it would be interesting to provide insight on a blog about smartphone app stores. Gizmodo, Gawker Media's largest blog focusing on gadgets and technology, recently published a post comparing mobile application stores from companies including Apple, Palm, Blackberry, Nokia and Microsoft. While many
- [Social Media Falls Mostly to PR](https://www.communiquepr.com/social-media-falls-mostly-to-pr/492/) - Communiqué PR staff | We recently ran across a PRWeek article about social media and digital communications. The article provides some interesting statistics about digital communications from the 2009 Digital Readiness Report from iPressroom, Korn/Ferry International and PRSA including: PR leads digital communications at 51 percent of organizations, while marketing leads 40.5 percent of the time PR generally leads
- [Communiqué Adds Mobile On to its Client Roster](https://www.communiquepr.com/communique-adds-mobile-on-to-its-client-roster/493/) - Communiqué PR staff | Communiqué PR is excited to announce one of its newest clients, Mobile On. Mobile On's flagship product, BuildAnApp, is the first cross-platform, do-it-yourself solution that offers an affordable, intuitive way for small businesses, community groups and professional service organizations to create customized smartphone applications, optimizing information for on-the-go audiences. This is an exciting time in
- [Moffitt and Gehrt to Speak at Tacoma Pierce County Chamberís Business EXPO 2009](https://www.communiquepr.com/moffitt-and-gehrt-to-speak-at-tacoma-pierce-county-chambers-business-expo-2009/495/) - Communiqué PR staff | Communiqué PR's Co-founders Colleen Moffitt and Jennifer Gehrt will be co-presenting at the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber's Good Morning! Power Breakfast on September 22 and the Business EXPO on Tuesday, October 20. At the Power Breakfast, Colleen and Jennifer will discuss the 10 principles to harness the power of PR as outlined in their book, Strategic
- [Managed File Transfer: A Growing Concern for CIOs and CTOs](https://www.communiquepr.com/managed-file-transfer-a-growing-concern-for-cios-and-ctos/496/) - Communiqué PR staff | Managed file transfer (MFT) is a hot topic for CIOs and CTOs right now. The evolution of technology is making it easier for organizations to do business anytime and anywhere around the world. However, along with this luxury comes the challenge for businesses to confidently exchange sensitive data over public networks. Whether it's a sensitive
- [Strategic Public Relations Gets a Thumbs Up From PRWeek](https://www.communiquepr.com/strategic-public-relations-gets-a-thumbs-up-from-prweek/499/) - Communiqué PR staff | If you have a minute, we encourage you to take a look at a recent review of Colleen Moffitt and Jennifer Gehrt's book, Strategic Public Relations: 10 Principles to Harness the Power of PR, which appeared in PRWeek this month. Jeffrey Ory, vice president at Deveney Communication and guest reviewer for the industry publication states,
- [An Experiment Fundraising With Twitter](https://www.communiquepr.com/an-experiment-fundraising-with-twitter/498/) - Jennifer Gehrt | As many of you who are regular readers of our blog know, in June we worked with the Seattle Children's PlayGarden to launch a Twitter campaign to raise awareness and garner donations for the development of the PlayGarden. The goal was to educate a broader audience about the vision of the PlayGarden and to motivate
- [Communiqué PR Member of the Council of PR Firms](https://www.communiquepr.com/communique-pr-member-of-the-council-of-pr-firms/502/) - Communiqué PR staff | Communiqué PR is thrilled to announce we are now a member of the Council of PR Firms. Formed in 1998 by some of America's leading public relations firms, the Council of Public Relations Firms' mission is to advance the business of public relations by building the market and firms' value as strategic business partners. The
- [Effective Executive Speaking](https://www.communiquepr.com/effective-executive-speaking/503/) - Jennifer Gehrt | As many of you know, I am going to be speaking at the Puget Sound American Marketing Association luncheon today, September 9, 2009. I have had a lot of fun developing my presentation and practicing it with colleagues, my husband and even in front of a video camera. Given my recent experience, I thought I
- [Twitter User Statistics](https://www.communiquepr.com/twitter-user-statistics/506/) - Communiqué PR staff | eMarketer recently released a report from Sysomos on the demographics and usage habits of Twitter users. Sysomos is the leading provider of social media analytics. According to the report titled "An In-Depth Look Inside the Twitter World," 72.5 percent of all Twitter users joined the service in the first five months of this year. Some
- [Where Magazines are Finding Ad Revenue](https://www.communiquepr.com/where-magazines-are-finding-ad-revenue/504/) - Communiqué PR staff | As the economic climate continues to affect print publications, it's interesting to read about how newspapers and magazines are leveraging alternate revenue resources to stay afloat. A recent AdAge article highlights the current state of the magazine industry and provides insight on different revenue streams for the market. For example, magazines such as Men's Health,
- [Twitterphoria: Adding Twitter Power to Your Marketing Mix, Today](https://www.communiquepr.com/twitterphoria-adding-twitter-power-to-your-marketing-mix-today/508/) - Jennifer Gehrt | It was such an honor and pleasure to speak to a sell-out crowd at the Puget Sound American Marketing Association (PSAMA) Luncheon last Wed., Sept. 9. My presentation entitled, "Twitterphoria: Adding Twitter Power to Your Marketing Mix, Today", was well received with approximately 150 people in attendance. According to one of the PSAMA board members,
- [Attachmate Secures Windows 7 Logo](https://www.communiquepr.com/attachmate-secures-windows-7-logo/511/) - Communiqué PR staff | Yesterday, our client Attachmate announced it achieved the Compatible with MicrosoftÆ WindowsÆ 7 logo. Microsoft is planning to launch its much-hyped Windows 7 platform on October 22. As the first host connectivity vendor to secure this distinction, Attachmate can now offer its customers a seamless, easy-to-manage IT environment, robust desktop security features and enhanced end-user
- [SWOT Analysis](https://www.communiquepr.com/swot-analysis/514/) - Communiqué PR staff | A SWOT analysis is a tool utilized by many marketers and public relations professionals to evaluate the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats of a business project or campaign. We recently completed a SWOT analysis for a potential client to evaluate the company's past public relations efforts and where we see room for improvement. SWOT analyses
- [Are You Ready for Fall Tradeshow Season?](https://www.communiquepr.com/are-you-ready-for-fall-tradeshow-season/512/) - Communiqué PR staff | September typically means the end of summer, back to school and fall leaves. But it also means the start of the fall tradeshow season. While tradeshows can often be a tiresome string of endless networking sessions, seminars, presentations and mixers, in the current economic climate, many companies are being more selective than ever when deciding
- [The Rise of the ’Social Internet and Social Media Law](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-rise-of-the-social-internet-and-social-media-law/516/) - Colleen Moffitt | Last week, I had the opportunity to co-present with Lisa T. Oratz of Perkins Coie at Law Seminars International's Social Media Law workshop. We were the final presenters of the day-long workshop focused on new legal issues arising from social media marketing. Lisa and I discussed the practical and legal considerations for businesses when engaging
- [Digonex Commentary: Dynamic Pricing and Event Ticketing](https://www.communiquepr.com/digonex-commentary-dynamic-pricing-and-event-ticketing/517/) - Communiqué PR staff | Digonex recently published a contributed article in TicketNews.com about the impact of dynamic pricing on the event ticketing industry. Jeff Eglen, vice president of strategy of Digonex, outlined the challenges the ticketing industry is facing today as the economic climate continues to impact ticket sales. Given this, he says the industry is forced to "re-evaluate
- [Strategic Public Relations Excerpt: Knowing When to Use PR](https://www.communiquepr.com/strategic-public-relations-excerpt-knowing-when-to-use-pr/519/) - Communiqué PR staff | To get the most out of PR, you need to know what PR can help you accomplish and what it can't. A question many of our clients ask is when they should use PR as opposed to advertising. Both play a significant role in the marketing mix; the trick is to know when to use
- [CPR Featured at Northwest Environmental Business Council](https://www.communiquepr.com/cpr-featured-at-northwest-environmental-business-council/520/) - Communiqué PR staff | Colleen Moffitt, co-founder of Communiqué PR, will be speaking at the Northwest Environmental Business Council's Seattle Luncheon on Wed., Oct. 7. The event, which will be held at McCormick & Schmick's Harborside restaurant, will focus on social media and business. Colleen will discuss the following during the presentation: An overview of the various social media
- [Strategic Public Relations Excerpt: Roadmap for Telling a Compelling Story](https://www.communiquepr.com/strategic-public-relations-excerpt-roadmap-for-telling-a-compelling-story/522/) - Communiqué PR staff | Telling the story of your company draws your audiences into your business in the same way a novel captivates a reader, creating a powerful way to shift perceptions. "I think that we human beings have always enjoyed great stories," says Lee Weinstein, principal of Lee Weinstein & Associates and the former director of global corporate
- [Working With Reuters](https://www.communiquepr.com/working-with-reuters/523/) - Communiqué PR staff | Reuters is a well-respected, influential news outlet. With 196 editorial bureaus in 130 countries and 2,400 editorial staff members, the newswire covers international news, regional news, politics, social issues, health, business, sports and media. A story placement with Reuters can provide a fantastic opportunity to raise the visibility of a company, establish thought leadership on
- [Aveso Inc. – Recent PR Results](https://www.communiquepr.com/aveso-inc-recent-pr-results/525/) - Jennifer Gehrt | In August, we wrote about a new Communiqué PR client, Aveso, Inc., in a post entitled, "The future of One-Time Password (OTP) Technology." Since then, we have made good progress helping Aveso educate people about the merits of its technology, building the category and raising the company's profile as a thought leader. Specifically, in the
- [Pete Carroll, USC Head Coach's Use of Social Media](https://www.communiquepr.com/pete-carroll-usc-head-coachs-use-of-social-media/527/) - Jennifer Gehrt | As a University of Oregon alum it is not easy for me to acknowledge how impressed I am with USC's head football coach Pete Carroll's use of social media. The guy is doing a phenomenal job of galvanizing support for his players and team. Consider this, today Carroll has more than 53,000 followers, and when
- [Tecplot in USA Today](https://www.communiquepr.com/tecplot-in-usa-today/531/) - Communiqué PR staff | We recently reached out to science reporter Dan Vergano of USA Today to pitch a story surrounding the phenomenon of fuel slosh on behalf of our client Tecplot. As a result, we sparked his interest in writing and gained a mention of Tecplot in the article which appeared on Sept. 25 in the "Science Snapshot"
- [Strategic Public Relations Excerpt: Sell PR to Key Stakeholders](https://www.communiquepr.com/strategic-public-relations-excerpt-sell-pr-to-key-stakeholders-within-your-company/532/) - Communiqué PR staff | With PR, as with most things in life, it's impossible to focus your energy everywhere. A strategic approach to PR means concentrating your efforts only on those areas that support your most important business goals, and building consensus for PR right from the start ensures that everyone will rally behind the specific plan you end
- [Mobile On Drives Buzz at CTIA](https://www.communiquepr.com/mobile-on-drives-buzz-at-ctia/533/) - Communiqué PR staff | Last week, the 2009 CTIA Wireless IT and Entertainment conference came rolling into San Diego. For those of you who don't know, CTIA is one of the largest mobile and wireless tradeshows in the country drawing users, carriers, developers and manufacturers together to discuss mobile business. CTIA can be a fantastic platform to launch a
- [New FTC Guidelines Impact Social Media](https://www.communiquepr.com/new-ftc-guidelines-impact-social-media/535/) - Communiqué PR staff | The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently announced it has finalized revisions to its Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials. The new guidelines, which will go into effect on December 1, 2009, provide an outline of rules governing advertising endorsements and testimonials, and apply to consumer-generated media, such as blogs and social networking sites.
- [Strategic Public Relations Excerpt: Building Consensus for PR Programs](https://www.communiquepr.com/strategic-public-relations-excerpt-building-consensus-for-pr-programs/537/) - Communiqué PR staff | Obtaining buy-in with key stakeholders is an important process of building a successful PR program. Building consensus ensures that everyone in the organization supports the PR activities and the approach you've chosen. Another reason that building consensus is important is that it provides the opportunity to obtain additional ideas and understand objections that may not
- [Digonex Attends the Virtual Goods Summit](https://www.communiquepr.com/digonex-attends-the-virtual-goods-summit/538/) - Communiqué PR staff | The virtual goods market is exploding with the sales of in-game items, avatar customization, virtual gifts, digital media and other goods that exist solely in digital form. In fact, leading investment firm Piper Jaffray, estimates that revenue generated from the sales of virtual goods worldwide in 2009 topped $621 million. The firm also predicts that
- [Getting the Right Photo is Easier With OnSet](https://www.communiquepr.com/getting-the-right-photo-is-easier-with-onset/539/) - Jennifer Gehrt | As many marketers and PR professionals know, the right images are often essential to build correct brand awareness with consumers or key business decision makers. However, the cost of custom photography can be prohibitive - especially when a brand manager has to travel to a location to manage the composition and direction of a photo
- [Mindset: The New Psychology of Success](https://www.communiquepr.com/mindset-the-new-psychology-of-success/540/) - Communiqué PR staff | "Mindset: The New Psychology of Success" is a book written by world-renowned Stanford University psychologist, Carol Dwek. Based on decades of research on achievement and success, Dwek outlines how with the right mindset, we can fulfill our potential and achieve our toughest goals. Everyone on our team is reading the book and discussing how we
- [Colleen and Jennifer of Communiqué; PR Lend Their Perspective on Social Media](https://www.communiquepr.com/colleen-and-jennifer-of-communique-pr-lend-their-perspective-on-social-media/542/) - Communiqué PR staff | Recently, Colleen Moffitt and Jennifer Gehrt, co-founders of Communiqué PR were quoted in the Daily Journal of Commerce (also picked up by the Associated Press) and The Spokesman-Review about organizations' use of social mediums such as Twitter. Twitter enables companies to monitor conversations about their products and services and also gauge consumers' sentiment towards the
- [Communiqué PR Looks for Intern to Join Its Team](https://www.communiquepr.com/communique-pr-looks-for-intern-to-join-its-team/546/) - Communiqué PR staff | Communiqué Public Relations (www.communiquepr.com) is seeking a graduating senior college student to fill an unpaid internship vacancy. Within our boutique firm, we look to interns to provide hands-on tactical and administrative support. We are excited to have an opening for an intern starting in December 2009. An intern's experience will be as rewarding as he
- [Cision Launches JournalistTweets.com](https://www.communiquepr.com/cision-launches-journalisttweetscom/549/) - Communiqué PR staff | Are you looking for a tool to make it easier to follow journalists on Twitter? Cision, a global provider of media monitoring, media research, distribution and media evaluation PR software and services, recently released a new relationship-building tool for PR professionals and journalists called JournalistTweets. I have spent some time using this tool and found
- [Five Tips for Motivating Employees to Twitter on Behalf of Your Brand](https://www.communiquepr.com/five-tips-for-motivating-employees-to-twitter-on-behalf-of-your-brand/550/) - Jennifer Gehrt | Are you struggling with how to help employees leverage Twitter for the benefit of your company? We have all heard stories of how employees have damaged a company's brand via social media. However, marketing and communications executives have a tremendous opportunity to harness the power of social media to significantly benefit their organizations by enlisting
- [Strategic Public Relations Excerpt: Picking your PR Team Wisely](https://www.communiquepr.com/strategic-public-relations-excerpt-picking-your-pr-team-wisely/551/) - Communiqué PR staff | As organizations continue to experience budget constraints due to the existing economic conditions, you may be tasked with re-evaluating your PR team as you plan for 2010. One of the most daunting questions you may encounter is whether to go with an in-house PR team, an external PR agency or a combination of the two.
- [The Analyst Reference Sheet](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-analyst-reference-sheet/552/) - Communiqué PR staff | In the past we have written about the importance of working with industry analysts. Recently, we arranged and facilitated nine conference calls with analysts so Dennis Brestovansky, president and CEO of Aveso Displays, could share information about his company's technology and the company vision. The calls were very helpful for Aveso. In addition to educating
- [Attachmate Announces the Launch of FileXpress](https://www.communiquepr.com/attachmate-announces-the-launch-of-filexpress/553/) - Communiqué PR staff | Attachmate Corporation, a leading provider of host connectivity solutions including terminal emulation, legacy integration and secure communications, today announced the availability of FileXpress. FileXpress is a family of products targeted at the managed file transfer (MFT) software market, and offers broad and powerful solutions for the electronic delivery of large files to anyone and anywhere,
- [The New Rules of Media Relations; Have They Really Changed?](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-new-rules-of-media-relations-have-they-really-changed/555/) - Communiqué PR staff | I recently participated in a webinar hosted by PRWeek surrounding the new rules of media relations. We all know that the media landscape has changed with publications shutting down or moving to online formats. But interestingly, the rise of social media, namely Twitter, has really changed the playing field in how media source their content
- [My Four Favorite Twitter Tools](https://www.communiquepr.com/my-four-favorite-twitter-tools/556/) - Jennifer Gehrt | The past couple of times I've given presentations on social media, I have received questions from members of the audience about the best Twitter tools. Given the high-level of interest in this topic, I decided to do additional research, test out some of the most highly-recommended tools and publish my findings on the Communiqué PR
- [How Starbucks Leverages Social Media to Build its Brand](https://www.communiquepr.com/how-starbucks-leverages-social-media-to-build-its-brand/557/) - Communiqué PR staff | Communiqué PR attended a Puget Sound American Marketing Association (PSAMA) event on Wed., Nov. 11 entitled, "Building Brand with Social Media: How Starbucks does it and what they'll do next." The speaker, Brad Nelson, principal tweeter for the @Starbucks Twitter handle, previously worked for Starbucks as a barista before joining the company's marketing team. Interestingly,
- [Digonex Launches First Fully Automated Dynamic Pricing System for Event Ticketing Industry](https://www.communiquepr.com/digonex-launches-first-fully-automated-dynamic-pricing-system-for-event-ticketing-industry/560/) - Communiqué PR staff | On Mon., Nov. 16, our client, Digonex, announced the release of its Sports & Entertainment Analytical Ticketing System (SEATS), the first fully automated, dynamic pricing system for event ticketing. The ticketing industry is facing many challenges including a tough economy, declining event attendance and competing forces for the entertainment dollar. While sophisticated pricing models are
- [SAM Medical Products Featured in Popular Science](https://www.communiquepr.com/sam-medical-products-featured-in-popular-science/562/) - Communiqué PR staff | SAM Medical Products, a developer and manufacturer of innovative medial products used for emergency, military and hospital care, is featured in the December 2009 issue of Popular Science (cir. 1.3 million). SAM Medical Products is awarded the "Best of What's New 2009" award for its innovative dual-purpose, hemostatic gauze, CELOX Trauma Gauze. According to Editor-in-Chief
- [Tideworks Technology Experiences Growth during Economic Downturn](https://www.communiquepr.com/tideworks-technology-experiences-growth-during-economic-downturn/564/) - Colleen Moffitt | Tideworks Technology's President, Michael Schwank, recently contributed an article to Cargo Systems sharing his perspective on how the down economy has given ports and terminals an opportunity to evaluate and implement new technology. In the article, which is slated to be published in the coming issue of Cargo Systems, Schwank outlines how the container industry
- [Facebook & Public Relations](https://www.communiquepr.com/facebook-public-relations/566/) - Jennifer Gehrt | I was reading the New York Times and came across an article entitled, "How to Market Your Business with Facebook." As we work to help our clients reach the right audiences, we are increasingly thinking about Facebook with its audience of more than 300 million active users. As PR practitioners, we are not so interested
- [Four Reasons Corporate Communications Should Own Social Media](https://www.communiquepr.com/four-reasons-corporate-communications-should-own-social-media/567/) - Colleen Moffitt | There has been and continues to be significant discussion about the ownership of social media strategies and activities within an organization. As a PR professional with some social media experience, let me add my perspective to the debate. I believe social media should be owned at a strategic level by the top corporate communications or
- [Teaching the Facebook Generation](https://www.communiquepr.com/teaching-the-facebook-generation/568/) - Communiqué PR staff | I recently came across an interesting article in BusinessWeek discussing the importance of incorporating social media training into today's higher education curriculum in order to adequately prepare the next generation of employees. The article titled, ’Teaching the Facebook Generation by Dr. Elaine Young, an associate professor of marketing at Champlain College reveals that broad skills
- [Could Dragonflies Hold the Key to Better Public Safety?](https://www.communiquepr.com/could-dragonflies-hold-the-key-to-better-public-safety/574/) - Communiqué PR staff | The dragonfly has been long praised for its ability to help control populations of harmful insects. But could this nimble insect with its multi-faceted eyes, elongated body and two pairs of powerful wings, also hold the key to controlling harmful threats to public safety? We recently reached out to a number of journalists to let
- [Attachmate Receives Prestigious Common Use Passenger Processing Systems Certification](https://www.communiquepr.com/attachmate-receives-prestigious-cupps-certification/579/) - Communiqué PR staff | We are pleased to share some exciting news. Attachmate has become one of the first application vendors to achieve Common Use Passenger Processing Systems (CUPPS) certification for its INFOConnect Enterprise Edition for Airlines Print and Transaction Router (PTR32) solutions. Airlines around the world are working to replace the Common Use Terminal Equipment (CUTE), the current
- [Ward's Dealer: 5 Tips for Better Brand Building](https://www.communiquepr.com/wards-dealer-5-tips-for-better-brand-building/587/) - Communiqué PR staff | On December 1, Ward's Dealer Business published an article from Jennifer Gehrt titled, "5 Tips for Better Brand Building." This article provides insight on how auto dealers and auto makers can leverage digital assets to build brand awareness and increase loyalty with consumers. Many dealers are striving to differentiate themselves and want to encourage consumers
- [Crisis Experts Share Perspective on Tiger Woods](https://www.communiquepr.com/crisis-experts-share-perspective-on-tiger-woods/596/) - Jennifer Gehrt | The Wall Street Journal and Washington Times both published articles on Wed., Dec. 2 about Tiger Wood's management of his personal crisis – the car accident and reported affairs. Both articles provide readers with an excellent reminder of the importance of communicating in a timely manner and being as transparent as possible during a crisis.
- [BuildAnApp Lands in the Wall Street Journal](https://www.communiquepr.com/buildanapp-lands-in-the-wall-street-journal/605/) - Communiqué PR staff | We are proud to share that, Mobile On, a developer of the first cross-platform, do-it-yourself (DIY) solution that enables businesses and organizations to create customized smartphone applications, was featured on Tues., Dec. 8 in a Wall Street Journal article titled, ’Services Tailor Apps for Small Businesses. The story discusses the new wave of DIY services
- [Maximizing Virtual Goods Through Dynamic Pricing](https://www.communiquepr.com/maximizing-virtual-goods-through-dynamic-pricing-2/602/) - Communiqué PR staff | Rex Fisher, vice president of business development for Digonex Technologies, recently wrote a contributed article for Virtual Goods Insider, which was published on Dec. 3. In the article, Rex discusses the recent explosion of the virtual goods industry and how dynamic pricing models will be a key driver of the industry's continued growth and success.
- [Ward's Dealer: 5 Tips for Better Brand Building](https://www.communiquepr.com/wards-dealer-5-tips-for-better-brand-building-2/611/) - Communiqué PR staff | On December 1, Ward's Dealer Business published an article from Jennifer Gehrt titled, "5 Tips for Better Brand Building." This article provides insight on how auto dealers and auto makers can leverage digital assets to build brand awareness and increase loyalty with consumers. Many dealers are striving to differentiate themselves and want to encourage consumers
- [Social Media & Damage Control](https://www.communiquepr.com/social-media-damage-control/622/) - Jennifer Gehrt | Many of us have heard about the mistakes companies, such as Dominos and United Airlines, have made around crisis control. However, there seems to be a dearth of information about how companies can use social media in the right way for damage control during a crisis. In late January, I am moderating a panel on
- [Twitter's Contributors Feature - Will it be Good for Business?](https://www.communiquepr.com/twitters-contributors-feature-will-it-be-good-for-business/626/) - Communiqué PR staff | On Mon., Dec. 14, Twitter began testing a new feature called Contributors. According to PC World, this new feature ’allows business users to manage how its employees post 140-character messages from a single account. Writer Ian Paul says this new feature indicates Twitter is ’interested in commercializing the service. The primary focus of Contributors is
- [Social Media: What to Expect in 2010](https://www.communiquepr.com/social-media-what-to-expect-in-2010/632/) - Communiqué PR staff | 2009 was the year of social media with social mediums such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, experiencing explosive growth as consumers increasingly turned to these networks for recommendations on products and services. In fact, a recent Razorfish survey of digitally connected customers found that 97 percent of their online experiences influenced their purchasing decisions. Some
- [Google Unveils New Approach to Presenting News](https://www.communiquepr.com/google-unveils-new-approach-to-presenting-news/636/) - Communiqué PR staff | The media landscape has changed dramatically over the past couple of years. During a time when many print publications and newspapers are experiencing tremendous challenges, Google announced it will offer publishers a new approach to presenting news online – through one single URL. The project, which is called Living Stories, was developed in partnership with
- [Communiqué PR — 2009 Highlights](https://www.communiquepr.com/communique-pr-2009-highlights/615/) - Jennifer Gehrt | With the economic downturn, layoffs, H1N1, massive changes in the media, and the growth of social networking impacting our world, 2009 proved to be a challenging year for many of us. At Communiqué PR, we looked at the uncertainty and adverse business climate as an opportunity to be even more focused in our efforts for
- [Branding in the Pharmaceutical Industry](https://www.communiquepr.com/branding-in-the-pharmaceutical-industry/644/) - Communiqué PR staff | We are excited to announce Communiqué PR has placed three contributed articles in pharmaceutical industry publications on behalf of OnRequest Images. These bylined articles illustrate the importance of branding in the pharmaceutical industry and provide insight on how companies can leverage imagery and photographs to convey a unified brand image, increase awareness of their products
- [Establishing Thought Leadership Through PR](https://www.communiquepr.com/establishing-thought-leadership-through-pr/648/) - Communiqué PR staff | In previous blog posts we've written about thought leadership – sharing examples of how we have helped our clients establish themselves as a thought leader in a particular category. With the New Year and many companies setting goals around establishing thought leadership, we thought it would be helpful to revisit the topic beginning with our
- [Harry Sandler With Digonex to Speak at Ticket Summit](https://www.communiquepr.com/harry-sandler-with-digonex-to-speak-at-ticket-summit/1107/) - Communiqué PR staff | We thought you'd be interested to know that Harry Sandler, director of strategic ticketing for Digonex Technologies, will be speaking at Ticket Summit, a leading industry conference for the secondary ticket market being held in New York on January 13 to 15. Digonex is rapidly becoming known as a leader in the dynamic pricing market
- [Moderating a Panel](https://www.communiquepr.com/moderating-a-panel/1110/) - Jennifer Gehrt | I have been thinking about the responsibilities of a panel chair as I prepare to moderate a panel on damage control later this month. Colleen and I have been doing a significant amount of speaking as we promote our book, "Strategic Public Relations." In addition, many of our clients are asked to chair panels as
- [New Book Gives Blueprint for Reaching the Unreachable](https://www.communiquepr.com/1112-2/1112/) - Communiqué PR staff | As you may remember, in October the Communiqué PR team read "Mindset: The New Psychology of Success" and discussed how we could apply the principles outlined in the book in both our private and professional lives. We are currently reading the book, "Just Listen" by Mark Goulston. "Just Listen" provides eye-opening insights and practical tips
- [Executives’ Reluctance to Use Social Media](https://www.communiquepr.com/executives-reluctance-to-use-social-media/1115/) - Colleen Moffitt | "I don't have time." This is a common statement I hear from executives when speaking with them about social media. While I appreciate senior managers are busy, I believe it is essential they make time to use this powerful medium. Otherwise, they will not have a good grasp of this new technology and how it
- [Dynamic Pricing Continues to be a Hot Topic at the 2010 Ticket Summit](https://www.communiquepr.com/dynamic-pricing-continues-to-be-a-hot-topic-at-the-2010-ticket-summit/1118/) - Communiqué PR staff | Last week I attended the 2010 Ticket Summit in New York with Communiqué PR client Digonex. Targeted toward the secondary market (i.e. ticket brokers) this year's Ticket Summit brought together more than 500 experts from across various parts of the industry to discuss today's ticketing challenges. Harry Sandler, director of strategic ticketing for Digonex, spoke
- [Is Your Web Site Current?](https://www.communiquepr.com/is-your-web-site-current/1129/) - Colleen Moffitt | We recently worked with GKD on a redesign of our firm’s Web site. The process was extremely valuable as it provided an opportunity for us to re-evaluate our firm’s positioning, our brand attributes and the value we deliver clients. I found it inspiring and motivating to focus on the future vision of our business and
- [e-Book Pricing Wars Heat Up: Digonex Offers Perspective in Publisher’s Weekly](https://www.communiquepr.com/e-book-pricing-wars-heat-up-digonex-offers-perspective-in-publishers-weekly/1139/) - Communiqué PR staff | The e-book market is hot and there’s a pricing war on the horizon. The wild popularity of the Amazon Kindle, Barnes and Noble’s recent launch of its e-book reader Nook, and talk of Apple joining the game with its Tablet service has caused the publishing industry to take a closer look at pricing strategies for
- [Five Tips for Positioning Your Company Against the Competitor](https://www.communiquepr.com/five-tips-for-positioning-your-company-against-the-competitor/1143/) - Communiqué PR staff | Differentiating your company and its products and services from the competition can be critical to the success of your business. Consider wireless service providers. AT&T Wireless, Verizon, T-Mobile and Sprint work hard to differentiate their service based on price, network coverage and their selection of phones. As you work to thoroughly analyze your competitors’ product
- [HARO Ad Drives Sales of Strategic Public Relations](https://www.communiquepr.com/haro-sponsorship-drives-book-sales/1149/) - Colleen Moffitt | On Fri., Jan. 22 our book, “Strategic Public Relations: 10 Principles to Harness the Power of PR” jumped to the number two spot on Amazon’s most popular books on public relations. While our book has received strong reviews and positive mentions in several publications, including The Costco Connection and PRWeek.com, this was quite a jump
- [Mobidia Continues to Engage With Industry Analysts](https://www.communiquepr.com/mobidia-continues-to-engage-with-industry-analysts/1146/) - Communiqué PR staff | Back in January 2009, we wrote a blog post about our experience working with Mobidia, a provider of data solutions, and raising awareness of the company with third-party influentials leading up to Mobile World Congress. In the past year, Mobidia has made significant progress and has executed more than 14 network lab and field trials
- [Thoughts From Enterprise Social 2.0](https://www.communiquepr.com/thoughts-from-enterprise-social-2-0/1165/) - Jennifer Gehrt | I recently returned from Amsterdam where I attended and presented at Enterprise Social 2.0. What a fabulous experience. The speakers and presentations were first rate. Here are some of the highlights from the gathering. Ramon DeLeon, Domino’s Pizza (@Ramon_DeLeon). This guy is an amazing presenter with outstanding energy; but beyond his exceptional presentation skills, he
- [Digonex Announces First Price Analysis Pilot With Major Sports Franchise](https://www.communiquepr.com/digonex-announces-first-price-analysis-pilot-with-major-sports-franchise/1183/) - Communiqué PR staff | Last week, our client Digonex Technologies announced its partnership with the Cleveland Cavaliers on a price analysis consultation pilot. This pilot officially marks the Cavaliers as the first national sports franchise to leverage Digonex’s Sports & Entertainment Analytical Ticketing System (SEATS), a dynamic commerce engine that analyzes sales data and provides price suggestions based upon
- [Trust and Storytelling in a Digital World](https://www.communiquepr.com/trust-and-storytelling-in-a-digital-world-2/1163/) - Colleen Moffitt | Recently, I had an opportunity to re-connect with Hanson Hosein, director of the Master of Communication in Digital Media at the University of Washington. Hanson, a former NBC News war correspondent and investigative producer, is passionate about storytelling, new models of communication and social media. I enjoyed chatting with Hanson about the impact of social
- [Communiqué PR Celebrates Six Years With Trivia Contest on Twitter](https://www.communiquepr.com/communique-pr-celebrates-six-years-with-trivia-contest-on-twitter/1192/) - Colleen Moffitt | This February, Communiqué PR is celebrating its sixth anniversary. In conjunction with this milestone, we have decided to launch a Twitter contest. You can follow @CommuniquePR to participate in the Communiqué PR Trivia Contest. Here’s how it will work. Beginning at 6 a.m. PT on Feb. 12, we’ll post the first of eight trivia questions.
- [Writing for Different Mediums](https://www.communiquepr.com/writing-for-different-mediums-2/1213/) - Colleen Moffitt | Today’s communicators are called on to write for an increasing number of mediums including print and broadcast media, social networks, and online media such as blogs and Web sites. Some of us are also writing scripts for podcasts or YouTube videos. So how do you – as a communicator – effectively write for these different
- [Developing Effective Messages that Resonate](https://www.communiquepr.com/developing-effective-messages-that-resonate/1218/) - Communiqué PR staff | After thwarting a plot by a Nigerian man to blow up an American passenger jet on Christmas Day, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano was widely criticized for sending mixed messages to the American public surrounding the effectiveness of the U.S.’s airport security strategy. A recent CNN.com article by writer Drew Weston suggests, “Napolitano's gaffe (which,
- [Twitter Contest Helps Drive Awareness and Sales](https://www.communiquepr.com/twitter-contest-helps-drive-awareness-and-sales/1221/) - Colleen Moffitt | On Feb. 10, we announced Communiqué PR would host a Twitter contest in conjunction with the firm’s sixth anniversary. The idea for the contest came after Jennifer Gehrt participated at the Enterprise Social 2.0: Rip or ROI? event in Amsterdam. There, she heard executives with Kodak, Dominos and others share details about contests held via
- [Should Your School Be Using Social Media?](https://www.communiquepr.com/should-your-school-be-using-social-media/1231/) - Jennifer Gehrt | I serve on the Board of Trustees for Villa Academy, a private independent school in Seattle educating children in kindergarten through the eighth grade. In the past several months, I have been thinking about how Facebook could be used by Villa and other elementary and middle schools to help them achieve their top objectives. I
- [Communiqué Secures Positive Results for Aveso Displays](https://www.communiquepr.com/communique-secures-positive-results-for-aveso-displays/1238/) - Communiqué PR staff | As we wrap up a project for Aveso Displays, we want to summarize the results we secured for the company. Aveso Displays is a developer of printed electronic displays for the credit and security card industry. The company’s solution can be used for one time password (OTP) technology among other things. As you may know,
- [New Cookbook Offers Readers a Culinary Adventure with Lavender](https://www.communiquepr.com/new-cookbook-offers-readers-a-culinary-adventure-with-lavender/1240/) - Communiqué PR staff | We are happy to announce the release of “Discover Cooking with Lavender,” a cookbook written by Seattle-based author Kathy Gehrt. This book takes readers on a culinary adventure into the world of lavender and features 75 unique recipes spanning seasonings, drinks, savory dishes and sweets. “Discover Cooking with Lavender” is ideal for seasoned chefs, foodies,
- [“We’re a Lot Like You” PEMCO’s Campaign](https://www.communiquepr.com/were-a-lot-like-you-pemcos-campaign/1246/) - Jennifer Gehrt | If you live in the Northwest, you probably have seen PEMCO Insurance’s innovative marketing “We’re a Lot Like You” campaign. Maybe you even have a favorite profile, such as socks and sandals guy, the recumbent bike computer, relentless recycler or the Marymoor off-leash dog lady. Have you ever wondered about the history of this campaign?
- [Inexpensive (But Effective) Perception Audits](https://www.communiquepr.com/inexpensive-but-effective-perception-audits/1284/) - Jennifer Gehrt | Have you ever wondered how your company or nonprofit organization is perceived by the broader community? Or maybe you simply want to measure awareness of a particular feature on your new widget before you promote it in your next PR campaign? These are questions many of our clients ask as they work to make informed
- [Connectivity at 35,000 Feet: Alaska Airlines Selects Gogo Inflight Internet](https://www.communiquepr.com/connectivity-at-35000-feet-alaska-airlines-selects-gogo-inflight-internet/1286/) - Communiqué PR staff | I admit it – I can’t stand the thought of not being connected. Whether it’s e-mail, the Internet or checking social networking platforms, such as Facebook or Twitter, I find it hard to be unplugged. The growing popularity of smartphone devices coupled with Wi-Fi hotspots and mobile WiMAX is only proliferating our “always-connected” culture. So
- [Best Practices: Five Things to Consider When Selecting a PR Partner](https://www.communiquepr.com/best-practices-five-things-to-consider-when-selecting-a-pr-partner/1291/) - Communiqué PR staff | As businesses and organizations realize the power of strategic public relations, they are increasingly seeking the help of a PR agency or contractor. We thought it would be good to share our perspective on what to look for when selecting a PR partner. Below, we have compiled a list of things to keep in mind
- [Encouraging Readers to Comment on Your Blog](https://www.communiquepr.com/encouraging-readers-to-comment-on-your-blog/1295/) - Communiqué PR staff | Blogs touch tens of millions of people in the U.S. and this number continues to grow daily. In fact, according to an eMarketer report from 2009, approximately 96.6 million U.S. Internet users read a blog at least once a month, representing 48.5 percent of the Internet population. The same report predicts by 2013, this number
- [Breakfast with Pete Carroll](https://www.communiquepr.com/breakfast-with-pete-carroll/1316/) - Jennifer Gehrt | For those of you who know me, I am sure you can appreciate my excitement when I learned there was an opportunity to attend a breakfast talk with the new Seattle Seahawks Coach, Pete Carroll. As a college football fan I have long been enamored with the strength of the USC football program, as well
- [The Success of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-success-of-sports-illustrated-swimsuit-issue/1320/) - Jennifer Gehrt | I was recently watching TV and stumbled across a CNBC segment called, “Business Model: Inside the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue.” Given the state of the publishing world, I was immediately intrigued. If you have a minute and are interested in the future of magazine publishing, I would encourage you to watch the segment. You can
- [PR+MKTG Camp Seattle](https://www.communiquepr.com/prmktg-camp-seattle/1335/) - Colleen Moffitt | Earlier this month, I participated in the PR+MKTG Camp Seattle organized by Dan Greenfield. The event was well attended with a wonderful mix of marketing and PR leaders from the Seattle area, including Rob Brooks, PEMCO; Brad Nelson, Starbucks; Amy Bohutinsky, Zillow; and Greg Shaw, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, as well as many others.
- [Digital Reporting Continues to Change the Face of Journalism](https://www.communiquepr.com/digital-reporting-continues-to-change-the-face-of-journalism/1341/) - Communiqué PR staff | On Monday, the New York Times ran an interesting article on a recent presentation at SXSW called, “Process Journalism: Getting it First While Getting it Right.” The panel included reporters Robert Mackey from the New York Times, Monica Guzman of SeattlePI.com, blogger Jesus Diaz with Gizmodo.com, Will Sullivan from Journerdism.com and Moka Pantages of the
- [Reaching the Historically Underserved](https://www.communiquepr.com/reaching-the-historically-underserved/1345/) - Jennifer Gehrt | Many companies and organizations struggle with how to best reach historically underserved communities. However, many organizations need to reach the communities if they are going to initiate change, drive new behaviors and educate people. Consider the work of our first lady, Mrs. Obama. She has a strong commitment to curbing childhood obesity and recently has
- [Facebook Applications & Strategic Communications](https://www.communiquepr.com/facebook-applications-strategic-communications/1350/) - Jennifer Gehrt | As the lines between traditional public relations and social media blur, we have been thinking about how our clients can leverage custom Facebook applications to drive awareness and engagement of their products and services. We did some research to get a handle on new apps for Facebook and asked people to tell us which ones
- [Thoughts on Corporate Social Responsibility](https://www.communiquepr.com/thoughts-on-corporate-social-responsibility/1356/) - Jennifer Gehrt | Recently Ellen Petry Leanse, head of enterprise marking communications with Google, sent me an article entitled “Leadership in the Age of Transparency,” published by Harvard Business Review (HBR). Ellen was on a panel I chaired at Enterprise Social 2.0 in Amsterdam and the article supported many of the remarks made in January by Ellen and
- [The Golden Age of Op-Eds](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-golden-age-of-op-eds/1359/) - Jennifer Gehrt | Chas Edwards, publisher and chief revenue officer at Digg, believes “we are living in the golden age of op-eds, thanks to Twitter, Word Press and Facebook.” I agree with Chas that social media gives everyone a platform to share a point view, but what about traditional op-ed articles in newspapers? Are they dead or alive?
- [Mobidia Provides Perspective on Mobile Network Congestion](https://www.communiquepr.com/mobidia-provides-perspective-on-mobile-network-congestion/1364/) - Communiqué PR staff | To highlight the looming concerns surrounding the growth in mobile data traffic and showcase the solutions available to operators to address this issue, Communiqué PR recently placed three contributed articles in prominent mobile wireless industry publications for Mobidia. These articles enabled Chris Hill, vice president of marketing with Mobidia, to share his perspective on network
- [Facebook Fan Growth](https://www.communiquepr.com/facebook-fan-growth/1373/) - Jennifer Gehrt | We recently did some research to identify companies with more than 250,000 Facebook fans. The results were interesting. Some brand name companies (or organizations) fell significantly short of our expectations - while others have significantly more than 250,000 fans. While we know fans will come and go, we thought it would be fun to compile
- [Marketing at Mud Bay](https://www.communiquepr.com/marketing-at-mud-bay/1378/) - Jennifer Gehrt | The other morning I had the opportunity to catch up with my former manager and mentor Brad Stevens. At the end of 2009, Brad left Starbucks after seven years with the company where he served as vice president of U.S. Marketing and their first head of Customer Relationship Management, to join Mud Bay, a provider
- [Accessing News: The Changing Face News](https://www.communiquepr.com/accessing-news-the-changing-face-news/1390/) - Communiqué PR staff | With the ascent of online news sources and the advent of social media, news is becoming portable, personalized and participatory. Now more than ever, people are accessing multiple media platforms to get their news. Recent findings from the Pew Research Center prove that “The overwhelming majority of Americans (92%) use multiple platforms to get news
- [Could Mobile Apps Be a Driving Force in Customer Engagement for SMBs?](https://www.communiquepr.com/could-mobile-apps-be-a-driving-force-in-customer-engagement-for-smbs/1394/) - Colleen Moffitt | Many people believe 2010 is the year of the mobile app. A recent report from analyst firm, Gartner states consumers will spend $6.2 billion in 2010 in mobile application stores. The increasing penetration of smartphones, coupled with the recent release of the Apple iPad is fueling additional buzz around mobile apps. It is interesting to
- [What is More Important: Providing Value or Being Liked?](https://www.communiquepr.com/what-is-more-important-providing-value-or-being-liked/1397/) - Colleen Moffitt | Last month, I read a blog post that really resonated with me about the difference between being liked and being valued. As the author of the post states, clearly the two are not mutually exclusive, but must be prioritized. The author explains in his post, “When you focus on being valued first and liked second,
- [Thoughts on Feature Writing](https://www.communiquepr.com/thoughts-on-feature-writing/1407/) - Jennifer Gehrt | At Communiqué PR we do a lot of writing. We write press releases, case studies, company messaging and contributed articles. In fact, during the past several months we have written articles for clients that have been published in more than 20 industry or business magazines or daily newspapers. (Please e-mail me if you’re interested in
- [“Strategic Public Relations” Now in Paperback](https://www.communiquepr.com/strategic-public-relations-now-in-paperback/1413/) - Communiqué PR staff | Today’s business leaders, marketing executives and PR practitioners are working to understand how to utilize the latest wave of social media tools in order to increase sales, drive awareness and build buzz. Jennifer Gehrt and Colleen Moffitt, founders of Communiqué PR illustrate how to effectively maximize the impact of tools and tactics through a strategic
- [The Story Arc](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-story-arc/1416/) - Communiqué PR staff | Throughout human history, stories have been a fundamental way in which we connect with people and think about the world. As children, we grow up hearing stories and as we get older, begin sharing stories of our own. Stories are an essential part of child development, and if done correctly, hold our attention as adults,
- [Best of the Best: Social Media Conferences](https://www.communiquepr.com/best-of-the-best-social-media-conferences/1420/) - Communiqué PR staff | A client recently approached Communiqué PR for a recommendation on the best social media conferences. His goal is to learn more about techniques and best practices for leveraging social media to better engage customers with blogs, social networks and video. He recognized he has a lot to learn as he continues to migrate from traditional
- [Establishing Thought Leadership in Vertical Markets](https://www.communiquepr.com/establishing-thought-leadership-in-vertical-markets/1425/) - Communiqué PR staff | Establishing thought leadership in vertical markets can help a company raise its profile, distinguish it from competitors, drive new customer leads, and ultimately, increase revenue. In fact, according to a press release from leading research firm Gartner, thought leadership can be a “powerful tool for improved marketing success in IT services.” As we have written
- [“Discover Cooking with Lavender” Gains Traction](https://www.communiquepr.com/discover-cooking-with-lavender-gains-traction/1430/) - Communiqué PR staff | Back in February we told you about a new cookbook we helped launch called “Discover Cooking with Lavender” by Seattle-based author Kathy Gehrt. The book takes readers on a culinary adventure into the world of lavender and features 75 unique recipes spanning seasonings, drinks, savory dishes and sweets. To help create buzz and drive sales
- [Exclusives: Are They Still Relevant?](https://www.communiquepr.com/exclusives-are-they-still-relevant/1437/) - Communiqué PR staff | Offering a reporter an exclusive story is a time-honored agreement in which a company or PR firm offers a piece of noteworthy news or interview exclusively to one publication or media outlet to publish. But with the current shift in the media landscape coupled with the rise of social media significantly increasing the demand for
- [Social Media Contests Have the Power to Drive Massive Awareness and Engagement](https://www.communiquepr.com/social-media-contests-have-the-power-to-drive-massive-awareness-and-engagement/1440/) - Communiqué PR staff | We all know about the benefits that social media provides both consumer and business-to-business (B2B) companies. It can help raise visibility of a company, provide a powerful channel to engage with target audiences and can help create brand loyalty. But what if you’re a new company or an organization just starting to build a presence
- [The Civil Beat: Is this the Future of News?](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-civil-beat-is-this-the-future-of-news/1447/) - Jennifer Gehrt | As print newspapers around the world are merging or moving to online-only versions, eBay founder and Hawaii resident, Pierre Omidyar is looking to develop the next generation of online news. According to a story we heard on April 22 on NPR, Omidyar is creating a subscription-only online news website for residents of Honolulu, called the
- [The Power of an Image](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-power-of-an-image/1450/) - Jennifer Gehrt | The right images can go a long way toward impacting the placement and pick up of stories. I was reminded of this today as I read the Seattle Times. I am a loyal subscriber, and while my husband and many other friends enjoy consuming the news online, I still enjoy sitting at the dining table
- [Summer Internship With Communiqué PR](https://www.communiquepr.com/summer-internship-with-communique-pr/1456/) - Communiqué PR staff | We are looking for one more intern to join our team for the summer. This paid intern will join another intern working directly with senior members of the Communiqué PR team. Interns at Communiqué PR are active members of a designated account team. Our interns acquire “hands-on” public relations experience, gaining exposure to areas such
- [Training Your Executives to Become Well-Versed in Social Media](https://www.communiquepr.com/training-your-executives-to-become-well-versed-in-social-media/1460/) - Communiqué PR staff | I recently read an interesting interview in Mashable with Forrester Research’s CEO George Colony offering his perspective on why CEOs should be well versed in social media. While more and more companies and C-level executives are embracing social media as an effective tool to help meet business objectives, there’s a staggering amount of executives who
- [Our Survey for the Port of Kingston Passenger-Only Ferry](https://www.communiquepr.com/our-survey-for-the-port-of-kingston-passenger-only-ferry/1464/) - Jennifer Gehrt | Recently we helped the Port of Kingston conduct a survey to gather feedback on its planned Passenger-Only Ferry service. We created the survey to determine how people would use the ferry, when they would ride it and their primary purpose for using the service. The survey was distributed via Facebook and Twitter between April 16
- [Competition is Fierce for Analyst Firms to Retain and Win New Customers](https://www.communiquepr.com/competition-is-fierce-for-analyst-firms-to-retain-and-win-new-customers/1469/) - Communiqué PR staff | The other day I was doing some research for a presentation on general market trends with regards to analyst firms. It’s clear that the current economic climate has impacted industries across the board and analyst firms are certainly no exception. The competition to retain and win new customers, particularly in the IT sector, continues to
- [Securing Placements of Case Studies in Vertical Publications](https://www.communiquepr.com/securing-placements-of-case-studies-in-vertical-publications/1482/) - Communiqué PR staff | Case studies are a powerful resource that can be leveraged to gain editorial coverage – especially in vertical industry publications. At Communiqué PR, we work to ensure that case studies depict an actual problem and then provide a rich, detailed resolution. Providing such an editorial package to the media, we’ve found, can be valuable in
- [Local Mobile Event to Attract Key Industry Leaders](https://www.communiquepr.com/local-mobile-event-to-attract-key-industry-leaders/1496/) - Colleen Moffitt | We are fortunate in the Northwest to be at the forefront of the mobile industry. Not only is the greater-Seattle area home to industry giants such as T-Mobile, Clearwire, AT&T Wireless and Microsoft, there are also numerous smaller companies that are fueling the growth and driving innovation in the mobile market. The upcoming Mobile Breakfast
- [Communiqué PR Seeks Sr. Account Executive](https://www.communiquepr.com/communique-pr-seeks-sr-account-executive/1501/) - Communiqué PR staff | We are excited to announce we are adding to the Communiqué PR team. Currently, we are seeking candidates with six to eight years of agency-side public relations or strategic communications experience to join our team as a Senior Account Executive. THE POSITION As part of our team, the Senior Account Executive helps define communication plans
- [Crisis Communication Planning and the Impact of Social Media](https://www.communiquepr.com/crisis-communication-planning-and-the-impact-of-social-media/1505/) - Colleen Moffitt | Last week, Jennifer and I had an opportunity to conduct a workshop on crisis communication at the Washington State Community Action Partnership Statewide Development and Marketing Conference. The goal of the training was to provide attendees with an understanding of the various types of crises and how to best prepare. We also spent time discussing
- [Social Media and Fundraising](https://www.communiquepr.com/social-media-and-fundraising/1513/) - Jennifer Gehrt | A number of people have recently asked me about social media and its relation to fundraising. Some of the questions we have been asked include: How can we leverage social media to raise money for our nonprofit organization? Will our online or social media fundraising activities cannibalize our traditional fundraising activities? How do we set
- [Social Media Provides Expression of What People Want](https://www.communiquepr.com/social-media-provides-expression-of-what-people-want/1520/) - Colleen Moffitt | Businesses are using social media for a variety of communication objectives – providing customer support, sharing breaking news and offering promotional information. The power of these networks to easily and quickly gather real-time perceptions is unprecedented. Market research that used to take thousands of dollars and weeks if not months to complete, can now be
- [HARO Features a New Search Tool for Industry Awards](https://www.communiquepr.com/haro-features-a-new-search-tool-for-industry-awards/1524/) - Communiqué PR staff | Peter Shankman’s Help a Reporter Out (HARO) recently featured a new service from mBLAST called AwardSync. This free service enables award organizers to post information and publicize industry award programs. It also makes it easy for organizations and PR professionals to find awards relevant to their specific industry and vertical market. AwardSync provides information about
- [The Value of Product Demos and Why Companies Should Consider Them](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-value-of-product-demos-and-why-companies-should-consider-it/1528/) - Communiqué PR staff | So you’ve developed a great product. The funding is locked down, a marketing plan is set into gear and the product is ready to be launched into the world. Before you release your new product into the wild, you might want to consider developing a product demonstration. A demo can help a company validate and
- [New Research Highlights the Importance of Hyperlocal Networks](https://www.communiquepr.com/new-research-highlights-the-importance-of-hyperlocal-networks/1539/) - Communiqué PR staff | Did you hear about that car accident on Capitol Hill? What about the construction mess at the intersection of Pike and Pine? The new bakery that just opened around the corner? It’s not likely you’ll hear about what’s going on in your own neighborhood from your local newspaper, favorite TV news channel or radio station.
- [How to Effectively Say No](https://www.communiquepr.com/how-to-effectively-say-no/1543/) - Colleen Moffitt | In the world of professional services with today’s uncertain economic times, many people cringe at the thought of saying “no”, especially to a client or prospective client. However, there are times when saying no is exactly what needs to be said. So how does one say “no” effectively? Bud Caddell, strategy director for advertising agency
- [Wildfire Interactive Provides Easy, Customizable Facebook Campaigns](https://www.communiquepr.com/wildfire-interactive-provides-easy-customizable-facebook-campaigns/1546/) - Communiqué PR staff | Social media contests have the power to drive massive awareness and engagement for an organization. Earlier this year we blogged about the benefits these campaigns can provide both consumer and business-to-business (B2B) companies, as well as a case study about a successful Facebook campaign we launched. While we have experience developing and executing social media
- [Desktop Apps Without Installs](https://www.communiquepr.com/desktop-apps-without-installs/1553/) - Communiqué PR staff | Imagine accessing a new desktop app without having to endure the install process. We are all familiar with the numerous steps we have to take to actually run the apps we want, download the app, run the install, determine what dependencies are required (e.g. .Net, Java, Adobe AIR), install those technologies, resume install and finally
- [Innovation in Tech Industry to Fuel Recession Recovery](https://www.communiquepr.com/innovation-in-tech-industry-to-fuel-recession-recovery/1562/) - Communiqué PR staff | Last week I had the opportunity to attend IDC’s Tech Outlook 2010 conference in Seattle. Produced by analyst firm IDC, the conference series features top IDC analysts sharing their research and perspectives on key technologies, trends and opportunities for 2010. Geared towards C-level executives, marketing and sales teams, business development directors and product managers, the
- [Our Favorite Business Blogs](https://www.communiquepr.com/our-favorite-business-blogs/1566/) - Jennifer Gehrt | With small- and medium-sized business playing such a critical role in the health of our nation’s economy, it is no surprise that there are thousands of blogs aimed at helping people grow or manage their companies. However, with so many blogs written for the entrepreneur or business owner, we felt it important to highlight the
- [Learning Italian Can Be Fun and Simple For All Ages](https://www.communiquepr.com/learning-italian-can-be-fun-and-simple-for-all-ages/1572/) - Communiqué PR staff | Imparare l'italiano è divertente e può essere molto utile in età precoce. Or for our English speaking readers, learning Italian is fun and can be very beneficial at an early age. We were recently approached by Seattle-based Gemelli Press to help drive awareness and secure reviews of a new children’s book by Washington-based author Giuliana
- [Launching a Product in a New Market](https://www.communiquepr.com/launching-a-product-in-a-new-market/1579/) - Communiqué PR staff | Launching a new product in a new market is no easy feat. Oftentimes, it requires a great deal of strategic thinking and implementation of creative tactics from all levels of the company – from product development to marketing – in order to differentiate your product or service from competitive solutions on the market. On July
- [Preparing for the Broadcast Interview](https://www.communiquepr.com/preparing-for-the-broadcast-interview/1582/) - Communiqué PR staff | Broadcast interviews can be an exciting and valuable opportunity for any business. These interviews provide a vehicle for an organization to establish themselves as thought leaders in an industry or on particular topic, provide a platform to deliver key messages to a broad audience, and put a face to an organization. Broadcast interviews are very
- [The Public Relations Strategist: Interview with Charlene Li](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-public-relations-strategist-interview-with-charlene-li/1606/) - Jennifer Gehrt | I have to say I am a big fan of Charlene Li, co-author of “Groundswell” and founder of the Altimeter Group. Recently, she was named by Fortune Magazine as one of the smartest analysts in technology. However, it was an interview in The Strategist, which prompted me to order her latest book, “Open Leadership.” The
- [Jennifer Gehrt to Present to Insight Venture Partners’ Portfolio Companies](https://www.communiquepr.com/jennifer-gehrt-to-present-to-insight-venture-partners-portfolio-companies/1612/) - Colleen Moffitt | Next week, Communiqué PR’s Jennifer Gehrt (@JenGehrt) will be in New York presenting to Insight Venture Partners’ portfolio companies. Jennifer will be facilitating two sessions on using social media effectively and strategically. Jennifer will share real-world examples and case studies to illustrate the impact social media can have for organizations. Additionally, Jennifer will outline best
- [So You Made a Mistake? Now What?](https://www.communiquepr.com/so-you-made-a-mistake-now-what/1615/) - Communiqué PR staff | Mistakes. We all make them. It is part of human nature. Sometimes it’s unavoidable and other times we just overlook something. Regardless of the mistake, it is how we respond afterwards that sets us apart from one another. One of the most recently publicized mistakes comes from a company not known to make many mistakes.
- [Eliminating Barriers to Get Your Indie Game Published](https://www.communiquepr.com/eliminating-barriers-to-get-your-indie-game-published/1622/) - Colleen Moffitt | According to a recent article by Games Beat’s Dean Takahashi, the PC gaming business is estimated to hit $20 billion by 2015. Consumers looking for a quick escape or several hours of entertainment are increasingly going online to find games in place of the traditional brick and mortar retail outlet. This trend has been key
- [gdgt: A Social Platform for Gadget Lovers](https://www.communiquepr.com/gdgt-a-social-platform-for-gadget-lovers/1625/) - Communiqué PR staff | Attention all tech fans and gadget geeks! We’ve been playing around with a semi-new (launched a year ago) technology site developed by former Engadget editors Peter Rojas and Ryan Block called gdgt (or gadget). gdgt is a social platform that enables users to connect with the community through gadgets, and connect with your gadgets through
- [Old Spice Drives Editorial Coverage with Social Media](https://www.communiquepr.com/old-spice-drives-editorial-coverage-with-social-media/1631/) - Colleen Moffitt | Recently, we were asked whether activity via social media can drive media coverage. The answer is a resounding yes. While it is important to realize that not all social media activity will drive media coverage, there are times when it makes sense to bolster a viral campaign vis-à-vis traditional media. There are many ways social
- [Six Social Media Tips](https://www.communiquepr.com/six-social-media-tips/1634/) - Jennifer Gehrt | Last week I had the opportunity to present at a conference held by Insight Venture Partners in New York City. In preparation for my discussion, I began thinking about my own experience working for a start-up company and how the practice of public relations has changed in the last decade. Twelve years ago I was
- [Measuring the Value of Social Media](https://www.communiquepr.com/measuring-the-value-of-social-media/1642/) - Communiqué PR staff | We often get asked by our clients, “how can you measure the value and success of social media?” There are many tools that can track social conversations, capture data around who’s driving these conversations and measure the conversation’s influence. However, it can be a challenge to understand how this information is impacting an organization (i.e.
- [Will WikiLeaks Impact Journalism?](https://www.communiquepr.com/will-wikileaks-impact-journalism/1646/) - Communiqué PR staff | The recent leak of thousands of reports surrounding the war in Afghanistan has become the focus of much discussion over the past couple of weeks. Not only the validity of these reports and the ramifications the information could have for the government, but also how technology’s role in assisting with the release of information will
- [Facebook Aims to Help the Public Relations Industry](https://www.communiquepr.com/facebook-aims-to-help-the-public-relations-industry/1657/) - Communiqué PR staff | We talk about Twitter and its role in public relations a lot on the Communiqué blog. While we believe Twitter is a great tool and can be used to reach millions of people almost instantly, it is important not to ignore the biggest social media platform, Facebook. It not only dwarfs Twitter in the number
- [What I’ve Learned from Working at Communiqué PR](https://www.communiquepr.com/what-ive-learned-from-working-at-communique-pr/1660/) - Communiqué PR staff | It’s hard to believe that I’ve been with Communiqué for a little more than two years – it’s been a great experience and I’ve learned so much. However, on Aug. 12 I will be leaving the company to pursue new opportunities in New York City. I thought I’d take some time to reflect on what
- [Becoming Proficient in Measuring Social Media](https://www.communiquepr.com/becoming-proficient-in-measuring-social-media/1663/) - Communiqué PR staff | A few weeks ago, I wrote about two new social media measurement tools from Marketwire Sysomos that I recently tested out. While my initial thoughts and experience have been positive, it made me reflect on some of the other industry tools and resources available to help organizations measure social media’s impact and effectiveness. With social
- [Nielsen Study Says Social Networking, Online Games and E-mail Dominate Online Activities](https://www.communiquepr.com/nielsen-study-says-social-networking-online-games-and-e-mail-dominate-online-activities/1699/) - Communiqué PR staff | Remember when the first thing you did in the morning was make coffee and sit down with the daily newspaper or tuned in to your local TV news? Now it seems more and more the first thing we do in the morning is log on to our computers and check Facebook, Twitter and e-mail to
- [Ten Favorite Business Books](https://www.communiquepr.com/ten-favorite-business-books/1704/) - Jennifer Gehrt | Our blog post on the Best Small Business blogs was so popular that we decided to develop an article about favorite business books. Our survey was not scientific. It is a compilation of books we recently read and found valuable, along with recommendations from other business people and entrepreneurs. We hope if you pick up
- [Renting vs. Buying Textbooks – Which Option Really Costs Less?](https://www.communiquepr.com/renting-vs-buying-textbooks-which-option-really-costs-less/1710/) - Colleen Moffitt | A lot has changed about college since I attended the University of Puget Sound years ago. And while students today are much more digitally-focused – with e-mail, social networks, online news and more – the reality is most textbooks are not yet available as e-books. This means students will still need to search out and
- [Lessons from NPR’s Survey of Its Facebook Fans](https://www.communiquepr.com/lessons-from-nprs-survey-of-its-facebook-fans/1715/) - Jennifer Gehrt | In an effort to get to know its Facebook Fans better, NPR recently asked them to participate in a survey. The news outlet’s goal was to get to know its more than one million fans better – and the survey was overwhelmingly successful in helping it achieve this goal with more than 40,000 people participating.
- [The Resurgence of Public Relations](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-resurgence-of-public-relations/1719/) - Communiqué PR staff | Just a little over a year ago I graduated from Washington State University with a degree in public relations. While I learned a lot about the PR world and am grateful for the opportunity, not one of my classes focused on social media. Interestingly, after a quick scan of this year’s course catalog, I still
- [Mashable Tackles the Future of PR and Social Media](https://www.communiquepr.com/mashable-tackles-the-future-of-pr-and-social-media/1728/) - Communiqué PR staff | Mashable recently interviewed a group of PR professionals to discuss the future of public relations and how they see social media changing the industry. Specifically, they tackled how social media will impact “the future of the press release, the evolution of social platforms, current limitations and solutions for those impediments, connecting with other PR pros,
- [The Power of Blogs](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-power-of-blogs/1751/) - Jennifer Gehrt | Recently I came across an article on Mashable’s website entitled, “10 Tips for Corporate Blogging.” The article opens with the following statement, “In a world where small businesses with corporate blogs receive 55 percent more traffic than small businesses that don’t blog, companies should be taking note on how to improve their blogs, attract more
- [Broken Embargoes: Is the End of the Embargo in Sight?](https://www.communiquepr.com/broken-embargoes-is-the-end-of-the-embargo-in-sight/1754/) - Colleen Moffitt | This week there have been two high-profile media embargos broken causing a firestorm of tweets and finger pointing. The two embargoes included the launch of Gmail's Priority Inbox feature and Autodesk’s announcement that it will bring AutoCAD to the Mac platform. With the rise of social media and the 24/7 news cycle, it seems the
- [Are Product Reviews Still Relevant?](https://www.communiquepr.com/are-product-reviews-still-relevant/1756/) - Communiqué PR staff | Prior to the arrival of mass blogging platforms, such as Wordpress, Tumblr & Blogger, product reviews were the bread and butter of a new or updated product’s world debut. PR pros would enlist key reviewers from the most influential publications to honor an embargo, and in return, receive shiny new hardware or a snazzy software
- [Building the Buzz for a Store Opening](https://www.communiquepr.com/building-the-buzz-for-a-store-opening/1761/) - Communiqué PR staff | Communiqué PR was recently hired by Mud Bay, a provider of healthy foods, supplements and supplies for dogs and cats, to help promote its store openings on Mercer Island, Redmond and Gig Harbor. Mud Bay’s marketing objectives are to drive broad consumer awareness of these new locations as well as to build relationships with key
- [Maximize the Value of Your RSS Reader](https://www.communiquepr.com/maximize-the-value-of-your-rss-reader/1764/) - Communiqué PR staff | In an industry like ours, where we read tons and tons of articles on a daily basis, the necessity of an RSS reader outranks many other tools in our arsenal. Each morning, I start my day by opening up my reader and sifting through the many articles hoping to identify industry trends and news that
- [News Consumption Continues to Evolve Among Americans](https://www.communiquepr.com/news-consumption-continues-to-evolve-among-americans/1767/) - Colleen Moffitt | The Pew Research Center for the People & the Press released a new report yesterday about how Americans get news. I was not surprised to see the percentage of Americans that “read a newspaper” and “listened to radio news” declined during the past 10 years. Similarly, the fact that a third of Americans indicated that
- [Tools for Fundraising](https://www.communiquepr.com/tools-for-fundraising/1771/) - Jennifer Gehrt | In June 2010, I wrote about how nonprofit organizations are using social media to achieve their fundraising goals. Today, I want to expand on this topic by sharing an article on Mashable that provides a list of 10 tools that make it easier for people and organizations to raise money. I found this article to
- [Politics & Marketing Strategies – Same Game, Different Name](https://www.communiquepr.com/politics-marketing-strategies-same-game-different-name/1775/) - Communiqué PR staff | On Wednesday, I was lucky enough to get to attend a talk given by David Plouffe, President Obama’s political campaign manager and author of “The Audacity to Win.” As the visionary genius behind one of the most game-changing political campaigns in the history of this country, I went hoping to gather some tips for running
- [Social Media use Booming Among Older Adults](https://www.communiquepr.com/social-media-use-booming-among-older-adults/1778/) - Communiqué PR staff | At Communiqué we often leverage social media platforms, such as Facebook and Twitter, for our clients to reach new and existing customers. While some may believe that social media is only used by a particular age, sex or gender, new research shows that adults over the age of 50 are adopting social media at a
- [Personal Awareness in a Social Media World](https://www.communiquepr.com/personal-awareness-in-a-social-media-world/1782/) - Colleen Moffitt | By now most people on Twitter understand they should not tweet information they would not be willing to say into a microphone. There have been countless examples to illustrate how even if you don’t have a lot of followers, a tweet can reach a broad audience. In the 1990s people learned valuable lessons about communicating
- [Cloud Computing Is Here to Stay](https://www.communiquepr.com/cloud-computing-is-here-to-stay/1786/) - Communiqué PR staff | Earlier this week I attended a panel discussion called, “Piercing the Clouds: Emerging Opportunities in Cloud Computing” sponsored by the MIT Enterprise Forum. The panel featured cloud computing experts from Microsoft, Amazon, Google and Real Networks to discuss the opportunities, pitfalls and trends surrounding cloud computing. Cloud computing is defined by Wiktionary as, “Computing in
- [Link Baiting: Effective or Not?](https://www.communiquepr.com/link-baiting-effective-or-not/1789/) - Jennifer Gehrt | In the past two weeks several of our clients have asked us about link baiting, the practice of creating valuable content for one’s website that encourages people to link to it from other websites. This practice is popular with some companies and individuals because the quantity and quality of inbound links are two of the
- [Why the “New Twitter” May Have Missed the Mark for Businesses](https://www.communiquepr.com/why-the-new-twitter-may-have-missed-the-mark-for-businesses/1793/) - Communiqué PR staff | By now, most people are aware that Twitter is currently rolling out several new features, which have now been dubbed the “new Twitter.” Personally, I’m still among the unlucky few who still don’t have the new updates (Twitter is slowly rolling them out to everyone) – despite the fact that I run four Twitter accounts
- [GeoMarketing: An Effective Tool for Retail Businesses](https://www.communiquepr.com/geomarketing-an-effective-tool-for-retail-businesses/1815/) - Communiqué PR staff | With the proliferation of smartphones, location-based marketing is the latest buzzed about topic. Recently, an article in the Wall Street Journal explained how companies with retail outlets such as restaurants, retail stores and other small businesses can use location-based social networks to increase foot traffic to their storefronts. Location-based social networks, such as Facebook Places,
- [Unique Tools to Consider Adding to the PR Toolbox](https://www.communiquepr.com/unique-tools-to-consider-adding-to-the-pr-toolbox/1830/) - Communiqué PR staff | As a PR professional it can be challenging keeping up with the onslaught of tools and resources available to help uncover editorial opportunities, pitch and distribute news, measure and monitor social media campaigns and gather information on speaking and award opportunities. Beyond the HAROs and Cisions’ of the world, we thought it would be useful
- [TweetDeck Update Includes Several Small, But Useful Updates](https://www.communiquepr.com/tweetdeck-update-includes-several-small-but-useful-updates/1835/) - Communiqué PR staff | Here at Communiqué, we not only use Twitter to keep up to date on local, national and world news and trends, but to also monitor coverage and public perceptions on behalf of our clients. In order for us to keep track of everything, we needed a powerful application that could handle multiple accounts and established
- [Will AOL’s Purchase of TechCrunch Impact PR?](https://www.communiquepr.com/will-aols-purchase-of-techcrunch-impact-pr/1839/) - Communiqué PR staff | Last week’s purchase of TechCrunch, Inc. by AOL sent shockwaves through the technology industry leaving many wondering how this deal would impact the content infrastructure of TechCrunch, a leading online blogging network. According to a press release from TechCrunch, as part of the agreement TechCrunch, “will join the AOL Technology Network while retaining their editorial
- [Facebook Continues Evolving Fast and Furious](https://www.communiquepr.com/facebook-continues-evolving-fast-and-furious/1851/) - Communiqué PR staff | October 15 – Facebook has rapidly been adding and altering features over the last few months (such as updating privacy settings and as well as the photos interface), and each change has been met with a variety of supporters and naysayers. Recently, Facebook launched its new private “Facebook Groups” feature allowing users to create intimate
- [Crowdsourcing: A New Way to do Business](https://www.communiquepr.com/crowdsourcing-a-new-way-to-do-business/1854/) - Communiqué PR staff | Crowdsourcing is an emerging trend in which tasks traditionally performed by internal or professional teams are outsourced to a crowd. The term coined by Wired magazine writer Jeff Howe, owes its genesis to the trend of leveraging the possibilities of mass collaboration brought on by the growth of Web 2.0 technologies to achieve business goals.
- [Communiqué Helps Launch SoundRunner Passenger-Only Ferry Service](https://www.communiquepr.com/communique-helps-launch-soundrunner-passenger-only-ferry-service/1858/) - Communiqué PR staff | On October 18, 2010 the Port of Kingston launched a new express, passenger-only ferry service between Kingston, Wash. and downtown Seattle called SoundRunner. In order to drive awareness of the service launch, the ferry program manager reached out to Communiqué PR to enlist our help with outreach to local print, online and broadcast media to
- [The Stevie Awards](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-stevie-awards/1868/) - Jennifer Gehrt | Another one of Communiqué PR’s clients is a finalist to win a coveted Stevie Award, one of the world’s premier business awards. Sarah Carr, CEO of Earth Class Mail is a finalist for the 2010 Stevie Awards for Women in the categories of “Best Turnaround of the Year” and “Best Executive.” Founded in 2002, the
- [Five SEO Tips for Websites](https://www.communiquepr.com/five-seo-tips-for-websites/1873/) - Communiqué PR staff | A company website can be a vital tool to educate and engage current and potential customers. Customers’ first brush with a business often comes through a search on the Internet. According to data from analyst firm iProspect, “62 percent of search engine users click on results within the first page of search results and 36
- [Thoughts on Focus Groups](https://www.communiquepr.com/thoughts-on-focus-groups/1881/) - Communiqué PR staff | Recently, my colleague and I attended a focus group conducted by Hebert Research for one of our clients. The aim of the session was to get feedback on a nonprofit’s website and other marketing materials, and it was a productive event. As a result of our experience at Hebert, we thought we’d share a few
- [Celebrating the Holidays in Style at The Bravern](https://www.communiquepr.com/celebrating-the-holidays-in-style-at-the-bravern/1885/) - Communiqué PR staff | We recently started working with The Shops at the Bravern, a stylish shopping center in Bellevue that offers a wide variety of shops and restaurants such as Neiman Marcus, Karen Millen, Tory Burch and local favorites John Howie Steak and Chocopolis. Our first task was driving awareness for The Bravern’s Christmas tree lighting on Fri.,
- [To Pay a Blogger or Not to Pay a Blogger?](https://www.communiquepr.com/to-pay-a-blogger-or-not-to-pay-a-blogger/1902/) - Communiqué PR staff | A few weeks ago, while conducting blogger outreach for a client, I ran up against an interesting dilemma. Several of the bloggers I reached out to had agreed to write about my client’s event, but requested money in the form of a “sponsored post” to do so. Generally the fee was $100-150 a post, which
- [A Good Tagline Goes a Long Way](https://www.communiquepr.com/a-good-tagline-goes-a-long-way/1909/) - Communiqué PR staff | Every day on my way home from work, I drive by the same auto body shop, Collision One, and every day its sign catches my eye. It’s not because the sign is particularly flashy or that the colors are surprising – it catches my eye because I think the tagline is brilliant. The tagline reads,
- [Serials Solutions and Case Studies](https://www.communiquepr.com/case-studies-bring-to-life-the-serials-solutions-services/1916/) - Jennifer Gehrt | Case studies can be an excellent way to shape perceptions about a company’s service, software or products. For instance, consider Serials Solutions, a provider of services for more than 3,000 libraries worldwide. When I headed off to college in the late 80s, I took a typewriter not a computer. Similarly, the process of conducting research
- [The Importance of Planning](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-importance-of-planning/1921/) - Communiqué PR staff | With 2010 drawing to a close, many organizations have already mapped out their PR efforts for 2011. Planning is a critical element of PR to ensure everyone is in agreement on the upcoming year’s business and communication objectives, as well as the strategies and tactics that will be used to achieve those objectives. It can
- [Gaining a Competitive Edge as a Student: On a Case-by-Case Basis](https://www.communiquepr.com/gaining-a-competitive-edge-as-a-student-on-a-case-by-case-basis/1928/) - Communiqué PR staff | In the tightest hiring market in 70 years, college students are expected to do more than just attend lectures and pass exams; they are also expected to fill their resumes from top to bottom with the all-important internship. So how exactly does a student rise above their peers and stand out to potential employers?
- [Reflections on 2010](https://www.communiquepr.com/reflections-on-2010/1943/) - Colleen Moffitt | It has been a busy year filled with lots of change for us as well as our clients. As the calendar year comes to an end, we like to reflect on the challenges we faced, what we learned and the successes and accomplishments we achieved during the year. Some of the highlights for Communiqué PR
- [Quick Tips on How to Prepare for Any Public Speaking Event](https://www.communiquepr.com/quick-tips-on-how-to-prepare-for-any-public-speaking-event/1964/) - Communiqué PR staff | Welcome to 2011! At Communiqué PR, we are ready to put our clients’ plans into action and are evaluating which of the many industry events are the right speaking engagements for them. Each week, Mashable’s Brett Petersel shares the “100+ Upcoming Social Media & Tech Events” and it is shaping up to be another exciting
- [PR Predictions for 2011](https://www.communiquepr.com/pr-predictions-for-2011/1972/) - Communiqué PR staff | Making predictions and preparing for the future requires reflecting on the past. What changes happened in 2010 that will impact PR professionals in 2011? I recently made the transition from journalism into PR. During the four years I spent as a reporter, I watched the industry transform with a surge in social media and web-based
- [Fostering Creativity](https://www.communiquepr.com/fostering-creativity/1980/) - Jennifer Gehrt | People often ask me how we come up with creative campaign ideas for Communiqué PR clients. In new business meetings, it is a question that is of particular interest. I have to admit coming up with a novel idea or new messaging for a client is one of the most exciting parts of my work
- [Oprah’s New TV Network Opens a Wealth of Opportunity For Companies](https://www.communiquepr.com/oprahs-new-tv-network-opens-a-wealth-of-opportunity-for-companies/1987/) - Communiqué PR staff | With the launch of the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) last week, the Wall Street Journal reported that more than one million viewers tuned in for its first prime-time show airings. According to the article, more women between the ages of 25 and 54 “were watching OWN than were watching all but two other cable networks
- [The Cornerstone of Developing a New Brand: Effective Messaging](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-cornerstone-of-developing-a-new-brand-effective-messaging/1994/) - Communiqué PR staff | At Communiqué PR, we often have the opportunity to work with clients who are in the early stages of establishing their company in the marketplace. In today’s competitive environment, launching a new business and capturing customer mindshare is no easy feat. Especially considering when “the rise of business startups reached their highest level in 14
- [Mastering the Nine Second Sound Bite](https://www.communiquepr.com/mastering-the-nine-second-sound-bite/1999/) - Communiqué PR staff | Time is precious. We are a society driven by deadlines and fast paced schedules, so it’s no wonder capturing people’s attention is a difficult task. Communiqué PR recently tweeted about a NPR story titled, “The Incredible Shrinking Sound Bite.” The article explores the history behind the length of sound bites in the media. Today the
- [Cutting Through the Noise at a Tradeshow](https://www.communiquepr.com/cutting-through-the-noise-at-a-tradeshow/2002/) - Communiqué PR staff | Many companies choose industry tradeshows as the platform from which to launch new products and services, and to make significant announcements. Tradeshows are a good forum because they typically bring together key influencers, media, analysts and customers all under one roof. But what happens when a company wants to debut a new product at a
- [Marketplace Money Focuses on Social Media and Donations to Charities](https://www.communiquepr.com/marketplace-money-focuses-on-social-media-and-donations-to-charities/2009/) - Jennifer Gehrt | The other day I was listening to KUOW and heard a story about how social media is impacting donations to charities. Given our work with a variety of nonprofits and my past writing on the topic, I quickly reached over to turn up the volume on my radio. (My past blog posts include “Tools for
- [What Image Would You Choose?](https://www.communiquepr.com/what-image-would-you-choose/2013/) - Communiqué PR staff | I often wonder if the founding fathers of photography ever envisioned that imagery would be adopted on such a massive scale as it is in media today. Images are no longer reserved for use by marketers in product packaging and advertising campaigns or for use by the top-tier media outlets. Today, both still images and
- [How to Choose the Best Twitter Hashtag](https://www.communiquepr.com/how-to-choose-the-best-twitter-hashtag/2033/) - Communiqué PR staff | Many companies are now using Twitter to boost their brand awareness, connect with consumers and media, and to publicize announcements. By incorporating “hashtags” at the end of their tweets, companies can denote content that is relevant to a certain interest group. This makes it easy for interested users to find more information or join the
- [Staying Ahead of the New-Media Curve](https://www.communiquepr.com/staying-ahead-of-the-new-media-curve/2052/) - Colleen Moffitt | The media landscape is continuing to evolve and change, along with the tools available to communicators to disseminate information and engage with key audiences. It is important for us as communicators to stay up on the latest changes and ensure we are leveraging emerging tools to make certain our strategies are executed in an efficient
- [Promotions on Facebook: What You Should Know](https://www.communiquepr.com/promotions-on-facebook-what-you-should-know/2043/) - Jennifer Gehrt | Recently I had the opportunity to do some in-depth research on how to launch a promotion on Facebook to help one of our clients meet its business and communications objectives. As I was discovering the various intricacies, guidelines and best practices, I thought it would be useful to develop and share a check list that
- [Macworld Remains Strong Without Apple](https://www.communiquepr.com/macworld-remains-strong-without-apple/2064/) - Communiqué PR staff | Last week, I had the opportunity to attend Macworld 2011 in San Francisco with one of our newest clients, the Omni Group. Given this was only the second year the conference was held without Apple, there was much speculation and discussion on whether the show would be as exciting and well attended as in years
- [Tecplot and the Importance of Analyst Relations](https://www.communiquepr.com/tecplot-and-the-importance-of-analyst-relations/2070/) - Communiqué PR staff | One of our current technology clients, Tecplot, is preparing for a new product launch later this year, and we’ve been very busy developing and executing our plan. One of our first strategies was to educate the analysts in the new product’s industry, and give them a sneak preview of the new product and gather their
- [Motivation for Higher Performance: The Purpose Motive v. the Profit Motive](https://www.communiquepr.com/motivation-for-higher-performance-the-purpose-motive-v-the-profit-motive/2075/) - Communiqué PR staff | The “Purpose Motive” is a novel concept that purports that people are not motivated to perform at a higher level by money, but rather that performance is only driven by having a sense of purpose. Dan Pink, the author of four bestseller books on the changing world of business, claims the Profit Motive doesn’t work
- [Super Bowl Ads Get More Than Their :30 of Fame Through Social Media](https://www.communiquepr.com/super-bowl-ads-get-more-than-their-30-of-fame-through-social-media/2088/) - Communiqué PR staff | While America waited for the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers to kick off on Sunday afternoon for Super Bowl XLV, millions of viewers had already previewed some of the ads that were set to air during the game. Each year, the hype and buzz of the commercials shown during the Super Bowl often garner
- [What Makes a Good Story?](https://www.communiquepr.com/what-makes-a-good-story/2098/) - Communiqué PR staff | Securing media coverage is one of the most direct ways to measure success in PR, but placing a compelling story in the right publication is no easy feat. PR professionals must manage their clients’ goals and target a specific audience, while also identifying key elements that may make a newsworthy story. At Communiqué PR, we
- [How Headlines Shape Perceptions](https://www.communiquepr.com/how-headlines-shape-perceptions/2111/) - Communiqué PR staff | A headline can make or break a news story. The ultimate goal is to grab a reader’s attention – the catchier and more thought provoking the better – but, it is still essential that the headline embodies the underlying theme of the story. A good example of this is the headline of a recent
- [In Social Media, It Pays to Know Your Audience](https://www.communiquepr.com/in-social-media-it-pays-to-know-your-audience/2131/) - Communiqué PR staff | Social media is so prevalent in our society that it’s easy to take for granted the fact that different platforms may have different audiences. For example, your followers on Twitter probably don’t know you as well personally as say your Facebook friends. Similarly, LinkedIn is traditionally the place for professional interaction rather than sharing personal
- [How Communicators Can Learn From Past U.S. Presidents](https://www.communiquepr.com/how-communicators-can-learn-from-past-u-s-presidents/2140/) - Colleen Moffitt | There are frequent conversations about how communication has changed with the adoption of the Internet and more specifically social media. We have published several posts on our blog on topics related to these changes including Mastering the Nine Second Sound Bite and Staying Ahead of the New-Media Curve. And while it is true the landscape
- [Building Buzz for Stealth Mode Companies…Can It Be Done?](https://www.communiquepr.com/building-buzz-for-stealth-mode-companiescan-it-be-done/2147/) - Communiqué PR staff | A few weeks ago I read an article on TechCrunch surrounding a new stealth company called Hipster and how it has managed to gain significant traction without even unveiling what the company does. As a PR firm we work with a variety of companies in various stages, including stealth mode, so I was intrigued to
- [WTIA Celebrates Northwest Technology and Innovation](https://www.communiquepr.com/wtia-celebrates-northwest-technology-and-innovation/2154/) - Communiqué PR staff | Last night Colleen Moffitt, Jennifer Gehrt, Jeanine Dellinger and I attended the Washington Technology Industry Association’s (WTIA) Industry Achievement Awards at the Showbox SODO in Seattle. The annual event recognizes the accomplishments of companies, individuals and students within the vibrant technology community in Washington state. The finalists in categories ranging from best early-stage company and
- [Crisis Communication Lessons From Floyd Landis](https://www.communiquepr.com/crisis-communication-lessons-from-floyd-landis/2163/) - Colleen Moffitt | Earlier this year I read Paul Kimmage’s interview of Floyd Landis, a retired cyclist. I had watched Landis win the Tour de France in 2006 and followed the subsequent doping controversy, which included him being stripped of his Tour de France win. So I was interested to learn about the chronology of events and actions
- [Results for Northside](https://www.communiquepr.com/results-for-northside/2170/) - Jennifer Gehrt | One of the things I love about my job doing PR is working with companies with whom I feel a personal connection, and with the recent cold spell in Seattle, I could not be more pleased to have had the opportunity to work with management team of Triple T Trading and its Northside brand. The
- [Managing Collaboration Between U.S. and European Agencies](https://www.communiquepr.com/managing-collaboration-between-u-s-and-european-agencies/2176/) - Communiqué PR staff | When our clients announce new products or services, they also consider whether to make the announcement on a global scale or keep it to the U.S. This was especially true for one of our clients who wanted to make an announcement at the recent Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain. In order to ensure they
- [Leveraging New PR Tools: PitchEngine](https://www.communiquepr.com/leveraging-new-pr-tools-pitchengine/2183/) - Communiqué PR staff | We are all aware that the world of media is constantly changing and that it can sometimes be challenging to keep up with the latest innovative tools and resources available to us as PR professionals. We continue to work at lightning speed to not only meet our clients’ objectives but also the accelerated deadlines with
- [Be Prepared for Human Error in Social Media](https://www.communiquepr.com/be-prepared-for-human-error-in-social-media/2192/) - Communiqué PR staff | A few weeks ago, the American Red Cross – and its Twitter account, @RedCross – became the target of a number media blog posts and articles. The reason wasn’t another natural disaster response or a direct push for donations (although it did turn into a push for donations later). The attention was due to this
- [iPads, Kids and Snow – Securing Broadcast News Coverage Requires Flexibility](https://www.communiquepr.com/ipads-kids-and-snow-securing-broadcast-news-coverage-requires-flexibility/2201/) - Colleen Moffitt | Earlier this month, we visited Lewis Elementary in Portland to facilitate broadcast interviews with KATU, KPTV and KOIN. What was the exciting news that drew three stations to Lewis? The draw was the announcement of a new digital learning pilot program introducing iPads into the classroom. Reporters came to talk with students and teachers involved
- [What’s in a Message? The Strategic Foundation for Success](https://www.communiquepr.com/whats-in-a-message-the-strategic-foundation-for-success/2222/) - Colleen Moffitt | Note: I recently had the opportunity to guest blog for Zephyr 47, an integrated marketing firm based in Redmond, Wash. Zephyr 47’s founder Brian Hansford asked me to develop a post that focused on the importance of effective messaging and how organizations can build successful, strategic messages to achieve its toughest business objectives. Below is
- [Blogs: The Pillars of B2B Social Media Strategies](https://www.communiquepr.com/blogs-the-pillars-of-b2b-social-media-strategies/2242/) - Communiqué PR staff | We often get questions from our clients, particularly in the B2B space, around the value of blogging. Do people really read blogs anymore? Why invest in a blog over Twitter or Facebook? How do you launch a successful blog? The reality is that today’s businesses are driven by data, insight and engagement with their target
- [Big, Digital Changes for The New York Times](https://www.communiquepr.com/big-digital-changes-for-the-new-york-times/2258/) - Communiqué PR staff | This morning, The New York Times (NYT) announced sweeping changes to its subscription model, including some very intriguing digital options. Joining the ranks of The Wall Street Journal, the NYT will now offer limited free content online, and keep everything else available only to digital subscribers. The NYT claims this move “will strengthen our ability
- [The Rwanda Girls Initiative – How Collaboration Can Create Positive Change](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-rwanda-girls-initiative-how-collaboration-can-create-positive-change/2264/) - Communiqué PR staff | We recently had the pleasure of working with the founders of the Rwanda Girls Initiative (RGI), Suzanne Sinegal McGill and Shalisan Foster, with an announcement sharing their milestone achievement of opening the Gashora Girls Academy. Their story had all of the right elements for us to share a compelling and inspiring story with the media
- [The Long Lost Art of Phone Conversation](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-long-lost-art-of-phone-conversation/2271/) - Communiqué PR staff | Last week, I read a really interesting article in the New York Times titled, “Don’t Call Me, I Won’t Call You” by Pamela Paul. The story examines the cultural shift from using the telephone (including mobile phones) as a primary communication tool to today’s ever present preference of email and text. Paul writes, “According to
- [Public Relations, April Fools’ Day, and Fake News](https://www.communiquepr.com/public-relations-april-fools-day-and-fake-news/2278/) - Colleen Moffitt | With April Fools’ Day fast approaching, it is a good time to revisit the topic of fake news. While I look forward to Google’s annual tradition of announcing fake features and NPR’s trick segments, it is dangerous territory for PR professionals to disseminate fake news. If not executed well, an April Fools’ Day stunt can
- [Our Business is Growing. We’re Hiring!](https://www.communiquepr.com/our-business-is-growing-were-hiring/2296/) - Colleen Moffitt | We are excited to announce we are adding to the Communiqué PR team. Currently, we are recruiting for an Account Manager. The complete job description is included below for your consideration. If you are interested in being considered for the position please email your letter of interest and resume to opportunities@communiquepr.com. Communiqué Public Relations is a
- [The Future of Journalism and its Effect on Communication Strategy](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-future-of-journalism-and-its-effect-on-communication-strategy/2289/) - Communiqué PR staff | The field of communication – whether public relations, marketing or journalism – is constantly changing and morphing with the steady flow of emerging technologies. As experts in the field, we must be mindful of the trends and learn to adapt. This includes becoming savvy with new social media platforms, hip blogs and industry trends, so
- [It’s Not You. It’s Me: Breaking Up With Social Media](https://www.communiquepr.com/its-not-you-its-me-breaking-up-with-social-media/2306/) - Communiqué PR staff | Losing fans, followers or subscribers can leave a painful feeling in the pit of your stomach. Twitter and Facebook don’t offer an explanation for this. Consumers are allowed to “unlike”, unfollow or unsubscribe without reason. This leaves the author or organization asking, why? What did I do? The cliché breakup line “it’s not you, it’s
- [Changes at TechFlash](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-state-of-techflash/2312/) - Communiqué PR staff | Recently, Seattle-based TechFlash, a major source of technology news, went through dramatic changes with the departure of Todd Bishop and John Cook, the outlet’s founders and first employees. As avid followers of the media, and fans of TechFlash, we were hungry to know the type of following TechFlash has had. The information we discovered, based
- [The Importance of Quotes](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-importance-of-quotes/2320/) - Communiqué PR staff | A good quote can be the heart of a compelling article. Good quotes help to tell a story and enhance the credibility of a press release, news story or speech. Words that are crafted well can leave a lasting impact on the world. Every day I drive by a reader board on my way home
- [Great Tools to Get a Pulse on the Analyst Landscape](https://www.communiquepr.com/great-tools-to-get-a-pulse-on-the-analyst-landscape/2326/) - Communiqué PR staff | Analysts are a critical audience. They influence customers, provide endorsement to the media, and help create visibility around the category. Developing an effective analyst relations program is often one of the cornerstones of our clients’ overall PR programs. However recently, there’s been a significant amount of consolidation in the analyst arena with large firms such
- [The Power of Analogies](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-power-of-analogies/2331/) - Jennifer Gehrt | We often use analogies to help our clients tell their stories. We find the more complicated the subject matter or the more novel the concept, the more helpful it can be to use an analogy to help people grasp your ideas. An analogy is a similarity between like features of two things, on which a
- [Management Best Practices – Ideas From Google](https://www.communiquepr.com/management-best-practices-ideas-from-google/2339/) - Jennifer Gehrt | Recently, a colleague of mine sent me an article from the New York Times that is an excellent read for anyone managing or leading people. The article entitled, “Google’s Quest to Build a Better Boss” highlights how Google analyzed and identified best practices for producing highly effective managers. We thought we’d highlight the article here
- [Building Buzz in a Noisy Market](https://www.communiquepr.com/building-buzz-in-a-noisy-market/2334/) - Communiqué PR staff | Launching a product or service is no easy feat, especially when you are entering a market that has been shaped by strong, established leaders and become saturated with other emerging players. How do you cut through the noise and differentiate your organization? How do you avoid becoming a “me too” scenario? We were recently reminded
- [The Blogging Toolkit – Everything a Business Needs to Begin Blogging](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-blogging-toolkit-everything-a-business-needs-to-begin-blogging/2342/) - Communiqué PR staff | Launching a blog can seem like an overwhelming task. Getting started is half the battle. At Communiqué, we have helped several businesses and nonprofit organizations create, launch and manage their blogs. For clients looking to launch a blog for the first time, we have developed a blogging toolkit that we customize for their particular needs.
- [Our Most Popular Posts: Q1 2011](https://www.communiquepr.com/our-most-popular-posts-q1-2011/2350/) - Colleen Moffitt | The Communiqué PR team publishes new content on our blog several times a week. We strive to provide our readers with valuable information, analysis and tips relevant to today’s communicators and executives. Given the amount of information we all receive daily, we recognize you may not read each and every blog post. So we thought
- [Local Coverage of Serials Solutions](https://www.communiquepr.com/local-coverage-of-serials-solutions/2364/) - Jennifer Gehrt | Most marketers and PR professionals appreciate the importance of having access to credible information. Many college students and researchers are in the same position. They need credible, current content and want a Google- like experience when searching their libraries for it. Until just 18 months ago, accessing information in academic libraries (and some corporate libraries)
- [Sometimes Virtual Isn’t Enough](https://www.communiquepr.com/sometimes-virtual-isnt-enough/2367/) - Communiqué PR staff | With the continued rise of technology and demanding schedules, meetings are increasingly taking place via conference calls or webcams. Our team at Communiqué PR facilitates many interviews and meetings over the phone with clients, media and journalists not only in Seattle, but also around the world. And while virtual meetings allow us to cut costs
- [The Keys to Becoming an Industry Thought Leader](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-keys-to-becoming-an-industry-thought-leader/2370/) - Communiqué PR staff | Over the last two months, we’ve had the pleasure of working with Verdiem to execute a targeted media relations campaign to generate coverage in national and local business publications as well as IT and green IT vertical publications for a new product announcement. Our objective was to help Verdiem continue to establish itself as a
- [How Well Do You Know Your Social Media Policy?](https://www.communiquepr.com/how-well-do-you-know-your-social-media-policy-2/2383/) - Communiqué PR staff | With more than 500 million active users on Facebook and nearly 200 million registered accounts on Twitter (as last reported on Jan. 29, 2011 in Forbes), it is likely that your company is one of the many to have a presence on either one or both of these social media platforms. And it is even
- [Content Creation and the Marketing Department of the Future](https://www.communiquepr.com/content-creation-and-the-marketing-department-of-the-future/2387/) - Jennifer Gehrt | Jeanne Miller, communications manager with Tecplot, Inc., recently forwarded me an interesting article from BtoB magazine about how changes in the discipline of marketing are driving organizational changes. The article focuses on how business-to-business marketing teams at Intel Corp., Sybase and Xerox Corp. are “rethinking the organizational structures and even their cultures” so they can
- [Pop Culture PR Lessons](https://www.communiquepr.com/pop-culture-pr-lessons/2390/) - Communiqué PR staff | As we’ve mentioned previously on this blog, analogies often help make complex topics more digestible for a broader audience. While this normally happens more often in business-to-consumer scenarios, the same principle can be useful for learning lessons in any context. Earlier this week, Ragan’s PR Daily writer Arik Hanson posted an article about the “4
- [The Face of Your Social Media Account](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-face-of-your-social-media-account/2393/) - Communiqué PR staff | On Sunday night, we were reminded once again how prevalent social media is in today’s communications landscape and how quickly information is disseminated through platforms such as Facebook and Twitter. Prompted by President Obama’s announcement that Osama bin Laden had been killed, Twitter recorded the “highest sustained rate of Tweets ever,” an average of 3,440
- [Formalizing Your Social Media Program](https://www.communiquepr.com/formalizing-your-social-media-program/2398/) - Communiqué PR staff | So you’ve got a Facebook page, a Twitter handle and a corporate blog, now what? Many organizations have realized the value social media can bring including increased brand awareness, improved customer relationships and thought leadership. While leveraging these platforms to educate and engage with key audiences is critical, oftentimes companies have several different handles, fan
- [YouTube Tips for PR Pros](https://www.communiquepr.com/youtube-tips-for-pr-pros/2404/) - Communiqué PR staff | Mashable has a regularly occurring series on its website called “The Social PR Guide Series.” One of the most recent contributions to this series focuses on YouTube, and how PR professionals can successfully implement and manage the solution within their companies. While many companies are becoming quite savvy at using social media sites such as
- [Best Practices for Case Study Development](https://www.communiquepr.com/best-practices-for-case-study-development/2411/) - Communiqué PR staff | Often as part of our PR activities, our clients employ our help in developing case studies of successful product implementations with their products. We’ve worked closely with Toyota Motorsport and Continuum Dynamics, Inc. on behalf of Tecplot, Inc., and several prominent universities on behalf of Serials Solutions, among others. Over that time, we’ve worked our
- [Best Practices for the Successful Press Tour](https://www.communiquepr.com/best-practices-for-the-successful-press-tour/2417/) - Jennifer Gehrt | Recently I had the opportunity to conduct a press tour with one of our clients who is preparing to introduce a groundbreaking new software solution. The tour was very successful with every journalist agreeing to write one, and in some instances two, articles about the solution and its likely impact on the industry. Given this
- [To Comment or Not to Comment?](https://www.communiquepr.com/to-comment-or-not-to-comment/2423/) - Colleen Moffitt | Oftentimes after reading an article or blog post I will read through reader comments with fascination. I find the comments interesting because these may surface a different perspective or counter claims made in the original post. Sometimes the comments can be positive and add to the conversation, and sometimes the comments can turn negative. As
- [Is Your Company on Facebook?](https://www.communiquepr.com/is-your-company-on-facebook/2433/) - Communiqué PR staff | Anyone who hasn’t been hiding under a rock knows that social media is not just for consumers anymore. While many companies have jumped on the social media bandwagon, a few still have not committed just yet. For those outstanding companies, getting started on Facebook can seem like a daunting task. If you find yourself in
- [Mastering the Interview](https://www.communiquepr.com/mastering-the-interview/2441/) - Communiqué PR staff | Let’s just get the cat out of the bag. For most company executives or spokespeople, speaking with media can be a daunting task – no matter how seasoned you are. As soon as you receive the request for an interview, your mind may race wondering what will you say? What if the reporter asks a
- [The Importance of Body Language](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-importance-of-body-language/2448/) - Communiqué PR staff | Effective communicators know the importance of utilizing non-verbal communication when delivering a message. It is a critical vehicle for capturing attention and communicating. Non-verbal communication includes eye contact, posture, gestures, voice and tone quality and helps ensure that your audience receives your message effectively. Mastering non-verbal communication is essential not only in media interviews, crisis
- [PR Firms and Media: A Symbiotic Relationship](https://www.communiquepr.com/pr-firms-and-media-a-symbiotic-relationship/2455/) - Colleen Moffitt | Last week Ragan.com wrote about a new poll that revealed, among other things, PR firms are still the number one source for journalists. I anticipate other agency-side PR professionals were not surprised to see the results, which indicated 62 percent of journalists rely on PR agencies for sources. Part of our job is to build
- [PR: A Critical Success Factor for Business Leaders](https://www.communiquepr.com/pr-a-critical-success-factor-for-business-leaders/2460/) - Colleen Moffitt | Are you surprised to learn that, only 16 percent of MBA programs “offer a single course in crisis and conflict management, strategic communications, public relations” or reputation management? This week an op-ed in Bloomberg BusinessWeek made the case for change. If you haven’t read the article, “Master's of Spin: PR Belongs in B-School Studies,” I
- [Results for Tecplot](https://www.communiquepr.com/results-for-tecplot/2464/) - Communiqué PR staff | Over the past several months, we have been working closely with one of our technology clients, Tecplot, Inc., to unveil its revolutionary new product, Chorus™, to analysts, media and consumers. You may recall reading our previous blog posts in which we shared the results of our strategy including briefings with key industry analysts and best
- [Want to Boost Productivity? There’s an App for That](https://www.communiquepr.com/want-to-boost-productivity-theres-an-app-for-that/2472/) - Communiqué PR staff | You know the old adage, too much to do, too little time. Between driving the kids to school and activities, running errands and keeping up with a demanding workload, many Americans are running on fumes trying to keep up. The rise of mobile phones has certainly helped make getting things done on the run easier,
- [Why Style Matters](https://www.communiquepr.com/why-style-matters/2479/) - Jennifer Gehrt | Whenever a client has a photo-shoot for new headshots, we invariably are asked about attire and to provide counsel on what he or she should wear. It is a fair and smart question because what one wears conveys a lot about personality and individual brand. Given these questions from clients, I was eager to read
- [Determining Your Share of Voice](https://www.communiquepr.com/determining-your-share-of-voice/2490/) - Communiqué PR staff | Last week, I came across an interesting question on Dave Fleet's blog that his colleague at Edelman Rob Clark first raised, “Is Share of Voice a Useless PR Metric?” My initial reaction was that measuring a brand or company’s share of voice is still very much a valuable PR metric, especially given today’s competitive market place
- [The Value of LinkedIn vs. Other Social Media Networks](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-value-of-linkedin-vs-other-social-media-networks/2502/) - Jennifer Gehrt | In case you missed it, there was study released today by ROI Research, Inc. stating that users think it’s more important to have a LinkedIn account than any other type of network. The news got me thinking about my use of social media and what constitutes as value around social media. I agree for professional
- [Connecting With Customers through Cause Marketing](https://www.communiquepr.com/connecting-with-customers-through-cause-marketing/2506/) - Communiqué PR staff | Cause marketing campaigns can be an effective way for companies to engage with customers and encourage them to feel emotionally connected to a particular product or service. The value of these types of campaigns can not only help win new customers and build customer loyalty, but also increase awareness and sales of product. According to
- [Staying on Top of the Social Media Landscape](https://www.communiquepr.com/staying-on-top-of-the-social-media-landscape/2511/) - Colleen Moffitt | Adoption of social media platforms including Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube has been significant, and according to CMO.com it is anticipated that “CMOs will invest more in social media this year than ever before.” Earlier this year, CMO.com launched its 2nd Annual Guide to: The Social Landscape in an effort to capture the social media
- [Break Through Your Twitter Plateau](https://www.communiquepr.com/break-through-your-twitter-plateau/2514/) - Communiqué PR staff | Twitter is one of the most valued social media platforms utilized today by organizations and brands who seek to engage and interact with their target audiences. However, if you have one of the 200-plus million registered accounts on Twitter responsible for driving more than 110 million tweets per day, it can be easy to get
- [It Takes a Village: Building a New Category](https://www.communiquepr.com/it-takes-a-village-building-a-new-category/2527/) - Communiqué PR staff | When Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton released her book, “It Takes a Village: And Other Lessons Children Teach Us” in 1996, it was met with rave reviews and became a modern classic. The book centers around the impact individuals and groups outside the family have, for better or worse, on a child's well-being, and
- [Intel’s Museum of Me Marks Advancement in Creative Online Marketing](https://www.communiquepr.com/intels-museum-of-me-marks-advancement-in-creative-online-marketing/2532/) - Communiqué PR staff | Ever thought about a museum dedicated solely to you? Intel did, and found marketing and branding gold. Following the concept of LinkedIn’s more basic “Connection Timeline,” Intel recently released the “Museum of Me,” (MoM) in which the viewer is able to tour a virtual museum display dedicated to his or her life – or at
- [The Power of Infographics](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-power-of-infographics/2541/) - Communiqué PR staff | Think back to the days when you were a child learning to read. At that age, most of us gravitated toward books that primarily consisted of vibrant illustrations or photos. As a young child, it was often pictures that truly helped us understand words and stories. Now, flash forward to your adult life and you’ll
- [How to React to a Twitter Crisis](https://www.communiquepr.com/how-to-react-to-a-twitter-crisis/2548/) - Communiqué PR staff | In the Internet age, most people often act quickly and pass along information via social media, before they even verify that the information is accurate. We’ve all see the fake Amber Alerts for missing children or the faux-images that fly around Facebook and Twitter, such as the one picture to the right comparing Prince William
- [Tips for How to Search Twitter](https://www.communiquepr.com/tips-for-how-to-search-twitter/2556/) - Communiqué PR staff | Despite the fact that many people are using Twitter as an integral part of their companies’ marketing and public relations campaigns, many folks may not know why it’s important or how to best navigate the service. Computerworld came out recently with an interesting article titled, “How and why to search Twitter,” which shed some valuable
- [How to Leverage Video Blogging](https://www.communiquepr.com/how-to-leverage-video-blogging/2561/) - Communiqué PR staff | Since its inception, video blogging has gained widespread popularity. With equipment becoming more affordable, editing software more accessible, and sites like YouTube and Facebook readily available to share content, the process is easier than ever. There is a large demand for video content – YouTube gets more than two billion hits per day – and
- [Making the Most of Business Travel: Peter Shankman’s Tips](https://www.communiquepr.com/making-the-most-of-business-travel-peter-shankmans-tips/2537/) - Jennifer Gehrt | While on a press tour in May, my client and I found ourselves with about five hours of time on a Monday morning in Washington, D.C. I suggested we find a coffee shop with free Wi-Fi and catch up on work and email, but my client had another idea. He suggested we do a bit
- [Sharing Content: How to Get Noticed](https://www.communiquepr.com/sharing-content-how-to-get-noticed-4/2588/) - Communiqué PR staff | Think about the last video you watched on YouTube. Now ask yourself, how did you hear about it? Most likely, the video was shared by a friend, colleague or family member. Sharing is how we interact with those around us and create meaningful experiences. Just like a movie recommendation, we rely on those we trust
- [Managing Your Online Reputation](https://www.communiquepr.com/managing-your-online-reputation/2598/) - Communiqué PR staff | In today’s digital world where we’re constantly connecting to one another and sharing content through the Internet, social media, and mobile devices, it’s easy to forget that the content you share can be seen by unintentional viewers. Have you ever posted a Facebook picture from a night out in college or griped about a colleague
- [Did you Get the Message? How Guerilla Marketing Can Be Effective For Business](https://www.communiquepr.com/did-you-get-the-message-how-guerilla-marketing-can-be-effective-for-business/2606/) - Communiqué PR staff | “Guerilla marketing” is a way to generate buzz without instituting a hefty marketing budget. This method is oftentimes effective because it is attention-grabbing and easy to understand. Arguably one of the most famous guerilla marketing campaigns is the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile. The enormous hotdog-shaped car makes its way across the nation drawing attention from children
- [Measuring ROI in Social Media](https://www.communiquepr.com/measuring-roi-in-social-media/2611/) - Communiqué PR staff | Measurement is one of the most important activities in PR. If you can’t measure success, then how do you prove the value that PR can add? Measuring the reach and impact of traditional media can be tricky all on its own. While you may land a story in the front page of The New York
- [Making the Most of Your Email Signature](https://www.communiquepr.com/making-the-most-of-your-email-signature/2616/) - Colleen Moffitt | When was the last time you gave thought to your email signature? The other day I was searching for a specific email from a colleague to find an attached document. After sorting my emails by attachments, I quickly realized that every email from that individual showed as one with an attachment as he included an
- [Tweeting as a Brand: Do’s, Don’ts and Companies Worth Learning From](https://www.communiquepr.com/tweeting-as-a-brand-dos-donts-and-companies-worth-learning-from/2619/) - Communiqué PR staff | For many businesses today, creating a Twitter account is an imperative. According to Media Bistro.com, there are more than 300 million user accounts, so it’s not surprising that Twitter is an increasingly critical communication platform to drive sales, manage customer service and directly engage with consumers while presenting an open, authentic form of communication with
- [A Lion’s Share of Media](https://www.communiquepr.com/a-lions-share-of-media/2624/) - Communiqué PR staff | In case you missed the buzz around town earlier this month, more than 15,000 members of Lions Clubs International (LCI) convened in Seattle for its 94th International Convention, one of the world’s largest annual conventions of its kind. It was the first time the annual convention was held in the Pacific Northwest, and specific to
- [Announcing the eBook Release of Strategic Public Relations: 10 Principles to Harness the Power of PR](https://www.communiquepr.com/announcing-the-ebook-release-of-strategic-public-relations-10-principles-to-harness-the-power-of-pr/2632/) - Colleen Moffitt | We are excited to announce the arrival of our popular book, Strategic Public Relations: 10 Principles to Harness the Power of PR, into eBook format for several major providers. The book, co-authored by Colleen Moffitt and Jennifer Gehrt, co-founders of Communiqué PR, is currently available thru Amazon and Barnes & Noble priced at $4.99 and
- [Guerrilla Video: Win or Waste?](https://www.communiquepr.com/guerrilla-video-win-or-waste/2642/) - Colleen Moffitt | It is hard to predict which videos will become an internet hit. Many marketers try to develop videos they think will go viral – and focus a lot of time on the quality of the video. However, oftentimes the videos that go viral are not those with the slickest production quality, but the ones with
- [Invite Only: Google+](https://www.communiquepr.com/invite-only-google/2646/) - Communiqué PR staff | With the recent launch of Google+, everyone is speculating how this new social media “project” will fit within the overall landscape dominated by well-established players such as Facebook and Twitter. Are we really ready to adopt yet another new platform? And what is this new platform exactly? One answer currently prevails: Only time will tell.
- [What Not To Do in Crisis Communication](https://www.communiquepr.com/what-not-to-do-in-crisis-communication/2650/) - Communiqué PR staff | By now, everyone is aware of the News Corporation hacking scandal unfolding in England. Amidst the coverage, I came across an article from Forbes’ writer Robert Wynne who posted an interesting take on the scandal from a “what not to do” PR scenario. The article titled, “News Corp Hacks Public Relations Efforts,” outlined several PR
- [Transparency: How Much is Too Much?](https://www.communiquepr.com/transparency-how-much-is-too-much/2653/) - Communiqué PR staff | As a PR professional, I consider transparency to be one of the most important principles of my job. As a rule of thumb, I tell myself and my clients that if you wouldn’t want your statement or actions popping up in an Internet search result, then you probably shouldn’t be saying or doing it. We’ve
- [Lessons Learned in Social Media From a Reality TV Show?](https://www.communiquepr.com/lessons-learned-in-social-media-from-a-reality-tv-show/2663/) - Communiqué PR staff | Earlier this year, NBC debuted a new singing competition, The Voice, which at first glance seemed similar to FOX’s American Idol. Talented young performers all looking for their big break in the music industry by performing in front of celebrity judges or “coaches,” as The Voice coins them, including Christina Aguilera, Cee Lo Green, Adam
- [Better Understanding Complex Sales Situations](https://www.communiquepr.com/better-understanding-complex-sales-situations/2667/) - Jennifer Gehrt | If you work in public relations or marketing then you are likely to be playing an indirect role on driving sales for your organization. Or perhaps you’re a PR person trying to motivate your company to engage in more activities. In either case you may want to have a better understanding of the sales process.
- [Mitch Joel’s Keynote Speech on Shifting Paradigms Within PR/ Customer Service](https://www.communiquepr.com/mitch-joels-keynote-speech-on-shifting-paradigms-within-pr-customer-service/2637/) - Communiqué PR staff | This past April in Boston, Radian 6 hosted its Social 2011 User Conference. Designed for those who oversee and implement social media programs, the conference welcomed several distinguished keynote speakers, including Mitch Joel, the current president of Twist Image and New York Times’ bestselling author of the book Six Pixels of Separation. Joel delivered a
- [Facebook Tips for Companies: Archiving Live Chats](https://www.communiquepr.com/facebook-tips-for-companies-archiving-live-chats/2678/) - Communiqué PR staff | A client recently approached us about archiving Facebook chats in order to further engage their audience. Many companies find Facebook chats are an excellent way to maintain contact with their consumer base. Providing archives of these conversations is a helpful way to allow continued viewing of, and participation with these conversations. We did a little
- [What Does Your “About Us” Page Communicate?](https://www.communiquepr.com/what-does-your-about-us-page-communicate/2682/) - Communiqué PR staff | The “About Us” page is one of the most important pages – and often most visited – on any company’s website. For most businesses, the messaging is first created at the early stages of the website’s design and most likely has not been reviewed since. However, while you may not be paying attention to it,
- [How to Give a Good Phone Interview With Media](https://www.communiquepr.com/how-to-give-a-good-phone-interview-with-media/2689/) - Communiqué PR staff | In a world where your work force might be spread around the globe, being an effective communicator via email and phone is imperative. Though we use the phone to communicate daily with co-workers, clients and friends or family, we use a different set of principles and guidelines than are needed for a phone interview. Chances
- [Promoting Fashion in the Great Northwest](https://www.communiquepr.com/promoting-fashion-in-the-great-northwest/2685/) - Colleen Moffitt | Late last year, Communiqué PR started working with The Shops at The Bravern, an open-air retail shopping center in Bellevue, Wash. Since that time, we have focused on building awareness of The Bravern both with consumers and the broader shopping industry. We have had the opportunity to promote a variety of events and work with
- [Rovio's Angry Birds Find Happiness on SwaddleDesigns Baby Products](https://www.communiquepr.com/rovios-angry-birds-find-happiness-on-swaddledesigns-baby-products/2695/) - Communiqué PR staff | What do Rovio’s Angry Birds, one of the world's hottest and most popular entertainment and media brands, have in common with SwaddleDesigns®, an award-winning, Seattle-based baby product company? Beyond the common characteristics of loving and protecting their offspring, SwaddleDesigns and Rovio recently announced their definitive agreement granting SwaddleDesigns licensing and merchandising rights to produce Angry
- [Should Every Business Invest in Social Media?](https://www.communiquepr.com/should-every-business-invest-in-social-media/2707/) - Communiqué PR staff | A couple months ago I came across a really interesting read in The New York Times that posed a thought provoking question: should every business invest in social media? My initial reaction was, of course! While the level of investment should definitely vary depending on an organization’s size, goals, and about a million other variables,
- [Leadership in Public Relations & Marketing](https://www.communiquepr.com/leadership-in-public-relations-marketing/2711/) - Jennifer Gehrt | Several weeks ago I was perusing the Puget Sound Business Journal and came across an article by Lynn Parker titled, “How to lead effectively and not just manage.” The headline immediately caught my attention, and as I read the article, which was orientated toward people running small businesses, I could not help but think how
- [How to Increase the SEO of Your Twitter Account](https://www.communiquepr.com/how-to-increase-the-seo-of-your-twitter-account/2716/) - Communiqué PR staff | There are many uses for social media sites such as Twitter, and regardless of your objectives, gaining influence, followers and social connections will help you get there. Rarely does an organization create a Twitter account with no hope of being found or followed. One of the key ways to have your Twitter handle found and
- [Executive Leadership Transitions and Achieving Coverage](https://www.communiquepr.com/executive-leadership-transitions-and-achieving-coverage/2722/) - Communiqué PR staff | Changes in executive leadership can be an exciting time for a company. Change often signals a continuation of momentum or the start of a new direction. These announcements are also interesting to media, who get to know executives in their given industries over time through numerous briefings and product announcements. Recently, Opscode, the leader in
- [Results for RPI: “Customizing” Key Messages and PR Plan to Announce a Strategic Company Acquisition](https://www.communiquepr.com/results-for-rpi-customizing-key-messages-and-pr-plan-to-announce-a-strategic-company-acquisition/2726/) - Communiqué PR staff | We recently started working with RPI, Inc., a leader in make-on-demand private label personalized products, such as photo books, greeting cards and stationery products, for mass and specialty retailers. As we began our engagement, it was fascinating to learn more about mass customization (the ability for a consumer to tailor a product’s appearance, features or
- [Social Media and Election Campaigns](https://www.communiquepr.com/social-media-and-election-campaigns/2729/) - Communiqué PR staff | Remember what life was like before we had cell phones? It’s hard to recall what we did without the constant ability to connect with people and more recently, the persistent ability to connect to information with the increase in smartphones. Social media is another innovation that’s fast becoming an engrained part of both our personal
- [Standing Out in a Crowd: Marketing Lessons From Groupon](https://www.communiquepr.com/standing-out-in-a-crowd-marketing-lessons-from-groupon/2736/) - Communiqué PR staff | Groupon, like many start-ups of the 21st century, began with a unique idea. Its success came from distributing this idea using relevant technology, maintaining customer service, and consistently growing and developing its outreach. However, as with any well executed venture, other like-minded companies have begun saturating the market, leaving Groupon in a predicament that often
- [The Council of PR Firms Code of Ethics](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-council-of-pr-firms-code-of-ethics/2743/) - Jennifer Gehrt | A couple of months ago I participated in a survey by the Council of PR Firms, which included a question about business ethics. It got me thinking about the topic and the importance of business ethics in our professional lives. According to Wikipedia, “Business ethics (also known as corporate ethics) is a form of applied
- [We're Adding to the Communiqué PR Team!](https://www.communiquepr.com/were-adding-to-the-communique-pr-team/2752/) - Communiqué PR staff | We are excited to announce we are adding to the Communiqué PR team. Currently, we are recruiting for a Senior Account Executive and an Account Manager. The complete job descriptions are included below for your consideration. If you are interested in being considered for either position, please email your letter of interest and resume to opportunities@communiquepr.com.
- [Leveraging Social Media for Fundraising: Our Presentation to WSCAP](https://www.communiquepr.com/leveraging-social-media-for-fundraising-our-presentation-to-wscap/2798/) - Jennifer Gehrt | In today’s world, organizations both large and small are all forced to do more with less. However, for nonprofit organizations that are already under constant pressure to run a lean operation, increase efficiencies and keep costs low, the need to raise money is a constant. The agencies that comprise Washington State Community Action Partnership (WSCAP)
- [Fashion’s Night Out at The Bravern 2011](https://www.communiquepr.com/fashions-night-out-at-the-bravern-2011/2809/) - Colleen Moffitt | Once again The Bravern was the place to be to celebrate Fashion’s Night Out (FNO) in the Pacific Northwest. The gorgeous weather and sunset were the perfect backdrop for the event. People mingled outside on the patios enjoying music and drinks as they visited various shops and attended the fashion shows at Neiman Marcus and
- [Maintaining Your Social Media Presence During Transitions](https://www.communiquepr.com/maintaining-your-social-media-presence-during-transitions/2871/) - Communiqué PR staff | By Joni Kirk Social media has exploded over the last several years. Companies are using Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube as well as other platforms and tools to connect with customers, employees, stakeholders and the public. With this explosion comes the simultaneous development of best practices for social media. But one aspect of social media
- [Credit Card Processing Options for Nonprofit Organizations](https://www.communiquepr.com/credit-card-processing-options-for-nonprofit-organizations/2878/) - Jennifer Gehrt | When Molly McWhinnie and I were speaking last week to the group with the Washington State Community Action Partnership, we were asked for recommendations on credit card processing for those who want enable online donations on their nonprofit organization’s website. Since we have not had much experience with this, we decided to take our question
- [Netflix’s Launch of Qwikster: A Good Reminder for Developing Effective Messaging](https://www.communiquepr.com/netflixs-launch-of-qwikster-a-good-reminder-for-developing-effective-messaging/2888/) - Communiqué PR staff | With the recent headlines around the Netflix/Qwikster PR blunder, we are reminded once again the importance of developing effective messaging when communicating to key influencers – particularly consumers. Whether you are announcing a change in your business model, introducing a new product or an update to an existing service, effective messaging allows organizations to articulate
- [Five Tips for Asking for Feedback](https://www.communiquepr.com/five-tips-for-asking-for-feedback/2902/) - Jennifer Gehrt | Part of delivering excellent client service is to solicit feedback. But this can be tricky. How do you set the stage or get busy managers, directors or VPs to take a few minutes to tell you how you’re doing? I have found this five-step process to be very helpful in effectively soliciting specific feedback so
- [Building Teams Based on Talent, Not Skill](https://www.communiquepr.com/building-teams-based-on-talent-not-skill/2916/) - Communiqué PR staff | Teamwork. Some people love that word. Others despise it. Regardless, teams are a part of life. As an employee, your individual success will in part depend on your ability to exist as part of a team. As a manager, the success of your department, work group or organization is a function of how well you
- [Subject Lines That Are Sexy](https://www.communiquepr.com/subject-lines-that-are-sexy/2925/) - Communiqué PR staff | Half of the battle of pitching is getting a reporter to open your email. Now-a-days like many industries reporters are doing more with less. That means less time available, they need the information fast and efficiently. Before coming to Communiqué PR, I was a reporter at a small TV station and managing my inbox was
- [The Spam Stops Here](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-spam-stops-here/2955/) - Communiqué PR staff | With the invention of email, reporters got the proverbial short end of the stick. They are targets of many organizations who want to share information that may be of interest to the reporters and their audiences. Unfortunately, this means that reporter inboxes are filled each day with mail that they need to sort through for
- [Back to the Basics: Building Relationships With Media](https://www.communiquepr.com/back-to-the-basics-building-relationships-with-media/2972/) - Communiqué PR staff | It’s no secret that social media has drastically changed the PR landscape and how PR professionals engage with media. Twitter, Facebook and other social media services can provide great vehicles for connecting with journalists. However, with the social media trend generating so much online chatter and shifting at a rapid pace, it’s important to not
- [Road Trip to Spokane: MarCom and Strategic Public Relations](https://www.communiquepr.com/road-trip-to-spokane-marcom-and-strategic-public-relations/2980/) - Jennifer Gehrt | Last Friday, Colleen Moffitt and I had the opportunity to speak to the members of the Spokane MarCom Association about the importance of strategic public relations. The journey to Spokane was one we will never forget. We began our descent into the city only to have our landing aborted, turning us back to Seattle due
- [Fundraising With Social Media: Causes.com](https://www.communiquepr.com/fundraising-with-social-media-causes-com/3016/) - Communiqué PR staff | I’m checked in at Starbucks, video chatting with my uncle in England, scanning pictures from this week’s Seahawks game and rescuing dogs from Hurricane Irene all at the same time from my Facebook account. What’s next, Facebook – foot rubs? While Facebook may not be coming out with foot rubs anytime soon, one thing that
- [The New Facebook - How Do You Communicate Change Effectively?](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-new-facebook-how-do-you-communicate-change-effectively/3029/) - Communiqué PR staff | Most people have a problem with change and I am no exception. So when I logged into Facebook a few weeks ago, I was sent into a panic as once again another change was made to my trusty social networking site. As I scanned over my newsfeed, post after post was complaining about the new
- [Driving Awareness on the Issues of Dwarfism With Seattle Children’s Hospital](https://www.communiquepr.com/driving-awareness-on-the-issues-of-dwarfism-with-seattle-childrens-hospital/3060/) - Communiqué PR staff | Did you know that approximately one in every 15,000 children is born with dwarfism, also known as skeletal dysplasia? And that 80 percent of those children have average-height parents? Neither did I. To raise awareness around this condition and to change perceptions of those individuals with dwarfism, Seattle Children’s, Little People of America’s (LPA) Puget
- [Amanda Knox and the Double-Edged Media](https://www.communiquepr.com/amanda-knox-and-the-double-edged-media/3068/) - Communiqué PR staff | Amanda Knox was just a name I’d see periodically in the news. I knew this woman had been convicted of killing her British roommate while studying abroad in Italy. But then, an appeal of her conviction was raised and I started to pay attention. Something had changed – and whatever it was had grabbed my
- [Dealing with Subtle, and Sometimes Not So Subtle Snark](https://www.communiquepr.com/dealing-with-subtle-and-sometimes-not-so-subtle-snark/3079/) - Colleen Moffitt | I’ll admit it. When I drive the kids’ carpool or overhear interactions during “play dates,” there are times I feel conflicted. One child makes a subtle statement or comment that seems to take aim at another child’s perceived weakness. It is these subtle jabs that I struggle with – do I jump in or let
- [Four Tips Gleaned From Analysis of Political Debates](https://www.communiquepr.com/four-tips-gleaned-from-analysis-of-political-debates/3092/) - Jennifer Gehrt | In the past we have written about the importance of body language, but the topic came to my attention again during the eighth Republican presidential debate, and the subsequent analysis of that debate, when Mitt Romney and Rick Perry got into a heated exchange. Ann Gerhart with the Washington Post wrote a wonderful article about
- [For Better or Worse: The Power of Social Media Mobs](https://www.communiquepr.com/for-better-or-worse-the-power-of-social-media-mobs/3096/) - Communiqué PR staff | By now, we’re all aware of the benefits of social media. We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: Social media is a powerful tool to connect with your target audiences, increase brand recognition and convey key messages. If you’re strategic and willing to make the time and resource investment, you can build a
- [Tips for Pitching the Media Through Social Media](https://www.communiquepr.com/tips-for-pitching-the-media-through-social-media/3115/) - Communiqué PR staff | In the age-old tussle between public relations practitioners and the media, pitches take considerable heat. In fact, a blog is devoted to bad pitches. Previously, I worked for a large organization in a small town. The local newspaper wanted story ideas – it just wouldn’t accept ideas that came directly from the organization's communications office;
- [New Features on LinkedIn for Companies](https://www.communiquepr.com/new-features-on-linkedin-for-companies/3141/) - Communiqué PR staff | I can still hear my former professor repeating to the class, “Connections, connections, connections.” Though my classmates occasionally grew tired of this advice for starting a successful career, I certainly benefitted from the repetition. What I learned from my professor is that one of the most valuable tools when seeking and maintaining a career is,
- [Building Online Communities: Lessons from Seattle Children’s](https://www.communiquepr.com/building-online-communities-lessons-from-seattle-childrens/3156/) - Jennifer Gehrt | Last week I had the opportunity to hear Jennifer Seymour, director of content strategy and integration with Seattle Children’s Hospital, and Cory Badger, vice president of corporate and strategic business development with Regence Blue Shield, speak over lunch at the Puget Sound American Marketing Association Healthcare Special Interest Group (SIG). Both presentations were informative. Since
- [Ten Proofreading Tips to Avoid Embarrassing Errors](https://www.communiquepr.com/ten-proofreading-tips-to-avoid-embarrassing-errors/3180/) - Communiqué PR staff | We’re all human and very rarely does anyone produce an article, press release, internal communication plan or any other form of written work free of errors right out of the gate. This is why the review process is critical. At CPR, we make it a best practice to have other team members review important materials
- [The CEO’s Vital Role in Public Relations](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-ceos-vital-role-in-public-relations/3189/) - Jennifer Gehrt | If you are the CEO of a company large or small, you undoubtedly are busy thinking about myriad issues ranging from customer satisfaction, trends surrounding revenue growth, and alignment of resources, to recruiting, innovation, establishing direction and external changes, to name a few. In the midst of all of this, it is easy to forget
- [Seattle Startup Playmark, Scores Big with NFL Players Partnership](https://www.communiquepr.com/seattle-startup-playmark-scores-big-with-nfl-players-partnership/3198/) - Communiqué PR staff | Playmark, a Seattle-based startup, recently signed an exclusive partnership with the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) to bring businesses and entrepreneurs unprecedented access to the official rights to NFL players. This innovative and unique partnership makes it possible for thousands of app and game developers, independent artists, agencies and businesses of all sizes to gain immediate
- [Captivating Copy: How to Make Your Writing Pop](https://www.communiquepr.com/captivating-copy-how-to-make-your-writing-pop/3207/) - Communiqué PR staff | There are some topics that are easy to write about, the words flow naturally, provide depth and result in compelling content. And then there are other topics that present more of a challenge and the interesting aspects are harder to extract. So just how do you extract those gems that will make the difference between
- [“Good is the Enemy of Great”](https://www.communiquepr.com/good-is-the-enemy-of-great/3211/) - Colleen Moffitt | Recently I revisited Jim Collins’ book “Good to Great.” The book focuses on why some companies are able to attain extraordinary results while others are not. Collins and his team of researchers identified “good-to-great” companies (i.e. companies that leap from good results to great results and sustained those results for at least fifteen years), as
- [Five Tips for Pitching the Media During the Holidays](https://www.communiquepr.com/five-tips-for-pitching-the-media-during-the-holidays/3215/) - Communiqué PR staff | For non-retailers, business slows down during the holidays as offices close and people take vacations. For the media, however, news never stops. Reporters are on a never-ending hunt for news even during the holidays. To strengthen your media relationships and garner some media attention for your company or clients during the holidays, we suggest these
- [Using Video to Communicate to the Masses](https://www.communiquepr.com/using-video-to-communicate-to-the-masses/3227/) - Communiqué PR staff | With today’s expansive digital media landscape, information is published and consumed faster than ever before. In order to capture the attention and mindshare of your key target audiences, it has become even more important to utilize rich, multimedia assets to accompany your traditional press materials. And while the infographic has become increasingly popular to convey
- [Tips on How to Maintain Control of Your Media Interview](https://www.communiquepr.com/tips-on-how-to-maintain-control-of-your-media-interview/3234/) - Communiqué PR staff | Last month, an NFL player with the New York Jets made the headlines, but unfortunately it wasn’t in the sports section of the Sunday newspaper. Instead, Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis’ heated argument, and abrupt ending, to an interview with New York City radio host Mike Francesa made headlines on countless sports blogs and PR industry
- [The New York Times Makes a Bold Move to Increase Reader Engagement](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-new-york-times-makes-a-bold-move-to-increase-reader-engagement/3245/) - Communiqué PR staff | Last week, The New York Times announced that the publication was making a change to its reader comment policy. Perhaps the most significant change is that the new policy will give readers the ability to become a “trusted commenter,” by allowing them to bypass the moderating process and post comments on the website at will. According
- [8 Tips for Managing a LinkedIn Group](https://www.communiquepr.com/8-tips-for-managing-a-linkedin-group/3305/) - Communiqué PR staff | LinkedIn has quickly become a hotbed for professional networking. With more than 100 million users, the site continues to add value to business professionals by offering a variety of ways to increase engagement and boost brand presence. For example, we recently wrote about its new features that allow users to follow companies and give companies
- [Profanity: Are You Pandering to Provocation?](https://www.communiquepr.com/profanity-are-you-pandering-to-provocation/3325/) - Communiqué PR staff | Profanity is always a touchy subject. We’ve all seen examples of explicit and inappropriate remarks in society, but when is it actually considered suitable for writing? I recently read an article on Daily Writing Tips about using profanity in different types of writing, and took the question to my friend and literary agent, Kevan Lyon.
- [Key Elements of a Crisis Communication Plan](https://www.communiquepr.com/key-elements-of-a-crisis-communication-plan/3369/) - Communiqué PR staff | At the end of every year, media outlets and blogs around the world curate powerful image galleries or compose stories that cause us to pause and reflect back on the year’s top events and headlines. From turmoil in the global economy and tragic natural disasters that hit Japan and Missouri, to global uprisings like the
- [Google Earns a +1 for Google+ Brand Pages](https://www.communiquepr.com/google-earns-a-1-for-google-brand-pages/3402/) - Communiqué PR staff | How long would it take for your organization to obtain 40 million customers for a new product? For Google+, it took less than six months. And while comparatively adoption of the Google+ brand pages for organizations is relatively slow, the potential for such a page to significantly impact your organization is considerably high. We’ve included
- [The Power of Being Wrong & Making Mistakes](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-power-of-being-wrong-making-mistakes/3384/) - Jennifer Gehrt | On my way to lunch in early December, I happened to catch Kathryn Schulz on KUOW’s The Conversation talking about her new book, Being Wrong: Adventures in the Margin and Error, and the value of being wrong and making mistakes. It caught my ear because in public relations, we strive to be mistake-free. In addition
- [Problematic Punctuation](https://www.communiquepr.com/problematic-punctuation/3418/) - Communiqué PR staff | Punctuation has a definite and important place in writing. When used improperly it can change the meaning of a sentence and drive your readers crazy. As communication professionals, we need to pay particular attention to punctuation as we strive to deliver clear and concise messages. See the image on the left. It seems this person
- [PR Trends for 2012](https://www.communiquepr.com/pr-trends-for-2012/3695/) - Communiqué PR staff | PR Trends for 2012 As we get ready to ring in the new year, it is a good time to look at the emerging trends in public relations for 2012. As PR professionals, we strive to examine upcoming trends and tailor our recommendations to maximize results for our clients. While evaluating potential trends for 2012,
- [A Look Back at 2011](https://www.communiquepr.com/a-look-back-at-2011/3436/) - Communiqué PR staff | It’s typically quiet the week between Christmas and New Year’s, offering us time to reflect on the past year as well as plan for the coming one. For us, 2011 was a busy year – with many successes and numerous milestones. Before we jump into 2012, here are some of our significant 2011 highlights, for
- [Three Reasons to Contribute Company-Neutral Editorial](https://www.communiquepr.com/three-reasons-to-contribute-company-neutral-editorial/3454/) - Communiqué PR staff | You’ve finally found the perfect editorial opportunity at your target publication – one that allows you to write the article. You spend time crafting a stellar pitch and send it off to the appropriate editor. You’re excited when the editor responds – that is until you read the email. “Thank you for your note. We
- [Visual Storytelling](https://www.communiquepr.com/visual-storytelling/3470/) - Communiqué PR staff | You’ve heard the old adage: A picture is worth a thousand words. In PR, this saying still rings true when it comes to storytelling. Visual assets can make your message memorable, bring complex data to life and draw more attention to the most important parts of your story, as we explained in our post about
- [Brand Awareness & Adoption: How Much Time Does It Take?](https://www.communiquepr.com/brand-awareness-adoption-how-much-time-does-it-take/3479/) - Colleen Moffitt | If you have had the opportunity to launch a new product or service, you know that creating a brand presence in a consumer’s mind takes time. How long it takes is different for every brand. Brand building takes time because you often have to change the prospect’s mind about an old brand and get them
- [The Rise of Pinterest: Can It Benefit Businesses?](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-rise-of-pinterest-can-it-benefit-businesses/3493/) - Communiqué PR staff | As communication professionals, it is our job to be savvy with the latest trends in social media. Beyond Twitter, Facebook and Foursquare, there are new social networking sites that are drawing a great deal of interest. Pinterest, a virtual bulletin board to share and organize images, is rapidly becoming one of the hottest social networking
- [Doing Well By Doing Good – Strategic Corporate Social Responsibility](https://www.communiquepr.com/doing-well-by-doing-good-strategic-corporate-social-responsibility/3498/) - Communiqué PR staff | There’s a lot being said about corporate social responsibility (CSR) and what companies are doing in the realm of corporate citizenship, philanthropy and social innovation. Today, as activist groups and the media increasingly hold companies accountable for their social actions, CSR has emerged as a key priority for business leaders. However, in order to be
- [Tips for Developing a Customer Survey](https://www.communiquepr.com/tips-for-developing-a-customer-survey/3505/) - Communiqué PR staff | Today’s marketing communication professionals have a plethora of tools they can use to connect with current and prospective customers. Whether it is engaging in a strategic social media or PR campaign, hosting webinars or speaking engagements, or pursuing traditional marketing tactics, companies are often evaluating what the right marketing mix is to effectively reach their
- [SOPA, PIPA and PR](https://www.communiquepr.com/sopa-pipa-and-pr/3511/) - Communiqué PR staff | On Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2012, the online world rose up against legislation being reviewed by Congress: the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and the Protect Intellectual Property Act (PIPA). While everyone agrees preventing piracy and protecting IP are noble goals, Internet powerhouses like Wikipedia, Wired, Google and 60,000 other websites censored their homepages in what
- [Learning From the Best: Top Brands Engage Fans With Google+ Hangouts](https://www.communiquepr.com/learning-from-the-best-top-brands-engage-fans-with-google-hangouts/3521/) - Communiqué PR staff | Not many social media tools enable a Syrian native living in America with his newborn baby to virtually see his family for the first time in 18 years. It’s now possible using Google+ and its new app “Hangouts,” a powerful way to connect people around the world using live multi-way video chats among up to
- [Our Client-Service Ethic](https://www.communiquepr.com/our-client-service-ethic/3551/) - Jennifer Gehrt | Recently I have been reflecting on Communiqué PR’s standard of practice and our philosophy around client service. Colleen Moffitt and I feel passionately about the topic and how we apply these standards. Here is how we describe our client-service ethic: 1. First and foremost, it means having a client-centered perspective, acknowledging the clients’ needs and
- [Five Common Email Mistakes](https://www.communiquepr.com/five-common-email-mistakes/3548/) - Communiqué PR staff | Email is a primary form of communication for many professionals. What once was a casual correspondence now serves as the primary means for many people to share information. At Communiqué PR, we ensure we are developing clear messages when communicating over email. To do this, we recommend having someone else review your note. Having another
- [The Importance of Awards](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-importance-of-awards/3558/) - Communiqué PR staff | Every February, I gear up to watch each and every major film nominated for an Academy Award. I fully trust these films will impress and entertain me because of the credibility bestowed by their nominations. They are, by the simple virtue of their selection, deemed to be the best. Everyone may not necessarily agree, but
- [Macworld Innovates to Embrace iOS](https://www.communiquepr.com/macworld-innovates-to-embrace-ios/3569/) - Communiqué PR staff | Last week, I had the opportunity to attend Macworld|iWorld 2012 on behalf our client the Omni Group, a leading developer of productivity applications made exclusively for Mac OS X, iPhone and iPad. There was much to see during the show from gymnasts jumping on trampolines to showcase Polk Audio’s UltraFit sports headphones to the Silent
- [Lessons Learned from Susan G. Komen and Planned Parenthood Debate](https://www.communiquepr.com/lessons-learned-from-susan-g-komen-and-planned-parenthood-debate/3586/) - Communiqué PR staff | Last week, Susan G. Komen’s decision to cut breast-screening grants to Planned Parenthood dominated the headlines across countless media outlets and conversations in the world of social media. The story was first reported by the Associated Press on Tuesday, Jan. 31, highlighting that Komen would cease funding under new eligibility rules that precludes grants to
- [Facebook Actions and the New World of Apps](https://www.communiquepr.com/facebook-actions-and-the-new-world-of-apps/3593/) - Communiqué PR staff | It started with Sponsored Stories early last year and now, Facebook continues to encourage user activity and promoted content with the recently announced new Timeline apps. These Timeline apps allow users to broadcast their daily activities, such as “cooking,” “hiking,” and “knitting,” moving beyond the traditional “like,” “read,” “watch” and “listen” buttons. These actions are chronicled through the
- [Chrysler's Super Bowl Controversy](https://www.communiquepr.com/chryslers-super-bowl-controversy/3608/) - Communiqué PR staff | Did you catch Chrysler’s commercial featuring Clint Eastwood during last Sunday’s Super Bowl? More than 100 million people tuned in to watch the commercials. What makes this Clint Eastwood spot significant over the other commercials is the amount of buzz and media coverage it has received since its airing. In case you missed it, the
- [NBA Basketball Just Might Return to Seattle](https://www.communiquepr.com/nba-basketball-just-might-return-to-seattle/3614/) - Communiqué PR staff | Ever since the Seattle Sonics left for Oklahoma City four seasons ago, the community has held hope that someday we might have another NBA team. As it turns out, we might actually be close to having a team in town as soon as next fall. The city of Seattle’s mayor’s office has quietly been in
- [The Purpose of Measurement](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-purpose-of-measurement/3618/) - Communiqué PR staff | I recently read the book "How to Measure Anything," by Douglas W. Hubbard. As the title infers, the book makes the bold assertion that anything can be measured. In the context of public relations, measurement is significant. On the Communiqué PR blog, we have addressed topics such as Measuring the Value of PR, Measuring ROI
- [The PR Balancing Act](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-pr-balancing-act/3636/) - Communiqué PR staff | Forbes.com posted an interesting article the other day titled, “How NOT to do public relations: An interview with Peter Shankman.” Peter is a former PR practitioner and founder of Help A Reporter Out (HARO), an online service connecting journalists with PR people. In the Q&A, Peter and contributor Jennifer Leggio discuss the relationship between PR
- [Forget CoTweet: Come Home to Roost](https://www.communiquepr.com/forget-cotweet-come-home-to-roost/3641/) - Communiqué PR staff | Exact Target, the company behind one of the web’s most popular Twitter management tools, CoTweet, announced last month that they will no longer be offering their free service. Instead, they will be offering SocialEngage, an enterprise-ready, premium social media management solution that comes at a high price. While SocialEngage sounds great, many of the clients
- [Why the “Product Perspective” is the Smart Perspective](https://www.communiquepr.com/why-the-product-perspective-is-the-smart-perspective/3647/) - Communiqué PR staff | We all have certain products we are loyal to: a type of gum, a particular kind of soap, or even a specific brand of electronics. Think of Apple for example: many people own the brand’s laptops, phones and tablets. Although we rarely think about it, there is something about our favorite products and brands that
- [How Would You Define Public Relations?](https://www.communiquepr.com/how-would-you-define-public-relations/3655/) - Communiqué PR staff | Over the past several months, communication professionals and practitioners in the public relations industry have been buzzing about a new campaign designed to redefine a specific industry: our very own. In November 2011, the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), the PR industry’s largest organization, launched in international campaign called “Public Relations Defined” to modernize
- [U.S. News & World Report: “Public Relations Specialist” the No. 1 Creative Services Job in 2012](https://www.communiquepr.com/u-s-news-world-report-public-relations-specialist-the-number-one-creative-services-job-in-2012/3662/) - Communiqué PR staff | This just in! U.S. News & World Report recently released its "Best Jobs of 2012" list, which is based on the Labor Department’s employment projections surrounding professions that should be abundantly hiring over the next several years. Given this forecast, I made a stellar choice in my career path as “public relations specialist” tops the
- [Core Values of Communiqué Public Relations](https://www.communiquepr.com/core-values-of-communique-public-relations/3680/) - Communiqué PR staff | Our vision at Communiqué is to provide compelling, effective and results-driven public relations services that succeed on multiple levels for our clients. Guiding us in our work is a set of simple yet dynamic core values. These values provide a beacon by which we live and conduct our business, a basis for our actions, and
- [The Latest in Brand Marketing From LinkedIn](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-latest-in-brand-marketing-from-linkedin/3690/) - Communiqué PR staff | LinkedIn recently announced the addition of a new “Follow Company” button to its social networking site. I’m a big fan of LinkedIn and, in fact, a few of us at Communiqué PR have written about it over the last several months. With 150 million members and greater than two million member companies, it’s evident that
- [How the 84th Academy Awards Exhibited Strategic PR for the Movie Industry](https://www.communiquepr.com/how-the-84th-academy-awards-exhibited-strategic-pr-for-the-movie-industry/3698/) - Communiqué PR staff | There seemed to be a recurring theme during the recent Academy Awards: get people back in movie theater seats. The annual awards show highlighted the magic of the movie-going experience and attempted to reinvigorate excitement in the audience around movie-theater attendance. This was no coincidence for the Academy, as it seemed to be a direct
- [Lessons From the Canlis Brothers](https://www.communiquepr.com/lessons-from-the-canlis-brothers/3733/) - Communiqué PR staff | “You don’t sell yourself. You are yourself.” With that statement, Mark Canlis, of the renowned Canlis restaurant, summed up his establishment’s marketing strategy. The Canlis brothers, Mark and Brian, spoke at February’s Puget Sound chapter of the American Marketing Association (PSAMA) lunch, covering their experiences in marketing, public relations, and brand management strategy. The restaurant
- [Creating Blogs to Captivate Your Readers](https://www.communiquepr.com/creating-blogs-to-captivate-your-readers/3743/) - Communiqué PR staff | In the world of social media, blogs have become an important medium to share your company stories beyond a traditional press release, allowing you to promote your company’s services as well as your perspective on relevant industry topics. In addition, blogs allow you to gain valuable feedback from your customers as they write comments on
- [Making the Most of Your Conference](https://www.communiquepr.com/making-the-most-of-your-conference/3751/) - Communiqué PR staff | Exhibiting at a conference can be a great opportunity for companies to get in front of potential customers, media and fans. I recently had my first experience at an industry conference with one of our clients at Macworld. Our client was an exhibitor and we took the opportunity to set up media interviews to touch
- [Collaboration](https://www.communiquepr.com/collaboration/3672/) - Jennifer Gehrt | Lately we have been thinking about and redefining our corporate values, and one of them surrounds collaboration. At Communiqué PR, we highly value collaborative relationships with our clients, co-workers and business partners. Given we place a premium on collaboration, I decided to do some reading about what it means, why it is important, and how
- [Reinventing the Social Media Policy: Gap’s Refreshing Approach](https://www.communiquepr.com/reinventing-the-social-media-policy-gaps-refreshing-approach/3756/) - Communiqué PR staff | Today, it’s a rare occasion to find companies that aren’t harnessing the power of social media. However, even though your company may not yet have a formal presence on social media platforms, it’s extremely likely that you and the majority of your colleagues and employees are active on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, or all of
- [Planning an April Fools’ Day Spoof Announcement? Think It Through …](https://www.communiquepr.com/planning-an-april-fools-day-spoof-announcement-think-it-through/3766/) - Colleen Moffitt | Every year we see both witty and wacky April Fools’ Day joke announcements and fake news. And among those spoof announcements, there are those that go over well among consumers and others that go sideways. Before committing to an April Fools’ Day PR stunt consider how it could backfire. It’s all fun and games until
- [Presentations That Impress](https://www.communiquepr.com/presentations-that-impress/3776/) - Communiqué PR staff | Sweaty palms, shaking hands, squeaky voice -- if this is what happens to you during a presentation, you are not alone. Many people get nervous when presenting in front of large groups of people. One way to feel at ease during a presentation is to control your content and make sure your presentation will dazzle,
- [Keeping Track of Your Brand: Solutions for Budgets of All Sizes](https://www.communiquepr.com/keeping-track-of-your-brand-solutions-for-budgets-of-all-sizes/3781/) - Communiqué PR staff | Proactively sharing news and speaking with reporters is what most people think of when they think about public relations, but monitoring mentions of your brand in coverage and social media channels is a key part of being a PR professional. Tracking results in coverage and social media can help you evaluate the success of a
- [There Are No Little Things](https://www.communiquepr.com/there-are-no-little-things/3722/) - Communiqué PR staff | We all have something we think we’re good at – our work, parenting, a hobby, driving – but how do we really know if we’re achieving our best? Professionally, there are the external rewards, of course – a client landed, promotion, a deal closed, a bonus earned – but do these things truly reflect our
- [Creating an Authentic Presence on Social Media](https://www.communiquepr.com/creating-an-authentic-presence-on-social-media/3804/) - Communiqué PR staff | Over the past several weeks, I have been working with a client to redefine her company’s social media presence and engagement across its Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube channels. While the company has been actively sharing content on these platforms for more than two years, it wants to amplify its presence to drive
- [Tips for Creating Fanfare on Facebook](https://www.communiquepr.com/tips-for-creating-fanfare-on-facebook/3817/) - Communiqué PR staff | Many companies are leveraging Facebook as a fun, interactive way to engage customers and increase brand loyalty. Given there are currently more than 845 million active users on Facebook, it’s likely that you’re reaching customers through a platform where they’re already highly active, which creates a low barrier to entry and provides an easy way
- [Fun Tools to Create An Infographic](https://www.communiquepr.com/fun-tools-to-create-an-infographic/3826/) - Communiqué PR staff | With so much content and information being shared on the Internet today, visuals are regularly used to captivate and engage readers beyond the written word. In addition, the speed at which information is now being shared is reshaping how we absorb media. For example, take the rise of Pinterest, the online scrapbook of images which
- [Smartsheet: A Collaboration Tool for PR Teams](https://www.communiquepr.com/smartsheet-a-collaboration-tool-for-pr-teams/3837/) - Communiqué PR staff | As many PR professionals and marketers may agree, the ability to prioritize multiple assignments and stay on track with a myriad of projects requires strong organizational skills. Recently at Communiqué PR, we started utilizing Smartsheet.com for our project management needs and to facilitate online collaboration. Introduced by the Bellevue-based company in 2006, Smartsheet.com is an
- [Before You Hop on the Bandwagon: Questions to Ask Before Co-Branding](https://www.communiquepr.com/before-you-hop-on-the-bandwagon-questions-to-ask-before-co-branding/3858/) - Communiqué PR staff | As a marketing professional, it can be tempting to hop on the bandwagon of popular trends or memes that are hot with consumers. For example, because of the wild popularity of the release of the Hunger Games movie, a popular nail polish brand named China Glaze released the “Capitol Colors” line of polishes. A new
- [Recommended Reading: Jonah Lehrer’s Book on Creativity](https://www.communiquepr.com/recommended-reading-jonah-lehrers-book-on-creativity/3865/) - Jennifer Gehrt | For those who regularly follow our blog, you know that one of my favorite topics is creativity. I have a personal interest in learning about creativity and how to foster it. So it was with enthusiasm, that I listened to an NPR interview with Jonah Lehrer, the author of a new book entitled, Imagine: How
- [Speaking With Spark](https://www.communiquepr.com/speaking-with-spark/3881/) - Communiqué PR staff | Public speaking is a skill that every business professional should master. No matter if you are presenting to your company, pitching a new business or giving a keynote speech, you want your audience engaged and you want to persuade them of your message. We’ve previously written about the importance of body language when delivering a
- [The Why and How of Deleting Your Facebook Page](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-why-and-how-of-deleting-your-facebook-page/3822/) - Communiqué PR staff | Two months ago, I did the unthinkable for a college student: deactivated my Facebook account. I am not shunning the social network because I don’t like it, as several young people recently discussed in The New York Times. And I am not going offline because there is anything particularly incriminating on my Facebook page.
- [The Lost Art of Conversation](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-lost-art-of-conversation/3886/) - Colleen Moffitt | When I was growing up, my parents were professionals dedicated to building their careers; however, when they came home they were no longer directly connected to the office through technology. Their passion for their work translated then into discussions during and after dinner. These conversations were interactive and inclusive of everyone at the table. My
- [Ground Rules for Harnessing the Power of Pinterest](https://www.communiquepr.com/ground-rules-for-harnessing-the-power-of-pinterest/3896/) - Communiqué PR staff | Earlier this year, we wrote about the rise of Pinterest and its potential for benefitting businesses. We discussed its ability to help businesses drive traffic to their sites, provide a platform for deeper customer engagement, and showcase new products and services in unique ways. Since then, as we predicted, Pinterest has grown like wildfire. In
- [Honda’s Pinterest Campaign Encourages Pinners to “Take a Break”](https://www.communiquepr.com/hondas-pinterest-campaign-encourages-pinners-to-take-a-break/3909/) - Communiqué PR staff | In just a matter of two years since its beta launch in March 2010, Pinterest has become one of the top ranking social networking sites today. Just last month, Experian Hitwise reported Pinterest is the third largest social network in the U.S., surpassing LinkedIn. As consumers continue to flock to the site in droves, so
- [Considering a Career in PR? Six Traits PR Firms Look for in New Hires](https://www.communiquepr.com/considering-a-career-in-pr-six-traits-pr-firms-look-for-in-new-hires/3929/) - Communiqué PR staff | The flowers are blooming and the days are getting longer, and that can only mean one thing: college graduation and summer internships are right around the corner. For students studying communications, public relations is a great field in which to work, but there are some things you should keep in mind when it comes to
- [Five Best Practices Surrounding Messaging Workshops](https://www.communiquepr.com/five-best-practices-surrounding-messaging-workshops/3936/) - Jennifer Gehrt | Earlier this week, we facilitated a two-hour messaging workshop for a new Communiqué PR technology client. The goal was to discuss the company’s mission and vision, as well as hone in on its value proposition and distill that information into several compelling key messages. The messaging workshop was a big success and it got me
- [Is This News?](https://www.communiquepr.com/is-this-news/3947/) - Communiqué PR staff | A common challenge in PR is working with clients to determine if their story is newsworthy. News organizations are often bombarded with pitches and press releases that have no hope of seeing print. As PR professionals it is our job to work with our clients to determine what the news elements are. For example, a
- [Looking to Spice up a Presentation? Try Prezi!](https://www.communiquepr.com/looking-to-spice-up-a-presentation-try-prezi/3919/) - Communiqué PR staff | Here at Communiqué PR, we are enthusiastic about staying on top of current ”tools of the trade” that enhance communication. That’s why the new cloud-based presentation software, Prezi, caught our eye. Since learning about the tool, I have noticed multiple presentations in the format, and have even seen LinkedIn profiles boasting to be “Prezi experts.”
- [Working Yourself Out of a Job – The Right Way](https://www.communiquepr.com/working-yourself-out-of-a-job-the-right-way/3960/) - Colleen Moffitt | We never want to lose a client. However, there is at least one situation in which losing a client is cause for celebration. At Communiqué PR we focus on helping our clients leverage PR in order to achieve their business objectives. Sometimes those business objectives involve selling the company, and by successfully positioning a company for
- [The Lowdown on Bylines: Four Rules of Thumb](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-lowdown-on-bylines-four-rules-of-thumb/3969/) - Communiqué PR staff | One of our favorite projects to work on for clients here at Communiqué PR is landing byline articles. Byline articles elevate thought leadership by highlighting content experts, and they also help our clients put themselves in a reporter’s shoes. Over the past few months, Communiqué PR has helped our clients garner coverage through byline articles.
- [PR for Mobile Apps](https://www.communiquepr.com/pr-for-mobile-apps/3976/) - Communiqué PR staff | Driving awareness, word of mouth and downloads for new mobile phone apps is no small endeavor. The number of mobile app innovations have exploded since Apple’s release of the iPhone, as evidenced by the more than 500,000 apps ready to be downloaded at Apple’s online App Store. This infiltration of mobile phone apps had the
- [Recommended Reading: The Power of Habit](https://www.communiquepr.com/recommended-reading-the-power-of-habit/3986/) - Jennifer Gehrt | Many situations occur in business repetitively and we often build processes around those activities. For instance, when hiring new employees, many companies and managers have an onboarding process they routinely follow. Similarly, when preparing for a new business meeting, we at Communiqué PR have outlined a process which we typically follow. The book The Power
- [It’s Who You Know](https://www.communiquepr.com/its-who-you-know/3997/) - Communiqué PR staff | It’s no secret that sometimes the key to landing a job, a story, an interview or a client can be because you know somebody. But this should not be looked at negatively; fostering good relationships with media and in the business world is a smart and strategic move. In communications, building relationships is essential. It’s
- [The Art of Writing Testimonials](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-art-of-writing-testimonials/4008/) - Communiqué PR staff | Here at Communiqué PR, we believe strongly in the value of testimonials. Client or customer testimonials are an excellent way to validate a product or solution. Not only do they offer credibility for your service, but they provide real life examples of how a technology works. A well written testimonial shows potential customers how a
- [Building a Trusted Brand: Five Values From the Pros](https://www.communiquepr.com/building-a-trusted-brand-five-vales-from-the-pros/4027/) - Communiqué PR staff | What do Coca-Cola, Apple, FedEx, Target, Amazon and Southwest Airlines all have in common (besides being incredibly successful companies)? According to Entrepreneur magazine, they are examples of the top 10 most trusted brands in America. In its April 2012 cover story, Secrets of the 10 Most-Trusted Brands, Entrepreneur partnered with The Values Institute, a Virginia-based
- [RPI Helps Retailers Innovate With Mass Customization](https://www.communiquepr.com/rpi-helps-retailers-innovate-with-mass-customization/4045/) - Communiqué PR staff | Recently, Communiqué PR had the pleasure of helping our client RPI, a leader in make-on-demand private label personalized photo books, greeting cards and stationery products for mass and specialty retailers, unveil an innovative technology platform at the 2012 National Stationery Show in New York. RPI’s new personalization storefront offers personalized print products made by RPI and
- [Freshening Up Your Resume](https://www.communiquepr.com/freshening-up-your-resume/4053/) - Communiqué PR staff | It’s graduation season, and that means one thing: new job hopefuls searching for their first “real job.” While networking and interviewing skills are important, the first step to almost every position is a resume. In fact, this is the one aspect of job applications that you can totally control. Heading out into the job market
- [Keep Calm and PR On: Tips for Keeping Your Cool From Google](https://www.communiquepr.com/keep-calm-and-pr-on-tips-for-keeping-your-cool-from-google/4062/) - Communiqué PR staff | Google has a position called the “Chief Happiness Officer,” a title that sounds pretty enticing to me. The man behind the title is Chade-Meng Tan, who was an engineer with Google when it was still a nimble start-up company. Over the years, he has learned a lot about working in a stressful, deadline-driven environment, and
- [Four Ways Instagram Can Lead a Small Business to Success](https://www.communiquepr.com/four-ways-instagram-can-lead-a-small-business-to-success/4070/) - Communiqué PR staff | When Instagram was first launched in the fall of 2010, nobody could have predicted its enormous success. Despite its simple concept, Instagram gained a total of 14 million users in its very short lifespan, and was sold to Facebook in April 2012 for $1 billion. The free app allows users to snap, edit and post
- [Five Key Differences Between Working at Large PR Agencies and Boutique PR Firms](https://www.communiquepr.com/five-key-differences-between-working-at-large-pr-agencies-and-boutique-pr-firms/4085/) - Communiqué PR staff | As a recent addition to the Communiqué PR staff, I thought my first post here would be well-suited to cover the differences in PR agency culture when transitioning from a large agency to a boutique firm. I experienced a minor culture shock when making the switch, but I’m quickly assimilating and loving the change! I’ve
- [Weaving Together Moving Parts: OmniPlan for iPad Launch](https://www.communiquepr.com/weaving-together-moving-parts-omniplan-for-ipad-launch/4102/) - Communiqué PR staff | Executing on a successful launch requires careful planning and integrating a lot of moving parts. By leveraging a variety of platforms and creating a rolling thunder type of buzz, a product launch will likely make more of a splash than simply distributing a press release. Recently, we partnered with the Omni Group to launch OmniPlan
- [6 Collaborative Tools for the Office](https://www.communiquepr.com/6-collaborative-tools-for-the-office/4094/) - Communiqué PR staff | Here at Communique PR, we know that collaboration is key. In fact, collaboration is one of the Core Values of Communique PR. Collaboration and team work are essential to a successful office environment, and there are a few great technology solutions out there to help make office collaboration seamless and efficient. At Communique, we love
- [Building (and Maintaining) a Sense of Passion in Small Business Settings](https://www.communiquepr.com/building-and-maintaining-a-sense-of-passion-in-small-business-settings-2/4114/) - Communiqué PR staff | The CEO and founder of OtterBox, Curt Richards, recently posted a byline article for Inc. Magazine about maintaining workforce passion in a small business. Since many of our clients are start-up companies that are growing, and as a small-but-growing business ourselves, we thought we would share a few of Curt’s key findings to ensure that
- [Three Guidelines to Establish Your Personal Brand](https://www.communiquepr.com/three-guidelines-to-establish-your-personal-brand/4140/) - Communiqué PR staff | As PR pros, we’re invariably asked by clients to help them establish, protect and/or enhance their brands, but how often do we pause to ensure our personal brands receive the same treatment? Personal brands can help garner new business, pique the interest of new talent for recruiting purposes and even land you a new job.
- [Four Tips to Maximize your LinkedIn Profile](https://www.communiquepr.com/four-tips-to-maximize-your-linkedin-profile-2/4156/) - Communiqué PR staff | Today, there are many different social media sites available. So what makes LinkedIn more appealing to professionals? Having just recently joined the one hundred million other users, I wanted to learn more about the site and discover the advantages LinkedIn offers to working professionals over other social media sites. In addition, after reading Jennifer’s blog
- [The Power of Goal Setting](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-power-of-goal-setting/4090/) - Communiqué PR staff | Struggling to keep employees motivated and passionate? Caught up in the humdrum of daily life? Consider trying goal setting, in the office or in your personal life! Goal setting is beneficial to both personal and professional management. Setting goals, and displaying them, is both motivating and a reminder of the bigger picture. Additionally, it is
- [Think Before You Tweet: Twitter Don’ts That Can Damage Your Brand](https://www.communiquepr.com/think-before-you-tweet-twitter-donts-that-can-damage-your-brand/4171/) - Communiqué PR staff | It might sound like a tip from an overprotective mother, but once you post something on the Internet, it becomes public and it is hard to undo. I’ve heard adults pass this knowledge along to teens that live and breathe in a virtual world, posting every feeling or rant to Facebook or Twitter. There have
- [My Summer Experience at CPR](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-cpr-working-environment/4198/) - Communiqué PR staff | As a new intern at Communiqué PR, I showed up on my first day having no idea what it would be like to work for a small PR firm. I knew very little about what my responsibilities would include, and even less about the people who worked here. But I am happy to say that
- [Best Practices for Company Pages on LinkedIn](https://www.communiquepr.com/best-practices-for-company-pages-on-linkedin/4208/) - Communiqué PR staff | A LinkedIn Company Page is important for multiple reasons. It is a place for a business to share its story and present the company image to potential customers. It gives the company an opportunity to advertise its products or services externally while also helping to showcase internal connections. Therefore, it is important that this page
- [The Importance of Setting Expectations](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-importance-of-setting-expectations/4213/) - Communiqué PR staff | As communications professionals, we at Communiqué PR don’t always like surprises. But no matter how much planning and preparation we do for a client, we’re bound to encounter a surprise or two. A product announcement just leaked before launch? A competitor publically dinged a client’s solution? A story got bumped, or our client’s quote wasn’t
- [Looking Beyond a Press Release](https://www.communiquepr.com/looking-beyond-a-press-release/4233/) - Communiqué PR staff | The way people receive news is changing and so is the way that we, as communications professionals, distribute news. At Communiqué PR we are often asked by our clients to develop a press release for product announcements, awards and openings. However, this is not always the most effective way – in terms of time, money
- [The Value of Quarterly Reviews](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-value-of-quarterly-reviews/4241/) - Communiqué PR staff | Many businesses question the value of quarterly review meetings, considering the cost and time required for preparation and execution that could have been spent elsewhere. But experts agree that businesses that invest in quarterly reviews have a greater chance of meeting their goals and succeeding in the marketplace. According to a Harvard Business Review blog
- [Competency-Based Development](https://www.communiquepr.com/competency-based-development/4251/) - Jennifer Gehrt | Who isn’t striving to get better in some area of his/her professional or personal life? If you or someone on your team has a development need or simply a desire for continuous improvement, I have a book recommendation for you. It is FYI For Your Improvement, a guide for development and coaching. In its fourth
- [Seven Ways to Ace That Public Relations Agency Interview](https://www.communiquepr.com/seven-ways-to-ace-that-public-relations-agency-interview/4259/) - Communiqué PR staff | While talking with professionals seeking employment at Communiqué PR, we meet a variety of candidates with different levels of experience. And sometimes we find ourselves impressed with candidates who present themselves well during the interview process. If you’re curious about the traits of successful job candidates, we’ve compiled a few tips for PR professionals seeking
- [The Secret Sauce of Viral Videos](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-secret-sauce-of-viral-videos/4267/) - Communiqué PR staff | I hear it all too often and, to be honest, I’ve been guilty of it as well: “Let’s create a viral video to drive buzz, raise awareness, etc., etc.” Sounds like a great strategy, but the truth is you can’t really create a viral video. In reality, all you can do is create the video
- [Getting Things Done in a Collaborative Environment](https://www.communiquepr.com/getting-things-done-in-a-collaborative-environment/4274/) - Communiqué PR staff | “Can you review this document?” “What do you think about this word choice?” “Let’s brainstorm on this project for a minute!” These phrases probably sound familiar. In a collaborative work environment, one that many businesses aspire to create, interruptions can be the norm. While there can be merits to interruptions – a needed mental break,
- [Mobidia’s Inside Scoop on Smartphone Data Usage](https://www.communiquepr.com/mobidias-inside-scoop-on-smartphone-data-usage/4294/) - Communiqué PR staff | The functionality of cellphones has shifted dramatically over the past few years. Today, people are accessing vast amounts of information, updating their social media profiles, watching videos and playing games all from their mobile phones. As convenient (and fun) as this may be, it comes with a price tag. Most cellphone providers have a limit
- [Email Overload: How to Cope and Regain Control](https://www.communiquepr.com/email-overload-how-to-cope-and-regain-control/4325/) - Communiqué PR staff | Managing your work day, from task lists to time management to email, is all a personal preference. Everyone has their own style and it is essential to find what works best for you to work most efficiently. I recently looked at my inbox and realized that it was distracting me -- I wasn’t being as
- [Avoiding Plagiarism](https://www.communiquepr.com/avoiding-plagiarism/4352/) - Jennifer Gehrt | Earlier this week I was chatting with one of my colleagues about Time magazine’s suspension of respected writer and CNN TV host Fareed Zakaria for plagiarism. It got me thinking about the topic and I decided it might be helpful to offer a reminder of what plagiarism is as well as tips on how to
- [How to Delegate Effectively](https://www.communiquepr.com/how-to-delegate-effectively/4371/) - Communiqué PR staff | As a manager, or those seeking to grow into a managerial role, it’s a requirement that you delegate work to a strong team so you can focus on other important aspects of your role or business. It frees up your time, but also allows your team members to feel productive, grow their skills and add
- [How Not to Land Your Pitch in a Reporter’s Trash Bin](https://www.communiquepr.com/how-not-to-land-your-pitch-in-a-reporters-trash-bin/4389/) - Communiqué PR staff | There’s no question that the PR industry is evolving at a rapid pace. With the social and digital media boom, PR professionals are quickly developing new and innovative ways to engage target audiences, increase brand awareness, and positively influence the bottom line. However, while the industry evolves to incorporate strategies not known 10 years ago
- [Tying to Relevant Technology Trends](https://www.communiquepr.com/tying-to-relevant-technology-trends/4400/) - Communiqué PR staff | The success of reaching out to media with a story idea is largely dependent on what you can offer the journalist in terms of a story angle, interviews and visuals. You have to have something newsworthy to share. However, if you are able to tie to an industry trend and offer an interesting perspective, this
- [How to Become One of PRWeek’s Rising Stars: The 40 Under 40 List](https://www.communiquepr.com/how-to-become-one-of-prweeks-rising-stars-the-40-under-40-list/4406/) - Communiqué PR staff | Many of us in the PR profession know that August is a time to celebrate some of the best and brightest talent in the PR world. Specifically, August marks the time when PRWeek releases its prestigious 40 Under 40 list, which recognizes standout PR professionals from both agency and in-house roles. According to Steve Barrett,
- [Rwanda Girls Initiative’s Back to School Celebration](https://www.communiquepr.com/rwanda-girls-initiatives-back-to-school-celebration/4412/) - Jennifer Gehrt | Last night, the Communiqué PR team attended a “back to school” celebration in support of the Rwanda Girls Initiative (RGI), a not-for-profit organization formed with the goal of opening a girls’ secondary school in Rwanda. The school is now open, in its third academic year, and its first class will graduate on October 4, 2013.
- [Making Use of LinkedIn Applications](https://www.communiquepr.com/making-use-of-linkedin-applications/4430/) - Communiqué PR staff | Here at Communiqué PR, we are huge fans of LinkedIn. Although not an end-all resource, it is hugely helpful for recruiting, staying up to date with contacts, and maintaining your personal and business’ online brand. LinkedIn is most effective when updated frequently, as it is an easy tool that lets colleagues know what you are
- [Seven Habits of Highly Effective Writers](https://www.communiquepr.com/seven-habits-of-highly-effective-writers/4437/) - Communiqué PR staff | Ragan’s PR Daily recently published an article by Daphne Gray-Grant who is a writing and editing coach and author of 8½ Steps to Writing Faster, Better. I thought the article titled, “Seven Habits of Highly Effective Writers” was a gem, and completely spot on. It’s no secret that as a PR professional, exceptional writing skills
- [Boost or Bust Your Brand](https://www.communiquepr.com/boost-or-bust-your-brand/4443/) - Communiqué PR staff | At Communiqué PR, we have the opportunity to work with companies at all stages of growth. From Facebook to Opscode to Attachmate to The Bravern, our client list has presented us with many opportunities to watch a company evolve and grow. With start-ups, we are often brought in at a time when messaging is constantly
- [Overcoming Writer’s Block](https://www.communiquepr.com/overcoming-writers-block/4474/) - Communiqué PR staff | As PR professionals, we are tasked with selling our client’s story to target media and influentials. We must convince them our client has something interesting to say that their readers would be interested in knowing. As such, one of the most critical skills in PR is the ability to write well. Not just the mechanics
- [Think There’s a Market for Your Small Business Abroad? Check out These U.S. Government Resources](https://www.communiquepr.com/think-theres-a-market-for-your-small-business-abroad-check-out-these-u-s-government-resources/4502/) - Communiqué PR staff | Here at Communique, we love working with start-ups and small businesses. We are familiar with the creative and collaborative mindsets of both work environments, which make phenomenal settings for innovation and professional development. However, it can be daunting for both start-ups and small businesses to expand, especially into foreign markets—even if there is an ideal
- [Using the Power of Pinterest to Pump Up Your Press Release](https://www.communiquepr.com/using-the-power-of-pinterest-to-pump-up-your-press-release/4539/) - Communiqué PR staff | At Communiqué PR we are always trying to stay current on the latest social media and PR trends, and how they can benefit our clients. I recently came across an article on Ragan.com titled, “How Pinterest can boost your press release results” (by Carrie Morgan, September 21, 2012.) The article presented interesting ways that Pinterest
- [Blog Posts vs. Press Releases](https://www.communiquepr.com/blog-posts-vs-press-releases/4560/) - Communiqué PR staff | When a company has news, the most common request we hear from clients is to distribute a press release announcing the newest product, customer or award win. But prepare yourself for a radical idea: A press release isn’t always the best way to communicate your company’s news. My colleague, Holly, recently wrote about using targeted
- [Resolution at Last: NFL and Refs Reach a Deal, But What’s the PR Damage?](https://www.communiquepr.com/resolution-at-last-nfl-and-refs-reach-a-deal-but-whats-the-pr-damage/4590/) - Communiqué PR staff | As a faithful Seattle Seahawks fan, a win is a win in my book. However, after Monday night’s football game against the Green Bay Packers, others may not share my sentiment. For those who didn’t catch the game or for those who may have been living under a rock the past week and avoided every
- [Best Practices for Managing an Online Reputation](https://www.communiquepr.com/best-practices-for-managing-an-online-reputation/4597/) - Communiqué PR staff | More and more consumers are making decisions based on reviews from online sites like Angie’s List and Yelp. In a perfect world, every customer would be a happy customer. Unfortunately, it is usually the disgruntled customer who chooses to leave a nasty review that can leave a brand feeling tarnished. In fact, eight out of
- [Corporate Blogging Best Practices from PRNewswire](https://www.communiquepr.com/corporate-blogging-best-practices-from-prnewswire/4610/) - Communiqué PR staff | Having a corporate blog can be a huge resource for driving traffic to your company’s website, building out your business, and garnering media coverage. However, with so many competing platforms and styles of blogging, it can be difficult to determine what is best for your business. I recently attended PRNewswire’s webinar “ Corporate Blogging Best
- [The Great Debate: Know Your Spokesperson’s Strengths and Weaknesses](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-great-debate-know-your-spokespersons-strengths-and-weaknesses/4617/) - Communiqué PR staff | All eyes were on the presidential debate this week in Denver. But prior to the big debate, both parties were busy preparing for possible scenarios and anticipating questions, hoping to shine. In any speaking platform, preparation is key and I thought it might be helpful to look at how each candidate prepared and the takeaways
- [Five Facebook Tips for Social Media Managers](https://www.communiquepr.com/5-facebook-tips-for-social-media-managers/4629/) - Communiqué PR staff | For brands hoping to engage consumers and maintain a consistent social media presence, a Facebook page can be an effective tool. Despite debates over what a Facebook “like” is actually worth, or whether the company is here to stay, Facebook provides an excellent resource for sharing content, engaging with fans, and telling your brand’s overarching
- [The Five Must Haves on Your Company Website](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-five-must-haves-on-your-company-website/4641/) - Communiqué PR staff | You have one chance to make a good first impression. Whether it’s a face-to-face meeting with a prospective customer, a conference call, or an email introducing yourself and your services, your initial contact is your chance to either impress or disappoint. In many first impressions, you may not even have the opportunity to directly connect
- [Using LinkedIn Advertising to Pitch Media](https://www.communiquepr.com/using-linkedin-advertising-to-pitch-media/4648/) - Communiqué PR staff | Keeping abreast of PR industry strategies and tactics is important to ensure that you’re continuing to innovate and provide fresh ideas to clients. Recently I read about interesting new ways to pitch media in the article, “5 creative PR pitches that caught reporters' attention.” The post included a number of ideas but one really caught
- [Going Mobile: The Impact on Communications and the Workplace](https://www.communiquepr.com/going-mobile-the-impact-on-communications-and-the-workplace/4661/) - Communiqué PR staff | Mobile is one of the hottest tech topics right now. From security to access to culture, mobile is changing the way people work. With the popularity of smartphones, tablets and laptops, more and more organizations are transforming into virtual environments where employees are working remotely to cut down on commuting and overhead business costs. In
- [Three Studies in Public Apologies & Crisis Communications](https://www.communiquepr.com/three-studies-in-public-apologies-crisis-communications/4635/) - Communiqué PR staff | One of the major facets of public relations is crisis management. After all, although preventative measures are key, a variety of things can go awry that can negatively impact a company and its brand. Properly addressing errors is as important as preventing errors. One strategy frequently employed by a corporation is a public apology. However,
- [Social Media and Democracy: What Can Business Learn From Election Campaigns?](https://www.communiquepr.com/social-media-and-democracy-what-can-business-learn-from-election-campaigns/4657/) - Communiqué PR staff | The chatter in social media outlets in the final days before the national presidential election will likely reach exceptional levels as digital and traditional national pundits try to predict the outcome. Feeding the banter is Twitter’s Twindex which tracks numbers of followers for each candidate, and Facebook’s Election Insights, which tracks how many people are
- [How CENTRI Helped Validate Its Business Through Analyst Relations](https://www.communiquepr.com/how-centri-helped-validate-its-business-through-analyst-relations/4684/) - Communiqué PR staff | Throughout its years, Communiqué PR has developed strong relationships with industry analysts. With many of our clients, we recommend cultivating and growing a network of analyst advocates who can actively provide feedback on, or help validate their products and services. Analysts are a critical audience that has the ability to influence potential customers, offer
- [Six Uses for Word Clouds in Business](https://www.communiquepr.com/six-uses-for-word-clouds-in-business/4690/) - Communiqué PR staff | According to Wikipedia, a word cloud is defined as: “… [A] visual representation for text data, typically used to depict keyword metadata (tags) on websites, or to visualize free form text. Tags are usually single words, and the importance of each tag is shown with font size or color.” You may have seen a
- [The Power of Mission & Vision Statements](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-power-of-mission-vision-statements/4666/) - Communiqué PR staff | Clearly defined mission and vision statements can be powerful for people and businesses. They can help provide focus and inspiration as well as provide another point of reference when making decisions. A mission statement is centered on what you set out to do, and a vision statement is focused on the end result. It is
- [Tips, Tricks and Lists: How Short and Sweet is Memorable](https://www.communiquepr.com/tips-tricks-and-lists-how-short-and-sweet-is-memorable/4714/) - Communiqué PR staff | Media resources continue to remain tight and more and more outlets are relying on contributed content. This presents a great opportunity for organizations to position themselves as thought leaders in their respective industries. But what types of stories tend to resonate with editors and readers? When I’m writing blog posts, I typically write about tips,
- [“10 Lessons Learned From the Campaign” Webinar From PRDaily & Brad Phillips](https://www.communiquepr.com/10-lessons-learned-from-the-campaign-webinar-from-prdaily-brad-phillips/4702/) - Communiqué PR staff | I recently participated in Ragan PRDaily’s Webinar, “10 Lessons Learned from the Campaign,“ hosted by Brad Phillips. Phillips is the president of Phillips Media Relations and writes “the world’s most-visited media training blog”, Mr. Media Training. In the webinar, Phillips offered a list of 10 media lessons learned during the 2012 presidential campaign. Here are
- [Lessons From a White House Press Secretary](https://www.communiquepr.com/lessons-from-a-white-house-press-secretary/4722/) - Communiqué PR staff | I recently attended the PRSA Puget Sound annual meeting where I had an opportunity to hear Scott McClellan, former White House press secretary under President George Bush, provide a spokesperson’s perspective from inside the West Wing. After hearing and considering Scott’s comments, it reminded me that some of the lessons he learned are important to
- [Charitable Giving: Choosing a Cause for your Business](https://www.communiquepr.com/charitable-giving-choosing-a-cause-for-your-business/4677/) - Communiqué PR staff | I recently attended Hopelink’s 17th annual Reaching Out Benefit Luncheon, featuring Jeanette Walls, bestselling author of The Glass Castle. The event was excellently done, and saw a turnout from a variety of local and national businesses, including Comcast, NBCUniversal, Boeing, Seattle Children’s Hospital, Nordstrom and Lane Powell. The variety of corporate sponsorship led me
- [Pitching Tips From Media Pros: BusinessWire Media Roundtable](https://www.communiquepr.com/pitching-tips-from-media-pros-businesswire-media-roundtable/4740/) - Communiqué PR staff | If you are in the public relations industry, you know the power of strong media relationships—and the problems that can arise if you aren’t able to effectively pitch your story. Editorial coverage is incredibly valuable, not only because it creates awareness for a company, product or service, but because it also can help validate what
- [The Delicate Balance of Media Follow up](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-delicate-balance-of-media-follow-up/4749/) - Communiqué PR staff | Securing media coverage is always a challenge. We’ve provided numerous tips on how to pitch a newsworthy story, but once you garner initial interest, what do you do? How do you move a story from just interest to print? First, congratulations. You’ve won the first battle. You’ve successfully broken through the thousands of emails that
- [When Should a Start-up Business Hire a PR Firm?](https://www.communiquepr.com/when-should-a-start-up-business-hire-a-pr-firm/4729/) - Communiqué PR staff | Recently, I was invited to be a guest panelist for a grad school class at the University of Washington focused on entrepreneurial marketing. One of the students asked, “When should a start-up hire a PR firm?” There were three of us on the panel and the students heard three different answers that day. John Cook,
- [Five Invaluable Mobile Apps for Professionals](https://www.communiquepr.com/five-invaluable-mobile-apps-for-professionals/4755/) - Communiqué PR staff | “There’s an app for that” has become more than a catchphrase – it is a way of life for busy professionals on the go. Staying up to date on new apps can be challenging. As such, I was excited to see Shane Robinson’s recent Forbes column, “Free Mobile Apps Every Entrepreneur Should Use,” highlighting Shane’s
- [RPI Partners With Cheezburger and The Madison Park Group to Extend Brand Experiences](https://www.communiquepr.com/rpi-partners-with-cheezburger-and-the-madison-park-group-to-extend-brand-experiences/4764/) - Communiqué PR staff | Remember when the book you were reading served as a conversation starter? I’ve observed complete strangers who are sharing a flight engage in in-depth chatter, all stemming from someone’s book cover. Today, as tablets and mobile devices increasingly replace physical books, those forms of spontaneous engagement are decreasing. Additionally, with Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and
- [Five Habits of Highly Effective Communicators](https://www.communiquepr.com/five-habits-of-highly-effective-communicators/4775/) - Communiqué PR staff | As communication practitioners, we’re constantly counseling our clients on how to effectively communicate with a variety of audiences, whether it’s to customers, partners, internally within the organization, or third-party influencers such as media. We often work with CEOs, product developers, engineers and marketing managers to help ensure they stay on message, address questions in a
- [Texting and Its Impact on Communications](https://www.communiquepr.com/texting-and-its-impact-on-communications/4805/) - Communiqué PR staff | When I was growing up, I sent hand-written letters to my grandma and if I wanted to talk to someone, I picked up the phone and called. Now with email, social media and texting, communicating is easier and quicker, but is it better? Texting has single-handedly changed the way people date and the way people
- [Smartsheet Announces $26 Million in Venture Funding](https://www.communiquepr.com/smartsheet-announces-26-million-in-venture-funding/4811/) - Jennifer Gehrt | As anyone I work with knows, I am a huge fan of Smartsheet.com, Inc. and its cloud-based collaboration solution. Verdiem’s Chris Baker, vice president of marketing, and John Scumniotales, president, introduced me to Smartsheet in November 2011. John, one of the founders of Scrum – the most widely adopted method for agile software development –
- [How to Evolve Pitching Strategies in Response to “Page-view Journalism”](https://www.communiquepr.com/how-to-evolve-pitching-strategies-in-response-to-page-view-journalism/4823/) - Communiqué PR staff | Many say journalists need PR people as much as PR folks need journalists. And just as many people would disagree. But with the evolving media landscape – shifting from offline to online – one thing is clear: Both professions need readers who increase page views. In his post, “The changing role of PR in the
- [On the Road: Medio's Press & Analyst Tour](https://www.communiquepr.com/on-the-road-medio-systems-press-analyst-tour/4783/) - Communiqué PR staff | As any communications professional can appreciate, relationships with media and analysts are extremely important and in-person meetings are an excellent way to build on existing relationships, or to create new ones. For this reason, we were excited to plan a press and analyst tour for our client, Medio, a leading provider of predictive analytics solutions.
- [The Power of Contrarian Ideas](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-power-of-contrarian-ideas/4829/) - Communiqué PR staff | So often, the stories we tell in business are about stability, dependability and predictability. Trends, market share and proof-of-concept are all business theories founded upon large groups of people buying the same product, sharing the same idea, and then making sure they continue to do so in the future. But oftentimes, the story of the
- [Attachmate’s Luminet 4.4 Upgrade Helps Stop Fraud and Misuse](https://www.communiquepr.com/attachmates-luminet-4-4-upgrade-helps-stop-fraud-and-misuse/4834/) - Communiqué PR staff | Fighting insider threats and managing audit and compliance requirements is a challenge for many industries, including financial services, government and healthcare. This battle can result in lost business, damaged reputations and financial losses totaling billions of dollars. Our client, Attachmate, delivers advanced software for terminal emulation, legacy modernization, managed file transfer and enterprise fraud management.
- [Pitching Notes: A New Tool for PR pros](https://www.communiquepr.com/pitching-notes-a-new-tool-for-pr-pros/4854/) - Communiqué PR staff | We’ve all been there. You think you have the perfect story and the perfect pitch to send to a reporter who is the perfect fit and then…you’re ignored, hung up on, or denied. As a PR professional, rejection is sometimes part of the job. But what if there was a way to help make pitching
- [PR Predictions for 2013](https://www.communiquepr.com/pr-predictions-for-2013-2/4870/) - Communiqué PR staff | It is a new year and a time to look at what the future holds. Public Relations is constantly changing and evolving and this upcoming year is no different. At Communiqué PR we are constantly monitoring and keeping on top of the latest trends and predictions. While looking at PR predictions for 2013, I came
- [The Importance of Word Choice](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-importance-of-word-choice/4876/) - Jennifer Gehrt | If you are passionate about writing, you understand the importance of word choice to convey the right meaning or evoke emotion. Recently, a friend introduced me to Visual Thesaurus, a wonderful subscription tool developed by Thinkmap, Inc., which I now find indispensable. The Visual Thesaurus is an online dictionary and thesaurus that displays the word
- [Reflections on 2012: Communiqué’s Year-in-Review](https://www.communiquepr.com/reflections-on-2012-communiques-year-in-review/4907/) - Colleen Moffitt | 2012 was certainly an exciting and interesting year in the United States and around the world (see Google’s year-end wrap up video here). At Communiqué, 2012 saw our clients’ businesses continue to grow – and we were excited to drive awareness around their stories. We added new clients to our roster, achieved significant results for
- [Top Story Trends for 2013](https://www.communiquepr.com/top-story-trends-for-2013/4888/) - Communiqué PR staff | “I don't set trends. I just find out what they are and exploit them.” -- Dick Clark Predicting the news is like predicting the weather. It you don’t like what you see, wait a moment and it will change. That said, a large part of public relations strategy is researching what editors and reporters will
- [Thinking About Investing in PR? Five Questions to Ask Your Potential Agency](https://www.communiquepr.com/thinking-about-investing-in-pr-five-questions-to-ask-your-potential-agency/4847/) - Communiqué PR staff | Is your company considering hiring on a public relations agency? In all likelihood, this means you will be doing an agency search. This can entail requesting proposals and quotes from a range of agencies found through word of mouth, previous use, or online research. However, once you find a few agencies you think might work
- [The 2012 PR Yearbook](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-2012-pr-yearbook/4917/) - Communiqué PR staff | Congrats! We made it another year navigating the ever-changing and fast-evolving PR and news landscape. But, before we dive head first into 2013 with PR-related resolutions such as increasing your social media following, finding new ways to measure results, or building deeper relationships with reporters, it would be good to look back at 2012 to
- [Five Virtual Places to Find Inspiration](https://www.communiquepr.com/five-virtual-places-to-find-inspiration/4936/) - Communiqué PR staff | In a slump? Not able to find any inspiration for whatever project you might be working on? The tough part of working in a creative industry is that creativity and inspiration cannot always be conjured up whenever you would like—sometimes you need a little help. PRDaily recent compiled a list of 12 online resources that
- [Research From Mobidia Reveals Significant Changes in Smartphone Usage](https://www.communiquepr.com/research-from-mobidia-reveals-significant-changes-in-smartphone-usage/4949/) - Communiqué PR staff | One of the most rewarding aspects of PR is relaying important and relevant information to the public. As such, we were excited to help facilitate an important announcement from Mobidia Technology, Inc. on January 3, 2013. Mobidia is the maker of My Data Manager, a smartphone application that provides data usage tracking to help people avoid
- [The Age of Big Data](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-age-of-big-data/4962/) - Jennifer Gehrt | Wednesday night we were pleased to attend the MIT Enterprise Forum Northwest event focused on Big Data in downtown Seattle. We were particularly excited to be there because we helped secure a slot on the panel of experts for Brian Lent, Chairman, CTO & co-founder at Medio. If you are a regular follower of our
- [Attachmate Extends Leadership Position With Launch of Reflection 2011 R3](https://www.communiquepr.com/attachmate-extends-leadership-position-with-launch-of-reflection-2011-r3/4973/) - Communiqué PR staff | Our client, Attachmate, delivers advanced software for terminal emulation, legacy modernization, managed file transfer and enterprise fraud management. In October 2012, the company announced Reflection 2011 R3, a component of a family of products that have been trusted for more than 30 years to securely connect desktop and mobile users to mission-critical legacy applications running
- [Five Ways to Use Muck Rack for PR](https://www.communiquepr.com/five-ways-to-use-muck-rack-for-pr/4983/) - Communiqué PR staff | By now most people in marketing know that one the best tools for reading journalists’ minds is Twitter. The immediacy and brevity of Twitter almost seems to be designed for reporters who traditionally have been trained to think in sound bites, quotes and headlines. Now, with help of analytics, we are able to track how
- [Once Upon a Time – Storytelling for Business](https://www.communiquepr.com/once-upon-a-time-storytelling-for-business/4999/) - Communiqué PR staff | The art of storytelling for business has been on the radar screen in recent years as a powerful tool for achieving success in the marketplace. With articles popping up from Fast Company, Forbes and Harvard Business Review, and a number of books published on the topic, there is no shortage of commentary on how storytelling
- [How to be Strategic in an Uncertain World: Four Tips From Harvard Business Review’s Blog](https://www.communiquepr.com/how-to-be-strategic-in-an-uncertain-world-4-tips-from-harvard-business-reviews-blog/4991/) - Communiqué PR staff | Roger Martin, Dean of the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto in Canada and author of Playing to Win: How Strategy Really Works, recently posted a piece, “Placing Strategic Bets in the Face of Uncertainty,” on Harvard Business Review’s blog network that offered helpful advice on how to think strategically. In the
- [The Key to Headlines that Hook](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-key-to-headlines-that-hook/5008/) - Communiqué PR staff | Whether you are scanning an email subject line, the newspaper, a website, blog, or press release, a headline is the first thing you see. You only stop to read once a headline has caught your attention. Many times headlines are too long or send the wrong message. According to a Ragan.com article, “How to write
- [PRSA Puget Sound Panel: Corporate Reputation Drivers of the Digital Age](https://www.communiquepr.com/prsa-puget-sound-panel-corporate-reputation-drivers-of-the-digital-age/5017/) - Communiqué PR staff | At the end of January, I attended the PRSA Puget Sound’s event focused on security and privacy, “The Corporate Reputation Drivers of the Digital Age.” Panelists included Aaron Weller, managing director, Data Protection & Privacy Practice at PwC; Christopher Budd, principal and founder of Christopher Budd Communications; and Leigh Nakanishi, Edelman, Data Security and Privacy
- [Looking for Inspiration? Three Excellent TEDtalks](https://www.communiquepr.com/looking-for-inspiration-three-excellent-tedtalks/5027/) - Communiqué PR staff | As I mentioned in a past blog post, TEDtalks remain one of my favorite resources to learn about new things and find inspiration from others. If you’re unfamiliar with the organization, TEDtalks is a daily video podcast of talks and performances from TED conferences, TEDx events and TED partners. TEDtalk’s motto is “ideas worth spreading,”
- [Social Media Replacing Traditional Media? Not so Fast, Says NASCAR](https://www.communiquepr.com/social-media-replacing-traditional-media-not-so-fast-says-nascar/5023/) - Communiqué PR staff | People who think they know me well are still stunned when they find out I am an auto-racing freak. I love NASCAR. I watch it most Sundays during the racing season and have since I lived in Virginia and followed Ricky Rudd’s no. 10 Tide car. (My family used Tide to wash our clothes. Ricky
- [Timing is Everything: When to Send a Press Release](https://www.communiquepr.com/timing-is-everything-when-to-send-a-press-release/5049/) - Communiqué PR staff | Have you heard the saying, “Timing is everything”? Well, it applies to not only relationships, but also the business world, especially when it comes to press and media releases. Once you’ve spent the time crafting the perfect messaging for your release, you want to ensure it makes the right splash. To do so, you definitely
- [Applying the Five Competitive Forces That Shape Strategy to PR](https://www.communiquepr.com/applying-the-five-competitive-forces-that-shape-strategy-to-pr/5054/) - Colleen Moffitt | As a young economist, Michael E. Porter wrote a landmark article for the Harvard Business Review in 1979 that ignited a revolution in the field of strategy. So compelling was his “The Five Competitive Forces that Shape Strategy” that it helped inform and mold an entire generation of academic research and business practice, and stretched
- [The Forgotten Power of the Phone Call](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-forgotten-power-of-the-phone-call/5063/) - Communiqué PR staff | We’ve all been there as PR professionals. You deliver a pitch to a reporter via email and then you…wait. And you wait a little more and then you send a follow up email. Still nothing. At this point, you realize you have to resort to a call down in hopes of capturing his or her
- [Four Services That Promise to Connect Businesses With Media](https://www.communiquepr.com/four-services-that-promise-to-connect-businesses-with-media/5074/) - Communiqué PR staff | One of Communiqué PR’s major communications objectives for our clients is driving editorial coverage. Editorial coverage can help secure exposure for your client and provides a chance to engage with journalists, who can provide a third-party (often expert) opinion on what a client does. The tactics used to secure editorial coverage vary, but a few
- [Sparking Creative Culture](https://www.communiquepr.com/sparking-creative-culture/5080/) - Communiqué PR staff | We’ve all been there. It’s 3 p.m. and you’ve hit a wall. Your creative juices are no longer flowing and it seems like every sound, sight and smell is a distraction. But plodding through an eight-hour work day with no breaks doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll get more done. In fact, many studies suggest you
- [Push-Ups and PR: An Unlikely Comparison](https://www.communiquepr.com/push-ups-and-pr-an-unlikely-comparison/5089/) - Communiqué PR staff | At Communiqué PR we are on a quest to be the strongest PR agency in Seattle – in more ways than one. How? By challenging ourselves to do 100 consecutive push-ups, which we referenced in Monday’s post on sparking creative culture. For this challenge, we’re talking real, on-your-toes-not-on-your-knees push-ups. Our training began a few weeks
- [Five Crisis Communication Tips for Businesses: Lessons from Carnival Triumph](https://www.communiquepr.com/five-crisis-communication-tips-for-businesses-lessons-from-carnival-triumph/5094/) - Communiqué PR staff | By now, you’ve likely heard about the Carnival Triumph debacle: In early February, the Carnival Triumph cruise ship was on day three of a four-day outing when a fire broke out in the engine room and the ship lost power, leaving passengers and crew members stranded on the stalled ship in the Gulf of Mexico.
- [How to Measure PR Impact](https://www.communiquepr.com/how-to-measure-pr-impact/5102/) - Jennifer Gehrt | Does it make sense to measure impact? This was the subject of a recent article in Harvard Business Review. The article shares the stories of three organizations – Acumen Fund, Robin Hood Foundation, and Millennium Challenge Corporation – aiming to make a major impact on the lives of individuals, including reducing cases of malaria and
- [The State of the News Media 2013](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-state-of-the-news-media-2013/5107/) - Communiqué PR staff | This week, the Pew Research Center’s Project for Excellence in Journalism released its annual State of the News Media report. Not surprisingly, the findings were dismal for some traditional news outlets. Local TV ratings across the country saw a steep decline, losing 6.6 percent of their audience over the previous year. Readership at local newspapers
- [Pinterest’s New Measurement Tool: What it Means for Public Relations](https://www.communiquepr.com/pinterests-new-measurement-tool-what-it-means-for-public-relations/5112/) - Communiqué PR staff | Pinterest has increased its presence as a tool for businesses with the recent release of business Pinterest pages. On March 12 this year, the site announced it would continue to build on this trend with the introduction of Pinterest Web Analytics. This valuable new tool will allow anyone with a verified website to see how
- [What You Need to Know about Planning](https://www.communiquepr.com/what-you-need-to-know-about-planning/5119/) - Communiqué PR staff | I get a lot of grief from friends and family because I am what you might call a “planner” when it comes to my weekends, holidays and other special events. This can clash with my friends who prefer to go with the flow. But I want to know what to expect and ensure it has
- [Kymeta and Inmarsat Partner to Launch Game-Changing Business Aviation Broadband Solution](https://www.communiquepr.com/kymeta-and-inmarsat-partner-to-launch-game-changing-business-aviation-broadband-solution/5126/) - Communiqué PR staff | Communiqué PR client Kymeta recently announced an exclusive agreement with Inmarsat, the leading provider of global mobile satellite communications services, to develop a low-profile, low-power consumption, flat-panel antenna for the airline industry, which will electronically steer the antenna beam to Inmarsat’s Global Xpress satellites. The news was noteworthy because the major benefit of the partnership
- [Media Training 2.0](https://www.communiquepr.com/media-training-2-0/5132/) - Communiqué PR staff | We recently facilitated a media training course for a client who has offices in two cities and more than a handful of executives who could be called on to speak to the media. Over two days, we conducted a seminar on interviewing techniques and then conducted one-on-one mock reporter interview scenarios with eight company executives.
- [How to be Persuasive: A Selection of Tips from Forbes](https://www.communiquepr.com/how-to-be-persuasive-a-selection-of-tips-from-forbes/5140/) - Communiqué PR staff | In public relations, we focus on drawing out stories – stories behind companies, executives and announcements, among other things. Once we draw out these stories, we then strategize around how we can reach target audiences with them – through editorial coverage, winning awards, placing bylined articles, etc. Typically, the means to translating a story into
- [In a PR Crisis, Be Authentic and Transparent](https://www.communiquepr.com/in-a-pr-crisis-be-authentic-and-transparent/5147/) - Communiqué PR staff | Rome may or may not have been built in a day, but brands certainly can be built – or destroyed – that quickly, thanks to the Internet and social media. Rumors spread like wildfire and can ultimately make or break a brand as a result. That raises the question: how can companies wrangle and control
- [Using Google in PR: Outside of the Simple Search](https://www.communiquepr.com/using-google-in-pr-outside-of-the-simple-search/5156/) - Communiqué PR staff | Google (and search engines in general) have become entrenched in our day-to-day lives. “I’ll Google it” is a common phrase when a query goes unanswered. I personally look to the search engine daily to find everything from recommended reading material to recipe blogs. Making effective use of Google requires knowing how to use it. Learning
- [Communicating in a Crisis](https://www.communiquepr.com/communicating-in-a-crisis/5162/) - Communiqué PR staff | It seems that bad news is all around lately. I’ve heard this comment a lot from people who reacting to the news of the Boston Marathon, bombings, Newtown, Conn., shootings and fertilizer plant explosion in West, Texas. “When it rains, it pours,” we are all saying. Unfortunately, we’ve also seen a lot of bad reporting
- [How PR Pros Can Work Successfully with Journalists](https://www.communiquepr.com/how-pr-pros-can-work-successfully-with-journalists/5169/) - Communiqué PR staff | We came across an article in the Economist that serves as an important reminder for us all. Simply put: Journalists are inundated- inundated with more topics to write about, deadlines and, most likely, pitches from PR professionals (and sadly, some of them aren’t very valuable). The article states that for each journalist in the U.S.,
- [Social Media Sensitivities](https://www.communiquepr.com/social-media-sensitivities/5175/) - Communiqué PR staff | Social media can be an amazing tool for businesses, brands and individuals, and there are some great complimentary tools that can help automate the process to be more manageable. However, it is important to ensure you are sensitive to what is happening in the world, and listen and react accordingly. For many brands Twitter is
- [Pinterest – Is it Right for Your B2B Business?](https://www.communiquepr.com/pinterest-is-it-right-for-your-b2b-business/5188/) - Communiqué PR staff | According to the latest B2B Marketing Social Media Benchmarking Report, the most popular social media platform for B2B marketers is Twitter, followed by LinkedIn, YouTube and Facebook. Noticeably missing from the list is one of the fastest growing social media platforms: Pinterest. When most marketers think of Pinterest, they think of it as a great
- [How to Build Reporter Relationships on Twitter](https://www.communiquepr.com/how-to-build-reporter-relationships-on-twitter/5181/) - Communiqué PR staff | Every PR professional understands the importance of a good pitch—done well, a pitch is key to securing media coverage for a client. And, as the PR field is changing, so are the channels of communication available for creating effective pitches. For example, nowadays reporters generally welcome pitches via Twitter, an underrated and underused platform for
- [PR and the Lean Start-Up](https://www.communiquepr.com/pr-and-the-lean-start-up/5195/) - Communiqué PR staff | At Communiqué PR we work with companies of all sizes, including a wide variety of start-up companies. From start-ups who are bootstrapping their operations to those who have secured multiple rounds of multimillion dollar funding, I admire the spirit of these entrepreneurs and their unrelenting drive to close a gap or solve a problem in
- [Even in Business, Chemistry is Key](https://www.communiquepr.com/even-in-business-chemistry-is-key/5200/) - Communiqué PR staff | In any relationship, chemistry is important. Consider a first date. Both parties are on their best behavior, trying to figure out if they have a connection. Is it worth pursuing? The woman might try to impress her date by brushing up on her travel knowledge, while the man might try to woo his date by
- [Is a “Share of Voice” Right for Your Business?](https://www.communiquepr.com/is-a-share-of-voice-right-for-your-business/5206/) - Communiqué PR staff | Our main priority when we work with any client is securing results that help the business achieve its greater objectives as an organization. Helping clients find return on investment (ROI) on their PR expenditure is something we strive to do with every client in our portfolio. Providing metrics around PR are a helpful way to
- [Five Old-School Business Practices Worth Another Look](https://www.communiquepr.com/five-old-school-business-practices-worth-another-look/5212/) - Communiqué PR staff | In this age of rapid technical and social innovation, where “new” is deemed as “best,” and the next big thing is always around the corner, norms in the workplace are evolving at a similarly rapid pace. While much of this innovation has led to improvements in the workplace, some of the ways in which things
- [Flipboard: Best Practices for Building Your Brand Magazine](https://www.communiquepr.com/flipboard-best-practices-for-building-your-brand-magazine/5222/) - Communiqué PR staff | In this rapidly evolving age of information, the way in which media is consumed is constantly changing. Readers’ attention spans are limited and with only 24 hours in a day it makes sense to filter out relevant information from spam -- finding the “signal” in the “noise.” Flipboard, an online, magazine-formatted social mobile app, does
- [Why You Should Hire a PR Agency](https://www.communiquepr.com/why-you-should-hire-a-pr-agency/5216/) - Communiqué PR staff | I recently received my latest issue of The Strategist, a quarterly publication from the Public Relations Society of America. In it, I was pleased to see an article discussing the benefits of hiring an external PR agency over an internal PR staff. It’s a question we at Communiqué PR hear regularly: “Why should I hire
- [Cool Use of Analyst Relations](https://www.communiquepr.com/cool-use-of-analyst-relations/5234/) - Communiqué PR staff | We were pleased to learn recently that our client Nintex, a global leader in workflow solutions and project management was named to Gartner’s list of “Cool Vendors in Program and Portfolio Management, 2013.” The exclusive report, authored by analysts Robert A. Handler, Matt Light, Jim Duggan, Daniel B. Stang, Donna Fitzgerald, and Elise Olding, highlights
- [Public Relations Activities Raise Awareness of Verdiem, a Leader in IT Energy Management](https://www.communiquepr.com/public-relations-activities-raise-awareness-of-verdiem-a-leader-in-it-energy-management/5239/) - Communiqué PR staff | Verdiem, one of our Seattle-based clients, delivers IT energy efficiency solutions for mid-sized to enterprise customers across vertical industries. One of the reasons we love working with Verdiem is because they have compelling and timely stories to tell. For example, Verdiem’s Surveyor allows customers to lower their operating expenses, sometimes significantly, by reducing energy waste
- [The Art of the Digital Pitch](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-art-of-the-digital-pitch/5245/) - Communiqué PR staff | In today’s digital era, media pitches are often directed toward non-print outlets, whether they are online-only publications, blogs or mobile news applications. In PR, it can be tempting to direct the same pitch to multiple types of outlets, especially if you’re pitching to different versions of the same publication. For example, you might question why
- [Smartsheet Goes on the Road](https://www.communiquepr.com/smartsheet-goes-on-the-road/5251/) - Communiqué PR staff | To raise awareness for our clients, we often strive to reach their target audiences by building relationships with key journalists and driving relevant editorial coverage. Despite the proliferation of conference calls and online meetings, we believe press tours are still the best way to engage and form relationships with journalists. Additionally, meeting with the journalists
- [How the CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch Failed: Takeaway PR Lessons](https://www.communiquepr.com/how-the-ceo-of-abercrombie-fitch-failed-takeaway-pr-lessons/5262/) - Communiqué PR staff | I remember the need to fit in when I was a teenager—the need to be liked and look the part. I would beg my mom to buy me tops from Abercrombie & Fitch. I would proudly display the “beautiful people” shopping bags on my bedroom wall, showcasing bodies that neither I nor 99 percent of
- [Nice Companies Finish First](https://www.communiquepr.com/nice-companies-finish-first/5274/) - Communiqué PR staff | At Communiqué PR, we’re big fans of Peter Shankman and the Help a Reporter Out (HARO) service he started years ago. So when Peter released his second book, Nice Companies Finish First: Why Cutthroat Management is Over and Collaboration is In, we were excited to pick up a copy. CEOs are often lauded for their
- [Understanding AP Style and its Importance](https://www.communiquepr.com/understanding-ap-style-and-its-importance/5283/) - Communiqué PR staff | If you’ve ever worked in journalism or public relations, odds are you’ve heard of AP Style. But if you haven’t, as is the case with many of our clients, it can be a foreign concept. In today’s post, we want to provide a definition of AP Style and discuss its importance in communications. The “Associated
- [AP StyleGuard: Help or Hindrance?](https://www.communiquepr.com/ap-styleguard-help-or-hindrance/5267/) - Communiqué PR staff | As professionals continue to rely increasingly on computer technology to do their jobs – word processing tools and email are commonplace in almost every office – our reliance on memorizing rules and conventions has started to slip. Most workplace technologies are hugely helpful in creating a more efficient organization. However, some facets of word processing
- [“Nacho” Best Move: Lessons From Taco Bell’s Taco-Licking Disaster](https://www.communiquepr.com/nacho-best-move-lessons-from-taco-bells-taco-licking-disaster/5299/) - Communiqué PR staff | In case you haven’t heard (sorry to any fast-food lovers for bearing the bad news), Taco Bell recently came under heat for a particularly unappetizing photo posted by one of its employees. The photo featured the employee licking a tall stack of empty taco shells on the job and went viral, creating a backlash of
- [How to Manage Email Overload](https://www.communiquepr.com/how-to-manage-email-overload/5306/) - Communiqué PR staff | In today’s workplace, we’re inundated with emails all day long. While the use of email has obvious benefits, confronting your inbox(es) can be a daunting task. A slew of email can also make it easy to lose important items in the day-to-day shuffle. For me, transitioning from student life to professional life meant a transition
- [Making Efficient use of Distribution Services](https://www.communiquepr.com/making-efficient-use-of-distribution-services/5293/) - Communiqué PR staff | Even in an age so focused on the rapidly expanding boundaries of social media, the press release remains a staple of the public relations business. Press releases were once simple Word documents distributed by email or, if anyone even remembers, fax distribution groups and bulk snail-mail offerings. In such an environment, there weren’t a lot
- [Setting Business Standards for Social Media](https://www.communiquepr.com/setting-business-standards-for-social-media/5313/) - Communiqué PR staff | With the advent of social media, a very thin line sometimes separates our business and professional lives. Just ask the Central Intelligence Agency, which, according to the Wall Street Journal, recently issued new guidelines for the use of social media among its agents (because clearly spies need to be careful about that sort of thing).
- [3 Ways to Take Advantage of LinkedIn’s Publishing Model](https://www.communiquepr.com/3-ways-to-take-advantage-of-linkedins-publishing-model/5318/) - Communiqué PR staff | The New York Times recently profiled professional networking leader LinkedIn in a June 16, 2013, article titled “LinkedIn Builds Its Publishing Presence.” The article points out what you may have noticed if you’re an active LinkedIn user: The network is no longer just a place to post your resume and call it a day. Rather,
- [Curating Content Correctly on Twitter](https://www.communiquepr.com/curating-content-correctly-on-twitter/5324/) - Communiqué PR staff | So your business has a Twitter handle. Now what? Coming up with unique content to share with your followers can be challenging for businesses. Creating an effective Twitter presence is a delicate balance between promoting brand content and sharing others’, so that your brand is offering up its own unique material without appearing too promotional.
- [Infographic: The Art of Getting Retweets](https://www.communiquepr.com/infographic-the-art-of-getting-retweets/5328/) - Communiqué PR staff | On Monday, we shared some best practices for curating content on Twitter. Whether you’re curating or creating original content, the Holy Grail of Twitter is having others share your content through the viral power of retweets. Not all tweets will be retweeted, but as you develop your content, there are some basic practices that you
- [New Trends in Media: Jeff Vance Harnesses Technology, Creates Personal “HARO” Service](https://www.communiquepr.com/new-trends-in-media-jeff-vance-harnesses-technology-creates-personal-haro-service/5342/) - Communiqué PR staff | We’ve seen a lot of change in the field of media in the last few years. Traditional print publications have reduced circulation, blogs have boomed in popularity, and social media engagement has become a metric by which to measure popularity for publications. Journalists and PR professionals alike have found themselves in uncharted territory. While PR
- [The Mat Release: Old-School PR Tool Fills Need In Shifting Editorial Landscape](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-mat-release-old-school-pr-tool-fills-need-in-shifting-editorial-landscape/5347/) - Communiqué PR staff | With shrinking editorial rosters at publications across the country and an explosion of online publications eager to populate their sites with relevant content, an old-school PR tool stands at the ready to help fill the gap – the classic mat release (also known as a matte release.) About Mat Releases A mat release is a
- [What to Do With an Idea](https://www.communiquepr.com/what-to-do-with-an-idea/5356/) - Jennifer Gehrt | Every so often, I get the urge to create a product and have even approached my husband with a variety of ideas. Inevitably, we discuss them for a couple of days and then fail to take any further action. Given my tendency, I was intrigued when I learned that Smartsheet was sponsoring a Startup Weekend
- [PR Tool Spotlight: Alexa.com](https://www.communiquepr.com/pr-tool-spotlight-alexa-com/5366/) - Communiqué PR staff | Here at Communiqué PR, we’re always on the lookout for tools that make our work more efficient. Recently, we’ve been using one extra handy tool that we thought worth passing along—analytics provider Alexa.com. Alexa.com offers free website analytics, including traffic data, national rankings, global rankings and more. These rankings give an idea of how a
- [Infographic: Dos and Don’ts of Content Marketing](https://www.communiquepr.com/infographic-dos-and-donts-of-content-marketing/5384/) - Communiqué PR staff | As online consumers spend more time online, content marketing is playing a more prominent role in the marketer’s tool box. According to some, content marketing is displacing other more traditional forms of marketing including search engine marketing and traditional advertising. So how do you go about creating content? Recently, I came across an infographic which
- [How to Apologize Effectively](https://www.communiquepr.com/how-to-apologize-effectively/5375/) - Communiqué PR staff | To err is to be human. But how one handles the mistake can make or break a relationship. Businesses, particularly in this era of social media, are in a more difficult predicament when mistakes are made. Rumors spread quickly in the social stratosphere and can lead to negative consequences for a brand’s image. However, when
- [Considering PR as a Career? A Cheat Sheet to Get Started](https://www.communiquepr.com/considering-pr-as-a-career-a-cheat-sheet-to-get-started/5397/) - Communiqué PR staff | A few weeks ago, my fellow Assistant Account Executive, Sheridan, and I presented to University of Washington Department of Communications students. Our aim was to give them a basic idea of what a career in PR is like. Afterward, we got to thinking that it might be helpful to summarize some aspects of our presentation
- [Why Who is Key in Pitching](https://www.communiquepr.com/why-who-is-key-in-pitching/5401/) - Communiqué PR staff | As public relations professionals, we are constantly cultivating story ideas from our clients, developing pitches, identifying targets and distributing them where we hope they do the most good. Though having a compelling story is important, it is only half the battle; finding the right audience for your story is also key. Ask yourself: Who will
- [Kymeta Announces $50 Million in Venture Capital Funding](https://www.communiquepr.com/kymeta-announces-50-million-in-venture-capital-funding/5436/) - Colleen Moffitt | Kymeta, one of our clients at Communiqué PR, recently closed a $50 Million Series C financing round in order to accelerate the growth of its business. This is not a surprising event if you have been following the company’s path. A beneficiary of Bill Gates and other key backers, Kymeta has been around for less
- [Unexpected Tips for Crafting Superb Social Media Posts](https://www.communiquepr.com/unexpected-tips-for-crafting-superb-social-media-posts/5418/) - Communiqué PR staff | In a perfect world, we’d press a button and automatically generate a show-stopping, viral social media post. Unfortunately, that technology doesn’t exist (yet), so PR professionals have to rely on tried and true guidelines and tips for creating awesome, engaging posts for clients. A recent article on PR Daily titled, “How to create perfect social
- [Traditional Seafair Embraces Modern Social Media](https://www.communiquepr.com/traditional-seafair-embraces-modern-social-media/5455/) - Communiqué PR staff | The annual Seafair festival is synonymous with summer in Seattle. From the end of June through the first weekend in August, the city is abuzz with sporting events, parades and festivals which celebrate the diverse neighborhoods and ethnic communities across greater Seattle. Seafair is in my blood. I grew up going to the neighborhood parades
- [Puttin’ on the Blitz](https://www.communiquepr.com/puttin-on-the-blitz/5474/) - Communiqué PR staff | As a PR professional working in an agency environment, I’m fortunate to work with a variety of clients from different industries. Each new client brings an opportunity to learn something – whether it be a new product or a technology I’ve not used before, or even learning about the culture of the targeted audience –
- [Car2go, the “Sharing Economy” Trend and Young Professionals](https://www.communiquepr.com/car2go-the-sharing-economy-trend-and-young-professionals/5463/) - Communiqué PR staff | In the PR industry, we hear a lot about trends. Editors are looking for “trend pieces.” We check what is “trending” on Twitter. How many pitches have you written to capitalize on a trending news topic? A good story often combines a newsworthy item with a larger trend, showing readers the big picture and the
- [The Power of a Blog in a Crisis](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-power-of-a-blog-in-a-crisis/5491/) - Communiqué PR staff | Communications professionals (including the Communiqué team) often tout corporate blogs as a way for businesses to create a voice, connect with their audience, drive thought leadership and increase website traffic. While this is all true, corporate blogs can become especially handy when a company has a crisis on its hands – especially if the company
- [Kaidel Coverage](https://www.communiquepr.com/kaidel-coverage/5496/) - Communiqué PR staff | It is always a treat when we get the opportunity to work with a client whose product meshes with our own personal passions. This spring and summer we had the opportunity to work with Kaidel Sportswear, a Seattle-based sportswear company that designs Pacific Northwest-specific running and biking gear. I am very passionate about running and
- [Lean In – Practical Advice for All Genders](https://www.communiquepr.com/lean-in-practical-advice-for-all-genders/5442/) - Jennifer Gehrt | I recently finished Sheryl Sandberg’s provocative book, “Lean In,” about gender differences in the workplace and her perspective on how to help right the inequalities. I am about the same age as Sheryl, and while our backgrounds are different, many of her points resonated with me. I find it astounding that there are only 21
- [PR Pro or Politician? How to Build Trust With Journalists](https://www.communiquepr.com/pr-pro-or-politician-how-to-build-trust-with-journalists/5505/) - Communiqué PR staff | An unfortunate report from the Oriella PR Network recently revealed that, quantitatively, journalists trust PR professionals slightly less than politicians. Yes, you read that right—even politicians come across as more trustworthy than PR pros. Much of it likely has to do with the changing media industry—as it becomes digital and fast-paced, journalists face incredible pressure
- [AOL Closes 150 Local “Patch” Blogs. What’s Next?](https://www.communiquepr.com/aol-closes-150-local-patch-blogs-whats-next/5509/) - Communiqué PR staff | For several years we have heard a familiar refrain: Print journalism is on the decline, large news organizations are struggling, and much original reporting and storytelling is shifting to online-based outlets and blogs. In mid-August, though, news broke that AOL planned to close a number of its Patch blogs, which had promised to deliver news
- [Tips for Better Communication and Collaboration](https://www.communiquepr.com/tips-for-better-communication-and-collaboration/5526/) - Communiqué PR staff | Over the course of my communications career – too many years to mention, practicing in both agency and in-house environments – I am often surprised by the lack of communication among communications professionals. While we strive to develop strategic and effective communications for outward facing audiences, all too often we fail to communicate within our
- [One Year in PR: Three Major Lessons](https://www.communiquepr.com/one-year-in-pr-three-major-lessons/5520/) - Communiqué PR staff | Today marks my first anniversary as a full-time employee at Communiqué PR. Although I interned with the company off and on throughout my time at the University of Washington (go Huskies!), transitioning from interning to working full time has provided a few valuable lessons. For anyone embarking on their first year in the industry, or
- [Social Media Writing Bootcamp: Tips and Tricks](https://www.communiquepr.com/social-media-writing-bootcamp-tips-and-tricks/5541/) - Communiqué PR staff | We live in a world of communication overload. I know that I get overwhelmed managing two email addresses, a Facebook account, Twitter account, Google+ and a LinkedIn account. I receive thousands of messages each day across these platforms, but realistically there are not enough hours in the day to read them all. So the question
- [Let’s Connect: Findings From Tech Journalist/PR Pro Survey](https://www.communiquepr.com/5548-2/5548/) - Communiqué PR staff | Recently, PRSourceCode released some interesting data from a survey they conducted with technology-focused journalists and PR professionals. The goal of the survey was to identify the best practices for building relationships with technology journalists. The survey revealed some significant and useful insight. One area that I found particularly interesting was an examination of the methods
- [Biking & Business – Lessons From Backroads](https://www.communiquepr.com/biking-business-lessons-from-backroads/5555/) - Jennifer Gehrt | My husband and I are into biking vacations. We find them to be an ideal way to see new countryside, meet the local people, learn about an area, and earn the benefits of exercise. When you are cycling 25, 35 or 65 miles a day, you can pretty much eat whatever you want! This year
- [Google's 'In-Depth Articles' Feature – What It Is, and What It Means for PR](https://www.communiquepr.com/googles-in-depth-articles-feature-what-it-is-and-what-it-means-for-pr/5566/) - Communiqué PR staff | If you work in media or technology, you might be aware that Google recently introduced a new search page feature, “In-Depth Articles.” The feature, which aims to provide “thoughtful in-depth content” that “remains relevant long after its publication date,” offers up links to long-form articles at the bottom of the search results page—similarly to how
- [Five Takeaways From the 2013 GeekWire Summit](https://www.communiquepr.com/5-takeaways-from-the-2013-geekwire-summit-2/5590/) - Communiqué PR staff | Seattle is a geek’s town and last week the team at aptly named GeekWire hosted some of Seattle’s brightest tech minds for its 2013 GeekWire Summit. From e-commerce to venture capital strategies to the future of video games, the conference covered an array of topics pertinent to investors and tech businesses big and small. The
- [The Need for Speed: Why Capitalizing on the Now is Key](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-need-for-speed-why-capitalizing-on-the-now-is-key/5598/) - Communiqué PR staff | In public relations, it often seems like slow and steady wins the race. By distributing a steady stream of news, securing key coverage and continuing to put out consistent messages via social media, blogs and contributed articles, your efforts will likely have an impact on your business. However, sometimes there is a need for speed.
- [Creating an Editorial Calendar That Works](https://www.communiquepr.com/creating-an-editorial-calendar-that-works/5604/) - Communiqué PR staff | There’s no argument about it—content is currency in social media and in media in general. Companies have a wide variety of platforms through which they’re able to disperse content and create a “voice”—various social media platforms, bylined articles, contributed content and corporate blogs are a few examples. In order to be effective with this content,
- [Your Best Digital Self: Why Online Reputation Matters](https://www.communiquepr.com/your-best-digital-self-why-online-reputation-matters/5625/) - Communiqué PR staff | In our daily lives, we often worry about our reputation. Be well-liked and reap the benefits. Get a bad rep and never live it down. In the professional world, a company’s reputation isn’t just a valuable asset—it’s everything it has. Unlike in the personal world, companies can’t afford (literally) to just “not care what other
- [What’s News and What’s Rumor?](https://www.communiquepr.com/whats-news-and-whats-rumor/5636/) - Communiqué PR staff | A little over two weeks ago my little sister, a student at University of Colorado at Boulder, sent me a link to a video of a river roaring through what is usually the calm creek near the campus. She then told me about the dramatic changes that had occurred to the city of Boulder due
- [Communications Lessons From the Shutdown](https://www.communiquepr.com/communications-lessons-from-the-shutdown/5647/) - Communiqué PR staff | I have a friend who, in college, used to play a game that involved the following: While driving, approach a red light at speed while bluffing to his passengers, “I’m not going to stop! I’m not going to stop!” In the nick of time we always stopped, of course, but each time it felt like
- [Why Setting Expectations Will Help You Succeed](https://www.communiquepr.com/why-setting-expectations-will-help-you-succeed/5658/) - Communiqué PR staff | When training for a race, whether a 5K, half marathon or full marathon, you know how long the race is before you sign up and typically set a goal about finishing that will make you feel successful at the end. In the running world, we call it a “PR,” or personal record. As a runner,
- [The Modern Day PR Pro's Technology Toolbox](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-modern-day-pr-pros-technology-toolbox/5665/) - Communiqué PR staff | The rapid innovation of mobile and cloud technologies has forever changed the way PR pros work. With all of the productivity apps and capabilities available on my smartphone, sometimes I feel like my iPhone is permanently glued to my hand. I’ve been contemplating upgrading to the new iPhone 5s, which started me thinking about some
- [Businesses Help Boulder Flood Relief](https://www.communiquepr.com/businesses-help-boulder-flood-relief/5674/) - Communiqué PR staff | A little over a week ago, I wrote a blog post about the Boulder flash floods and the confusing nature of deciphering what is true and false on social media during this time of crisis. Gathering correct information was just one of the many issues citizens were faced with though. As the storm has subsided,
- [Capt. Mike Steers Good Ship Netflix Toward Positive Customer Experience](https://www.communiquepr.com/capt-mike-steers-good-ship-netflix-toward-positive-customer-experience/5685/) - Communiqué PR staff | If you’re anything like me, the last thing you want to do is to spend 15 minutes or more on the phone or engaged in correspondence with a customer service representative via instant message or email. Let’s face it, by the time we’re reaching out to them for assistance—especially when we rely on their service
- [Tesla Bounces Back After Recent Car Fire](https://www.communiquepr.com/tesla-bounces-back-after-recent-car-fire/5707/) - Communiqué PR staff | After a Tesla Model S caught fire in early October, the company’s stock prices momentarily fell as the public became wary of the Tesla brand. Numerous blog posts and websites depicted the all-electric Model S engulfed in flames on a busy highway. The incident occurred after a piece of metal punctured the high-tech armor plating
- [Perfecting Your Company's Customer Service](https://www.communiquepr.com/perfecting-your-companys-customer-service/5714/) - Communiqué PR staff | Yesterday, in the midst of cramming for a midterm, my computer decided to freeze. Panicked, I ran through all the usual restart motions, but nothing seemed to work. I bolted down to the Apple store, stressing that my hours of work were gone due to this unexpected computer crash. As I walked into the busy
- [Wikipedia, PR and the Importance of Transparency](https://www.communiquepr.com/wikipedia-pr-and-the-importance-of-transparency/5728/) - Communiqué PR staff | Every few months, it seems, there is a dust up over the role of PR teams in editing articles on Wikipedia. Most recently, several publications (notably Vice’s Motherboard) reported on the work of a firm devoted almost entirely to editing Wikipedia articles on behalf of various clients. When the firm’s work was discovered, many editors
- [Five Tips for Effective Brainstorming](https://www.communiquepr.com/five-tips-for-effective-brainstorming/5736/) - Communiqué PR staff | It’s a skill so seemingly simple that we often overlook its importance. For creative minds, brainstorming ideas might come as easy as breathing. But for the rest of us, sometimes it takes a little inspiration to get our juices flowing. We’ve all been there—a deadline looming, our mind spinning and the coffee running low, and
- [Schnitzer West: Delivering Superior Quality & Returns](https://www.communiquepr.com/schnitzer-west-delivering-superior-quality-returns/5742/) - Jennifer Gehrt | When I worked for Waggener Edstrom in 2001, I learned we were going to be moving into a sparkly new office building in the Civica Office Commons in downtown Bellevue, Wash. It was exciting. After all, how often does one get to work in a brand new office building? My anticipation was well founded. Civica
- [A Launch Event Done Right: Lively Lounge Premier Party](https://www.communiquepr.com/a-launch-event-done-right-lively-lounge-premier-party/5752/) - Communiqué PR staff | Throwing a launch party is an important part of a company’s marketing plan and to do it well requires a serious investment of resources – both human and fiscal. Whether you’re celebrating a new product or a new company, the launch party provides a critical opportunity to make a good first impression with potential customers,
- [5 Updates to the 2013 AP Stylebook](https://www.communiquepr.com/5-updates-to-the-2013-ap-stylebook/5773/) - Communiqué PR staff | If you read our blog or you work in public relations or media, you’re likely well aware of the importance of AP style. A couple months ago, the 2013 version of the AP Stylebook was released, with 90 new or updated entries. Ninety updates is a lot of information to process. At the time, PR
- [PR Lessons From the Healthcare.gov Launch](https://www.communiquepr.com/pr-lessons-from-the-healthcare-gov-launch/5777/) - Communiqué PR staff | When the Obama administration launched its healthcare website on October 1st the President’s most prized project quickly turned into an unmanageable disaster. Healthcare.gov was riddled with technical problems that made it almost impossible to use, causing enormous public backlash. But there are a few valuable PR lessons to be learned from healthcare.gov’s disastrous rollout. Launching
- [Playing Ketchup With PR: Heinz Loses McDonald’s Business and Winds Up on the Grill](https://www.communiquepr.com/playing-ketchup-with-pr-heinz-loses-mcdonalds-business-and-winds-up-on-the-grill/5790/) - Communiqué PR staff | McDonald’s recently announced its decision to part ways with longtime supplier Heinz. The two companies are cutting ties after 40 years of working together and the decision may be because of Heinz’s recent hire of former Burger King CEO Bernardo Hees and the lack of full disclosure. McDonald’s stated flatly, “As a result of recent
- [The Value of Contributed Articles](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-value-of-contributed-articles/5802/) - Communiqué PR staff | Contributed or bylined articles serve as a great complement to editorial placements. Unlike an article written by a reporter about a company or its products, contributed articles are written by the company and are meant to lend a vendor-neutral perspective on topics relevant to a publication’s readers. We often recommend contributed articles as a way
- [Should PR Pros Use Reddit?](https://www.communiquepr.com/should-pr-pros-use-reddit/5824/) - Communiqué PR staff | We recently encountered an interesting scenario with one of our clients, who came across a relevant industry discussion on Reddit and wondered why their brand name was not mentioned. At first the answer seems apparent, since Reddit relies on user-generated content that, for the most part, cannot be controlled. But that got us thinking—is Reddit,
- [Sheryl Sandberg and Marissa Mayer Headline Dreamforce 2013](https://www.communiquepr.com/sheryl-sandberg-and-marissa-mayer-headline-dreamforce-2013/5845/) - Communiqué PR staff | Early in November, I was lucky enough to acquire a few passes to attend Dreamforce, Salesforce.com’s annual conference. The four-day conference, which takes place in San Francisco, drew more than 100,000 attendees from the technology industry and is considered the third biggest tech industry event, following TED and CES. Big-name speakers from this year’s event
- [Playing By the Numbers](https://www.communiquepr.com/playing-by-the-numbers/5863/) - Communiqué PR staff | Every two weeks our team sits down over lunch to discuss client campaigns that are underway or upcoming and to reflect on recent successes and challenges. Aside from being a great team bonding experience, these lunches offer an opportunity to exchange ideas and to learn about new trends and effective media outreach practices from our
- [Got Problems? Tips for Staying Solutions-Oriented in PR](https://www.communiquepr.com/got-problems-tips-for-staying-solutions-oriented-in-pr/5885/) - Communiqué PR staff | A pretty significant chunk of our work in the PR industry is about solving problems. Perhaps the problem is huge: Your Fortune 500 client is facing a major PR headache and it’s your job to fix it. Or perhaps the problem is comparatively small: One of your team members is struggling to nail a pitch.
- [Building Meaningful Relationships: Five Tips From Networking Expert Keith Ferrazzi](https://www.communiquepr.com/building-meaningful-relationships-five-tips-from-networking-expert-keith-ferrazzi/5904/) - Communiqué PR staff | When I graduated from college last spring my career path looked more like a complicated maze with no clear direction. I have a background in communications and journalism, but at the time I wasn’t sure how to narrow down my interests to a specific career or how to go about searching for jobs. My parents
- [The PR Agency of the Future](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-pr-agency-of-the-future/5913/) - Jennifer Gehrt | Yesterday I was reading PR Week’s 15th anniversary issue and came across an article entitled “What will a PR agency look like in 15 years?” It was a compilation of comments about the future from some of today’s industry leaders: Gail Heimann, president of Weber Shandwick; Kim Hunter, president and CEO, Lagrant Communications; and Patrick
- [Amazon's Timely Announcement](https://www.communiquepr.com/amazons-timely-announcement/5920/) - Communiqué PR staff | Technology seems to be advancing at exponential speeds these days. Just look at the changes that have evolved from the first cell phones 30 years ago to today, where interactive smartphones provide us ways to communicate, navigate, and enjoy entertainment from the palms of our hands. So it comes as no surprise that seminal e-commerce
- [The Information: Bold Enough to be a Success?](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-information-bold-enough-to-be-a-success/5927/) - Communiqué PR staff | Earlier this month former Wall Street Journal reporter and editor Jessica Lessin launched a technology and business news site – The Information – that got the media world buzzing. The Information costs a hefty $399 a year, or $39 a month, and offers no free content up front, which is one of the strictest paywalls
- [How Journalists Use Social Media (Infographic)](https://www.communiquepr.com/how-journalists-use-social-media-infographic/5938/) - Communiqué PR staff | For PR pros, the rise of social media has led to new opportunities, strategies and—for many—questions. How can PR pros use social media to reach journalists? Should you use it to pitch reporters? What does it take to be successful? Media-database powerhouse Cision recently published a fascinating infographic, redistributed via PR Daily, revealing the results
- [Reflecting on 2013](https://www.communiquepr.com/reflecting-on-2013/5948/) - Colleen Moffitt | The end of one year and the beginning of a new year is always an invigorating time for me. I enjoy reflecting on the successes and accomplishments of the past, while focusing on new goals and objectives for the coming year. This year is no different, although as 2014 marks 10 years since the founding
- [A Look Back at 2013’s “Most Talked About Companies,” Courtesy of Dow Jones](https://www.communiquepr.com/a-look-back-at-2013s-most-talked-about-companies-courtesy-of-dow-jones/5982/) - Communiqué PR staff | What were the news stories in 2013 that stuck with you? In the world of business, at least, they were probably stories on tech, according to a new infographic from Dow Jones. To mark the end of 2013, Dow Jones released data on the year’s “most talked about companies.” Tech giants Google and Apple
- [Managing a Successful IPO – Tips From Zillow](https://www.communiquepr.com/managing-a-successful-ipo-tips-from-zillow/6011/) - Jennifer Gehrt | Last week I had the opportunity to connect for lunch with Amy Bohutinsky, chief marketing officer for Zillow. Amy has a big job. She is responsible for all marketing and communications for Zillow including branding, public relations, mobile and social media marketing, email, business development and advertising. She is also one of Zillow’s earliest employees
- [PR Lessons From Richard Sherman](https://www.communiquepr.com/pr-lessons-from-richard-sherman/6035/) - Communiqué PR staff | Seahawks mania is at an all-time high in Seattle. The city is plastered with the iconic 12th man flags and not a moment goes by when there isn’t something on TV, radio or online about the team’s march to the Super Bowl. And of course, the big story that everyone is talking about is Richard Sherman’s
- [STEM Education is Still a Problem, Especially for Small Tech](https://www.communiquepr.com/stem-education-is-still-a-problem-especially-for-small-tech/6067/) - Communiqué PR staff | If you've been to a technology conference in the last few years then you've heard about our country's STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education crisis. You've heard that our country's future economy depends on training more students in these critical fields to prepare them for jobs in programming, engineering and more. A lot of
- [Branded Content: It’s the Future – How Will Your Firm Approach It?](https://www.communiquepr.com/branded-content-its-the-future-how-will-your-firm-approach-it/6111/) - Communiqué PR staff | I was catching up on some industry-related reading recently, and came across myriad stories about branded content and how this critical strategy is blurring the lines among marketing services. One story in particular, “The Power of Content,” caught my eye, as it was published in a “branded content” special advertising section of Advertising Age paid
- [Communiqué PR Enhances Its Global Influence by Joining Public Relations Network](https://www.communiquepr.com/communique-pr-enhances-its-global-influence-by-joining-public-relations-network/6087/) - Jennifer Gehrt | It is only February, yet 2014 is already proving to be an exciting year for Communiqué PR! Communiqué is now the official U.S.-based partner for Public Relations Network (PRN), a global network of public relations agencies dedicated to providing high-level consultancy and quality support for worldwide campaigns. PRN has a high-caliber network of partners in
- [Seattle’s Seahawks Victory Parade and the Importance of Celebrating Success](https://www.communiquepr.com/seattles-seahawks-victory-parade-and-the-importance-of-celebrating-success/6130/) - Communiqué PR staff | This past Wednesday, an epic event overtook the city of Seattle: the Seahawks Super Bowl victory parade. According to news reports, some 700,000 people flooded the downtown streets to go full Beast Mode and revel in the Seahawks’ win—the first Super Bowl victory in the history of the franchise. In a city of 634,535, this
- [Turning up the Heat – Driving Awareness Through Targeted Media Outreach](https://www.communiquepr.com/turning-up-the-heat-driving-awareness-through-targeted-media-outreach/6165/) - Communiqué PR staff | With 2013 behind us and the new year just getting underway, now is a great time to look back at the year and reflect on the unique and interesting client campaigns that we worked on at Communiqué PR. One client for whom we’ve had a great experience driving publicity over the course of 2013 is
- [Should PR Pros Be Engaging in Comment Sections Online?](https://www.communiquepr.com/should-pr-pros-be-engaging-in-comment-sections-online-2/6125/) - Communiqué PR staff | In today’s digital world, PR pros are offered an array of avenues to help voice their client’s message and shape public opinion. Comment sections are among these channels, but pose an interesting dilemma. Comment sections have become the playground for “trolls,” or negative commenters. These “trolls” pose a risk of defaming the efforts of PR
- [The Rise of the Contributor](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-rise-of-the-contributor/6102/) - Communiqué PR staff | While pitching an announcement for one our clients recently I ran into an increasingly common problem: The perfect person to pitch was a contributing writer at the publication and I couldn’t track down his contact information. Eventually I found a way to get in touch with him, but it got me thinking about the balance
- [Reaching New Customers for Twisted Pair Solutions](https://www.communiquepr.com/reaching-new-customers-for-twisted-pair-solutions/6213/) - Communiqué PR staff | Last week my colleague Heather looked at some of our team’s great work for our client Mobidia. This week, I thought we would take a look at our work for Twisted Pair Solutions, a company here in Seattle that delivers push-to-talk over broadband solutions. Need to link all different types of communications networks and devices
- [Infographic: Must-Know Social Media Statistics From 2013](https://www.communiquepr.com/infographic-must-know-social-media-statistics-from-2013/6226/) - Communiqué PR staff | While 2014 may already be in full swing, there’s still much that can be learned from 2013. I came across an infographic from SpareFoot which summarizes some truly interesting social media statistics from the past year. As you formulate your social media strategies for 2014, consider the following: In 2013, 30 percent of traffic from
- [CVS Removes Tobacco Products in an Effort to Tie Communications to Long-Term Business Objectives](https://www.communiquepr.com/cvs-removes-tobacco-products-in-an-effort-to-tie-communications-to-long-term-business-objectives/6257/) - Communiqué PR staff | CVS recently announced its decision to stop selling tobacco products. Since tobacco previously took up a fair deal of shelf space in CVS stores, this removal was clearly newsworthy. CVS addressed the topic openly on its website. The title alone was quite a standout: “CVS quits for good. This is the right thing to do.”
- [Lessons From Sochi’s PR Challenges](https://www.communiquepr.com/lessons-from-sochis-pr-challenges/6270/) - Communiqué PR staff | The closing ceremonies of the Winter Olympics last Sunday marked the end of one of the most memorable games in terms of PR. The little host town of Sochi, Russia, got off to a rocky start when many of its hotel rooms were only half finished at the start of the games and the controversial
- [What Evolving Media Means for PR – Insights From Pro Gini Dietrich](https://www.communiquepr.com/what-evolving-media-means-for-pr-insights-from-pro-gini-dietrich/6279/) - Communiqué PR staff | As any savvy PR pro is aware, the state of the media is in constant flux. New media platforms have meant new opportunities for journalists to locate stories and ideas. Social networks have provided robust new ways to connect with influencers. Evolving technology has led to new mediums for breaking through the noise. With an
- [Getting Technical: Why It’s Critical That Your PR Team Understands Your Product](https://www.communiquepr.com/getting-technical-why-its-critical-that-your-pr-team-understands-your-product/6305/) - Communiqué PR staff | Does your PR team speak geek? If they’re in the tech industry, they had better learn. Too often in the tech world you hear about a divide between engineering or product management teams and groups like PR or marketing. It’s easy to see why this could be the case. You wouldn’t ask your PR team
- [How I Lived Without Technology for (Nearly) 24 Hours and Lived to Tell About It](https://www.communiquepr.com/how-i-lived-without-technology-for-nearly-24-hours-and-lived-to-tell-about-it/6316/) - Communiqué PR staff | The challenge put forth by organizers of the annual National Day of Unplugging seemed easy enough: Do you have the willpower to unplug and unwind without electronics for a full 24 hours? I stumbled upon the National Day of Unplugging late last Friday afternoon as I was looking for inspiration for this blog post. For me
- [Thoughts on PR Curriculum for Undergrads](https://www.communiquepr.com/thoughts-on-pr-curriculum-for-undergrads/6331/) - Jennifer Gehrt | Recently, as I browsed articles on Ragan.com, I came across “What PR courses should teach undergrads,” written by Ed Zitron. The piece caught my attention for a couple of reasons. Earlier this year, we received word that our book, “Strategic Public Relations: 10 Principles to Harness the Power of PR,” would be used as a
- [The Power of Images](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-power-of-images/6362/) - Communiqué PR staff | Getty Images recently announced its decision to make some, but not all, of their images free. Nearly 13 million images without watermarks will now be available to the public by simply embedding a code for the image. These embedded images will contain a footer with credit linking to the company’s licensing page. We have been
- [How to Merge Twitter Accounts – Without Losing Followers](https://www.communiquepr.com/how-to-merge-twitter-accounts-without-losing-followers/6373/) - Communiqué PR staff | Up until last week, one of our clients had four Twitter handles. At first, it made sense—a handle for each unique product and its unique audience. But we soon realized we could build a bigger, stronger social media presence with one handle to encompass it all. We were then faced with a dilemma: How could
- [Social, Search or Direct? How Viewers Get to News Matters & What It Means for PR](https://www.communiquepr.com/social-search-or-direct-how-viewers-get-to-news-matters-what-it-means-for-pr/6369/) - Communiqué PR staff | According to a recent, particularly fascinating Pew Research Center report, the path that readers take to arrive at a news site reveals a lot about their level of engagement with the outlet and its content. In other words, the amount of time someone spends reading an article or browsing an online site depends largely on
- [Finding Your Audience](https://www.communiquepr.com/finding-your-audience/6399/) - Communiqué PR staff | So you want to pitch a story. The modern public relations practitioner has thousands of ways to reach his or her audience. There are mommy blogs, industry blogs, analyst reports, social media, national dailies, niche market outlets and glossy magazines—not to mention your company’s or client’s own online newsroom. With so many options available, it’s
- [Surprise! Science Provides Critical Insight Into Headlines: PR Pros and Hacks Can Realize Huge Increase in Content Sharing With Smart Word Selection](https://www.communiquepr.com/surprise-science-provides-critical-insight-into-headlines-pr-pros-and-hacks-can-realize-huge-increase-in-content-sharing-with-smart-word-selection/6411/) - Communiqué PR staff | For many PR practitioners, describing our profession often includes some sort of caveat that PR is more of an art than a science. According to a recent article in Ragan’s PR Daily, this accepted understanding of the industry may be changing. In “Words that makes (sic) your headline more shareable,” writer Adrienne Erin shares a
- [Don't Be Fooled on April 1](https://www.communiquepr.com/dont-be-fooled-on-april-1/6433/) - Communiqué PR staff | April Fools’ Day is tomorrow and along with it will come a flood of pranks and hoaxes from many well-known brands and companies. You can always count on some brilliant spoofs from Google and one of my favorites from last year was Scope’s bacon mouthwash. When executed well, April Fools’ Day pranks are a great
- [Critical Networking Know-How](https://www.communiquepr.com/critical-networking-know-how/6421/) - Jennifer Gehrt | One of my goals in 2014 is to more regularly connect with former colleagues, clients and journalists. It is not always easy to find time to network, but to keep a pulse on the business community as well as to maintain personal connections with the people who have made a difference in my life, it
- [Infographics – A Powerful PR Tool](https://www.communiquepr.com/infographics-a-powerful-pr-tool/6444/) - Communiqué PR staff | One of our clients recently created an infographic presenting data around the end-of-life support for Windows XP. It included a lot of nitty-gritty technical data that would typically make a reader’s eyes glaze over. But when the data was presented in a bold, brightly colored infographic it transformed into interesting factoids that caught our attention
- [Parting the Sea of Selfies: Tips on Creating Effective Content From PR Newswire’s Michael Pranikoff](https://www.communiquepr.com/parting-the-sea-of-selfies-tips-on-creating-effective-content-from-pr-newswires-michael-pranikoff/6455/) - Communiqué PR staff | Content today is produced and consumed at a mind-blowing rate. From news to blogs to social media and multimedia, just about anybody these days with an Internet connection can add their own content to the mix. At the heart of all this content creation lies the selfie. More than just your average duck or kissy
- [Online Media You Should Know](https://www.communiquepr.com/online-media-you-should-know/6473/) - Communiqué PR staff | The Pew Research Center recently released its “State of the News Media 2014” report, which contains some unsurprising information about the growth of digital news consumption and publishing. Consumption of news on mobile devices and via social networks is still trending upward: About half of Facebook’s users read their news on Facebook for instance, whether
- [Regularly Re-Winning Your Clients’ Business](https://www.communiquepr.com/regularly-re-winning-your-clients-business/6508/) - Jennifer Gehrt | Why do some agencies have a significant amount of client churn, while others maintain long client relationships? I posed this question to one of our clients, James Mustarde with Twisted Pair Solutions in Seattle. James has a unique perspective on this topic because early in his career he worked for a PR firm on the
- [Leadership: How to Bring Your “A” Game](https://www.communiquepr.com/leadership-how-to-bring-your-a-game/6518/) - Communiqué PR staff | When you think about the employees in your company and on your team, what sets apart the “good” performers from the “best” performers? Aside from productivity and the ability to meet or exceed the duties and responsibilities outlined in their job descriptions, what leadership skills define your A-players? At Communiqué PR, as in other PR
- [What the Future Holds for Anonymous Gossip Websites and Apps](https://www.communiquepr.com/what-the-future-holds-for-anonymous-gossip-websites-and-apps/6501/) - Communiqué PR staff | Modern technology has created an array of outlets for the public to share their every thought and opinion. People turn to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, blogs, and more to express themselves and share their views. Each outlet offers a different mode of expression, some through words, others through pictures. What these all have in common,
- [The PR Student’s Summer To-Do List](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-pr-students-summer-to-do-list-2/6541/) - Communiqué PR staff | Summer break is right around the corner for many college students, which means it’s time for aspiring PR pros to plan how they can get a head start on their careers before going back to class in the fall. It may not be as fun as hitting the beach, but there are several items that
- [Infographic: Think Your Company Doesn’t Need a LinkedIn? Think Again](https://www.communiquepr.com/infographic-think-your-company-doesnt-need-a-linkedin-think-again/6545/) - Communiqué PR staff | When it comes to brand promotion, it can often be easy for companies to overlook the value of LinkedIn as a viable platform. Compared to its “trendier” cousins—mainly Facebook and Twitter—LinkedIn can come across as being more for personal job-hunting and networking purposes than for creative brand engagement and content marketing. That may be true
- [Positive Word of Mouth and Customer Referrals Drive Growth for Summit Imaging](https://www.communiquepr.com/no-venture-capital-needed-growing-a-business-without-funding/6553/) - Communiqué PR staff | Yesterday I was reading an article offering tips to entrepreneurs who want to grow their startup companies while maintaining ownership of their equity. The article, entitled “Who needs VC Money? Not this profitable startup,” was written by Ryan Shank, co-founder and COO of Mhelpdesk, who opted to focus his company’s limited resources on product development
- [Knowing Your Audience is Critical to Social Media Campaigns: A Reminder Courtesy of the NYPD](https://www.communiquepr.com/knowing-your-audience-is-critical-to-social-media-campaigns-a-reminder-courtesy-of-the-nypd/6566/) - Communiqué PR staff | You don’t have to be a social media or public relations expert to realize that the New York Police Department’s (NYPD) recent and well-intended #myNYPD Twitter campaign quickly turned into an epic fail for the nation’s largest police force. Shortly after issuing an invitation to people to post photos of them posing with the city’s
- [Infographic: The Best Times to Post, Pin and Tweet](https://www.communiquepr.com/infographic-the-best-times-to-post-pin-and-tweet/6578/) - Communiqué PR staff | Many articles have been written about the optimal times to post on social media, most with varying opinions, but on this we can all agree: Timing is everything. A recent infographic published by SurePayroll summarizes the best and worst times for posting, pinning and tweeting. According to the infographic: On Facebook, updates posted between 1
- [Smartsheet Secures Another $35 Million](https://www.communiquepr.com/smartsheet-secures-another-35-million/6584/) - Jennifer Gehrt | This week was an exciting one with the work for our client Smartsheet, a leading provider of a collaborative work management tool that we and 42,000 other businesses use every day. On Monday, May 5, 2014, Smartsheet, already well on its way to changing the way that enterprises work, announced it has secured another $35-million round
- [An Evolution of Change in Social Media: FB Newswire and LinkedIn Publishing](https://www.communiquepr.com/an-evolution-of-change-in-social-media-fb-newswire-and-linkedin-publishing/6610/) - Communiqué PR staff | Social media is relatively new, but it has proven to be a vital element in the customer-engagement equation for businesses. With the constant changes taking place on social channels, it is important for companies to understand how to best use these valuable tools for gaining attention from target audiences. In particular, recent changes on Facebook
- [Rethink, Reuse, Repurpose: Tips for Making the Most of Your Content](https://www.communiquepr.com/rethink-reuse-repurpose-tips-for-making-the-most-of-your-content/6602/) - Communiqué PR staff | Creating meaningful content that perfectly displays your industry thought leadership can be an arduous process. So when you come up with something brilliant, why not utilize it to its full potential? Repurposing can extend the life of your content and boost the number of people who see it. As Frank Strong points out in his
- [Reaching a Niche Market for Spaceflight Inc.](https://www.communiquepr.com/reaching-a-niche-market-for-spaceflight-inc/6617/) - Communiqué PR staff | We’ve had some fun recently working with one of our clients on an exciting company announcement. Seattle-based Spaceflight Inc., a spaceflight logistics company reinventing the model for launching small satellites into space, recently secured a launch service agreement for the maiden voyage of its SHERPA platform. The SHERPA, a free-flying satellite platform and in-space tug
- [Lessons in Leadership and Authenticity From NBA MVP Kevin Durant](https://www.communiquepr.com/lessons-in-leadership-and-authenticity-from-nba-mvp-kevin-durant/6646/) - Communiqué PR staff | On Tuesday, May 6, the NBA named Oklahoma City Thunder player Kevin Durant as its Most Valuable Player (MVP). That day, during a press conference staged by his team, Durant showed his true colors as an inspiring and authentic leader. During his more than 25-minute, unscripted acceptance speech, Durant spent little time talking about his
- [Building Homes With Smartsheet](https://www.communiquepr.com/building-homes-with-smartsheet/6661/) - Communiqué PR staff | I’m very fortunate to work for a company that supports its employees’ volunteer causes. From making financial donations to enabling employees to participate in volunteer activities, Communiqué PR fully embraces the spirit of giving back to the community. One of the causes I’m passionate about is an annual volunteer trip I help organize to build
- [Making Sense of LinkedIn’s Publishing Capabilities](https://www.communiquepr.com/making-sense-of-linkedins-publishing-capabilities/6716/) - Jennifer Gehrt | One of our clients recently asked us to come up with ideas to create visibility for C-level executives who are interested in building their personal brands in conjunction with building the corporate brand. It was a fun assignment and we outlined several strategies for helping them. One of these focused on regularly contributing content on
- [The Importance of B2B Marketing](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-importance-of-b2b-marketing/6739/) - Communiqué PR staff | As a marketing major, I am constantly learning about the new ways that companies are attracting consumer attention and proving their brand’s value over the competitors. The ads and promotions that people commonly associate with marketing are those for consumer products. However, marketing is equally important for those companies seeking to create value for their
- [Learning to Juggle – How David Allen Helped Me Manage the Many Moving Parts of PR](https://www.communiquepr.com/learning-to-juggle-how-david-allen-helped-me-manage-the-many-moving-parts-of-pr/6706/) - Communiqué PR staff | Looking back on my first six months in the PR industry, one of the most important skills I’ve learned is how to manage everything on my plate. Working at a PR agency requires exceptional time management and precise organization to stay on top of every client’s needs, and it only took dropping the ball on
- [2014 AP Stylebook Updates – A Sign of the Times](https://www.communiquepr.com/2014-ap-stylebook-updates-a-sign-of-the-times/6754/) - Communiqué PR staff | It’s that time of the year again—last week, the Associated Press (AP) released the 2014 edition of its AP Stylebook, better known to many as the journalist’s bible. If you work at all with media, you’re undoubtedly well aware of the book’s unique style and grammar rules. As PR pros, we likewise abide by the
- [Understanding the Role VCs Play in Public Relations](https://www.communiquepr.com/understanding-the-role-vcs-play-in-public-relations/6728/) - Communiqué PR staff | In today’s highly competitive tech industry, it’s just not enough to have a great idea or a winning design concept – one needs to have the resources to turn that spark of creativity into a thriving company. Established entrepreneurs understand the need to weigh the costs and benefits associated with adopting different financial strategies like
- [Buzz Building Through Customer Service](https://www.communiquepr.com/buzz-building-through-customer-service/6767/) - Jennifer Gehrt | There have been many articles written about Zappos branding strategy and brand promise. The company has a reputation of repeat business and customer loyalty due to word of mouth about its fantastic customer service. Just take a look at this 2010 article, "Branding Through Customer Service, From Delivering Happiness: A Path to Passion, Profits and
- [Infographic: The State of Social Media for PR Pros](https://www.communiquepr.com/infographic-the-state-of-social-media-for-pr-pros/6786/) - Communiqué PR staff | Who are your most trusted media sources? A recent survey by Cision and PR News overwhelmingly found that print media and their online equivalents are still the go-to outlets for PR pros. That’s probably not very surprising, but it is telling that despite shrinking newsrooms, changes in journalism and our increasingly social media-driven world, tried-and-true
- [Google’s Panda 4.0 and the Implications for PR Pros](https://www.communiquepr.com/googles-panda-4-0-and-the-implications-for-pr-pros/6809/) - Communiqué PR staff | Google recently began implementing a new update to its search algorithm known as Panda 4.0. Google created this update in order to help remove “thin content,” or low-quality search results, from its search rankings. Low-quality to Google means duplicating content, key word stuffing, content that’s not useful, or poor engagement metrics, such as low time
- [The Devil is in the Details: Tips for Effective Proofreading](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-devil-is-in-the-details-tips-for-effective-proofreading/6795/) - Communiqué PR staff | Have you ever experienced the sinking feeling of seeing a typo in something you wrote—whether it’s a published article, a press release or an important email—and realizing there’s nothing you can do about it? Once the email has been sent or the article has been published that typo will live on forever. And if the
- [Corporate Guidelines a Must as LinkedIn Opens New Publishing Capabilities](https://www.communiquepr.com/corporate-guidelines-a-must-as-linkedin-opens-new-publishing-capabilities/6828/) - Jennifer Gehrt | Recently, I wrote about publishing capabilities on LinkedIn and the social media giant’s plans to invite all its members to contribute articles via long-form posts. Since that time, I began thinking about the implications of this new capability as it pertains to copyright, other forms of intellectual property, corporate guidelines and staff education. For instance,
- [The Changing Landscape of Media Relations: My Advice to PR Pros](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-changing-landscape-of-media-relations-my-advice-to-pr-pros/6817/) - Communiqué PR staff | As PR professionals, we love the adrenaline rush of landing that big interview for a client with the Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg or the New York Times, and yet few outside of the industry actually understand the myriad of factors reporters consider when deciding whether or not to open up our emails, respond to our
- [Congratulations to Medio](https://www.communiquepr.com/congratulations-to-medio/6842/) - Communiqué PR staff | Congratulations to Communiqué PR client Medio on their acquisition by Nokia’s HERE division! The companies announced the acquisition plans June 12 and since then the news has garnered nearly 100 articles from outlets including TechCrunch, Bloomberg, PC Magazine, Wireless Week and GeekWire, to name just a few. HERE, a leader in navigation, mapping and location
- [Five Tips for Improving Your Team’s Productivity](https://www.communiquepr.com/five-tips-for-improving-your-teams-productivity/6849/) - Jennifer Gehrt | Think about the last time you moved to a new apartment or home – you probably did not do it alone. After all, it is nearly impossible for one person to move a sofa or bed solo. Like many things in life, moving is simply much easier and faster with the help of a well-organized
- [The Right to be Forgotten](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-right-to-be-forgotten/6865/) - Communiqué PR staff | The European Union’s top court recently ordered that search engines within the EU adhere to “right to be forgotten” removal requests. The court ruled that Google and other search engines are “data controllers” and, as a result, are responsible for the content they display, meaning if an individual wishes for the removal of personal information
- [Mastering the Art of Newsjacking](https://www.communiquepr.com/mastering-the-art-of-newsjacking/6874/) - Communiqué PR staff | Newsjacking, a term coined by David Meerman Scott, refers to the process of injecting your own angles or ideas into a breaking news item or current trend to generate media coverage for your client. The technique can be incredibly effective because it hinges on one of the most important criteria of every news story –
- [PR Worldwide – The Importance of In-Country Support](https://www.communiquepr.com/pr-worldwide-the-importance-of-in-country-support/6890/) - Colleen Moffitt | In early July my Communiqué PR cohort Jaymelina Esmele and I traveled to Brescia, Italy, to participate in the semi-annual meeting of the PRN, a worldwide network of boutique PR firms. Our firm joined the network at the start of 2014 after working with two member agencies, Proof Communication and Sympra, on joint projects, and
- [The State of Public Relations 2014 Busts Myths About How PR Professionals Employ Digital Media Technologies](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-state-of-public-relations-2014-busts-myths-about-how-pr-professionals-employ-digital-media-technologies/6898/) - Communiqué PR staff | If you have been practicing public relations for longer than a decade, you are more than aware that the industry and how we practice the craft have evolved in response to new digital tools. From email and social media, to branded digital content and SEO tactics, we have been provided with such an abundance of
- [Tips for Maintaining Your Productivity Through the Dog Days of Summer](https://www.communiquepr.com/tips-for-maintaining-your-productivity-through-the-dog-days-of-summer/6911/) - Communiqué PR staff | Some say the pace of work and productivity moves a bit slower during the summer months. That is definitely not the case in our office, where deadlines know no season, but amid the busyness, the vibe seems a little more relaxed. In the Pacific Northwest, where everyone wants to take advantage of every moment of
- [Uber’s Price Cuts](https://www.communiquepr.com/ubers-price-cuts/6937/) - Communiqué PR staff | Earlier this month, Uber – a revolutionary ride-share program connecting riders to drivers through its apps, now servicing over 70 cities – announced dramatic prices cuts in dozen of its U.S. markets, causing quite the stir. The New York market has seen a 20 percent price cut for the company’s UberX services and the San
- [PR and the Art of Persuasion: What PR Professionals Can Learn From Academia](https://www.communiquepr.com/pr-and-the-art-of-persuasion-what-pr-professionals-can-learn-from-academia/6930/) - Communiqué PR staff | Prior to making a career move to public relations, I worked in academia for six years as an English teacher and tutor. Though the parallels might not seem obvious at first glance, both careers are rooted in creating narratives that persuade an audience. The act of teaching is itself a performance designed to persuade an
- [How Real-Time Moments Demand New-School PR Approaches](https://www.communiquepr.com/how-real-time-moments-demand-new-school-pr-approaches/6943/) - Communiqué PR staff | Remember a time before #hashtags, social media managers, and teams dedicated to real-time marketing during major sporting events like the Super Bowl? As more and more consumers are heading online during big cultural moments – whether they be awards shows, large-scale sporting events or major political forums like presidential debates – social media has become
- [Reddit Live Hits the Interverse – 6 Things to Know About the New Live-Blogging Feature](https://www.communiquepr.com/reddit-live-hits-the-interverse-6-things-to-know-about-the-new-live-blogging-feature/6918/) - Communiqué PR staff | Last month, Reddit announced the release of Reddit Live, its own live-blogging feature. The “breaking news” platform allows Redditors to create their own live blogs via subreddits and invite contributors to post real-time updates. Unlike traditional Reddit threads, Reddit Live threads update automatically—meaning anyone watching will receive instant updates without having to refresh the feed.
- [Four Ways to Supercharge Your LinkedIn Sponsored Updates](https://www.communiquepr.com/four-ways-to-supercharge-your-linkedin-sponsored-updates/6962/) - Communiqué PR staff | LinkedIn recently revamped its Sponsored Updates advertising option with the release of Direct Sponsored Content, a solution that allows users to test, tailor and target messages before publishing them. Prior to the update, brands could only sponsor messages that they first posted to their LinkedIn pages as organic content, which limited the ability to test
- [Spaceflight Networks: A Cost-Effective Solution for Small-Satellite Communications](https://www.communiquepr.com/spaceflight-networks-a-cost-effective-solution-for-small-satellite-communications/6975/) - Communiqué PR staff | Spaceflight Inc. is at it again! The Seattle-based company reinventing the model for launching small satellites into space has expanded its services to include Spaceflight Networks, a business dedicated to cost-effective spacecraft communications and operations for small-satellite customers. With the addition of Spaceflight Networks, Spaceflight Inc. becomes the first and only company capable of offering
- [5 Ways to Propel Creativity in PR](https://www.communiquepr.com/5-ways-to-propel-creativity-in-pr/6990/) - Communiqué PR staff | In a writing-heavy job such as PR, it’s easy to encounter some serious writer’s block that stops you straight in your tracks. You know the feeling: you’ve got a byline due in three hours, and your cursor blinks incessantly on a blank page. Never fear—there are proven, tangible ways to help you and your colleagues
- [The Success of Seattle Children’s Autism Blog](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-success-of-seattle-childrens-autism-blog/6998/) - Jennifer Gehrt | In the United States, according to the CDC, autism spectrum disorder affects one in 68 children. In the Pacific Northwest, we are fortunate to have an excellent organization – Seattle Children’s Autism Center – committed to providing assessment, diagnosis, treatment and support for those with or caring for children with autism spectrum disorders. In early
- [The Art of Apologizing on Twitter](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-art-of-apologizing-on-twitter/7013/) - Communiqué PR staff | As Twitter’s popularity and user base have rapidly grown in the last eight years, companies have used this as an opportunity to engage customers on the social networking and micro-blogging site. Twitter has become a medium for entertainment, news, product releases and reviews, as well as brand building. However, the instantaneous, small word-count tweet can
- [The Tech Boom & VC Influence: Why Seattle is the Next Silicon Valley](https://www.communiquepr.com/the-tech-boom-vc-influence-why-seattle-is-the-next-silicon-valley/7033/) - Communiqué PR staff | Quentin Hardy of The New York Times recently wrote a story that positions Seattle as the next tech capital, highlighting a trend that is changing the way people think about the Emerald City. For a city mostly known as the birthplace of Starbucks, the Seahawks and rain, a recent influx of Silicon Valley venture capital
- [What Journalists Want: Findings From the 2014 Business Wire Media Survey](https://www.communiquepr.com/what-journalists-want-findings-from-the-2014-business-wire-media-survey/7019/) - Communiqué PR staff | As PR professionals, we are constantly trying to get into journalists’ heads to determine what they’re looking for from us. What kinds of multimedia elements are most helpful? How in-depth should our pitches be? Should we engage reporters on Twitter? Luckily Business Wire might have some of the answers. It recently conducted a media survey
- [What PR Pros Should Know About Facebook’s Latest News Feed Update](https://www.communiquepr.com/what-pr-pros-should-know-about-facebooks-latest-news-feed-update/7045/) - Communiqué PR staff | Last week, Facebook quietly announced in a blog post that it has updated its policies around “click-bait” links. According to the post, click-baiting refers to links “with a headline that encourages people to click to see more, without telling them much information about what they will see.” We’ve all seen these—you’re scrolling down your news
- [VoloMetrix Files for Patent for Its Groundbreaking Predictive People Analytics Technology](https://www.communiquepr.com/volometrix-files-for-patent-for-its-groundbreaking-predictive-people-analytics-technology-2/7074/) - Communiqué PR staff | This month has been an exciting one for our client VoloMetrix, a leading people analytics company that provides unprecedented insights into how companies invest their most valuable resources— their time and human capital. On Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2014, VoloMetrix announced that it has filed for a patent for its revolutionary people analytics technology. As part
- [How to Avoid Breaking PR’s Cardinal Rule](https://www.communiquepr.com/how-to-avoid-breaking-prs-cardinal-rule/7087/) - Communiqué PR staff | Recently, a writer at Newsweek published a story recounting his week-long experiment to read and to reply within 36 hours to every PR pitch he received. Given the volume of pitches that landed in his inbox, it was a noble effort. Some of the experiences he relayed made me chuckle, but a lot of his
- [To Retain or Omit the Oxford Comma](https://www.communiquepr.com/to-retain-or-omit-the-oxford-comma/7094/) - Communiqué PR staff | The use of the serial, or Oxford, comma has been a long debated topic. For those unfamiliar with the debate over this “rule,” an example with a serial comma follows: I have traveled to Seattle, San Francisco, and Dallas. Whereas, a serial comma omitted looks as follows: I have traveled to Seattle, San Francisco and
- [Tips for Leveraging Twitter’s New Analytics Dashboard](https://www.communiquepr.com/tips-for-leveraging-twitters-new-analytics-dashboard/7114/) - Communiqué PR staff | Have you ever wondered how many people actually read your tweets? Now that Twitter has made its analytics dashboard available to everyone you can find out. The dashboard, which was previously only offered to advertisers and verified accounts, provides details on your tweets' engagement as well as follower demographics. You can check it out at
- [Point Inside Takes the Spotlight in Retail Innovation – Announcing Its Rapid Growth](https://www.communiquepr.com/point-inside-takes-the-spotlight-in-retail-innovation-announcing-its-rapid-growth/7121/) - Communiqué PR staff | It’s been an excitingly busy time for one of our clients, Point Inside, the provider of a mobile shopper engagement platform for Top 100 retailers. Point Inside’s StoreMode™ platform powers retailers’ branded apps with real-time, store-specific product search and location to help shoppers quickly find what they need in stores. We recently helped Point Inside
- [Annenberg Study Reinforces Importance of PR as Strategic Asset](https://www.communiquepr.com/annenberg-study-reinforces-importance-of-pr-as-strategic-asset/7135/) - Colleen Moffitt | In June, the USC Annenberg Strategic Communication and Public Relations Center released results from its eighth biennial Communication and Public Relations Generally Accepted Practices (GAP VIII) Study. The report is focused on providing senior communicators with “guidance as they manage their organizations, develop strategy, and prepare for the future.” Data was gathered from professionals in
- [Be Inspired by These “Under 40s”](https://www.communiquepr.com/be-inspired-by-these-under-40s/7143/) - Communiqué PR staff | Last month I had the opportunity to attend the Puget Sound Business Journal’s 16th annual 40 Under 40 honoree bash in support of Larry Nguyen, CEO of Summit Imaging and client of Communiqué PR. This year, Larry joined the ranks of Seattle’s young business superstars honored for their business leadership and contributions to the community.

## Pages

- [Home](https://www.communiquepr.com/) - Communiqué Public Relations is a boutique firm focused on providing strategic public relations counsel and tactical services.
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- [Client Newsrooms](https://www.communiquepr.com/client-newsrooms/) - Acumatica‌ Amperity BitTitan Carbon Robotics‌ Delta-Q Flowroute (BCM One) HNTB Mosaicx QorusDocs Schnitzer West Shiftboard Tideworks Technology Zapi Group Recent Posts Acumatica’s Award-Winning Streak: A Testament to Innovation and Excellence Best Practices for Effectively Managing Organizational Change Best Practices for Managing Review Cycles Crisis Preparedness and Response: The Essential Role of PR in a Rapidly
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- [About Us](https://www.communiquepr.com/about/) - Our Working Style, Decidedly Strategic We value highly collaborative relationships with our clients who appreciate having an agency at their side to help them meet company objectives. We are decidedly strategic in our thinking, focused in our implementation and dedicated to providing measurable results along with exceptional client service. We are easy to work with,
- [Our Book](https://www.communiquepr.com/strategic-public-relations-book/) - BUY We believe in the power of strategic public relations to help companies achieve their business and communication objectives. However, oftentimes people get too focused on the tactics and lose site of the larger strategy and desired outcomes. This is why we wrote Strategic Public Relations: 10 Principles to Harness the Power of PR. It serves as
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- [Leadership Team](https://www.communiquepr.com/leadership-team/)
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- [Read Story](https://www.communiquepr.com/read-story/) - We believe PR is and should be a means to an end: a way to gain market share, grow a brand, recruit talent, drive sales, or even the valuation of a company. What distinguishes our work is our ability to tell our clients' stories in a clear and compelling manner and in a way that

## Client News

- [Donnett Cox joins HNTB’s New Jersey office as group director](https://www.communiquepr.com/client_news/donnett-cox-joins-hntbs-new-jersey-office-as-group-director/) - Donnett Cox has joined HNTB’s New Jersey office as group director of construction services. Cox transferred from HNTB’s New York office, where she held an impressive eight-and-a-half-year tenure, most recently serving as senior project manager.
- [Asvin Mandadi joins HNTB as project director in Seattle](https://www.communiquepr.com/client_news/asvin-mandadi-joins-hntb-as-project-director-in-seattle/) - Asvin Mandadi, PE, has joined HNTB as an engineering project director and associate vice president in Seattle. Mandadi brings nearly three decades of experience successfully delivering transportation infrastructure projects and programs, both domestically and abroad, to his new role.
- [Shiftboard Selects Eric Amblard as its Chief Financial Officer](https://www.communiquepr.com/client_news/shiftboard-selects-eric-amblard-as-its-chief-financial-officer/) - Shiftboard announced Eric Amblard has joined the company’s executive leadership team as chief financial officer (CFO).
- [Acumatica Upgrades Business Functionality Across Industries with Launch of Latest Product Update](https://www.communiquepr.com/client_news/acumatica-upgrades-business-functionality-across-industries-with-launch-of-latest-product-update/) - Acumatica announced the availability of a new set of innovative features and capabilities comprising the company’s latest product update, Acumatica 2023 R2. The release of its cloud ERP update demonstrates the company’s commitment to delivering best-in-class applications that centralize business operations and address real-world needs.
- [Amperity Recognized as a Leader in Snowflake’s Modern Marketing Data Stack Report](https://www.communiquepr.com/client_news/amperity-recognized-as-a-leader-in-snowflakes-modern-marketing-data-stack-report/) - Amperity, the leading AI-powered customer data platform (CDP) for enterprise brands, today announced that it has been recognized as a Customer Data Activation Leader in the Modern Marketing Data Stack 2023: How Data-Forward Marketers Are Redefining Strategies to Unify, Analyze, and Activate Data to Boost Revenue executed and launched by Snowflake, the Data Cloud company.
- [Acumatica Appoints Jeff Smits as Chief Information Officer](https://www.communiquepr.com/client_news/acumatica-appoints-jeff-smits-as-chief-information-officer/) - Acumatica, an industry-leading business solutions provider, announced tech industry veteran Jeff Smits has joined the company as its chief information officer (CIO), effective September 11. Smits joins the Acumatica leadership team with a breadth of experience spearheading innovation and advising technology strategy at leading organizations.
- [Celebrating Caltrain’s huge strides toward electrification](https://www.communiquepr.com/client_news/celebrating-caltrains-huge-strides-toward-electrification/) - HNTB joins Caltrain in celebrating the significant progress that has been made in the electrification of Caltrain’s corridor from the San Francisco Station to the Tamien Station. This electrification project, which has been in the works since 2016, will provide passengers with enhanced speed, capacity, safety and comfort, while reducing emissions and improving air quality.
- [iVT Expo Europe 2023: Recap and Post-Show Wrap Up](https://www.communiquepr.com/client_news/ivt-expo-europe-2023-recap-and-post-show-wrap-up/) - Climate change isn’t a distant threat—it’s our present reality. In response, the industrial vehicle technology sector is proactively shifting towards sustainable solutions. The Industrial & Off-Highway Vehicle Technology Expo (iVT Expo) Europe 2023 highlighted the strides taken by this sector, committing to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

## Services

- [Our Vision & Values](https://www.communiquepr.com/services/fourth-features/) - Public relations services that succeed on multiple levels for our clients. Guiding us in our work is a set of simple yet dynamic core values. Read more
- [Around the World](https://www.communiquepr.com/services/around-the-world/) - As a member of the Public Relations Network (PRN), we extend our clients’ reach to critical markets in 26 countries. Learn more
- [Why PR​](https://www.communiquepr.com/services/why-pr​/) - There is nothing that gets me more excited than a compelling and complicated story. I love the challenge of figuring out the right way to share it, determining the timing and identifying all the necessary elements to bring the story to life. It is deeply rewarding to see how media coverage helps our clients achieve
- [The Book](https://www.communiquepr.com/services/the-book/) - We are big believers in the power of strategic public relations to meet business goals. You could even say we wrote the book on it. Check it out
- [Leadership Team](https://www.communiquepr.com/services/leadership-team/) - We are a smart, responsive, creative and experienced team of professionals dedicated to the practice of PR and passionate about shaping and telling clients' stories. Meet the leaders
- [Off the Clock​  ​](https://www.communiquepr.com/services/off-the-clock​-2/) - I enjoy running, hiking, traveling and spending time with friends.
- [Off the Clock](https://www.communiquepr.com/services/off-the-clock​/) - When I am not working, you'll find me spending time with my husband, getting together with my book club, which includes four friends from college, enjoying a spinning class or working on creative writing. I’m working on a historical fiction.​
- [Prior Lives​](https://www.communiquepr.com/services/prior-lives​-2/) - Prior to co-founding Communiqué PR, I was with Waggener Edstrom, Tegic Communications / AOL, and AT&T Wireless Services (formerly McCaw Cellular Communications).​
- [Education​](https://www.communiquepr.com/services/education​-2/) - I graduated from the University of Oregon with a bachelor's degree in Business Administration. I was also fortunate for the opportunity to study at Nijenrode (now Nyenrode Business Universiteit) in the Netherlands, where I earned an international business diploma.​
- [Prior Lives​](https://www.communiquepr.com/services/prior-lives​/) - Before founding Communiqué with Jennifer in 2004, I was a program manager for RealNetworks. I managed competitive reviews, led feature definition and developed detailed specifications. Prior to joining RealNetworks, I was at Microsoft.​
- [Education​](https://www.communiquepr.com/services/education​/) - I graduated from University of Puget Sound with a bachelor's degree in Psychology and a minor in Business. I also completed a year of French studies at the Universitaire d'Etudes Francaises of the University of Grenoble III.​
- [Why PR](https://www.communiquepr.com/services/why-pr/) - As someone that loves mysteries and puzzles, I enjoy figuring out how to help my clients tell and share their stories in effective and creative ways.

## Case Studies

- [HNTB](https://www.communiquepr.com/case-study/hntb/) - HNTB Corporation is an employee-owned infrastructure solutions firm serving public and private owners and construction contractors. With more than a century of service in the United States and more than 55 years in Seattle, HNTB continues to grow in size and service offerings to clients from its office in Bellevue, currently employing more than 130
- [A Place for Mom](https://www.communiquepr.com/case-study/a-place-for-mom/) - Founded in 2000, A Place for Mom (APFM) helps families navigate the maze of senior housing options and has grown to become the largest senior living referral service in the U.S. and Canada. Although the company’s name focuses on "Mom," APFM is a resource for anyone faced with finding the best senior living options for
- [Darigold](https://www.communiquepr.com/case-study/darigold/) - Darigold, a member owned co-op representing nearly 500 family farms across the Northwest, has been producing the finest dairy products since 1918. Darigold producers provide high-quality nutrition for customers, steward the land to pass on to their children and grandchildren, and contribute to the communities where they live and work. Darigold understands the value consumers
- [Schnitzer West](https://www.communiquepr.com/case-study/schnitzer-west/) - Schnitzer West is one of the West Coast’s fastest growing real-estate investment, development and property management companies. Since its inception in 1997, Schnitzer West has developed 8 million square feet of property in the Seattle, Portland and Denver markets, including class A+ core and suburban office space, flex and bio-tech space, luxury multi-family apartment and
- [Spaceflight](https://www.communiquepr.com/case-study/spaceflight/) - Spaceflight Industries, based in Seattle, Wash., is a next-generation space company enabling access to space and redefining global intelligence. The company’s distinct approach of “using up there to make down here better” focuses on removing the complexities and high cost that once prohibited the majority of organizations from getting to space. Through its services Spaceflight
- [Tideworks Technology](https://www.communiquepr.com/case-study/tideworks-technology/) - Tideworks Technology, Inc., headquartered in Seattle, Wash. and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Carrix, Inc., is a leading international marine terminal operator with more than a century of port and transportation experience. Tideworks leverages proven technology and industry best practices to maximize operational productivity and enhance communication with customers and partners in major commercial transportation and shipping centers throughout

## Jobs

- [Account Executive](https://www.communiquepr.com/job/account-executive/) - Account Executive Job Description: Communiqué PR is seeking an Account Executive with experience in public relations, media relations, and content development to join our team. The ideal candidate is a strong writer, a proactive communicator, and highly organized, with a passion for delivering high-quality work that aligns with client business and communication objectives. The Account

## Clients

- [Blumira](https://www.communiquepr.com/client/blumira/)
- [Cirtec Medical](https://www.communiquepr.com/client/cirtec-medical/)
- [SSA Marine](https://www.communiquepr.com/client/ssa-marine/)
- [Acumatica](https://www.communiquepr.com/client/acumatica/)
- [ABC Legal Services](https://www.communiquepr.com/client/abc-legal-services/)
- [Orbite](https://www.communiquepr.com/client/orbite/)
- [NAWE](https://www.communiquepr.com/client/nawe/)
- [Tideworks Technology](https://www.communiquepr.com/client/tideworks-technology/)
- [Zapi](https://www.communiquepr.com/client/zapi/)
- [QuorosDocs](https://www.communiquepr.com/client/quorosdocs/)
- [Mosaicx](https://www.communiquepr.com/client/mosaicx/)
- [Carbon Robotics](https://www.communiquepr.com/client/carbon-robotics/)
- [BCM One](https://www.communiquepr.com/client/bcm-one/)
- [Amperity](https://www.communiquepr.com/client/amperity/)
- [Advent eModal](https://www.communiquepr.com/client/advent-emodal/)
- [Eastside Academy](https://www.communiquepr.com/client/eastside-academy/)
- [Kantola Training Solutions](https://www.communiquepr.com/client/kantola-training-solutions/)
- [Light Rider](https://www.communiquepr.com/client/light-rider/)
- [LeoStella](https://www.communiquepr.com/client/leostella/)
- [Flowroute](https://www.communiquepr.com/client/flowroute/)
- [BitTitan](https://www.communiquepr.com/client/bittitan/)
- [Buurst](https://www.communiquepr.com/client/buurst/)
- [Shiftboard](https://www.communiquepr.com/client/shiftboard/)
- [Panopto](https://www.communiquepr.com/client/panopto/)
- [Smartsheet](https://www.communiquepr.com/client/smartsheet/) - Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. In a mauris nec risus fermentum ultricies. Pellentesque mattis nibh augue, ac tristique felis viverra sit amet. Nullam vulputate mollis nibh id varius. Pellentesque congue sem purus, sed feugiat magna porta ultrices. Nunc varius lectus pellentesque nibh imperdiet luctus sed eu justo. Maecenas tortor leo, feugiat ac
- [Attachmate](https://www.communiquepr.com/client/attachmate/)
- [VoloMetrix](https://www.communiquepr.com/client/volometrix/)
- [Kymeta](https://www.communiquepr.com/client/kymeta/)
- [SAM Medical Products](https://www.communiquepr.com/client/sam-medical-products/)
- [Alaska Airlines](https://www.communiquepr.com/client/alaska-airlines/) - Curabitur ornare eu libero vel porta. Sed dignissim, urna vitae consectetur sagittis, ex nibh eleifend elit, sit amet tincidunt magna orci sed odio. Integer elit ligula, gravida finibus enim ac, mollis dignissim magna. Phasellus venenatis mauris tellus, eget auctor dolor tempus sed. Vestibulum nec nibh luctus, fermentum augue ac, blandit odio. Sed vulputate risus nec
- [Bank of America](https://www.communiquepr.com/client/bank-of-america/)
- [Big Fish Games](https://www.communiquepr.com/client/big-fish-games/)
- [Darigold Inc.](https://www.communiquepr.com/client/darigold-inc/)
- [Facebook](https://www.communiquepr.com/client/facebook/)
- [HNTB](https://www.communiquepr.com/client/hntb/) - Pellentesque venenatis nisi lectus, et pharetra sapien laoreet id. Nunc maximus enim eros, ut rhoncus lectus tincidunt sit amet. In vel risus at diam euismod venenatis. In facilisis, libero vitae bibendum interdum, quam urna congue leo, quis elementum leo nisl at dui. Vivamus justo ante, lobortis sit amet est ut, porta venenatis dolor. Duis blandit
- [Schnitzer West](https://www.communiquepr.com/client/schnitzer-west/)
- [Spaceflight Industries](https://www.communiquepr.com/client/spaceflight-industries/)
- [BlackSky](https://www.communiquepr.com/client/blacksky/) - Pellentesque venenatis nisi lectus, et pharetra sapien laoreet id. Nunc maximus enim eros, ut rhoncus lectus tincidunt sit amet. In vel risus at diam euismod venenatis. In facilisis, libero vitae bibendum interdum, quam urna congue leo, quis elementum leo nisl at dui. Vivamus justo ante, lobortis sit amet est ut, porta venenatis dolor. Duis blandit
- [WGU Washington](https://www.communiquepr.com/client/wgu-washington/) - Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Pellentesque malesuada posuere risus. Donec volutpat quis diam eget vulputate. Ut at pharetra sem. Sed nec ex et quam vulputate lacinia. Aliquam vel placerat augue. Donec tempor mattis risus a porta. Sed tincidunt lacus at neque mattis, at dictum nunc dictum. Aenean in fringilla dui, vitae dapibus
- [Rwanda Girls Initiative](https://www.communiquepr.com/client/rwanda-girls-initiative/)
- [St. Thomas School](https://www.communiquepr.com/client/st-thomas-school/)
- [Seattle Children’s hospital](https://www.communiquepr.com/client/seattle-childrens-hospital/) - Nunc lacus mauris, interdum ut tempus a, interdum sit amet elit. Curabitur eleifend massa suscipit eros pellentesque iaculis. Suspendisse posuere nulla quis tincidunt lacinia. Donec sed odio feugiat velit lobortis dignissim. Ut lacus leo, auctor sed sodales vel, venenatis sit amet ante. Nulla quis ipsum vel metus egestas pretium. Vestibulum id quam at purus tempus
- [Pacific NW Fertility](https://www.communiquepr.com/client/pacific-nw-fertility/)
- [Novo Nordisk](https://www.communiquepr.com/client/novo-nordisk/)
- [Dell EMC](https://www.communiquepr.com/client/dell-emc/)
- [Delta-Q](https://www.communiquepr.com/client/delta-q/)

## Category

- [Our Services](https://www.communiquepr.com/services_category/our-services/)
- [Jennifer Gehrt](https://www.communiquepr.com/services_category/jennifer-gehrt/)
- [Colleen Moffitt](https://www.communiquepr.com/services_category/colleen-moffitt/)

## Client Industry

- [Technology Clients](https://www.communiquepr.com/client-industries/technology-clients/)
- [Space Industry Clients](https://www.communiquepr.com/client-industries/space-industry-clients/)
- [Infrastructure and Development Clients](https://www.communiquepr.com/client-industries/infrastructure-and-development-clients/)
- [Healthcare Clients](https://www.communiquepr.com/client-industries/healthcare-clients/)
- [Education Clients](https://www.communiquepr.com/client-industries/education-clients/)
- [Consumer Clients](https://www.communiquepr.com/client-industries/consumer-clients/)