Crenshaw Communications

communications, Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, public relations • October 12, 2011

The Care And Feeding Of Bloggers: Tips For PR Pros

Last month, a top-ten firm cooked up a PR mess when it tried to surprise bloggers by serving frozen entrees from a client brand instead of the freshly cooked meals the guests were led to expect. The duped bloggers started an epic food fight, dishing on the agency and their client online for weeks after the event. […]

creativity, Crenshaw Communications, PR Fish Bowl, public relations • October 7, 2011

How Workplace Superstitions Can Boost Business

The quarterback of my alma mater played every game wearing the same socks. Ernest Hemingway always wrote standing up. Matthew Weiner, creator of “Mad Men,” claims all of these superstitions in this recent NY Times article: “No hat on the bed. No shoes on the bed. Do not step over people on the floor. Put […]

branding, communications, Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, public relations • October 6, 2011

What Steve Jobs Knew About PR

In the wake of Steve Jobs’ passing, pundits and Apple-watchers are trying to outdo one another to describe his talent, vision, and impact. But if you look at Jobs as the presumed architect of Apple’s ongoing public relations strategy, he was a disaster. At least, he should have been. After all, in the digital age, […]

communications, Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, public relations • September 30, 2011

A Weighty Issue: Is Being Heavy Bad PR?

One of the tweets after the earthquake in August was about a certain hefty New Jersey governor and object of Republican presidential fantasies: “I think Chris Christie just jumped into the race.” Bada-bum. Christie’s size has been the butt of jokes, with puns always intended, since his own campaign against Jon Corzine. His bulk is the […]

communications, Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions • September 21, 2011

What Netflix Can Teach Us About Apology PR

Public apologies can be powerful, especially when they come from the top. Even in our crisis-of-the-day era, there’s something arresting about a chief executive admitting he was wrong, or a company making amends to customers. As a self-appointed “apology PR” analyst, I’m fascinated by the communications strategy, language choices, and delivery of a corporate mea […]

communications, Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, public relations • September 16, 2011

Fake News Site Highlights Fine Ethical Line For PR

September is PR Ethics Month. That’s ironic, because a water utility’s ‘innovative’ PR tactics have sparked an outpouring over industry ethics while highlighting the thin line between legitimate news and faux content. It all started when the Central Basin Municipal Water District in Southern California was outed by the Los Angeles Times for its creation […]

Crenshaw Communications, PR Fish Bowl, time management • September 16, 2011

I Don’t Know How She Does It — Secrets Of The Very Busy

A busy working mother promises her grade-schooler a homemade delicacy for the school bake sale. Having been shamed by the “stay-at-home” moms, she is crushed when she can’t follow through on her promise and instead purchases a pie which she artfully “distresses” and, voila – her secret is safe and her daughter delighted. This is […]

communications, Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, public relations, social media • September 14, 2011

8 Ways To Make Your PR Program More Social

Social media is like a “secret sauce” for marketing communications. It isn’t always strong enough on its own, but it adds flavor and power to a traditional program. The key is integration. Here are some simple steps for “socializing” a PR campaign, even if it’s a DIY (do it yourself) variety. Set clear goals. Many […]

Crenshaw Communications, public relations • September 13, 2011

PR Secrets Of A Successful Blogger Event

Bloggers are powerful. One post, one tweet, from an influential blogger, and it can have a cascade effect. (Check out this recent NYT article about a blogger event gone wrong if you don’t believe me.) Smart clients appreciate the power of the blog, and in many cases, moms – or parenting bloggers, as we like […]