Public Relations Tips: Dealing with Online Vandalism and Journalistic Fraud
I recently received a breathless call recently from a former colleague. My friend explained that an entry on Wikipedia concerning his company had been “vandalized” and that the company was scrambling to come up with new copy. Wikipedia is a wonderful resource, a starting point for daily re… Read more
The Value of Loyalty in Public Relations
Several years ago, I had a stunning conversation with someone who worked in the public relations industry. She was employed by a large technology company that I was covering closely as a journalist. Her company was in trouble, and all signs pointed to something deeper than a sagging global economy as the r… Read more
Faced on Facebook: Unintended Consequences of Social Media
My friend, whom I love dearly, believes she is the most unphotogenic person in the world. I beg to differ and when I tell her so, I offer up my own photographic evidence. It matters not; she scurries away when a camera is in sight and went so far as to vet her best friend’s wedding photos to ensure that only … Read more
Managing Public Relations Through the Strategic Press Leak
My forte as a journalist was reporting bad news. Whistleblowers, inside sources, gossip–I loved it all. I got a tip, tracked it down, and then the newspaper splashed a big, nasty headline on my story. Sometimes, even my editors would have been surprised about how I got my scoops.
The strategic press … Read more
Corporate Mottos and the PR Power of SIM
A corporate motto that says — in as few words as possible — a lot about your product or service is key to strategic image management (SIM). SIM demands that you choose a motto that telegraphs your values and prompts people to respond positively to whatever you sell. (And ultimately, to buy it.)… Read more
A Public Relations Guide to Dealing with Layoffs
(Including Sample Layoff Press Release Copy)
Handling Public Relations when Announcing Layoffs
Dealing with layoffs can be a draining experience for public relations consultants. The distraction of your own job being on the line — and the internal climate change that follows such announcements — make it difficult to concentrate on … Read more
Public Relations Basics: There Is No Magic Press Release Bullet
The “magic bullet” theory of public relations — that one press release is all you need to grab the attention of journalists — is easily debunked. A single press release will rarely, if ever, do the trick. To quote a journalist friend, “familiarity breeds credibility.&#… Read more
Customer Relations as Extension of Public Relations
Last week, I thanked my customers in a special Thanks-Valentine’s message. The response was very positive. I received dozens of messages that had a common theme: people were responding to my message on a very personal level.
Some clients shared their eReleases PR success story. Others gave words … Read more
Six Public Relations Tips for Nonprofits
Marketing is a dirty word for many mid-sized or community-based nonprofits. Activists often see marketing and public relations campaigns as tactics corporations use to dupe otherwise respectable consumers into buying junk they don’t need. Nonprofits, with their purer motivations and lofty … Read more
Public Relations Scams: How to Avoid Press Release “Newsbaiting”
Press Release Spam and Newsbaiting
Gone are the days when members of the media are the only people reading your press releases. Thanks to the online distribution model, press releases are now transmitted to thousands of web sites and millions of e-mail inboxes. This is certainly the heyday for easy mass d… Read more