Crenshaw Communications

communications, Crenshaw Communications, public relations, reputation • August 14, 2009

Astroturfing Is PR’s Dirty Battleground

If social media is the PR industry’s shiny new object, then fake-grassroots activities – known as “astroturfing” is its dirtiest open secret. I’m embarrassed to say that I haven’t followed the policy details of the healthcare debate, yet. it’s driving me crazy. Not just the ballooning price of coverage for my employees. Or even the $4500 […]

advertising, Crenshaw Communications, marketing, public relations, social media • August 11, 2009

Penny Pranks Pay Off For Office Max

Back-to-school campaigns make me anxious. They evoke that Sunday-night-and-I-haven’t-done-my-homework feeling in a sure sign that the summer’s waning. This year, despite some encouraging economic reports, it’s looking like a depressing September all around. Forecasts suggest that shoppers will keep their wallets zipped, and major retailers are responding with uninspired price promotions and coupon drops. There’s even evidence that the […]

advertising, branding, Crenshaw Communications • August 7, 2009

When Brands Try To Be Cool

Recently, RadioShack announced that it’s changing its name. Or, more precisely, it wants you to use its nickname. In what’s billed as an informal move, the retailer has launched a campaign inviting us to call it “The Shack.” I can understand wanting to lose the dated “Radio,” which connotes a bygone technology era. And, the chain […]

blogging, Crenshaw Communications, public relations, reputation, social media • August 3, 2009

Don’t Get Mad, Get Online; Social Media As Bully Pulpit

Social media has become not only a way to connect with friends and contacts, but a bully pulpit about customer service. Today’s Wall Street Journal features yet another story about large companies who act fast to avert PR disaster when someone complains publicly about their service or brand. And, why not? Who hasn’t used social media […]

branding, Crenshaw Communications, public relations • July 31, 2009

Was The Beer Summit A Teachable Moment?

What is it about beer? Former President George Bush was elected partly because he was a guy most Americans could imagine sitting down and having a beer with…ironic, given the fact that he doesn’t touch the stuff. This week, knocking back a cold one became the symbol for a “cooling off” event involving President Obama, […]

branding, communications, Crenshaw Communications, marketing, public relations, technology • July 28, 2009

It’s No Contest, The Netflix Prize Is A Winner

Partly because I gave four stars to Woody Allen’s Manhattan, Netflix is recommending the dark and brooding East German indie The Lives of Others. Hmmm. I don’t know about you, but for me, recommendation engines that try to predict our likes and dislikes in books and movies usually miss the mark. I’m talking about the collaborative filtering […]

Crenshaw Communications, leadership, reputation, social media • July 23, 2009

Zappos And The Social Media Myth

It’s a common perception that Zappos, which was just acquired by Amazon.com, was able to build its brand, and even its business, on the strength of social media. After all, CEO Tony Hsieh is a Twitter celebrity with over a million followers. Zappos encourages its employees to Twitter, and more than 400 do. A model of […]

advertising, Crenshaw Communications, marketing, public relations, social media • July 22, 2009

Cola Rivals Engage…With Each Other

It took me a while to get the Coke-Pepsi social media handshake thing. I’m referring to that moment of Twitter diplomacy a couple of weeks ago. The brand rivals agreed to make nice and follow one another, through a notably civil but tepid public exchange of updates. The detente was a response to a challenge by Australian marketing firm […]

Crenshaw Communications, technology • July 20, 2009

Cronkite, Media, and The Way It Was…

Just as there will never be another pop star like the late Michael Jackson, there can never be another journalist like Walter Cronkite. In ways that partly parallel the music industry, traditional broadcast journalism has changed dramatically since those quaint days of of the three-channel, black-and-white TV universe. In both industries, changing technology, demographics, and economic […]