ImPRessions

Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, public relations • November 18, 2015

Six Essential Communications Skills For PR People

Those who succeed in public relations must be naturally good at communicating, right? Not always. PR has changed dramatically over the past few years, which calls for new or enhanced skills. Professional communicators today are more likely to be reaching customers or constituencies directly than merely going through the filter of media. And many of […]

Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, public relations • November 11, 2015

Six Reasons To Hire A Small PR Agency

As the owner of a relatively small PR agency, I appreciate it when clients and prospects tell me how much they value a firm of our size compared to the large agencies they know. Having worked at two multinationals and one midsize PR firm before starting my own business, I know the difference. But the cliches […]

Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, public relations • October 30, 2015

REI Cancels Black Friday. Great PR Follows.

How many retailers could tell its customers to take a hike – literally – and earn glowing PR? Of course, that’s exactly what happened when REI announced it would close on Black Friday while urging employees and customers to get out and enjoy the outdoors instead of shopping. It was a trailblazing PR move that […]

Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, public relations • October 25, 2015

Amazon And The New York Times: Corporate PR Gets Tough

The PR agency world has been buzzing over Amazon’s extraordinary public response to the August New York Times feature about its “bruising” workplace. For those who’ve been under a rock, the piece depicted Amazon as a “survivor”-like environment where utter dedication to company goals is demanded and constant stress is the norm. A refutation of […]

Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, public relations, reputation • October 19, 2015

The Business Case For Corporate Reputation PR

PR and corporate communications professionals often advocate for proactive corporate reputation management. We talk up the benefits of having a good reputation, but can you put a value on it? A bad reputation can be ruinous, of course. Just look at the Volkswagen diesel emissions scandal. Its shares tumbled and its chief executive resigned after […]

Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, public relations • October 8, 2015

What (PR) Clients Say, And What They Really Mean

A skill that can be particularly important for PR agencies or any client service business is what’s known as “active listening.” What clients say isn’t always what they mean. At least, not entirely. There’s sometimes an unspoken communication beneath comments from clients and business associates – if you’re listening for it, that is. We decided […]

Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, public relations • October 1, 2015

7 PR Lies To Avoid At All Costs

Are PR people unethical? I don’t think so. But our profession is dogged by the stereotype of the fast-talking spinmeister, or the unscrupulous flack. Recently a small but troubling study caught the industry’s attention at the International Public Relations Research Symposium. Anonymous interviews with more than 20 high-level PR executives in South Africa revealed that […]

Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, public relations • September 21, 2015

3 Simple PR Lessons From Pope Francis

PR and public engagement can look easy when you inherit a mantle of power and prestige. But it isn’t, as seen in the dismal lack of trust we have in many of today’s institutions. For a lesson in both PR and public leadership, look no further than Pope Francis. He’s been called “the best PR […]

Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, leadership, reputation • September 15, 2015

PR, Too, Can Do Well By Doing Good: Edelman’s Climate Decision

The world’s largest PR agency has learned a lesson in the power of public pressure to force corporate policy. After months of waffling on the issue, Edelman yesterday told the Guardian that it would end work for coal producers and groups who deny climate change. The move is particularly interesting because Edelman holds itself up […]