communications

communications, Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, public relations, social media • October 28, 2011

Robert Gibbs On PR, Politics, And Social Media

“Whether or not someone is camped in a park literally, there will always be someone camped in a park, figuratively.” Nice, tweetable quote from former White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs. Gibbs spoke yesterday at the Council of PR Firms Critical Issues Forum about the power of social media to mobilize change. As a veteran of policy […]

communications, Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, public relations, reputation • October 21, 2011

How To Turn Bad Publicity Into Good PR

There are those who think any PR is good PR, but let’s face it, sometimes it’s just plain bad. Faced with withering reviews for its plan to separate its DVD and streaming businesses into two distinct units, Netflix has canceled Qwikster. This latest plot twist is a bit reminiscent of Gap’s unveiling of that infamous new […]

communications, Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, public relations • October 12, 2011

The Care And Feeding Of Bloggers: Tips For PR Pros

Last month, a top-ten firm cooked up a PR mess when it tried to surprise bloggers by serving frozen entrees from a client brand instead of the freshly cooked meals the guests were led to expect. The duped bloggers started an epic food fight, dishing on the agency and their client online for weeks after the event. […]

branding, communications, Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, public relations • October 6, 2011

What Steve Jobs Knew About PR

In the wake of Steve Jobs’ passing, pundits and Apple-watchers are trying to outdo one another to describe his talent, vision, and impact. But if you look at Jobs as the presumed architect of Apple’s ongoing public relations strategy, he was a disaster. At least, he should have been. After all, in the digital age, […]

communications, Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, public relations • September 30, 2011

A Weighty Issue: Is Being Heavy Bad PR?

One of the tweets after the earthquake in August was about a certain hefty New Jersey governor and object of Republican presidential fantasies: “I think Chris Christie just jumped into the race.” Bada-bum. Christie’s size has been the butt of jokes, with puns always intended, since his own campaign against Jon Corzine. His bulk is the […]

communications, Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions • September 21, 2011

What Netflix Can Teach Us About Apology PR

Public apologies can be powerful, especially when they come from the top. Even in our crisis-of-the-day era, there’s something arresting about a chief executive admitting he was wrong, or a company making amends to customers. As a self-appointed “apology PR” analyst, I’m fascinated by the communications strategy, language choices, and delivery of a corporate mea […]

communications, Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, public relations • September 16, 2011

Fake News Site Highlights Fine Ethical Line For PR

September is PR Ethics Month. That’s ironic, because a water utility’s ‘innovative’ PR tactics have sparked an outpouring over industry ethics while highlighting the thin line between legitimate news and faux content. It all started when the Central Basin Municipal Water District in Southern California was outed by the Los Angeles Times for its creation […]

communications, Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, public relations, social media • September 14, 2011

8 Ways To Make Your PR Program More Social

Social media is like a “secret sauce” for marketing communications. It isn’t always strong enough on its own, but it adds flavor and power to a traditional program. The key is integration. Here are some simple steps for “socializing” a PR campaign, even if it’s a DIY (do it yourself) variety. Set clear goals. Many […]

communications, Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, public relations • September 1, 2011

Red Flags: How To Spot The PR Agency You Shouldn’t Hire

Finding the right PR team is a lot like finding a romantic partner. The process is imperfect, sometimes uncomfortable, and it can be frustrating and time-consuming for both parties. Worst of all, there’s no guarantee of a happy-ever-after once you do begin to work together. It’s easy to be dazzled by flash and dash, or […]