Your web site accessibility is important to your marketing strategy. You want to make sure that your site is easy to access, navigate, and read. That includes every page, advertisement, and article that you have on your site. Consumers should be able to read your site even if they don’t have the newest, greatest, fastest computer. Your site should load quickly and not be too graphics intensive.
While PDFs are easy to create with the right software, they aren’t generally considered easily accessible, due to the requirements to open them. For a form that needs to be filled out, they’re fine. …read more

I don’t know who Nancy Pelosi and the House of Representatives have doing they’re public relations, but did you catch her YouTube video which was created to kick off the House’s new YouTube Hub?
Here’s the video, just in case you missed it.

I feel bad for the Speaker of the House. A Rick Roll? Really?
It’s so old – and got even older after Macy’s tried to do the same thing at their 2008 annual Thanksgiving Day parade.
Nancy, if this was your (or your PR people’s) idea to look cool, hip and with the times, you’ve made a big mistake.
The Speaker …read more

Fineman PR just released it’s annual list of the top public relations mistakes of 2008. While I am sure (or at least, I hope) that you aren’t on the list, there are some lessons to be learned.

Accountability is important. No matter if it was the AIG party scandal or McCain dumping Letterman for a ‘better’ gig. Being open and accountable for ones actions is always the way to go. In today’s 24/7, media driven world, it’s too easy to find out the truth when you’re not.
We are always watching. As alluded to above, the spotlight is always on, always waiting …read more

Just a brief note wishing you everything your heart desires, especially great Public Relations and Publicity!
From
Shannon Cherry, APR, MA
Image Credit: Christmas Before the Chaos by Shannon Cherry

One of the best ways to take your PR skills to the next level is to see what others in the field are doing.
So I am proposing that PR folks (whether in a firm of DIY-ers) share their best practices and publicity success stories.  It’s a great way to show off your skills.
But I want to do more than just a list. I want the public to decide which campaign, public relations tactic, etc., is the best of 2008. So I’ll incorporate a voting poll as well.
Are you game? Great!
So here’s how to do it:

Post a comment with your publicity …read more

There’s been a lot of chatter this weekend about how many PR agencies are closing their doors, or at least cutting their staff.
Many are pointing to the economy, but I have an additional answer: social media.

As I wrote last week, many PR people are still doing public relations they way the learned it in college or from their first mentor.
That’s wrong. Here’s why?
A recent study from the Society of New Communication Research showed that 57 percent of respondents feel social media tools are becoming more valuable. They pointed to the fact that  consumers are using them more and more as …read more

Burger King’s new promotion has left a bad taste of my mouth. You can go and see their movie here. But the basis in their words is : “To find out about America’s favorite burger, we had to leave America.”
Sure, go to the ends of the earth and give them a Whopper and some other unnamed hamburger. And announce the ’scientific’ study points to the conclusion of which burger tastes better. (It supposed to be
Oh yeah, and make sure the ‘taste testers’  dress in their ethnic attire, just to add to the cultural diversity.
It’s so offensive to on so many …read more

The winter season is upon on. Instead of dreaming of a thaw, you should be already working on warmer publicity.
Most magazines are already thinking of stories with a spring/summer angle. So you should be thinking that way, too – if you want to beat the competition and get some coveted coverage. That means start focusing on Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and graduations.
Why so early? Because of many media outlets’ production schedules – most notably magazines – reporters often start working on seasonal stories 4-6 months in advance.
Many late April, May & June magazines are chock full of holiday gift …read more

I have to admit I expect very little from companies jumping on the Olympics bandwagon.
A logo in the corner of their materials, and many TV ads leading up to and during the Olympics seems to the extent of the imagination of many companies pouring millions into their sponsorships.
What a change to see the beauty of the HBC website promoting their official gear for the Canadian Olympic team. They are so elegant. And artistic.
Yes, you can click on a link to get to an online store, but the best reason to visit the site is the arresting solarized photos of …read more

I saw Wanted yesterday, with Angelina Jolie and James McAvoy.
The whole thing felt like a trailer, with action money shots coming (pardon the pun) at you one after the other.
It fell far short of the Jason Bourne films, but I’m sure it will do fine at the box office.
I couldn’t help but reflect on the declining value of trailers. Most of the Coming Attractions show you key plot elements deep into the movie. It’s one thing to show you the initial dilemma faced by the hero, but why do so many of them show you the climax of the film? …read more