Bless you, Mr. Biden for deciding to run for President! As an old-time hands-on, “press the flesh and kiss the babes” politician, you must get media coaching. It’s a brave, new media world out here where every utterance and Tweet is diagnosed either for or against you. Your opponent is shrewd and cunning. He chips away at democracy daily on …
Social Media Matters
Some public figures apparently love to hear the sound of their own voices … on Twitter! And often tweet without thinking or media coaching. Once again, a public figure is facing backlash after tweeting. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) asked courts to hold Elon Musk in contempt of a settlement ruling imposed in August of last year for fraud …
Christmas Commercials that Connect 2018: McDonald’s & Hobby Lobby
In our second annual series of Christmas Commercials that Connect, McDonald’s once again successfully connects a product with the holidays! This time, as the team makes their rounds doling out gifts from rooftops, it’s the reindeer who yearn for a treat that’s healthier than the cookies left for Santa. Spying a McDonald’s, jolly old Saint Nick knows just what to …
Think On Your Feet … Before You Tweet
Social media has become a PR nightmare for some. Instead of carefully planning answers to bridge to in interviews and crafting speeches reflecting thought leadership, it is now possible to make a serious media mistake with the push of the button. …
Do Your Homework
It is commonly believed that a strength that goes too far can become a weakness. Megyn Kelly is well known for her brash, “take no prisoners,” opinionated approach. But on her own Halloween show, she didn’t do her homework enough to know the history of blackface. She asked, “What is racist? Do you get in trouble if you’re a white …
Shooting from the Hip
Defined as “reacting suddenly or without careful consideration of one’s words or actions,” is the most recent fault of too many tweeters who experience very serious consequences. Roseanne Barr (@therealroseanne), for example, recently published a racist tweet toward former Obama aide, Valerie Jarrett, resulting in ABC’s cancellation of Ms. Barr’s No. 1-rated TV show, her reruns scrapped and her dismissal from the talent …
Creating an AXIS Point
How do you take a household product and give it cultural relevance? Like this: Take one part household cleaning product line, Pine-Sol® and two parts marketing and communications agency, AXIS. Mix it all together and you’ve got a multicultural marketing campaign. Together, Pine-Sol® and AXIS created the “Makers of Home” campaign, branding Pine-Sol® through diverse home stories and statistics. The makers of …
When is a customer not a customer?
Do you have to be a paying customer to receive customer service? Recently, two African American men were escorted out of a Starbucks in Philadelphia. They asked for the restroom and occupied a table in the store, although, they hadn’t made a purchase. Calling the police on them seemed extreme. Many questioned whether kicking these men out was simply company protocol or racial injustice. …
The “f” Word
The “f” word is in big trouble. And it’s classic! The once social media darling, Facebook, is now facing a crisis of unexpected proportions, complete with testimony before Congress: both the Senate Commerce and Judiciary committees and the House Energy and Commerce Committee! All, seemingly, without a plan. A crisis plan. Facing a weekend crash course in crisis communication skills coaching, CEO Mark …