![THINK DIFFERENT [LY]](https://thinkdifferently.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/THINKDIFFERENTLYELEMENTLOGOcoloredelementsMarch2020.jpg "THINK DIFFERENT [LY]")
The common belief is that the more you hype something the more attractive it becomes to your target audience. The truth is that the more you hype the less believable your claims become and the higher you set expectations, the more likely it is that you will fall short.
What is Publicity?
Publicity is what most PR agencies sell as public relations. It’s the communication of what an organization wants to tell as many people as possible. It’s also known as promotion. There is little consideration for the audience; often no communication of a value proposition; there’s usually no clear call to action or defined outcome. TheContinue Reading
What is PR?
The definition of public relations according to the largest industry association is “a strategic communication process that builds mutually beneficial relationships between organizations and their publics.” There is no mention of the media, yet most PR agencies sell pre-packaged media relations programs under the guise of public relations. We’ve taken the Public Relations Society ofContinue Reading
Startup and SmallBiz PR Basics
If you want an overview of the fundamental principles of PR for small businesses and startups this is worth a watch. It’s more than two and a half hours, but it explains the theory and practice behind successfully using public relations to deliver the right message to the right audience at the right time viaContinue Reading
The Views Expressed Here Are Mine AND Those Of My Employer
“Views expressed are mine and not those of my employer” is a phrase that appears in many twitter profiles – and it’s meaningless. Whether the individual promotes the company they work for – as is often the case – or it’s just that your followers know who you work for, the views and opinions expressedContinue Reading
Redesigning public relations and marketing for entrepreneurs
Recently I talked with Rivers Corbett, host of the Startup Canada Podcast, about how I’m redesigning public relations and marketing for entrepreneurs. We talked about: the need for clear definitions for public relations, marketing and publicity why most entrepreneurs should focus on building key relationships rather than media coverage the challenges associated with disruptive innovationContinue Reading
Negative Coverage Creates PR Problem for United
As a communicator it’s been fascinating watching United’s response to its “re-accommodation” of a passenger from one of its flights over the weekend. It has created a public relations headache that it could easily have avoided. Holding Pattern As soon as the issue happened, United ground crew should have alerted the company’s senior communications executives. InContinue Reading
Look, Squirrel. Donald Trump’s Distraction Strategy
Pure Distraction First it was an accusation that President Obama “wiretapping” Trump Tower. Then it was that Obama hadn’t wiretapped Trump Tower, per se, but had conducted surveillance. Next it was based on media reports. Then it’s that rather than use a US agency, Obama had used UK spy agency GCHQ. Today it is accusations thatContinue Reading
Trump’s PR problems are more serious than I thought
Trump’s PR problems are more serious than I thought Just before election day I wrote about Donald Trump’s Public Relations problem. I argued his most serious problem was the alienation of mainstream Republican voters, and a large number of it’s elected officials. We all know what happened. Damaging relationships with voters Fast forward to todayContinue Reading
Ask These Questions When Journalists Call | Checklist
Ask These Questions When Journalists Call Entrepreneurs want journalists to be interested in their businesses, but can often be intimidated by the prospect of dealing with the media. There’s really no need. Ask these questions when journalists call: Ask the journalist: What do you need? What’s your deadline? Where can I reach you? Then, whateverContinue Reading