ImPRessions

Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, reputation • July 25, 2018

How Not To Apologize

Terrible explanations for terrible behavior are perversely fascinating — especially to PRs and professional communicators. They’re also instructive. It takes a well-crafted and sincere apology to explain away repugnant speech or actions, and even the best mea culpas can fall short. But lately there have been some doozies. In an episode unlikely to be matched […]

Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, leadership, public relations • July 19, 2018

When A Founder Does PR Damage

For a fast-growing startup, a dynamic founder can be a huge PR asset. A charismatic entrepreneur is the face of his brand, its best media spokesperson, and the embodiment of its values. The most talented can attract a top workforce and inspire it to achieve beyond expectations. From Steve Jobs to Marc Benioff, the examples […]

ImPRessions, public relations • July 10, 2018

The Thai Cave Rescue And The Power Of Storytelling

Until they were located, I’d no idea that 12 boys and their coach were trapped in a flooded cave in northern Thailand. But once the news broke, I was hooked. And I wasn’t alone. The national fascination tells us something about PR, storytelling, and ourselves. Why was the plight of the stranded Thai boys so […]

Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, public relations • July 3, 2018

"Doors" Goes Viral, Opens Up A Race

Sometimes a story is so strong that all you need to do is tell it and get out of the way. Improving on a good thing can be tricky, because there’s always the risk of over-embellishing. Too much PR or packaging can overwhelm an emotional punch. “Doors,” the remarkable ad by Texas congressional candidate […]

Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, public relations • June 27, 2018

The Ultimate Cheat Sheet On Choosing A PR Agency

Deciding it’s time to invest in PR is one thing, but selecting the right agency is another. It’s time-consuming, occasionally intimidating, and often confusing. What’s more, the people who are skilled at internal communications aren’t always prepared to conduct an agency search. Here’s a cheat sheet on finding the right PR firm while saving time […]

Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, public relations • June 20, 2018

10 Signs It’s Time To Invest In PR

If timing is everything, how does a business know when it’s time to invest in a public relations program? Here are some of the most common signs. Competitors are beating you to the punch They may be beating you in business deals, customers, or simply mindshare. If your B2B service isn’t in the consideration set […]

Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, public relations • June 11, 2018

What PR People Should Know About SEO

PR and SEO were once worlds apart, with no overlap between them. A PR team or agency would work to build brand credibility through news announcements and feature stories. SEO focused on getting backlinks and website-stuffed keywords to drive search rankings. What changed? Now there’s a growing area of commonality as traditional public relations has […]

Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, public relations, reputation • May 30, 2018

In Bold Move, ABC Boots Roseanne Reboot

There were bigger stories breaking on the Tuesday after Memorial Day, but on social media the news was all about Roseanne. It started with @therealroseanne’s revolting tweet about former Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett. The post was bizarre, horrible, and nakedly racist, but at the risk of sounding cynical, I didn’t think anything much would happen […]

Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, public relations • May 24, 2018

Truth In Media Relations: When PR Is "Risky Business"

Many years ago at my first PR agency, we represented a “dot-com” startup in the ticket resale business. When I was introduced at a board meeting, the founder casually mentioned that I’d be serving as a media spokesperson as the company navigated tricky messaging around gray areas of the industry. This came as a surprise […]