There’s a certain “cycle of life” in business. Companies are born, struggle, grow … and grow some more. Then the decline sets in, which typically culminates with the company dying, merging or being acquired. This keeps the investment bankers busy, befitting the thousands of transactions that take place each year. This also means thousands of …more
I am a big fan of The New York Times Dining section. Donut drama. Importing Mom instead of the pasta. Hunting for “treasures” in restaurant laundry. And the list goes on. The NYT Dining journalists know how to shape story lines beyond the – “chef showed restraint, allowing the flavor of the fresh [fill in …more
Every PR agency claims social media expertise. As the “train wrecks” demonstrate, it’s not always true. With this in mind, Sociagility has rated how global PR agencies perform in applying social media to themselves for the second consecutive year. To put science behind the quest, Sociagility uses what it calls the PRINTTM methodology to rank …more
Every interaction with the outside world is an opportunity to build your brand. Even those mundane interactions. One could argue that the “mundane” actually offers one of the best opportunities to stand out, since others are tracking to the status quo. This often leads to template communications, the opposite of communications guided by storytelling techniques. …more
In a world where anyone can conjure a digital pulpit for storytelling, the credibility that comes from third-party media coverage still counts. Communicators can benefit from studying journalism with sites such as Nieman Labs and Poynter offering open windows. It also doesn’t hurt to take a periodic look behind the curtain. For example, the post …more
There’s a fresh question Ms. Mayer. I recognize that media properties are still struggling to crack the code on how to make money in the digital era. Still, I question the long-term value of applying the advertorial concept to a banner ad. Here’s what I’m talking about specific to the Yahoo News channel. Yahoo News …more
I think Mark Twain would agree. He’d be particularly amused by a report on the solar industry released earlier this week that triggered two stories on opposite ends of the spectrum. In one corner, we give you the San Jose Mercury News and its bullish headline. The supporting graphic continues with the bullish stance. OK, …more
Every agency person 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. I’m reminded of a client whose management required report after report to the point that the reporting cost exceeded the doing-PR cost. Even after showing …more
Journalists do not want to regurgitate a news release that by definition sits in the public domain. If the news release encapsulates the complete story with anecdotes, texture and a touch of drama, you leave no room for a journalist to navigate. IBM’s recent announcement of a mainframe illustrates how good content – not great …more
