Public relations stirs up powerful emotions – it’s a rare CEO who isn’t totally captivated by her picture on the cover of Wired Magazine. I’m not a PR person anymore, but I was one for 25 years. So, to help the companies dying for great coverage and … [Read more...] about Influence, not control!
Don’t assume they’ll believe you
Even if you have an amazing company, a wonderful story to tell and artful messages and soundbites to tell it, you need more to get any decent reporter to write about you. You need third party validation - customer references, independent data, … [Read more...] about Don’t assume they’ll believe you
Getting started: Getting help
OK future great communicators! You’ve done a ton of work on creating and testing your message, really learning your audiences and building out a great communications plan. Now you’re ready to execute. Who will help you?? There are a ton of PR … [Read more...] about Getting started: Getting help
Getting started: Create your plan
A communications plan is many things. It’s a thoughtful schedule. It’s a matrix of interdependencies. It’s a To Do List. Every good communications plan includes an objective, strategy and tactics. Your objective must be a business objective. … [Read more...] about Getting started: Create your plan
Getting started: Test your message
OK, Magellan! You’ve identified your audiences and their concerns. You’ve mapped the new planet that your audiences inhabit. You’re learning a ton. You’re ready to test the messages you’ve created. Our world is noisy, chaotic and … [Read more...] about Getting started: Test your message
Getting started: Identify your audiences
You know that great communicators deliver amazing messages that their audiences love. To do that, you have to know who your audiences are and what they care about! Who are your audiences? Think about every aspect of your business. Your … [Read more...] about Getting started: Identify your audiences
Where and how to start
OK, so I’m always saying you must become a great communicator. Yes, you say, I get it! I know I have to tell the world about my great idea/new company/new product in the best way that I can! But where do I start? First of all, let’s talk about … [Read more...] about Where and how to start
Six things tech CMOs need to know about PR
PR in the technology industry feels a lot like PR in Hollywood – it’s all about the ‘buzz’. A hot start up may never have shipped a single thing, but if everyone’s talking about it, that’s all that matters! And the press up here are a bit too cozy … [Read more...] about Six things tech CMOs need to know about PR
Don’t Be That Reporter’s Bi#&h!
The most common mistake everyone makes in media interviews is this: trying to please the reporter. This is the worst thing you can do. It’s not your job to make the reporter happy. Your prime directive is to make your customers and investors … [Read more...] about Don’t Be That Reporter’s Bi#&h!
Featherbedding
Layering is not just good advice for surviving a San Francisco summer, but also a great way to communicate complex concepts to your target audiences. In the early days of the David Letterman show, they would take things up to the studio roof and … [Read more...] about Featherbedding
