Did you see the news about Starbucks closing its stores for a day to conduct training around racial bias? No doubt the pundits will be lighting up the airwaves with claims that this may be the most brilliant PR move ever. No doubt that Starbucks will earn big PR points for this. But I would…
If you are a Corporate PR practitioner in a full-service PR firm, it is easy to feel a little bit like the Ugly Duckling. You don your suit and head to a client’s annual meeting, and all the while your consumer-colleagues are hiring celebrity spokespeople, creating influencer integrations and brainstorming big ideas that include things…
It is a generally accepted premise that corporate reputation provides a halo effect across all of your stakeholders – influencing decisions about where people invest their money and apply for a job and providing opportunities for premium pricing for products. And few would argue that having a positive reputation beats the alternative, by any measure.…
Reputation Winners of 2013 While we often think first of the big losers when it comes to reputation, it’s worth taking note of those who have done it right. Here’s our take on the biggest reputation winners of 2013: Starbucks – The epitome of a company guided by its values, with the character, conviction and…
Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz issued an open letter to customers in states with “open carry” gun laws, and respectfully asked them to leave their guns at home. The public response and focus of the coverage has been predictable. Some lauded the move as a bold gesture to families across the U.S., citing it…
Storytelling is the foundation for every corporate public relations program. I spend a lot of time working with companies on developing and refining their core stories – or what we refer to as a company’s “master narrative.” Like all great stories, there needs to be a centrally defined focus – a purpose that brings together…
When I sit and catch up with my colleagues from all of our practice areas there is a universal challenge our clients are facing: how to be relevant, and stay relevant, amidst the noise. As companies and brands seize the opportunity to use communications to advance their business goals – whether promoting a product, increasing…
Businesses are expected to do more these days. They must treat employees ethically. They must be transparent with consumers. They must be sophisticated in their CSR programming and initiatives. They must set long-term sustainability and community engagement goals. And they must constantly report on how they are doing. The list goes on. Business…
If you work in the public relations profession, you’ve probably heard a common lament among clients – “People aren’t getting our story.“ It may be one of the common denominators that make clients from diverse industries and across all practices of public relations alike. Whether launching a brand, working an issue in Washington, conducting an…