communications

communications, Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, public relations, social media • January 3, 2013

8 Ways To "Socialize" A PR Campaign

Social media can be like a “secret sauce” for public relations programs. Even if it’s not the main ingredient, it adds flavor and power to a traditional program. The key is integration. Here are some simple steps for extending a PR campaign through social media. Define your goals. At times companies feel pressed to make […]

communications, Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, public relations, reputation • December 28, 2012

Secrets of a Successful CSR Campaign

It’s no surprise that public trust in corporations, along with government and faith institutions, seems to be at an all-time low. According to the Reputation Institute’s 2012 Corporate Social Responsibility RepTrak 100 Study, only 17% of respondents trust what companies promise in their marketing. What’s more, a mere 6% perceive the top 100 companies as […]

communications, Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, public relations, reputation • December 20, 2012

The Most Notable CEO Apologies Of 2012

The public apology has long been a staple of PR and reputation management, and this year saw a large number of C-level mea culpas. Some were mandated, while others were designed to beg forgiveness, right wrongs, or restore good will. Here’s my list of the most notable. Picture this: Instagram is forced to backpedal after […]

branding, communications, Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, marketing, public relations, reputation • December 12, 2012

Five Ways PR Can Build Brands

It’s been said that PR drives reputation, while marketing builds brands. But that simplistic premise defines both PR and brand far too narrowly. It may not always take the lead in brand-building, particularly with large, global companies, but there are many ways in which the classic PR approach and tactics help defend, deepen, and even […]

blogging, communications, Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, public relations • December 2, 2012

Will The AirPR Model Fix The PR Business?

Muckrack CEO Greg Galant’s piece,”Why Public Relations Gets No Respect” hit a nerve in our industry. Though the post drew some indignant responses from the PR community, it was a thoughtful and relatively optimistic assessment of PR’s value, thanks to digital measurement tools, the prevalence of social media, and PR’s increased scaleability due to more […]

communications, Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, public relations • November 27, 2012

How To "Own" A Media Interview

There are few things more exciting to PR agency professionals of all levels than to see a client’s comments in print or digital form. A published interview can be a quick, reactive response to a journalist’s inquiry or the culmination of a long and arduous pitch process. But what if your quotes end up on […]

communications, Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, public relations, reputation • November 15, 2012

8 Ways To Manage Negative PR

It’s hard to predict, and even harder to handle appropriately. It may come in the form of a Google Alert, a phone call inviting comment, or an email from a customer or colleague. You, or your company, is being criticized in public. Some say there’s no such thing as negative publicity, but most businesses who’ve […]

communications, Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, public relations • November 11, 2012

The Problem With Pay-for-Play PR

Pay-for-play PR, or “PR by the pound” is topical again. For years, it’s been on the radar as an alternative to the traditional way of billing among PR agencies, which is a monthly retainer representing either actual or estimated time spent to reach client goals. But though such pay-per-publicity-placement work has its place among start-ups […]

communications, Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, public relations • November 5, 2012

"Brand Journalism" and Storytelling: How PR Pros Must Adapt

We in the public relations agency biz have spent lots of time debating whether journalists make the best PR people. It used to be that ex-journos were hired in narrow roles based on skills or pedigree. At a large agency where I once worked, they were invited to the big pitch to weigh in on story potential, […]