public relations | Fast Company

How To Escape PR Hell

BY David BrierWed Feb 8, 2012

With 2,000 press releases distributed every day, there’s never been a better time for great PR or a worse time for bad PR. Brand identity expert David Brier teams up with cartoonist Tom Fishburne to expose why PR has gotten such a bad name--and what you can do to avoid it.READ»

LEADERSHIP | Comment

Buyer Beware: 3 B2B Public Relations Don'ts

BY Wendy MarxMon Feb 6, 2012

PR is often, to its misfortune, confused with advertising. Yet, the two are as different as say the proverbial country mouse is from its city relative. Public relations, at least in the B2B world, is all about credibility, education, thought leadership. And, yes, it’s about self-promotion, but done in a way that bolsters credibility.READ»

LEADERSHIP | Comment

Planned Parenthood's Unplanned Branding Bonanza

BY David AakerFri Feb 3, 2012

Susan G. Komen for the Cure's (now-reversed) decision to pull financial support of Planned Parenthood in the end will help Planned Parenthood even more than it damages the Komen brand. READ»

SUSAN G. KOMEN | Comment

How Susan G. Komen For The Cure Torpedoed Its Brand

BY Laurel SuttonFri Feb 3, 2012

Susan B. Komen For The Cure's decision to pull funding from Planned Parenthood, and its reaction to the backlash that followed, were a public relations disaster and a classic example of what not to do. READ»

LEADERSHIP | Comment

The Danger Of Saying "Lighten Up! It's Only..."

BY Sam FordFri Feb 3, 2012

If we are asking audiences for their time and expecting to engage with them, we need to respect that time and take our communication with them seriously. The moment dismissive attitudes start to creep into our work, we might make the switch from making sincere mistakes to insincere ones. READ»

MARKETING | Comment

Should Marketers Strive To Make A Difference?

BY Sam FordMon Jan 9, 2012

Despite all the cynicism I've seen about marketing professionals--so often depicted as subversive brainwashers, spin doctors, or snake-oil salesmen--I've often imagined that even those who seemed aligned with mind-boggling products, causes, or political candidates must believe in what they do. That's my eternal optimism speaking, or perhaps my naivete.READ»

PR | Comment

Transforming PR For A Mobile World

BY Wendy MarxFri Jan 6, 2012

While everyone’s business has been forced to change in this 24/7 always-on, mobile world, PR professionals still tend to release news according to our schedule and timing, not that of the media. What if you reverse the equation, and instead of reaching out to journalists on your schedule, get them to find you?READ»

LEADERSHIP | Comment

Penn State Reminds Us, Darkly: Always Do The Right Thing Now, Not Later

BY Dayna SteeleThu Nov 10, 2011

I advise clients to stay away from commenting, tweeting, or posting on religion, politics, cats, or controversial subjects. Until Penn State. It is time to speak up, to remember that we are all in this together and must protect each other, protect our children, and always do the right thing. READ»

LEADERSHIP | Comment

Don't Wait For The Customers To Come To You

BY Dayna SteeleThu Nov 3, 2011

If you want to provide amazing, memorable customer service, the secret is doing it before the customer even walks through your door. READ»

LEADERSHIP | Comment

PR Gurus' Top Tips For Pitching And Storytelling In The Digital World

BY Wendy MarxMon Oct 31, 2011

Web 2.0 technologies have transformed public relations, making it far easier to connect not only with the media, but also with bloggers and customers. Yet, many companies are not getting the full range of benefits from public relations. READ»

LEADERSHIP | Comment

10 Easy Ways To Improve Your PR

BY Wendy MarxMon Oct 10, 2011

Creating steady media buzz isn't rocket science--here's how to start building rock-solid PR. READ»

PUBLIC RELATIONS | Comment

A PR Professional's Code Of Ethics

BY Wendy MarxMon Sep 12, 2011

ConAgra recently pulled a bait-and-switch on bloggers when it invited them to sample high-end, chef-prepared Italian food, but swapped in its frozen entrees instead, casting a pall on the PR industry. Used correctly, PR is rooted in transparency, not duplicity. To whit, a code of ethics for PR professionals. READ»

COMMUNICATIONS | Comment

Is Customer Service Scaleable?

BY Erica Salamida-OrthmannMon Aug 22, 2011

Here's a tale of two customer service experiences. It was the best of times. It was the worst of times. Let's start with the bad. More than a month ago, my 6-month-old refrigerator (purchased from Sears) broke. Since it was still ...READ»

LEADERSHIP | Comment

5 Steps To Get Your Business Ready For Mastering Google+

BY Wendy MarxMon Aug 15, 2011

B2B companies have traditionally been laggards in social media. But the recent launch of Google+ -- which will eventually be available for business use -- has the potential to hugely transform the way B2B companies engage online. Here's how to prepare. READ»

LEADERSHIP | Comment

This Is The Time To Go Your Own Way

BY Brian SolisFri Jul 15, 2011

Social Media represent change. Change evokes fear and sometimes that fear can paralyze us. Yet, all we need is a better understanding of how we got here in order to plan for where we need to go.READ»

CAREERS | Comment

6 Ways B2B Companies Can Benefit From Twitter Even With Google+

BY Wendy MarxFri Jul 8, 2011

We often hear about the latest food truck owner tweeting his/her specials to hungry customers or Dell hawking its latest deals, but what the heck has as that to do with us in the B2B space? A lot and a little it turns out. While in ...READ»

CAREERS | Comment

The Truth About Public Relations

BY Wendy MarxSun Jun 5, 2011

What is it with The Economist and public relations? So far this year the magazine has written two diatribes against public relations practitioners, referring to PR people as "flacks," slime-slingers," members of the "dark side," and "urban foxes." Whatever happened to objectivity and reality?READ»

LEADERSHIP | Comment

The Secret To PR Success In An Always On World

BY Wendy MarxSun May 8, 2011

The Internet has made it possible for anyone to showcase his or her expertise via a blog and other social media.READ»

LEADERSHIP | Comment

Gmail's "Shoot First, Apologize Later" Strategy

BY Erica Salamida-OrthmannFri Apr 15, 2011

Our office is buzzing today about the new Gmail feature that recommends people you should CC. For PR people, and I assume a lot of other business people, this feature is a trainwreck waiting to happen.READ»

CAREERS | Comment

9 Tips to Get People Reading Your Web Copy

BY Wendy MarxTue Apr 12, 2011

People aren't pouring over your copy, but skimming it for keywords. The first paragraph of an article is the most likely to be read as well as the beginning few words of a sentence. In fact, the average person reads just 20% of what you write.READ»