public relations

Crenshaw Communications, public relations, social media • May 14, 2009

Dell Gets Cute, With Backlash

Times are tough for makers of technology products. So tough, in fact, that Dell took a leap with the launch of “Della,” its new shopping site created especially for women. A leap backward, that is. The site, which was unveiled a few days ago to market its line of netbooks to female customers, created an instant […]

communications, Crenshaw Communications, public relations, reputation • May 1, 2009

Michael Vick And PETA: Like Cats And Dogs?

When it showed up on my Twitter feed, I thought it was a joke. Michael Vick, the onetime NFL star who went to jail, while his public image went to the dogs, after being convicted of particularly disgusting acts of cruelty to animals, is reportedly in talks to become a public spokesperson for People for […]

communications, Crenshaw Communications, crisis management, public relations, social media • April 30, 2009

Branding A Pandemic Or “Aporkalypse Now”

The media buzz surrounding the influenza virus formerly known as swine flu has resulted in an epidemic of both controversy and criticism. Is it overkill? Many think so. But over the past 24 hours, the PR offensive around the flu hasn’t been about prevention or panic…it’s about the virus’s brand. As of yesterday, the World […]

Crenshaw Communications, crisis management, public relations, reputation • April 27, 2009

Can Craigslist Limit The Damage?

We’ve seen all kinds of business crises in the past several weeks, from the #Amazonfail glitch that took over Twitter to the Domino’s Pizza social media storm. But, from a PR perspective, it doesn’t get much worse than having your brand be the descriptor for a horrifying crime. Yes, it’s happened before to Craigslist, and maybe […]

communications, Crenshaw Communications, public relations, social media • April 20, 2009

Ford Throws A Social Media Fiesta

At last, some good news from Detroit…or at least, an interesting move in which the words “bailout” and “bankruptcy” have no place. Ford recently announced that it will offer Fiesta subcompact cars to 100 Web types – bloggers, Twitter rockstars, and social media influencers – for six months. The lucky 100 will receive car insurance and gas, so they can test-drive the Fiestas […]

Crenshaw Communications, public relations • April 15, 2009

Susan Boyle, Marketer’s Dream?

PR people often talk about “packaging” a client’s story, or framing it in a way that’s current, visual, or relevant. But, every once in a while, something comes along that defies the rules…or rewrites them. Right now, that something is a someone – Susan Boyle. Boyle is the decidely unglamorous 48-year-old who wowed a panel of […]

communications, Crenshaw Communications, marketing, public relations • February 18, 2009

Frugal Is The New Black

Last night I had dinner with an old friend who does stock market analysis, and our conversation around the economy was pretty much “an orgy of pessimism,” in the words of Philippe Daumann. But, enough about that. The more interesting part of the discussion was about “the new frugal.” My friend feels that no marketers have yet managed to align […]

public relations • February 9, 2009

A New Chapter

Today marks our official rebranding as Crenshaw Communications, and we couldn’t be prouder or more energized. Though we’ve all been working together at Stanton Crenshaw, our old firm, for many years, it’s exhilarating to launch a new brand and website. I’ve had my own PR business, in a partnership, for over a dozen years, so […]

Crenshaw Communications, public relations • February 4, 2009

A Reputation Up In Smoke

It’s a shame that Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps has taken a hit (so to speak) and lost a key endorsement over a few puffs of (illicit) smoke. But, there are more than a few lessons in his experience. For years, clients have asked us about the risks and benefits of linking their brand with a […]