The Ultimate Cheatsheet for Critical Thinking
As my colleague Beth covered in a previous blog, the ability to think critically is essential to PR and communications professionals. Everyday clients rely on us to evaluate their news to determine its value, anticipate potential outcomes and analyze industry trends. Because the concept of critical thinking is universally accepted as an important skill for […]
What, Exactly, Is Thought Leadership?
Over the time that I have worked at Communiqué, the term “thought leader” has popped up frequently. In fact, it’s kind of been everywhere. Thought leaders are mentioned in articles, blog posts are written about the importance of developing thought leadership, and thought leaders are sought out for speaking opportunities. At first, I didn’t give […]
The 3-Ingredient Recipe to Standing Out
Standing out is tough. As PR professionals, we can empathize with that statement. We battle daily for journalists’ time and attention. We have to consider which story is most likely to catch their eye, what assets we can we provide to entice them to request an interview, and how to package all of it into […]
Lead Scoring 101 for PR Professionals
Many companies implement PR campaigns to drive awareness of their products and services with the goal of reaching buyers. Earned media can be a wonderful way to attract and motivate buyers to visit your web site, research your product, or sign up for a trial. Earned media can help you drive more top-of-funnel activity for […]
Power Up Your PR and SEO Efforts in 2017
Listen up, kids. It was a grim and archaic time before the days of “The Google.” Over the holidays, I was reminiscing about the days of looking things up in actual encyclopedias or, even more tragically, having to sit through an entire movie without the ability to pause and search for where we had seen […]
Why PR Pros Should be Worried About Fake News – And How We Can Fight It
While fake content has circulated in tabloids and on the internet for years, the 2016 election has given us a reason to take it seriously. Stories about the Clintons selling weapons to ISIS and Trump winning the popular vote (he didn’t) spread like wildfire, and in some cases outperformed real news. The false narrative that […]
Channeling My Inner Wonder Woman: The Power Behind “Power Posing” and Body Language
Recently I had the opportunity to present to a group of undergraduate marketing students at the University of Washington. When the idea was first brought to me, I was thrilled and couldn’t wait to get in front of the class. However, as the event got closer, I felt self-doubt start to creep in and anxiety […]
When It Comes to PR Strategy, Don’t Forget About Your Defense
Offense sells tickets, but defense wins championships – at least, according to a now proverbial expression backed by the likes of ESPN. I must admit my knowledge of/interest in sports is about that of a grumpy cat’s, but I can still appreciate the value of this message and how it applies to other professions. IT […]
A Place for Mom and VeteranAid.org Helping Vets Understand Proposed Pension Changes
Veterans Day honors and thanks all the military personnel who have risked their lives in the service of protecting the United States. The day is marked by parades and community events throughout the country, and many places fly the flag at half-staff in remembrance and support of those who lost their lives on behalf of […]
Measuring Results—How Do We Quantify PR Results?
Whether we’re kicking off an engagement with a new client or executing an announcement for an existing client, the first step is setting expectations and establishing what success look likes for our client. Depending on the company’s business objectives, an article in a top-tier business publication or a series of bylines placed in an industry […]