ImPRessions

communications, Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, public relations • April 10, 2014

PR Isn’t Dead, But It Should Be Reincarnated

Some prominent members of the PR industry were up in arms recently over a story in the Financial Times about companies who reject the traditional PR agency relationship and choose to handle their own public relations. “Publicity is Free With No PRs” featured such luminaries as Warren Buffet and Elon Musk and their propensity for […]

communications, Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, public relations • April 8, 2014

Public Relations And The Boycott Culture

Software community Mozilla lost its CEO recently, due to poor PR handling of a red-hot issue, or because said CEO was railroaded for unpopular views. Perhaps both. But, contrast the Mozilla mess with the sugar-coated response by a humble graham cracker to critics of its message about marriage. Each says something about the power of […]

Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, public relations • March 31, 2014

Things You Should Never Say To A PR Agency

Every public relations agency executive delights in hearing from prospective clients. One of the great things about the business is that you never know which award-winning campaign, career-changing relationship, or high-profile engagement might be just around the corner. But a typical part of the chase is a series of calls or meetings with client prospects […]

communications, Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, public relations • March 23, 2014

The Evolution Of PR Thinking

Recently a group of senior PR agency colleagues gathered for a conversation about changes in our industry and what PR professionals need to do to remain competitive. The consensus was that advertising, though badly disrupted by digital and social media, was doing a better job of reinventing itself than our industry. The news isn’t all […]

ImPRessions, leadership, social media • March 16, 2014

Whatever Happened To The Big Tech PR Launch?

Some former colleagues in tech PR and I were talking recently about the “good old days” when nearly every tech launch included a splashy press conference. Maybe it wasn’t as theatrical as Steve Jobs taking the stage at MacWorld, but it was entertainment, complete with a dramatic unveil, executive presentations, and striking models who would help […]

communications, Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, public relations • March 7, 2014

7 Reasons To Work At A PR Firm

For those set on a career in PR or communications, there are many forks in the road. Here’s the argument for a stint at a public relations agency, as opposed to a corporate or nonprofit gig, as a great place to start. Our bias is for a smaller, independent agency, but it’s really more about […]

communications, Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, reputation • February 28, 2014

Five Ways To Create The Right CSR PR Plan

Corporate or brand reputation is often at the heart of a sound public relations strategy. And the companies who enjoy the best corporate reputations are typically those who make a commitment to social responsibility. The reasons are many: a strong reputation can help an organization differentiate its products and services, attract talent, and even mitigate […]

blogging, communications, Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, public relations • February 21, 2014

Eight Ways PR Pros Can Make The Client Look Good

PR veteran Arthur Solomon’s recent post about challenging basic public relations “rules” and other industry tenets really struck a chord with me. The most insightful point may have been this one: “Good work is not a sure way of receiving client approval. The best way to ensure a good review is to make the client […]

communications, Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, public relations • February 16, 2014

Why Do Women Outnumber Men At Top PR Firms?

Why are there so many women in PR? Seventy-three percent of PRSA‘s membership is female, and it puts the total number of women in the profession at 80 percent or higher. It wasn’t always that way. Thirty years ago, men were actually in the majority at PR agencies and companies. Today, women predominate, especially at […]