Crenshaw Communications

Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, social media • August 11, 2011

When It Comes To Social Media, Faking It Isn't Making It

The recent rash of bogus Twitter follower scandals, like Newt Gingrich‘s 1.3 million supposed fans, and the oil industry’s apparent astroturfing efforts, are entertaining blog fodder. But they’re also important as a reminder of what’s erroneous about linking social media status to a friends and follower count. (It’s actually unclear what percentage of Gingrich’s followers […]

Crenshaw Communications, PR Fish Bowl, public relations • August 5, 2011

What Summer Sports Teach Us About Teamwork

Summer offers up the opportunity to participate in outdoor sports, either with friends or on a league. As a member of a competitive 125-person dragon boat team (it’s like crew but a different paddling style), I’ve learned a lot of positive tips about teamwork that transfer to officework. Each dragon boat consists of 20 people […]

Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, public relations • August 4, 2011

When Choosing A PR Firm, Does Size Matter?

Sure, it does, for PR agencies, and other creative services. From the agency perspective, size can be a powerful differentiator. But just how it stacks up depends on your point of view. Smaller firms are a better value, right? Not necessarily. I’ve held senior positions at firms that range from mega-agency to midsized. When I was […]

communications, Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, public relations • July 29, 2011

How To Be Quoted In The Press: Nine PR Tips

One of the mysteries of media relations is the process whereby an interview becomes a feature story. Quality in, quality out, right? Not always. What goes in does not always come through in the final piece. And there are few things more frustrating than offering up your best insights, quotes, and experience, only to be cut […]

advertising, communications, Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, public relations • July 26, 2011

A Summer’s Eve Debate: Why ‘Offensive’ Ads Can Be Good

Can men effectively market to women? Can whites sell to people of color? Sure. Yet, some recent ad campaigns make you wonder. The latest is for Summer’s Eve cleansing wash, and it’s definitely a fresh take on the “feminine products” category. Each of the three ads features a woman’s hand that is meant to be a […]

Crenshaw Communications, PR Fish Bowl, public relations • July 20, 2011

Harnessing The PR Power Of Twitter

Twitter has exploded into one of the most rapidly expanding social platforms in the world, with over 200 million users to date. In an industry where one wrong tweet can compromise a company’s image, how can you use Twitter as a force of “PR good” for your client? We all know to monitor conversations about […]

communications, Crenshaw Communications, crisis management, ImPRessions, social media • July 20, 2011

Was The Murdoch’s "Humble Pie" Good PR?

As he prepared to face a day’s worth of questioning by British lawmakers about the News Corp. phone-hacking crisis, Rupert Murdoch was set to serve up a carefully crafted statement that began,”This is the most humble day of my life.” But Murdoch was rushed into questioning and had to wait until later to try to […]

branding, Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, social media • July 13, 2011

All Facebook "Likes" Are Not Created Equal

Even before Facebook popularized the “like” button, there’s been online discussion about the value of a single Facebook fan, or, now, a “like.” Some is pure speculation, while some is more research-based. Last year, social measurement firm Syncapse put the revenue potential of Facebook fans for certain brands at an impressive $136.38. More recently, revenue optimization […]

Crenshaw Communications, PR Fish Bowl, public relations • July 12, 2011

How To Dress For (PR) Success

In the New York PR world, being fashionable and dressing appropriately needn’t be mutually exclusive. In my experience you should treat your work wardrobe like a PR campaign: first, know your “target audience!” Do you work for a very corporate company that demands formal dress or a funky downtown firm that appreciates the fashion-forward? Get […]