Is The Social Media Hype Over In 2010?

My job is social media so why would I even bring this up? The reason that I am and the reason that I believe the hype is over is because social media is no longer a buzzword. Instead, it is and should be accepted as an integral part of any marketing strategy. Looking back at [...]

Small Businesses: Show Customer Appreciation by Recognizing Your Customers Online

Showing appreciation for clients and customers comes in many forms.  Some industries have it figured out, and instead of getting creative, they just follow trends.  For example, large retail outlets have, “Customer Appreciation Days” that give customers up to 20 percent or 30 percent off their purchases.  Restaurants have customer loyalty cards that give you a free sandwich [...]

The Hidden Benefits of Building Your Brand Through Social Media: (Passive) Recruiting

Over the last year the big discussions were around company layoffs. The layoffs were obviously newsworthy and mirrored the state of the economy, and the recession we are in.  During this same time period however, an issue that was not as given as much attention was the implementation of hiring freezes. Though it was most prevalent in the [...]

What do you tell “PR101″ students today?

As I look over my past presentation as I prepare to talk with a local college class today, I have to make some major revisions.  It’s kind of nice to see predictions come true.  Amazing what a year or two will do. While the Cutlip definition of public relations still holds up, and what is [...]

Don’t Rock the Boat

I’m all for change, but I’m a big believer that if something is working well for you, why rock the boat? Such is the case for Tropicana. We all know and love the Tropicana logo with the nice big orange and the straw sticking out of it. It’s refreshing and it makes you want a [...]

Putting the Brakes on Decaf

Starbucks recently announced that in an effort to reduce costs, they will stop brewing decafinated coffee after 12:00 noon. They’re projecting a savings in the millions of dollars and a huge reduction in waste. But it gets tricky. They will brew it if a customer asks for it, but it won’t be widely available. From [...]

Coming Soon to a Brand Near You: Obama Fever!

I mentioned it in an earlier blog post, but I’ll say it again. I have never seen so much attention on a single presidential election since who knows when… maybe John F. Kennedy? But I wasn’t even alive back then, so who knows. With all of the excitement surrounding President Barack Obama, it sure makes [...]