Making friends with the media is an important part of public relations. Unfortunately, many PR professionals and their organizations alienate the very people they should befriend. Here are some of the media’s most common pet peeves, with advice on how to avoid them. #1: Showing you do not understand the media outlet Avoid pitching stories […]
It’s a Disaster! Crisis Communications
Product recalls. Corporate scandals. Natural disasters. Almost any organization can be faced with a crisis. How it handles the crisis can easily determine its success or failure. Consider the response of Malaysia Airlines after the disappearance of flight MH370 with almost 240 passengers on board. Early on, some people praised the airline for being “clear, […]
Seven Common PR Mistakes and How to Avoid Them (Part 2)
In my last post, I discussed three common PR mistakes: Having unrealistic expectations of PR Ignoring the advice of PR counsel “Believing your news releases.” Here are four more mistakes. Keeping PR on the “back-burner” Most companies know they have to “do PR,” but often don’t allocate the time or money needed to do the […]
Eight Ways to Announce Products (Part 2)
In my previous post, I discussed these five ways to announce a product: Blog Special Interest group Barebones Minimalist Web conference Here are three other ways to make an announcement. #6: Trade Shows I am not a fan of introducing products at trade shows, but it can make sense in some circumstances. If that is […]
Eight Ways to Announce New Products (Part 1)
New products are the lifeblood of many companies. They can provide the bulk of the revenue, and give the company the opportunity to become better known. Yet getting media attention for new products is difficult, if only because so many new products are announced each year. Even given the product “noise,” however, it is possible […]
Ten Ways to Make Your New Product Stand Out in the Crowd (Part 2)
In my last post, I covered five ways to improve the effectiveness of your product launch: Involve the reporters, readers or viewers. Provide product samples. Arrange product reviews. Enlarge the announcement. Position the announcement as part of a trend. Here are five more time-tested techniques to help your new product stand out in the crowd. […]
