Crenshaw Communications

Crenshaw Communications, PR Fish Bowl, public relations • December 22, 2011

If Santa Were More Social

Nowadays everyone is using social and digital media. And with so much to do before Christmas, I’m thinking that Santa could ease some stress and reinforce his personal brand by embracing digital technology. Here are a few ways for him to start: Live Tweeting. Wouldn’t it be great to follow Santa’s every move on Twitter? […]

communications, Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, public relations • December 19, 2011

Occupy This: Being Wealthy Is Back In Style

After the 2008 economic meltdown, conspicuous consumption fell out of fashion. Long before “the 1%” was a catchword, a new frugality gripped those in the middle class and higher. The affluent tightened their Gucci belts and made do with less, even if they didn’t have to. It just wasn’t seemly to be profligate when Citibank was trading at 97 […]

communications, Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, public relations • December 15, 2011

What Your PR Firm Isn’t Telling You

The best client-agency relationships are based on mutual respect and honesty. It’s a good sign if that candor is in evidence before the contract is signed. Last August, Lucy Siegel wrote an insightful post, “6 Things many PR firms won’t tell you.” Her post contains some excellent red flags to look for when considering a PR […]

communications, Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, public relations, reputation • December 12, 2011

Isn’t It Ironic? Lowe’s Apology Triggers PR Damage

The backlash came in a flood, like a burst pipe. The move by Lowe’s to drop its ad support for the TLC show “All-American Muslim” after pressure from a conservative Christian group may leave its reputation in serious need of repair. But, to me, it reads like an O. Henry story where good intentions go awry, and […]

Crenshaw Communications, PR Fish Bowl, public relations • December 9, 2011

12 Days Of Christmas For The PR-Minded)

Fellow PR practitioners, clients, media, here are the famous gifts from the “12 Days of Christmas” song. If you actually received them, what creative things would you do with them? Twelve drummers drumming: Since being ousted from Zuccotti Park, they could use some positive PR – how about tracking down some Occupiers and resurrecting the […]

Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, public relations • December 6, 2011

o.b.’s Apology PR Campaign Is Pitch-Perfect

Maybe it should have known better than to tangle with women at, well, a certain time of the month. After J&J began to discontinue its o.b. Ultra line of tampons, its loyal users felt betrayed. The brand was smacked with infuriated customer comments, “girlcott” threats, an online petition and general user crankiness. But instead of defensiveness, […]

communications, Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, public relations, social media • November 29, 2011

The Governor, The Teenager And Twitter: A PR Lesson

The awesome power of social media may be matched only by the withering force of teenage scorn. I was startled by the social blowback resulting from Kansas Governor Sam Brownback’s public feud with a local high school student. It started last week when Emma Sullivan and her class attended a youth event in Topeka where […]

communications, Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, public relations • November 23, 2011

Redefining Public Relations: Does It Matter?

Years ago, a colleague who’d spent 20+ years at PR agencies joined a large marketing services firm. He told me he’d cracked the code to winning new business, significantly increasing his batting average in selling programs to existing ad and marketing clients. The secret? Never calling it “public relations.” Instead, he would say “promotion,” or refer to “adding […]

Crenshaw Communications, PR Fish Bowl, public relations • November 22, 2011

Top Ten Gifts PR Pros Are Thankful For

10. TweetReach, Compete, TV Eyes: services which have our admiration 9. Mommy bloggers: who “get” our pitches and understand collaboration 8. Never again hearing a client ask “When will Oprah have me as a guest?” 7. Gayle King on the Early Show where there just might be hope for that request 6. The enduring power […]