ImPRessions

blogging, Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, public relations, reputation • August 1, 2013

Oh, No! This Blog Was Hacked! (Chipotle’s PR Stunt Shows Poor Taste)

Okay, the title is a joke. But did Chipotle’s fake Twitter hack legitimize the faux attack as a down-and-dirty publicity stunt? Apparently the random tweets, which include such nonsensical posts as “do i have a tweet?” and “mittens13 password leave” were part of a treasure hunt promotion based on a series of puzzles. The promotion […]

communications, Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, marketing, public relations • July 25, 2013

PR Should Own Real-Time Marketing

Mere moments after HRH George Alexander Louis of Cambridge made his entrance, the tweets and posts came in a rush. From Pampers, to Hostess, to Lululemon, all manner of brands spawned seemingly on-the-fly messages in the wake of the #royalbaby delivery. Some were witty, others were boring, and a few stretched the limits of taste, […]

Crenshaw Communications, crisis management, ImPRessions, public relations, reputation • July 17, 2013

How To Apologize Effectively

Mere hours after the tragic plane crash at San Francisco airport, executives of Asiana Airlines hosted a press conference to issue a formal apology for the accident. As is customary, CEO Yoon Young-doo and Asiana board members expressed their regret with deep bows of contrition in front of media and dignitaries. The Washington Post ran […]

Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, public relations • July 11, 2013

5 Ways PR Firms Can Set Client Expectations

Like personal relationships, PR agency-client unions can sputter or fail for any number of reasons. But it typically comes down to one key issue: the gap between expectations and reality. Often both parties rush ahead, eager to start reaping the benefits of the relationship, but without syncing their individual definitions of success. Here are some […]

Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, public relations • July 3, 2013

In Praise of Independent PR Agencies

As we celebrate our national independence, it’s a good time to ponder what independence means in the PR agency world. For years, PR and other creative services firms have touted their “independent” status. What does that signify to clients and employees? Is it valuable? Sometimes it’s a euphemism for “small,” which is itself another way […]

branding, communications, Crenshaw Communications, crisis management, ImPRessions, public relations, reputation • June 27, 2013

The PR Verdict On Paula Deen’s Apology (Again)

From the frying pan to….yesterday Paula Deen, the queen of comfort cooking, faced Matt Lauer, and the outcome was not so comfortable for either one. Some have criticized Lauer for his brusque grilling of Deen. My view is that he took a no-nonsense approach, cutting to the business issues and her motive for finally living […]

Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, public relations • June 26, 2013

Is "Dumb Ways to Die" A Smart PR Campaign?

“Dumb Ways to Die” delighted PR-watchers when it recently swept the Cannes Lions, the Oscars of the creative industry, and a very prestigious award for a public relations program. The Cannes Festival, in fact, has had cachet since Don Draper’s day, but it was virtually closed to the public relations biz. Like a poor relation, […]

Crenshaw Communications, crisis management, ImPRessions, public relations, reputation • June 22, 2013

Paula Deen’s PR Crisis: Is She Done?

It pains me to be dishing up another post about Paula Deen’s PR crisis. Deen’s rags-to-riches story and Southern-fried charm has won her many fans, including members of my own family. But her most recent controversy makes me wonder if Paula can recover. It was bad enough that she hid her diabetes diagnosis for a […]

Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, marketing • June 19, 2013

Can Bad PR Be Good Marketing?

Lifestyle clothing retailer Abercrombie & Fitch ran into some nasty PR recently when comments by CEO Mike Jeffries were reposted from a 2006 interview and blew up the Internet. In the piece, Jeffries boasts about the brand’s “exclusionary” marketing practices. He explains, in his typical unapologetic style, that Abercrombie won’t carry larger women’s because it […]