Blog Posts

You just learned your company has exciting news to announce, and it’s your job to get the word out. Your company’s story must be newsworthy. Calling a press conference that’s not newsworthy is the fastest way to nosedive your company’s credibility in the eyes of the news media.

Is your news unusual or compelling? Is your news important to the media outlets in your city or state? Maybe even the entire country? Press conferences are an opportunity for the person addressing the media to deliver all key points at one time, rather than being interviewed throughout the day. Be prepared to set up interviews after the press conference. Understand that, for a variety of reasons, some news outlets won’t be able to attend your press conference.

Here are some top tips to consider when planning a press conference: Continue reading

Your office phone rings. It’s a news reporter who wants to interview you tomorrow morning about one of your clients. Your thoughts shift from your client’s project to the reporter, who commands, and in this case deserves, your attention.

Many people assume that being interviewed is as simple as waiting for a news reporter to ask questions. However, if you are not fully prepared, both in terms of the content of your presentation and the process – what to expect during the interview – being interviewed can be a frightening experience. Conversely, if you know your material and feel confident about your ability, an interview can be rewarding for both of you. Continue reading

Increasing engagement in your brand is easier and more affordable (by more affordable, I mean free) than ever thanks to the many social media platforms available. And increasing social engagement is a great way to help your company grow. So how can you utilize the tools on hand to your advantage? Check out our bright ideas:

• • Get your business on Facebook. It’s free to join and the site has grown tremendously in recent years. It takes just minutes to build a page for your business.
  • Already on Facebook? Offer a gift card or even a trial service to a “fan” each month. This will help your fan base bud and keep people interested and coming back for more. After all, everyone loves free stuff. Consumers will be happy, and your business will flourish.

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So you appeared on a TV news show. Reporters wrapped their stories around your carefully crafted sound bites. You were an instant hit. A hit at home. A hit at the neighborhood shopping mall. A hit at your email in-box. In this new age of social media, your 15 minutes of fame could well last a long time. This is PR like never before. Your TV news clip is a third-party endorsement that will help elevate your credibility. The power of social media can take that video clip to incredible heights. Continue reading

You spend your professional life working in front of some pretty tough audiences: Challenging business prospects, speaking engagements, and the like. It can be even more intimidating to sit down for a television news interview.

But with a dose of preparation, as well as observing a few do’s and don’ts, you can put your misgivings aside and seize a great opportunity to jump into the spotlight.

While many of the same interviewing skills are needed for print and TV news interviews, sources for broadcast media need to be more aware of their appearance and have the ability to quickly connect with viewers visually and verbally. Continue reading

Many businesses have a recovery plan in place for disasters caused by floods, fire, and the like. Yet even the best-managed business may not be fully prepared for a business crisis of some sort. When that happens, crisis communication is a critical organizational function. Ignoring this important business component could put the health of the company in peril.

There’s no shortage of definitions for the word “crisis.” In the context of business reputation, a crisis is defined as a significant threat to the day-to-day operations that can cause serious consequences if not dealt with properly. A crisis can mean loss of finances and reputation. Ultimately, crisis management is meant to protect the company from threats and/or limit its negative impact. Preparation is the key. Continue reading

Remember: It’s all in your mind.

Sure, there’s the old idea that public speaking is everyone’s number-one fear. But who’s in control of your own mind? You are, of course. Once you know that, you’ll find that there are many ways to put yourself in a position to nail that presentation.

Here are some valuable tips to help prepare yourself:

1. Preparation. It tops our list for good reason. Preparation is the key. Ask yourself:
   What are the main points that I want to get across? Create an outline. Write and rewrite your speech. Don’t expect to memorize every word. But when you know the material inside and out – and know your audience – then your thoughts will easily flow.

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