Chief financial officers have dealt with auditors since the days of the abacus. Smart chief technology officers bring in friendly hackers to test the ability of firewalls to withstand cyber attacks. Facilities managers conduct evacuation drills. However, aside from airlines and a few industries susceptible to high-profile incidents, it is rare to see mandated, periodic …

Remember the scene in Network where the news anchor Howard Beale (played deliciously by Peter French) shouts his famous line, “I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take this anymore!”? This past summer thousands of Target shoppers expressed that same sentiment online when they found out their favorite general store had donated piles …

I am offering free guest lectures in crisis management/crisis communications-related topics to any relevant college or university class, lectures to be delivered by webcam. At your end — project my image for the class to see. Then point your webcam at the class so I can see and hear them. It’s that easy. Contact me …

You’ve heard of the NIMBY syndrome, Not in My Back Yard. It’s never pleasant when its symptoms are first detected and it’s usually around the building of new housing that might include public housing units, or a home for the mentally challenged, a halfway house or something similar. There are plenty of examples in any …

Public relations tips are often about telling your story to the media. But what about the people who work for you? Making news begins at home. It’s possible to send a strong new message to the press that covers your industry, or your company if you’re a big player. But is your message to the …

Cast a wide net. No, not fishing advice, or an Internet command. If you feel you have exhausted your outreach to conventional reporters, editors, producers and assignment desk people, despair not in your quest for coverage. Consider the freelance writer or producer. They’re out there, and they are more in demand now than ever before …

WHEN OPERATIONS DELIVERS WHAT MARKETING MEASSAGES CLAIM, COMPANIES WIN. Marketers need to stay in close contact with Customer Service and customers’ communications. It is the only true barometer of a company’s success with customers.

The last blog looked at why Public Relations should never be confused with “spin” and “hype.” Today’s edition serves up something more tasty and nutritious — one of the best resources enjoyed and highly appreciated by publicists, marketing communications folks, reporters, and others. I’m talking about Help a Reporter Out — fondly known as HARO …

Outstanding customer service strategies is making your customers feel like you understand their needs and their issues. There is another way of letting your customers reach out to you that is faster and more structured than an email exchange and more productive than a phone call. Online Chat is a nice way to personalize your …

It’s well established in Dr. John Gray’s best-selling book, Men are From Mars, Women Are From Venus, that males and females communicate differently when trying to relate to each other on different levels. While it’s a slippery slope in the universe of communications to equate this gender-based metaphor to the public relations arena, slide with …