ImPRessions

Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, public relations • May 31, 2016

The Worst Stereotypes About PR People

It’s a joke in our business that no one outside public relations really understands what we do. In fact, PR has the dubious honor of ranking among the top ten most misunderstood professions by parents of those in the biz, according to a LinkedIn survey. It’s right up there with data scientist and UI designer when […]

Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, public relations • May 18, 2016

The Five "Rs" of PR: How PR Can Boost Brand Marketing

Although they’re sometimes confused, marketing and public relations are very distinct. Marketing builds brands by communicating directly to the customer, while PR drives reputation through third-party endorsement, among other techniques. But in the ideal world, the two work together and reinforce one another to reach business goals. The visibility generated from a smart PR program […]

Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, public relations • May 10, 2016

When The CEO Takes A Stand

There was a time when good public relations dictated that a CEO shouldn’t take a position on a controversial issue. A public stand, of course, can risk backlash among customers or employees. Conventional PR wisdom may be changing. Starbucks chief Howard Schultz is known for his willingness to wade into treacherous waters – from healthcare […]

Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, public relations • May 9, 2016

How To Tell A (PR) Client They’re Wrong

Once, after I offered unvarnished – and fairly negative – feedback to a prospective PR client about his company’s branding, an associate cautioned me for being so frank. The prospect was planning a luxury product launch, but the brand didn’t carry an upscale image. My colleague agreed but warned me that I was “telling him […]

Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, public relations • April 27, 2016

10 PR Commandments For Startups

For a technology startup company, good public relations can go a long way. But when and how to execute a strategic PR program can vary with the individual business. Principals of early early-stage companies don’t always recognize how to deploy PR to maximum effect. The most critical decision isn’t whether to hire a PR agency […]

Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, public relations, reputation • April 21, 2016

How To Win A PR War (Hubspot vs Dan Lyons)

Marketing software company Hubspot’s recent struggle with writer Dan Lyons is instructive for anyone embroiled in a public relations war about reputation. The brouhaha wasn’t as public as some such battles – largely because Hubspot isn’t a consumer company — but it made the rounds in technology circles faster than new malware and probably caused […]

Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, public relations • April 14, 2016

Managing The Risks Of Influencer Marketing

Influencer marketing programs are a godsend for PR agencies and others who look to combine the third-party endorsement of earned media with the credibility of word-of-mouth marketing. But any influencer marketing opportunity comes with risks and caveats, as recent news suggests. Compliance. Lord & Taylor recently settled charges brought by the Federal Trade Commission for […]

Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, public relations • April 8, 2016

6 Ways To Grow Earned Media Results In PR

A well-designed public relations campaign can be an asset to any organization. But sometimes the PR team works hard to generate results, then moves on to the next thing. In order to truly optimize the public relations investment, the publicity placements should work as hard as we do. Here are some ways to amplify those […]

Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, public relations • April 1, 2016

What Master Interviewers Can Teach PR People

Because we spend time preparing clients for meetings with journalists, PR people tend to study media interviews from the view of the person getting the questions. During this crazy political primary season, interview-watching is a spectator sport, usually starring Donald Trump. Yet something changed this week. Trump has had interviews with conservative Wisconsin radio personality […]