Uber CEO Responds to Criticism … Again
Most of the world believes Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi was murdered, though how, why, and by whom remains an open question and occasion for strident debate in some circles. The controversy alone should warn people off, especially if they’re not ready to face a firehose of very public rage. The fact that there’s an official version of events that most people tend to take at face value, should give people yet another reason to double-down on caution related to this issue. Especially, once again, if your brand has nothing to do with the tragedy or the controversy related to a murdered journalist. Enter Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi… During an interview with Axios media, the Uber CEO appeared to defend the…
Read MoreBrands are Using Loyalty to Cut Acquisition Costs
The ongoing battle among brands today is the one raging over customer loyalty. The environment of digital marketing is shifting, and this causes competition in various forms. As more brands become aware of the importance of building a loyal customer base — while also keeping their new customer acquisition costs low — some creativity is needed to entice those customers not only to stay loyal, but to bring more people into the fold via referrals. This challenge has led to an increase in loyalty and rewards programs. For example, the recently announced Target Circle is one of the latest iterations of loyalty programs promising perks and benefits for those who choose to spend their money in Target stores. Another way…
Read MoreNew Research on the Buying Habits of Gen Z
Gen Z has become a focal point for many marketers seeking to connect with this up and coming generation with hefty buying power. In the most recent edition of the Piper Jaffray 38th Semi-Annual Taking Stock With Teens® Survey, released this month, new information has become available on the shopping and retail habits of Gen Z. This information is instrumental in forming a marketing strategy designed to tap into the estimated $830 billion contributions to U.S. retail sales made by this young generation. Gen Z is growing up quickly. These individuals, born between the mid-90s and the mid-2000s, are becoming more independent and are beginning to register their preference when it comes to everyday retail decisions. How can marketers harness…
Read MoreCathay Pacific Reverses Position on Hong Kong Protests
One of the hottest and most divisive news stories coming out of the far east this past week was the ongoing “pro-democracy demonstrations” in Hong Kong. Waves and waves of people, mostly students, are out in the streets letting the Chinese government know what they think of the current state of things. Initially, renowned airline, Cathay Pacific, put out an internal message that the company would not stop its employees from taking part in the demonstration. That has changed, and the company was quick to let the world know it. Employees were told that, if they participated in the protests, their employment would be terminated.
Read MoreThe Politics of Preseason Communication
The NFL preseason is one of the most grueling stretches in all of athletics. Teams bring nearly twice as many players to camp as they will keep on the active roster, so competition is fierce and emotions are high. That means there are also a ton of compelling stories, so reporters and broadcasters are on high alert for any nugget of breaking news. Combine that intensity with a bunch of keyed-up players and coaches, many of whom have limited experience with the press, and you have a recipe for communication chaos. To avoid this, teams need to have clearly articulated plans about who talks to the press (and when), as well as what is or is not said to the…
Read MoreDuck! Now, What?
The sad and recent tragic mass shootings in two U.S. cities may have caused many folks to not only re-examine their position on firearms and gun control but also how they might react if a similar incident happened to them and their family. What goes through a person’s mind when a crisis involving them suddenly and unexpectedly occurs? Public relations professionals should also be asking themselves some questions if an incident occurred involving numerous deaths and their company directly or indirectly. Here are three possibilities we hope will never occur but for which PR people need to be prepared. They should be considered so you’re not caught totally off-guard and left behind in the media frenzy of what some are…
Read MoreThe Growing Pay Gap Between Journalism and Public Relations
Most people aren’t aware that journalists and public relations professionals share a number of mutual goals like communicating with the public, building trust, and sharing stories. Yet in spite of the similarities, there’s a growing gap in pay between these two professions. Why is that so? For one, there’s been a steady decline in the number of newspapers in the United States. In 1970, there were 1,748 daily newspapers. By 2016, the number had dropped to 1,286. The number of public relations professionals working in PR agencies alone at the end of 2016 was 58,489. And that didn’t include those working for corporations, associations and other organizations.
Read MoreSweden’s Airline Industry has a PR Problem
In recent months, climate activists across Europe have stepped up their efforts to convince travelers to skip air travel, with infamous Swedish schoolgirl and campaigner Greta Thunberg spearheading the trains-over-planes movement. At the same time, “flygskam”, or flight shame, has become a new buzzword in the Scandinavian country, and the airline industry has responded by saying it is “hellbent” on reducing emissions.
Read MoreHow to Create Community with Marketing
Even as the consumer world moves closer to home, with services and commodities available at the push of a button, we all still crave a bit of human interaction. As more customer service models are going towards outsourcing or automation, industries such as fitness and food are providing options that don’t require customers to leave the house, and more people rely on their mobile devices for communication, it’s no wonder that we all get a bit lonely sometimes.
Read MoreBoeing: A Case Study in How Not to Manage Your PR
As one of corporate America’s most recognizable brands, you would think Boeing would be well-poised to deal with public relations crises of all shapes and sizes. Indeed, as a major exporter and military contractor, Boeing has deep pockets when it comes to lobbying in Washington; you would think this kind of spending would carry through to the firm’s PR department.
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