Being ready and available to respond to media inquiries at the drop of a hat isn’t easy and it can get messy. That’s why you need to be proactive and focus on…
Tag: messaging
I Think It Got Lost in Translation
Oopsies! You said something well-intentioned, but you ended up upsetting a bunch of people. You know what you meant to say. So how did it all go so terribly wrong? Here are…
Selective Truth-Telling
An employee of a company that caters to leisure-time activities was accused of inappropriate behavior toward females. A journalist asked the company to comment on the accusation. But the company’s culture preached…
Behind the Scenes: The First Hours of a Crisis
You receive a call. Something’s gone horribly wrong, and everyone is demanding answers. Tiny beads of sweat form on your face. You feel a rush of heat all over your body. Time…
Tone Deaf
Words do matter. So does their tone and imagery. Consider these true stories: A 36-year-old woman who put off having children until she was financially stable and at a better point…
Keep It Simple
Complexity doesn’t work. Especially when you’re trying to explain yourself. So keep it simple. Your message will be better understood — and it’ll be more persuasive. Simplicity sounds simple. But it…
How to Effectively Change “How Things Have ALWAYS Been Done”
Gossip travels faster than fact. How you handle gossip makes the difference between the gossip controlling you — or you controlling it. Despite knowing that the only thing constant is change, anything…
We Regret to Inform You
We regret to inform you that “We regret to inform you” is a terrible opening line. Doesn’t matter if you’re delivering bad news by letter, email, speech, text, or anything else. Seems…
Tea Leaves
Reading tea leaves is a national pastime. It infuses all aspects of our lives as we try to interpret the world around us. What’s the back story when a company or non-profit…
Social Media During a PR Crisis
Recently we received a call from a pair of panicked business owners. Someone had posted a video on Facebook alleging that the business’ food came out bursting with bugs. It went viral…