reputation

Crenshaw Communications, crisis management, leadership, public relations, reputation • August 21, 2009

Whole Foods, Healthcare, And The “S-Word”

Partly because it’s in my building, but also because I like and admire the company, I feel bad when Whole Foods is attacked. I’m referring to CEO John Mackey’s Wall Street Journal editorial that has many customers threatening to hang up their reusable shopping bags for good. The piece, which essentially argued for fiscal restraint and individual empowerment, has […]

communications, Crenshaw Communications, public relations, reputation • August 17, 2009

The Humane Society Makes It Real

Since the news broke that Michael Vick would rejoin the NFL and work with The Humane Society on its anti-dogfighting campaign, speculation about his true state of mind has gone into overtime. Is he sincerely remorseful? Does he regret only that he was caught and suspended, or has he actually changed? It’s impossible to tell if Vick’s […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

Crenshaw Communications, crisis management, public relations, reputation, social media • July 17, 2009

Can United Fix Its Broken Reputation?

After musician Dave Carroll’s pricey guitar was damaged following a United Airlines trip to Nebraska back in 2008, the guitar wasn’t the only thing that that took a beating. Now, United is grappling with a battered reputation, and Carroll has become a poster child for frustrated consumers. If you somehow missed the story, here’s the […]

advertising, celebrity, communications, Crenshaw Communications, reputation, social media • July 13, 2009

Citizen Advertising, 2.0

My Twitter account was recently suspended. It was an accidental move apparently caused by an attempt to control spam, and it was rectified within 24 hours or so. But for a short time, I was one of hundreds of legitimate users left out in the cold, vainly posting messages asking assistance. As one fellow complainer posted to the […]

communications, Crenshaw Communications, crisis management, leadership, public relations, reputation • June 29, 2009

PR Means Having To Say You’re Sorry

The sad and sudden demise of pop superstar Michael Jackson may have knocked Governor Mark Sanford off the front pages for a weekend, but it didn’t let him off the hook. Governor Sanford’s may have been the most ill-conceived and badly delivered apology of the decade. And, that’s saying something. I was one of several PR […]

Crenshaw Communications, crisis management, public relations, reputation, social media • June 26, 2009

Why Are They Saying Those Things About You?

A while back, I was shocked to see some harsh criticism of me on an IT Internet forum. Strangers were calling Dorothy Crenshaw incompetent and even demanding that I be fired…which I thought was pretty unfair considering I didn’t have a clue what they were talking about. I quickly realized it wasn’t about me. It […]