Best Practices
Striking a Balance Between Wit and Professionalism
Humor is both personal and generational. What I may find amusing, my kids may find boring or irrelevant. While jokes can add levity to the workday and bring some fun to the family dinner table, what might be funny to your family or coworkers, might get “Huh?” from others. For example, someone commented on social…
Read MoreHow and when should you reach out to the media?
Have you seen your competitors or community organizations mentioned in the media? Maybe it was a blurb in a local weekly or a mention on broadcast news. Either way, if you are wondering how to get media attention for your organization or business, there are some basic rules to keep in mind. Provide Quality Content…
Read MorePublicity Stunts—Are They Truly Effective?
Hey, let’s do a publicity stunt! We’ll get lots of press, the coverage will go viral on social media and we’ll get tons of business. Of course, the reality can be very different. Case in point, in 1982 a radio station in Allentown, Pennsylvania, changed its format from country to nostalgia hits and the station…
Read MoreGot confidence?
Have you ever done the following? One reason why someone would do one or both of these things is due to a lack of confidence. Situations at work or in our personal life can cause us to doubt ourselves and our abilities. Going through a difficult situation or dealing with a difficult boss doesn’t mean…
Read MoreHow is PR like cooking?
As a mom, the one question I have heard from the time my kids could speak until they left home, was “What’s for dinner?” Sometimes they were happy with my culinary creations and sometimes they weren’t. Being that I’ve done more than my share of both cooking and public relations work, it got me thinking…
Read MoreAI Isn’t Taking Over
With all the news coverage of Artificial Intelligence and ChatGPT, one would think that the predictions from numerous science fiction writers have come true and computers are taking over. But before you hide under the covers, know that ChatGPT and other AI programs can write well, but that is only part of the story. For…
Read MoreCommunication Lessons from Barbie
As I am writing this, Greta Gerwig’s Barbie movie has grossed $775 million worldwide. Just think of all the townhouses, pink motor home and pink Corvettes that kind of money can buy! I’m sure you’ve noticed since the film’s launch all the tie-ins from Burger King Brazil’s “Barbie Burger” to the Progressive Insurance commercial set…
Read MoreHow to get your press release noticed
Business owners like positive media coverage. One way to get positive media coverage is to send a press release. Thanks to the Internet, it is very easy to email a press release to numerous reporters all at once. However, a mass emailing of a press release isn’t the best way to reach out to reporters. …
Read MoreFirst do your work, then take time to play
Surfing the web. Scrolling through your social media news feed. Watching television. Going to the kitchen for a snack. What do these things have in common? They are all things we have done when we are supposed to be working. Since the pandemic started, many of us are working from home, so it is easy…
Read MoreBe wary of what you read on the Internet
Recently Justin Bieber disclosed that he has Ramsey Hunt Syndrome. This condition is a form of shingles, which is caused by the varicella virus, which in turn causes chickenpox. The condition leads to reduced facial expression, muscle weakness, difficulty eating and drinking and a rash that affects the ear. As for Justin Bieber’s diagnosis, many…
Read MoreStick to accepted and ethical practices
In public relations you can’t stray from accepted and ethical practices. If you do, you will lose the respect of reporters and editors, incite the ire of your boss and possibly lose your job. What are the some of the things to think about before reaching out to the media? Details Check the spelling in…
Read MoreDealing with Misinformation Online
Almost everyone is familiar with Goodwill. Founded in Boston in 1902 by Methodist minister, Edgar Helms, he collected used household goods and clothes and then trained and hired people who were struggling financially to mend and repair the items. The items were then sold or given to those who repaired them. In 2020, Goodwill served…
Read MoreLinkedIn Best Practices
LinkedIn allows you to expand your network and share business information. While it is a social media network like Facebook, it really is for business networking. Save your pet photos and recipes for Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest. To get the best results from LinkedIn, you need to use it the right way. Here are a…
Read MoreJust say “No.”
Ilena, my PR Associate, recently shared a story with me about a difficult client experience when she worked with an educational nonprofit. The nonprofit focused in a niche area in special education and was able to get a grant to provide scholarships for those who were working towards relevant doctoral degrees. As Ilena was sending…
Read MoreDo you need to think inside or outside the box?
A phrase that is used a lot in business is “Think outside the box.” The phrase is usually meant to encourage creative problem solving. While I’m all for using creativity to solve problems in business, the trouble can come when you think you need to come up with new ideas all the time. The “box”…
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