In the old days, when a company was planning layoffs, it delivered the bad news to employees, and then—if it was smart—issued a press release to let the world know how many people had been laid off and why. These days, companies concerned about crisis management and joining the “bad news” conversation online will also post the announcement on… Read More
Public Relations
Honolulu photographer needs to attract high-end clientele
Lisa Hoang of Honolulu, Hawaii writes: “I am a professional child and family photographer. I own a boutique, on location portrait studio that caters to high-end clientele. I want my business to be talked about among the elite, with my clients beginning a relationship with me from the time their babies or born, or just before… Read More
Gift expert needs product ideas for Pittsburgh Women’s Expo
Jennifer Melnick Carota of Belle Vernon, Pennsylvania writes: “I am an expert bargain shopper and ‘give-ologist’ known as the Gift Therapist. I have a ton of fun teaching folks how find fabulous gifts on a shoestring budget. “I recently combined all of my bargain shopping tips and gifting advice into my first book titled ‘Shop… Read More
Colleges hungry for experts who speak on 17 topics
These are gloomy times for many Publicity Hounds who are corporate speakers and rely primarily on speaking fees and back-of-the-room product sales. Some companies, faced with huge expenses they can’t control such as the skyrocketing cost of gasoline, are slashing training budgets. Corporate speakers, competing with thousands of other speakers for gigs, are finding that the pot of money available… Read More
Revlon ties contest to ‘lipstick on a pig’ controversy
Most of us may forget the “lipstick on a pig” controversy by next week. But I’m betting the word lipstick will be front and center on the stump, straight through to the election and possibly beyond. As soon as the news about Barack Obama’s lipstick comment broke yesterday, the media went nuts. Race Taylor, a deejay for WPLJ-FM… Read More
Every day is a bad day for press conferences
Somebody just send me an email with a subject line “Quick question for members of the media”: Good morning! Quick question . . . . If you were to go to ONE press conference a week, which would be your favorite day? Is Monday a good day, at the start of the week? Not Friday,… Read More
Pompous elevator pitches turn off reporters and others
When somebody asks “What do you do?” how do you respond? If your answer includes words with multiple syllables or jargon, words that only people in your industry can understand, you’ve probably forced their brain into shut-down mode. The Philadelphia Inquirer article “Too many firms use jargon to convey ideas” offers example after example of… Read More
McDonald’s iced coffee showing up on TV news desks
Here’s another example of how the line between news and advertising is more blurred than ever. The next time you’re watching the news on your local FOX station, or on a station owned by the Meredith Corporation, look on the desk in front of the anchors. You might spot a cup of iced coffee from… Read More
When doctors shill for pharmas, what’s a PR person to do?
Leigh Ann Hubbard, managing editor of MyFamilyDoctorMag.com, writes: Periodically, in response to a request, I’ll get a quote from a doctor (via a publicist) that mentions a specific product. Inevitably, I Google the doctor and he or she has been or is on the payroll for the folks who make the product. There’s no mention… Read More
Help HR company promote to Dallas/Ft. Worth businesses
Michelle Suter of Frisco, Texas writes: “Our company, Administaff, is a professional employer organization that serves as that serves as a full-time human resources department for small and medium-sized businesses. “We have had a great deal of national advertising, yet my best clients are small business owners in the Dallas/Fort Worth area who have from seven… Read More