Reputation

The average person is overloaded with content. Bombarded with ads, email, text and video, many of us have turned off. We ignore nearly everything. Into this hostile climate comes the communicator. Instead of throwing up your hands, we offer author Jamie Mustard, who provides some basic solutions to this complicated problem.

The turkey has been picked apart, the wishbone wished upon, and the rounds of coffee are morphing into stronger beverages. It’s the day after Thanksgiving. Yet some family members have vanished. They’re braving the crowds at the mall on Black Friday. How should PR craft messages about retail brands opening (or closing) their doors today?

While these may seem like gag gifts for some, influencers and super fans will fork over serious cash to own a piece of brand loyalty—which they can show off from all social media platforms. It’s probably too late to get on the trendy grab list for this year, but there is something to be learned from brands like Red Lobster, Hidden Valley Ranch and others, going the extra mile to connect with their consumers.

South Dakota’s PR campaign around the state’s methamphetamine epidemic accomplished what it set out to do—create awareness around a state-wide health crisis. But the play on words, “Meth. We’re on it,” superimposed over pictures of teens, farmers and older women, also ignited a debate about the high cost of quick-won awareness, and whether it’s true that “there’s no such thing as bad PR.”

Last week, Uber reported $1 billion in losses, despite its third-quarter results beating estimates. This week, an angry social media mob reacted to Khosrowshahi’s comments by keeping the #BoycottUber hashtag trending all of Monday, dragging out many of the company’s skeletons in the process. For PR pros, the latest round of calls to #BoycottUber also contains many lessons around what constitutes good, and bad, investor relations. Here’s what we learned.

Most companies remain silent when a competitor makes news. An unorthodox approach is to seize the moment to get your company’s views and executives into the conversation. Just as important is to make sure your customers are aware that you have their best interests in mind at a time of unsettling industry news.

From signage to social media ads to commercials, communicators are always on the lookout for chances to get more eyes on our brand. One time-tested way to slingshot brand awareness into the heavens? Publishing your very own book.

The digital era is wonderful in many ways, though social media can sink a brand that runs a tone-deaf ad campaign quicker than you can say, ‘Why didn’t we have a PR pro at the table in the first place?’ Here are seven tips for PR pros to consider that will help brands avoid cultural missteps when they roll out ad campaigns.

You think it’s too early to begin preparing for Halloween? What a ghostly thought. In fact, Halloween is a wonderful time to dig up some fun for your brand and its followers. Accordingly, here are three scary tips for injecting some excitement into your brand on October 31 that even the devil will find thrilling.

In an interesting twist, Uber announced the launch of a new app, for the gig-economy, starting in Chicago. Some may see this as a sign of getting back to its roots. Uber Works will allow temporary workers to search for jobs in bartending, stocking and cleaning, amongst others.