Even though my monthly AllBusiness.com article is targeted toward the franchise market, the rules apply to any business.
How can you use media relations to build your businesses’ brand and help increase sales? You don’t necessarily need to hire a publicist, but it is going to take some time and patience.
To read my six steps for using the power of media relations to grow your business, click here.
It’s a snowy day in Chicago…it finally looks like winter. I don’t mind the cold, as long as there is snow to accompany it. AND it’s time for the winter Olympics to begin, my favorite games. With that, let’s look at five of my favorite people on Twitter, along with reasons I think you, too, should follow them. Continue Reading »
Last January I had to make a really tough decision – keep people employed for a few more months and close the business or lay them off right then and save the business. Then (last year sucked), when we realized the business model was completely changing, I had to make another hard decision: Keep people who I really liked having around or let them go so we could hire experts in digital communication. Continue Reading »
Throughout my career, I’ve had opportunity to work on some pretty big crisis. My stance has always been, if a crisis develops from a PR perspective, someone should get fired (think Tiger Woods). Either the PR firm for not counseling correctly or the client for not listening. And you’d be surprised how often the client doesn’t listen. Continue Reading »
A couple of weeks ago, I received an email from my friend Arik Hanson. He had an idea that he thought would help out-of-work PR professionals network with the jobs that are becoming more readily available at both agencies and companies.
The big idea:
On Friday, February 19, from 10 am – 2 pm CT, PR bloggers, agency leaders, and PR professionals from across the country will donate their time and talents to help fellow PR pros connect with employers as part of the first-ever “Help a PR Pro Out” day. Continue Reading »
Are you ready?
@PatrickReyes Patrick works at GM and is the furthest thing you would think when you think marketing and automaker. If he gets his way, he’ll change the way the auto industry communicates…for the better. On top of his demanding job, he blogs at Salt and Light, and quite consistently. AND, his New Year’s resolution was to commit to exercise. He’s on day 31 of P90X and loving it. He talks about his progress and it’s fun to watch. His only negative? He’s a Lions fan.
@dietcokeluvah You know how you meet people who are not scared ONE BIT to jump into a conversation, engage, and endear themselves to you? That’s my Diet Coke friend, who (for some reason), has an avatar of My Little Pony today. She has just started her blog, but I’m already intrigued. Note the Web sites/blogs she has listed…see a common theme? Continue Reading »
Last week, I was talking to my friend, and client, Lorri Wyndham about negative comments online. It was a timely conversation because, when I speak, at least one person asks me what happens when someone says something negative about them or the company online.
I like to use the story from when I first began speaking. Someone in the audience really pushed back on me and said, “So you are telling me that if I give someone a bad review, he’s going to go put it on Facebook?” Yes, that’s exactly what I’m telling you. Except it’s not going to start happening, just because I’ve opened your eyes to it…it’s been happening. And it’s really not any different than before social media. Before, that person would badmouth his boss to his friends and family via the phone. Now, though, his circle of influence is thousands, instead of a handful, of people. But, unlike before social media, you now know that employee is badmouthing you on Facebook because you are monitoring online conversations and can see what he’s saying. Continue Reading »
I have been really bad at my #FollowFriday lists since the holidays. But I’m back!
@DashalGroup Nick might very well be one of the funniest (is that a word) people I know. The things that come out of his mouth (or fingers) make you stop and think, “Where the heck did that come from?” He also is not shy, at all, at making fun of me, which I love. He makes fun of me and other people laugh. Trust me on this one, you want to follow him. He’s starting @crapthatsfunny and I guarantee you’ll think whatever he posts is FUNNY. He’ll be mad at me if I don’t at least tell you what he does for a living – advertising and Web design.
@JaimieField I don’t remember how Jaimie came into my life, but she came in with real force! Even though she’s a Yankees fan (we forgive her) and an attorney (but doesn’t practice, so we forgive her) she is always a bright light in my tweet stream at the end of each day (she’s much more disciplined than me – I check Twitter all day; she checks at the end of the day). If you’re an attorney, Jaimie is a must have connection. As I take over the world, she’ll be there with me.
@Egehead Cindy is my new BFF because she sent me her powdered sugar cookie recipe, which I made last weekend and they are DIVINE! So, so good! Two ways to my heart: Be funny or give me good food. You know how you meet someone, even on Twitter, and you just know they’re going to be a good friend? That’s Cindy. Take a look at her tweet stream…you’ll see what I mean.
@DougDavidoff I met Doug on Twitter because of something I tweeted about Vistage. Then we met IRL when he was in Chicago last fall. Then we started working together. Now I don’t know what life was like without him. He is the only non-salesy sales person I know. His philosophy on sales is brilliant because it’s based on relationships and not on selling. He has a blog called Fast Growth, where he shares his philosophy, tips for success, and case studies. I always learn a thing or two from his posts…which is why I tweet almost all of them.
@MomieTullottes I am a new contributor to Associated Content and Lyn was the first person to not only reach out to me to say “welcome”, but also the first person to comment on my article. She is not only a mom (and homeschools her kids!), she is a writer. The content she provides to other writers is flawless and super complete. If you write, or want to write, for a living, she’s a must check out!
Today’s digital age is about connection, conversation, and candy. Alright, not candy. I couldn’t think of another C word and I love candy.
Connection, conversation, and engagement. Even transparency and honesty. Open your door, pull up your windows, let people in and take a peek around, and decide if they want to work with you or, better, want to refer their communities to you.
It’s changing the way media relations (or publicity) is conducted because no longer do clients have to rely on a PR pro’s Rolodex to get someone to pay attention to them. And no longer are the critics and influencers the traditional journalists. The critics and influencers are all of us – we can rate and review products and services online, we write blogs, we even write editorials that can be featured in places we garner a lot of attention.
I say all of this because I had an odd situation I want to share…while we all fully realize I am not a traditional journalist. I write this blog, I write for two other business blogs, and I write for three trade publications. I don’t have tremendous influence, but I have enough in certain circles to make a difference.
Several weeks ago, I submitted an article I write for a monthly trade publication. Before I sent it to my editor, I sent it to my friend, who I interviewed for the article, for a quick look and approval. My friend is the social media expert at his company and does a phenomenal job showing real business return-on-investment so I wanted to showcase his work in my article, in order to give other companies in the industry some solid ideas they could steal.
A few hours after I sent the article to my friend for his approval, I received the following email from his PR firm:
“In the future, could you contact us first if you plan to feature any of our clients in Publication Name?”
Now, I have a relationship with their client, directly. It’s MUCH easier for me to go directly to him vs. tracking down their PR firm and going through them. This is the case for any influencer – traditional and new. And, until recently, I ran a very traditional PR firm. I would fire one of our account managers if they sent an email like this to a reporter or blogger.
It is the job of communication professionals (no matter if they’re traditional or digital) to facilitate conversations, not get in the middle of them. Likely the PR firm wants to take credit for the story and, if they’re contacted first, they can add it to their clip report. This is not in the best interest of the client.
Heck, it’s the job of any service business to facilitate, not get in the way.
So, I ask you, am I off my rocker or does it make sense that we should facilitate conversation, even if it means we don’t get to take credit?
Image credit: SEO Consultants
Last week we launched a Facebook fan page contest to create a new tagline for our newly designed Web site, set to launch late this week. We’ve had some great entries, but want to also open it to our blog readers.
Following are a couple of our favorites. But they are totally unprofessional, which is why we need your help.
* Arment Dietrich. Better Than Sex.
* Arment Dietrich. The Only Thing We Spin Is Our Bike.
The winner not only gains fame, but will have the tagline (with credit) on our home page. Heck, we might even have a t-shirt or mug to give the winner.
Before we changed the business model our tagline was “Service. Results. Spirit.” Boring, right?
But with the new Web site and our new business model (don’t know about the new business model? Read more here), we figure it’s a good time to get rid of the boring and introduce something really good.
So…I leave it in your hands. What tagline do you think best represents Arment Dietrich?
