Storytelling Through a Business Prism

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Unconventional paths to PR: How did we all get here? (Part 1)

By Hoffman Europe The bustling world of public relations and communications is filled with people from all walks of life. While some of us pursued degrees in PR or journalism, many stumbled upon the industry from something vastly different: from accounting, history, law, to other creative backgrounds. You may be surprised to know that most …more

Creating a Company Video That Actually Tells a Story

On a charitable day, I would characterize most company videos as dreadful. Consider what happens when you go to an event, meet a new person and that person launches into a soliloquy of “me, me and in case you missed it, here’s more about me.” Right. You walk away. Why would a company video be …more

Google Ignores Its Own Best Practices for SEO

  If any organization should nail the fundamentals of SEO, it’s Google. After all, Google wrote the rules behind online search and holds the keys to the algorithm. It’s a little like knowing the words for a spelling bee before the spelling bee takes place. Sure, it still takes knowledge to win it, but the …more

What the Heck Is a “Word Visual?”

I’ve explored how non-designers in the communications business can get the visual storytelling religion. While the vast majority of PR folks struggle to bring a visual dimension to communications, there’s a design technique that plays to our strength. What I call “word visuals” come in three flavors: Clever words that stand on their own: The …more

Q&A on Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Storytelling

I respect people who can keep the scent of the trail. Fellow storytelling evangelist Brad Marley approached me back in April 2019 to answer a handful of questions on my second-favorite topic. The plot took some twists and turns (naturally), but I answered Brad’s questions a couple of months ago. For those who don’t subscribe …more

I Am Astonished By …

Kevin Kelly, one of the founders of WIRED, turned 70 earlier this year, prompting the post “103 Bits of Advice I Wish I Had Known.” I’m glad I read to the end because advice #103 was the one that landed. “The chief prevention against getting old is to remain astonished.” Between the recent Supreme Court …more

TikTok Turns to Owned Media to Control the Narrative

Going back to the Trump administration, TikTok has been in the government’s cross hairs for data privacy issues. The government views user data saved outside the U.S. as a security risk. Rather than distribute a news release or talk to journalists on recent actions to address the issue, TikTok has controlled the narrative by issuing …more