Cathay 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 MoreWhat’s New, Pussy Cat?
Remember this 1965 movie? It received mixed reviews when it debuted, in part because it focused on male sex addiction and was considered tasteless by some critics. Yet, the movie received an Academy Award nomination for best song and still another nomination for best-written screen comedy from the Writers Guild of America. Business and marketing have been accused by some critics as being unethical in exaggerating claims to encourage people to buy products they don’t need. Instances like this are what led to the formation of organizations like the Ethical Corporation, a group formed to promote discussion about purpose-driven business. What Does All This Have To Do With My Company? Today’s businesses and marketing environment are going through tremendous changes…
Read MorePull vs. Push: How Consumer Marketing Communications Make a Difference
We often refer to the concepts of pull and push marketing. For those unfamiliar, these concepts deal with the overall strategy of a marketing professional and how they approach and engage with customers. On one hand, the pull approach encourages consumers to come to the brand. Examples of this approach include promoting sales or deals to consumers, capitalizing on loyalty by offering rewards, and using influencers to create more of a demand and following for the product or service being promoted.
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 MoreA Guide to Drop-Shipping with AliExpress
Thinking of starting an e-commerce business, but worried about how you’ll handle the less-than-minor hurdles of inventory or shipping? As simple as listing a product for sale on your website and then requesting your supplier to ship on your behalf, dropshipping with AliExpress is likely to be your new best friend. AliExpress is a massive online marketplace with a wide selection of products. Given most AliExpress sellers are overseas manufacturers, their prices are typically very competitive.
Read MoreWhy User Behavior Should Lie at the Center of Each Marketing Decision
At its core, marketing is the study of consumer behavior. This behavior can range from the shopping habits of a customer, their preferences, or their concerns. All of this information serves to create a big picture that brands can then use to create marketing campaigns that will reach and resonate with consumers. But not every business prioritizes the study of user behavior when formulating their marketing strategy. Why not?
Read MoreAvoiding Gimmicks in Marketing: Why It Matters
Surely, every marketing professional has at some point in their career overheard the phrase, “seems like a gimmick to me.” Heavily used both by skeptical consumers as well as marketers themselves, the idea of the “gimmick” describes a cheap or tacky attempt at marketing a product or service. And there are times when the gimmick has worked.
Read MoreKardashians: Queens of Social Media
If you cast your mind out and try to think of a group of people who seem to have mastered every aspect of social media and the creation of a brand online, you surely don’t have to think too long until you land on a single, era-defining clan: the Kardashians. While the family did not get their initial shot at fame through social media, they have undoubtedly managed to stay relevant through their social media presence. Each sister has grabbed hold of their individual success and translated it into a means of commerce, whether it be a range of products, lifestyle apps, brand deals or models.
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