Breaking the Top 10 storytelling posts for 2018 into two parts, I published the first part last Monday. Here’s the second part, reflecting the diverse dimensions to today’s communications industry. 6. Nine Actions That Torpedo Global PR More companies invest in global PR than ever before. Yet, the missteps from 1990s are still with …more
As the world becomes increasingly transparent, professional service firms need to know more about their clients and their potential clients. You may have read how the management consulting firm McKinsey took on an assignment with the South African government and the state-owned power company, Eskom. The story did NOT have a happy ending, tarring the …more
I’ve written several posts on how organizations select communication services. Even after 30+ years, I’m still thinking there’s got to be a better way. In cases in which Procurement leads the charge, the process feels more like a tussle than a process of getting to know each other. Speaking of a better way, …more
Every person in a consultancy — and not just a PR agency … could be any type of professional services firm — has experienced a client who adds what we’ll call “extra obstacles” to achieving success. It’s not personal (usually). Sometimes, it’s simply a byproduct of the company’s culture. Sometimes, the client’s boss finds comfort …more
Based on back-of-the-envelope math, I figure I’ve worked with more than 1,000 client contacts over my career. That’s a lot of people, especially when you factor in that I’m a closet introvert (“solitude, where can I find a slice of solitude?”). Yet, I don’t need a calculator to tell me that Wendy Zajack lands in …more
This post doesn’t exactly fall under the storytelling umbrella. I figure a rogue post every now and then keep things interesting. Which serves as my segue into the client-agency relationship. PR agencies disdain the “V” word. Calling an agency a vendor is akin to a slur against the principal’s mom. Agencies want that partner mantle. But I’ve …more
