tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18043366125543106272024-03-13T06:57:50.567-04:00Abbott Media GroupUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1804336612554310627.post-42442166650973061592023-07-14T06:15:00.009-04:002023-08-11T18:39:53.012-04:00Choose A Human Writer, Not AI<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEios35wvdNp1_s4XAKLLQjVCAmgPo6joj8Eb7KyGMNG4iy71p-z8WP-GCU2NRl91fMF7t7x-Ejl2B6v4s7MkyInJf8MLjGbx6gQZeVtUiWOKwpTIYIJCEr0X4KQ-sCR5yWga5NtjSJEANouqo2sU6N0xE1S4Ilr0CRAWGMA45Zhm2uZptzh4tkpxLzzeb/s608/20230713_181303.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="434" data-original-width="608" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEios35wvdNp1_s4XAKLLQjVCAmgPo6joj8Eb7KyGMNG4iy71p-z8WP-GCU2NRl91fMF7t7x-Ejl2B6v4s7MkyInJf8MLjGbx6gQZeVtUiWOKwpTIYIJCEr0X4KQ-sCR5yWga5NtjSJEANouqo2sU6N0xE1S4Ilr0CRAWGMA45Zhm2uZptzh4tkpxLzzeb/w400-h285/20230713_181303.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />AI, or Artificial Intelligence, is being touted by some as the answer to all our problems. <p></p><p>But like past years' fads, like expensive NFT cartoons and graphics, AI has problems of its own, and rushing to ditch humans in favor of machines in all fields make no sense. </p><p>A New York lawyer last week was duped by ChatGPT and is now facing legal sanctions, after he used the AI model for research, insisting he didn’t realize it could lie. </p><p>"New York aviation lawyer Steven Schwartz may face professional sanctions after a legal brief he submitted was discovered to be full of “bogus judicial decisions” and fake quotes authored by AI language model ChatGPT, according to court records published last week." <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-65735769?utm_content=buffercb8c5&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer">Reports</a> the BBC.</p><p>"Schwartz told the court in an affidavit on Thursday that he was using ChatGPT for legal research for the first time when he put it to work drafting the ten-page brief he hoped would convince Manhattan Federal Judge P. Kevin Castel not to dismiss a case he was advocating. He explained that he 'therefore was unaware of the possibility that its content could be false.'</p><p>It turned out that every case cited in the AI program-generated brief was fake, entirely made up by the program. </p><p>AI-written pieces have come under scrutiny lately. But most articles about it have been glowing and optimistic about how AI and various Chat bots can help humanity. </p><p>There are a few obvious ways In which it seems AI could be very useful. In space exploration, over 5500 new exoplanets have been discovered in the past decades by large telescopes that have been put into orbit around the earth. Sifting Through all the data that they have collected may take decades, but using AI has greatly sped out the process. </p><p>AI-run rockets making journeys of thousands of years may make more sense than humans, when it's time to visit another solar system.</p><p>When such superhuman tasks aren't required, however, we should keep humans employed. While more training in some fields, like law, may be required, this attorney's experience is a lesson on overreliance on AI.</p><p>Putting millions of future attorneys and paralegals out of work is not good for society or that profession. One can see an early backlash to relying on machines in the growing unease with "self check outs" at Walmarts and other retailers. Doctors that rely on AI and not human experience can be envisioned making horrific mistakes in the future.</p><p>Doing away with article writers seems like a logical step to some, but a recent Wall Street Journal <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/chatgpt-already-floods-some-corners-of-the-internet-with-spam-its-just-the-beginning-9c86ea25">article</a> noted that while some AI articles presented to a publisher of a retirement magazine contain no grammatical mistakes, most devolved into gibberish and "nonsense," and were sifted out by the publisher. </p><p>One suspects that news editors are doing the same thing. Professors also warn of this threat, but have sifted out plagiarism for decades.</p><p>By Stephen Abbott of Abbott Media Group</p><p>[AI was NOT used to write this article.]</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1804336612554310627.post-38280772511786849642023-07-04T14:04:00.004-04:002023-07-04T14:04:34.226-04:00When Parties Screw Up.. the Latest Example<p>Political parties, just like candidates, need to always take care to use public events to build their images, and avoid negative stereotypes about them that could be used by opponents. For Democrats, the attack by the GOP that they, deep down, really HATE America, is one they need to be fighting, not reinforcing. </p><p>But in Arizona, the Pema County Dems this week advertised a July 4 rally in a city park to protest the overturning of Unlimited Baby Abotions and Legalized Race discrimination in higher education by the US Supreme Court. But the wording of the flyer and name of the event, "F**k the Fouth" said too much about their real feelings of America. </p><p>The AZ Republican Party and even the AZ Democrats condemned the event poster, tho Dems said the event's orananizers' "anger" about the decisions was justified.</p><p>The unaltered tweet, shown below, was deleted after it hit the <a href="https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/laurieroberts/2022/07/01/pima-county-democrats-using-profanity-july-4th-abortion-event/7792801001/">media</a></p><p>Similarly, <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/democrats-throughout-the-country-show-they-truly-hate-the-united-states">last year,</a> Democrats trashed America in an Orlando, Florida city newsletter meant to discuss Fourth of July events.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6iTpAfIIkSpBYSO5Au3P6HNNud7Yn8rS8HqaX1JIBlHI1ocKCBYgH_6FQifhUBWRITUyRlCd-Aoj7MlrFJ3pmtRMRkswtDcDrUB_oPyLk0obhCze5bV0UQvyP3hfYTdK0ohekT5RhH9WAfCedoTwfjWoLWUdTsEzOkmAe2OTY8EKltxdSdOPc7DpcdyjZ/s1086/2023_07_02_14.47.44.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1086" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6iTpAfIIkSpBYSO5Au3P6HNNud7Yn8rS8HqaX1JIBlHI1ocKCBYgH_6FQifhUBWRITUyRlCd-Aoj7MlrFJ3pmtRMRkswtDcDrUB_oPyLk0obhCze5bV0UQvyP3hfYTdK0ohekT5RhH9WAfCedoTwfjWoLWUdTsEzOkmAe2OTY8EKltxdSdOPc7DpcdyjZ/s320/2023_07_02_14.47.44.jpg" width="318" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1804336612554310627.post-53191254750239741962023-01-04T09:00:00.001-05:002023-01-04T09:00:00.144-05:00New Roles For the Old News Release<p> <a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-22Z3bLFVyrM/V5wFUVDPv1I/AAAAAAAAEfs/EqLHpE4Q7F0mf6M3M228tDAJ4SWJpvOlwCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/forimmediaterelease.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="311" data-original-width="450" height="221" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-22Z3bLFVyrM/V5wFUVDPv1I/AAAAAAAAEfs/EqLHpE4Q7F0mf6M3M228tDAJ4SWJpvOlwCPcBGAYYCw/s320/forimmediaterelease.png" width="320" /></a></p><p><br /><br /><span>Long gone are the days of your PR firm or your own organization simply sending out a press release to the local TV and print media, sitting back, and thinking that the job of promoting product, service, or individual has been completed.<br /><br />That's because <b style="background-color: #fcff01;">the news media are no longer the sole audience of the news release; and understanding this new truth is vital to keeping this communications tool fresh.</b><br /><br />Stephen Abbott of Abbott Media Group is skilled in using tried and true tools and techniques such as the news release, but putting them to work in new ways.<br /><br />AMG understands that news releases today can play several functions in the promotions process,. Releases sent to the media aren't necessarily to ensure immediate coverage. In fact, it's unrealistic to assume that everything sent will be published.<br /><br /><span style="background-color: #fcff01;">In Abbott's political campaigns, frequent releases have served the purpose of showing that a campaign is active, has hired staff, is raising money, is engaging with voters, and is seriously contesting the race. </span></span></p><p><span>From these roles, it becomes clear that releases from political campaigns have several audiences. </span></p><p><span>It's not just local news media, which may or may not be covering local politics, but also political leaders, local business leaders, elected officials, and of course, voters, especially those who are engaged in the process early on. </span></p><p><span>Sometimes several releases, specifically targeted to these Publics, make more sense than a single, standard release.</span></p><p><span>Releases written for business can play a similar role by simply reminding local news media and others that the business is active in the community and open for business.<br /><br />Releases sent to internal Publics - sush as repeat, regular clients - also have a reassuring effect, and can communicate best practices within a business organization, as well as communicating new policies and procedures to everyone, not just to a select few.</span></p><p><span>Effective internal Communications like this can also build a sense of rapport and togetherness within organizations, reduce gossip and misunderstandings, as well as lower employee turnover.</span></p><p><span>They can also be employed to convey the new or long-held mission and vision of a group or company. </span></p><p><span>These reminders, written in news-worthy, fresh ways, help solidify the reputation of the group or company within a community, and help clarify the purposes towards which they're striving. They can also clear up misconceptions that could damage reputations or cloud the purpose of a company in the public's perception in the long term.</span></p><p><span>News releases, of course, continue to fill the traditional role of introducing new products and services to current and future clients and customers. </span></p><p><span>They still must primarily be sharing something NEW, and be News Worthy in order to be considered for print and digital distribution. </span></p><p><span>But they also can demonstrate to clients that a business has the expertise in the field in which they operate, and that they are capable of bringing the latest technology and techniques to bear on their behalf.<br /><br />Frequent news releases posted on a company or campaign website are an easy way to provide fresh content for visitors. Web content that is frequently changing and updated ranks higher in searches, and encourages future traffic to the site.<br /><br />Finally, news releases can play a vital role in conveying to relevant Publics within the community that a business is engaging actively with it, playing a positive role by giving back through charitable giving and social involvement. </span></p><p><span>This has the effect of building positive feelings towards the business, enhancing its reputation and making future business transactions with them more likely.<br /><br />AMG and Stephen Abbott understand how to fully employ all the aspects of news releases, and use them to the fullest effect on behalf of clients. </span></p><p><span>Contact AMG today for more information. 772-261-1173.</span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1804336612554310627.post-81382543978767183072023-01-02T10:00:00.031-05:002023-01-02T10:00:00.150-05:00Objections to PR Spending Answered [Abbott Media Group]<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjszpBEHNb3aJe1I2hPa2x1v370YVPupu5-Uw0RC7c8TW_nvXdorSRgSbYW14_8bu1G2ZKqGveso6VhApG74cDfk8KgfBOfJ0UM1ZuddAx0wagOQXbaBydSo7mNr2gO_KoQk4tUTDqtdpRUnKe4eK3_TrqvrI6HqIExfXiboxZoZWJ2dftNt55P4DyYeQ/s1080/FB_IMG_1670601445472.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="614" data-original-width="1080" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjszpBEHNb3aJe1I2hPa2x1v370YVPupu5-Uw0RC7c8TW_nvXdorSRgSbYW14_8bu1G2ZKqGveso6VhApG74cDfk8KgfBOfJ0UM1ZuddAx0wagOQXbaBydSo7mNr2gO_KoQk4tUTDqtdpRUnKe4eK3_TrqvrI6HqIExfXiboxZoZWJ2dftNt55P4DyYeQ/w400-h228/FB_IMG_1670601445472.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>"I can't afford public relations to build my company's reputation." Really? If you aren't building a reputation, customers won't view your company as reputable, and will visit your competitors. You are either losing or gaining a good reputation every single day. Guess what's happening to your business if you are ignoring it?</p><p>"Money is tight. There's a recession coming." Money will get even tighter if your customers stop using your products or services because they don't know how they will benefit from using them or they don't grow to like your company.</p><p>"PR isn't effective." it may seem that way in the very beginning, but even short-term PR campaigns can reap great benefits by changing perceptions of your company or the services that it offers. </p><p>"the PR people on the internet promised to get my name in the paper a few times for a flat fee." Public relations, when done right, isn't just an ad or mention placement service. Anyone with media contacts can get you into Dog Journal or a community shopper or other irrelevant media that won't drive sales, and PR is meant to be a long-term relationship in which the professional gets to know your business and its needs.</p><p>"We tried public relations once, but they charged too much and it wasn't effective." The fact that you overpaid, probably for people who were new to the profession, doesn't mean you should judge an entire field on one bad experience. Generally, you get what you pay for. But there are some people who price gouge in every field, whether it's your mechanic, a hospital, or a fancy restaurant. You wouldn't hopefully judge all mechanics, hospitals and restaurants based on those bad experiences. And it's hard to believe anyone would say, "I tried a mechanic once, but they charged too much. I'm never going back to one."</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1804336612554310627.post-83354195298804210632022-08-03T11:14:00.000-04:002022-08-03T11:14:02.517-04:00Race Car Driver's Tweet illustrates Huge #PRFAIL<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHK2yCt6D6Oo5sjqNLGHq5LOdkgxtN3CwN1h4oP7MFWRSKp7wmPHVq_N4ksx4gnXJsk_GJtMsLXIJ_ZClNWsglRVr4Auoyeotw1jDTwNpkgc353vJbghVyJ3m-YDR3Ol0yjoqn8QwpoaqP54_C_wkvud0RaXRF1u_ZDVOVw0MMlbySFtHXRsuyty7J3A/s400/20220803_091053.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHK2yCt6D6Oo5sjqNLGHq5LOdkgxtN3CwN1h4oP7MFWRSKp7wmPHVq_N4ksx4gnXJsk_GJtMsLXIJ_ZClNWsglRVr4Auoyeotw1jDTwNpkgc353vJbghVyJ3m-YDR3Ol0yjoqn8QwpoaqP54_C_wkvud0RaXRF1u_ZDVOVw0MMlbySFtHXRsuyty7J3A/s320/20220803_091053.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Oscar Piastri, a reserve driver with the Formula 1 team F1 Alpine, put out a <a href="https://twitter.com/OscarPiastri/status/1554527452231262210?t=nvy23vwTK1cj8QtpWbRxvg&s=19">statement</a> on Twitter yesterday noting a substantial disagreement with the team's news release: "I understand that, without my agreement, Alpine F1 have put out a press release late this afternoon that I am driving for them next year. This is wrong and I have not signed a contract with Alpine for 2023. I will not be driving for Alpine next year." His tweet caused a bit of a storm on Twitter among the racing community.</p><p>It turns out that Piastri was hoping to sign with the McLaren racing team in 2023, although that, too, has not been finalized or formally announced. </p><p>The episode shows a remarkable lack of communication in public relations finesse on the part of the team and the driver. </p><p>And the News Release itself is an embarrassment to the team and a huge Public Relations FAIL. PR professionals must double and triple check all facts before placing them in print and releasing them to the media like this was done. </p><p>The miscommunication here boggles the mind. How difficult would it have been to speak to the driver himself, and ask if negotiations had been completed and a deal has been signed for his continued participation on the team as the main driver next year?</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1804336612554310627.post-82484157994486794032022-03-10T12:00:00.008-05:002022-03-10T12:00:00.192-05:00TV Heart Attacks Give Peloton Heart Palpitations [Abbott Media Group Blog]<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjS-KAGDGoc1vON7EzFx70B5XLUFy-6wOjBl77_Az_v7OiS7MWXekZ1T4vUb0SbsMZ3FWzMUKIgszRGzeqr8_cCsR_nynN2cGZxO922uxfu5Z5pNx5IQp0XYSpsEtLIJYCS6zGAoj9bv9FYRbBX9APs2ph5TI-ck5WwYLgyCj23KlLRhe-rr6O2ZKb4yQ=s675" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="380" data-original-width="675" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjS-KAGDGoc1vON7EzFx70B5XLUFy-6wOjBl77_Az_v7OiS7MWXekZ1T4vUb0SbsMZ3FWzMUKIgszRGzeqr8_cCsR_nynN2cGZxO922uxfu5Z5pNx5IQp0XYSpsEtLIJYCS6zGAoj9bv9FYRbBX9APs2ph5TI-ck5WwYLgyCj23KlLRhe-rr6O2ZKb4yQ=w400-h225" width="400" /></a></div><br />Two TV shows featuring regular characters having heart attacks while using a Peloton exercise bike are giving the bike company heart palpitations.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Viewers were shocked when, during the premiere of HBO’s Max’s Sex and the City reboot And Just Like That, series regular “Mr. Big” (Chris Noth) had a heart attack on his Peloton. Turns out, the company not only knew about the product placement, but actively participated in the show featuring it.</span></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But in January, the company got an unexpected jolt when yet another show featured a heart attack, this time, Showtime’s hit, Billions, portrayed longtime character Mike Wagner (David Costabile) as having a heart attack while using the bike.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The company released <a href="https://twitter.com/onepeloton/status/1485340686178308097">a statement on twitter</a> saying they had nothing to do with THIS placement and didn’t approve its name or product’s use in the show.</span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“We get TV shows want to include @onepeloton to get people talking, but to be clear, we did *not* agree for our brand or IP to be used on @SHO_Billions or provide any equipment, As the show itself points out, cardio-vascular exercise helps people lead long, happy lives.”</span></p></blockquote><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As a popular appliance and icon of the pandemic age, the Peloton bike is surely well known enough to merit use and even ridicule in popular American culture.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But this wasn’t the first time the brand has had a PR crisis on its hands.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEir3TGfjkAvcy95ddQXSBokvOOffMHnmqNadOdrb09jhtYeBZcv4P_0HHYrJobYfy-XwQ0YRZnb9O-tYGm0s9EX3QFu8EhCYjqb2lmcYa8eYx0Hq9fQXFe_5HMkTKPhpKHZ4iwEx-WaRtGDNZ_p17y02QYzQNtF8nJU050OnCY6vgOyC7vNLxYV8Vw0zg=s299" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="299" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEir3TGfjkAvcy95ddQXSBokvOOffMHnmqNadOdrb09jhtYeBZcv4P_0HHYrJobYfy-XwQ0YRZnb9O-tYGm0s9EX3QFu8EhCYjqb2lmcYa8eYx0Hq9fQXFe_5HMkTKPhpKHZ4iwEx-WaRtGDNZ_p17y02QYzQNtF8nJU050OnCY6vgOyC7vNLxYV8Vw0zg" width="299" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Most of us first learned of the bike through its infamous <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F72RvkJuLsU">2019 TV ad</a> in which a rather thin, attractive young woman receives a Peloton bike as a Christmas gift from her husband, making a video for hi in which she had a pained look on her face. The ad prompted many to question whether such a “gift” from a man would be inappropriate or even insulting. </span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The resulting near-endless analysis of the ad was a PR disaster for the company, who had hoped for a more painless and positive launch.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The recent features the product has received are not *positive* either, but also not entirely negative.<br />The company’s response was quick and appropriate, and most people will understand that the product doesn’t have this effect on ALL of its users. Still, one doesn’t ever want your exercise product attached to the concept of a heart attack, or any other medical emergency.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Unlike Mr. Big, the company will survive this.</span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1804336612554310627.post-91905523155437156862021-10-25T10:00:00.055-04:002021-10-25T10:00:00.165-04:00New Roles For the Old News Release [Abbott Media Group]<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-22Z3bLFVyrM/V5wFUVDPv1I/AAAAAAAAEfs/EqLHpE4Q7F0mf6M3M228tDAJ4SWJpvOlwCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/forimmediaterelease.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="311" data-original-width="450" height="221" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-22Z3bLFVyrM/V5wFUVDPv1I/AAAAAAAAEfs/EqLHpE4Q7F0mf6M3M228tDAJ4SWJpvOlwCPcBGAYYCw/s320/forimmediaterelease.png" width="320" /></a></div><p><br /><br /><span>Long gone are the days of your PR firm or your own organization simply sending out a press release to the local TV and print media, sitting back, and thinking that the job of promoting product, service, or individual has been completed.<br /><br />That's because <b style="background-color: #fcff01;">the news media are no longer the sole audience of the news release; and understanding this new truth is vital to keeping this communications tool fresh.</b><br /><br />Stephen Abbott of Abbott Media Group is skilled in using tried and true tools and techniques such as the news release, but putting them to work in new ways.<br /><br />AMG understands that news releases today can play several functions in the promotions process,. Releases sent to the media aren't necessarily to ensure immediate coverage. In fact, it's unrealistic to assume that everything sent will be published.<br /><br /><span style="background-color: #fcff01;">In Abbott's political campaigns, frequent releases have served the purpose of showing that a campaign is active, has hired staff, is raising money, is engaging with voters, and is seriously contesting the race. </span></span></p><p><span>From these roles, it becomes clear that releases from political campaigns have several audiences. </span></p><p><span>It's not just local news media, which may or may not be covering local politics, but also political leaders, local business leaders, elected officials, and of course, voters, especially those who are engaged in the process early on. </span></p><p><span>Sometimes several releases, specifically targeted to these Publics, make more sense than a single, standard release.</span></p><p><span>Releases written for business can play a similar role by simply reminding local news media and others that the business is active in the community and open for business.<br /><br />Releases sent to internal Publics - sush as repeat, regular clients - also have a reassuring effect, and can communicate best practices within a business organization, as well as communicating new policies and procedures to everyone, not just to a select few.</span></p><p><span>Effective internal Communications like this can also build a sense of rapport and togetherness within organizations, reduce gossip and misunderstandings, as well as lower employee turnover.</span></p><p><span>They can also be employed to convey the new or long-held mission and vision of a group or company. </span></p><p><span>These reminders, written in news-worthy, fresh ways, help solidify the reputation of the group or company within a community, and help clarify the purposes towards which they're striving. They can also clear up misconceptions that could damage reputations or cloud the purpose of a company in the public's perception in the long term.</span></p><p><span>News releases, of course, continue to fill the traditional role of introducing new products and services to current and future clients and customers. </span></p><p><span>They still must primarily be sharing something NEW, and be News Worthy in order to be considered for print and digital distribution. </span></p><p><span>But they also can demonstrate to clients that a business has the expertise in the field in which they operate, and that they are capable of bringing the latest technology and techniques to bear on their behalf.<br /><br />Frequent news releases posted on a company or campaign website are an easy way to provide fresh content for visitors. Web content that is frequently changing and updated ranks higher in searches, and encourages future traffic to the site.<br /><br />Finally, news releases can play a vital role in conveying to relevant Publics within the community that a business is engaging actively with it, playing a positive role by giving back through charitable giving and social involvement. </span></p><p><span>This has the effect of building positive feelings towards the business, enhancing its reputation and making future business transactions with them more likely.<br /><br />AMG and Stephen Abbott understand how to fully employ all the aspects of news releases, and use them to the fullest effect on behalf of clients. </span></p><p><span>Contact AMG today for more information. <a href="http://www.abbottmediagroup.com/">www.abbottmediagroup.com</a>.</span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1804336612554310627.post-17562149212472935602021-06-30T09:00:00.041-04:002021-11-06T14:16:26.206-04:00The Value Of Hiring A Professional Wordsmith<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nqKKjGmVsW8/YNvU6nr8PgI/AAAAAAAAkMM/JFZpzdheW6AUqnG922bxQlCSUa2FAg6NgCLcBGAsYHQ/s200/home3.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="126" data-original-width="200" height="252" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nqKKjGmVsW8/YNvU6nr8PgI/AAAAAAAAkMM/JFZpzdheW6AUqnG922bxQlCSUa2FAg6NgCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h252/home3.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p>I once noted on Facebook that you know you have a popular profession when everyone tries to dabble in it. Such is the case with writing. Everyone believes that professional writers do something very easy. After all, everyone writes words. How hard can it be?</p><p>In fact, every word a professional communications consultant writes must be carefully considered and written with the knowledge and experience gleaned from their entire career.</p><p>I know, for instance, that a single improper word, whether written or spoken, can not only lose the trust of your reader, but can ruin a reputation or derail a campaign overnight.</p><p>Such was the case of George Allen, a Virginia Senator who was running for re-election in 2006, and planning a future presidential campaign.</p><p>During a campaign event, he made an unscripted remark, referring to one of his opponent's staffers, who was there taking pictures, as "Macacca." The staffer was of Indian descent, and the word was used as a slur against dsrk brown people in India. </p><p>The resulting media firestorm ruined his campaign and any chance for a future in politics.</p><p>This is among the primary examples I use when telling candidates for office that they must campaign from written speeches and ought not ever tweet or use Facebook themselves.</p><p>The same is true for a CEO of the major company, or a single businessperson just starting out in their profession.</p><p>Professional writers know what words to avoid, and not just obvious slurs. Avoiding the wrong words, phrases, slogans, context, tone, confusing jargon, trigger words, or trite sayings - and using the most effective words - can keep a message on track, whether you're a politician or a business professional.</p><p>Words have the power to move people to action, to inspire the mind, and to touch a human being's deepest emotions.</p><p>Words, therefore, ought to be chosen and used with great care and skill. Professional writers are worth having, and worth compensating fairly.</p><p>When so much rides on the written word, it just makes sense to have someone assist you who has made a career of writing. </p><p>Consider Stephen Abbott of Abbott Media Group for your firm, campaign, or group's communications needs.</p><p><i>Stephen Abbott is principal of <a href="http://www.abbottmediagroup.com">Abbott Media Group</a>, located in Central Texas, but available remotely, worldwide. He brings decades of news media, political, and business writing skills, along with political and social media management skills to the table for every client.</i></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1804336612554310627.post-15895277310166316922021-06-01T11:00:00.002-04:002021-06-29T22:40:07.299-04:004 Ways To Build #Trust With Your Customers [Abbott Media Group]<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n2wuHLkhZw8/YLUp0EiYSBI/AAAAAAAAjsw/FNhczAzxigw5YGMqXHWwm5Ysj_0zyIAXgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/building%2Btrust%2Blogo.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="1000" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n2wuHLkhZw8/YLUp0EiYSBI/AAAAAAAAjsw/FNhczAzxigw5YGMqXHWwm5Ysj_0zyIAXgCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h200/building%2Btrust%2Blogo.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>People will do business with those whom they trust. Public Relations is an effective tool to help you build that trust with your customers.</p><p>There are several ways a PR can help you to begin to build trust with your customers and with future (potential) customers. Among the most important of them are <span style="color: red;"><b>Consistency, Courtesy, Care, and Community Involvement.</b></span></p><p><b><span style="color: red;">Consistency</span></b> is a critically important factor in a business' future success. There's a reason why fast food restaurants, pet stores, hotels, and hardware chains, among others, are so popular. Ideally, they offer consistent service and products in multiple locations. Customers know they can get the same products and services offered for about the same price, wherever they go. For some, that may seem "boring," but customers actually yearn for boring over the alternative: inconsistent service and the inability to get their favorite products.</p><p>Public Relations professionals can guide a business to craft and disseminate standard internal policies, graphics and messaging that will help create a consistent experience for customers.</p><p><b><span style="color: red;">Courtesy</span></b> is also an important factor in building Trust. If service is offered in a cold manner, or worse, in a rude manner, the bond of Trust between a customer and a business is broken. This is even the case in a long-term business relationship. There's no such thing anymore as a small incident of discourteous conduct. Even one incident in which a customer is treated poorly can ruin a company's reputation in this era of instant online reviews and cell phone videos.</p><p>A Public Relations professional can help isolate and identify areas in which internal standards aren't being met, and can, once those are addressed, help repair and rebuild Trust with customers who experienced a lack of courtesy during a business transaction.</p><p><span style="color: red;"><b>Care</b></span> is shown in a multitude of ways by a business, and customers recognize when it's not there, contributing to a lack of Trust. Products or services offered in a sloppy, slapdash way can instantly signal to the customer that the business doesn't really care about them. Caring isn't a small thing, it's a major thing, and in fact, should be a top concern of any business. If you're not in business to care for the customer, why <i>are</i> you in business? </p><p>Care can be bolstered by proper training and internal messaging that makes it clear that business owners have high expectations of their employees. (Caring generates caring.) PR can deliver those internal messages in a compelling and clear way that leaves no doubt that Care is required from everyone.</p><p>Finally, <b><span style="color: red;">Community Involvement</span></b> can be a tremendous trust-building tool. While some effort should be made not to alienate a customer base with involvement in overtly political or controversial causes, showing concern for one's community is more than a gimmick to grab headlines.</p><p>Instead, it shows that a business is intimately tied to the community in which they do business, and that they care about their customers' well-being, not just as a source of cash. Public Relations professionals can help identify community activities that reflect well on a business and help this involvement lead to stronger feelings of trust with their current and future customers.</p><p>For more information about building Trust, visit Abbott Media Group at <a href="http://www.abbottmediagroup.com">www.abbottmediagroup.com</a>.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1804336612554310627.post-51380832429218851302021-03-08T15:57:00.001-05:002021-03-08T15:57:09.640-05:00BK UK's International Women's Day Tweet Sparks Controversy<p>Ad agencies in the United Kingdom and Europe, even more than those in the United States tend to always skirt controversy with their advertising campaigns and PR efforts.</p><p>That certainly was true on Monday, which was International Women's Day around the world. </p><p>Whule most companies used the day to focus on their women employees or customers and their accomplishments, Burger King in the United Kingdom <a href="https://twitter.com/BurgerKingUK/status/1368849338596745223?s=19">tweeted</a> this:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0GnQrVEKepM/YEaOLhibKjI/AAAAAAAAirI/wDJBmqndQ3A0JSRcSFrSYBe_cV_q9LOowCLcBGAsYHQ/s1390/Screenshot_20210308-144620_1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1390" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0GnQrVEKepM/YEaOLhibKjI/AAAAAAAAirI/wDJBmqndQ3A0JSRcSFrSYBe_cV_q9LOowCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Screenshot_20210308-144620_1.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The second and third tweet below the original one went on to explain that more women should go into the culinary arts, and study to become chefs. A worthy goal, but few people got beyond the shock of the first statement, which is a bigoted, Archie Bunker-like slam against feminism and women working.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The firestorm that this ham-fisted statement created on Twitter and offline as well didn't much more damage to the Burger King brand on both sides of the ocean then the positive good that their internship program will ever do.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Just another lesson that being too clever by half can backfire very quickly, and that a second and third pair of eyes should look at everything that's posted in a national and international ad campaign, which is what anything posted to Twitter needs to be considered.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1804336612554310627.post-70416634154593521692021-01-30T13:07:00.006-05:002021-01-30T16:03:27.755-05:00The Robinhood PR Disaster - What They Must Do To Make It Right [Abbott Media Group]<span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sIjV6LeLByM/YBWdR2fjahI/AAAAAAAAiX4/p_BluOSDvRoL3DJ7dyh3esdn3OgHIfJuwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1300/Robinhood-app-controversy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="1300" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sIjV6LeLByM/YBWdR2fjahI/AAAAAAAAiX4/p_BluOSDvRoL3DJ7dyh3esdn3OgHIfJuwCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h200/Robinhood-app-controversy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;">When the lists of 2021 PR disasters in business is written next January, Number One on that list will likely be the Robinhood app debacle of this week that left their reputation in tatters.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;">THE SITUATION:</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Robinhood app, which allows average investors access to the stock market, buying trades without fees, abruptly froze users' ability to buy shares of some hot-selling stocks, among them GameStop and AMC.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Of course, they were "hot" because the internet, specifically the Reddit online chat boards, had made them so, deciding that these stocks - and they companies they represent - shouldn't actually fail (as the hedge funds had decided they should, and were "shorting" their stock in anticipation of their immanent deaths.)</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This caused both stocks to rise "to the moon," as many on Twitter put it, and cost the hedge funds BILLIONS because their bets now were suddenly wrong.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Enter Robinhood, which had tweeted early on in its life, "Let the people trade." That slogan became one of bitter irony when, on Wednesday, upon rumored pressure from Wall Street hedge funds and even the Securities and Exchange Commission, they froze the ability to buy further stocks in these two hot properties (but still allowed sales.)</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;">They posted a <a href="https://twitter.com/RobinhoodApp/status/1354805613566410756?s=20">message </a>which said, in part, "In light of current market volatility, we are restricting transactions for certain securities to position closing only, including $AMC and $GME."</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;">While other brokerage firms reportedly did the same - including TD Ameritrade and other big names - Robinhood received the brunt of the online firestorm that soon erupted. And in the age of Twitter, the reaction was a tsunami of anger and criticism.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;">What Chris Buskirk, a contributing writer for the New York Times <a href="https://twitter.com/thechrisbuskirk/status/1354817464152952834?s=20">tweeted</a> was typical:</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"$AMC was struggling due to COVID lockdowns. Hedge funds shorted the stock to force bankruptcy.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Small investors saw an opportunity & bought $AMC driving it’s price up. $AMC raised $900 million, saved the business & 1000s of jobs. <span style="font-family: inherit;">But they’re the bad guys for saving the company?"</span></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;">One <a href="https://twitter.com/APompliano/status/1354787970390372352?s=20">investor said</a>, "There is no free market. There is only a manipulated market that is built to enrich hedge funds. The "capitalists" on Wall Street are being exposed as a bunch of cry babies who aren't actually that smart. If they were so good, why not compete in the free market??"</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The cynicism did not end with investors. Politicians were also <span> quick to express </span>outrage at Robinhood.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;">New York Democratic congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez <a href="https://twitter.com/AOC/status/1354830697459032066?s=20">called for</a> hearings in Congress about Robinhood and its actions. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"This is unacceptable. <span style="font-family: inherit;">We now need to know more about @RobinhoodApp’s decision to block retail investors from purchasing stock while hedge funds are freely able to trade the stock as they see fit. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">As a member of the Financial Services Cmte, I’d support a hearing if necessary."</span></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;">U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R- Texas) <a href="https://twitter.com/tedcruz/status/1354833603943931905?s=20">agreed with </a>the liberal Democrat, tweeting simply, "Fully agree." (Prompting an outburst from Occasio-Cortez, in which she said she would work with other Republicans but not with Cruz, who allegedly, "almost had me murdered three weeks ago." During the Capitol Hill riot.) Whatever.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Republican Congressman Madison Cawthorn was also blunt, <a href="https://twitter.com/CawthornforNC/status/1354840660684263425?s=20">tweeting</a>:</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"Part of Free Market Capitalism is having a Free Market. Wall Street is pressed because normal, working Americans outplayed them."</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Regardless of party differences, this rare demonstration of bipartisanship seems to indicate they will at least be some hearings in the app's future.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;">For its part, Robinhood tried to stop the bleeding, <a href="https://twitter.com/vladtenev/status/1354900963979530241?s=20">posting </a>a policy U-turn Thursday afternoon (4:15 pm ET) posting on Twitter and on the app that they would restore the ability to both buy and sell these hot stocks. <span style="font-family: inherit;">Vlad Tenev, the Bulgarian entrepreneur who co-founded Robin Hood, tweeting:</span></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"Starting tomorrow, we plan to allow limited buys of these securities. We’ll continue to monitor the situation and make adjustments as needed."</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zP11hfrbYho/YBWgIUbUgYI/AAAAAAAAiYE/HiBRiLiGLlsVhCZe2wdkjV8_QNb6jSmTQCLcBGAsYHQ/s698/robinhood%2Blaswsuit.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="543" data-original-width="698" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zP11hfrbYho/YBWgIUbUgYI/AAAAAAAAiYE/HiBRiLiGLlsVhCZe2wdkjV8_QNb6jSmTQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/robinhood%2Blaswsuit.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;">But things continued to spiral out of control for Robinhood. On Thursday, <a href="https://twitter.com/Complex/status/1354908396089192448?s=20">a class action lawsuit</a> was filed in federal court (the Southern District Court of New York) against Robinhood on behalf of its clients, legitimately claiming loss a millions of dollars due to the inability to buy these stocks as they rose drastically on Wednesday morning, and while hedge funds were not similarly restricted.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Late Friday, Robinhood kept digging a hole for itself, releasing a list of 50 stocks for which they were restricting buys.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> This prompted the investment site Seeking Alpha to <a href="https://seekingalpha.com/amp/news/3656437-robinhoods-50-stock-limit-list">predict</a> the new restrictions </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">"could lead to big exodus" from the app.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;">As Inc. columnist Jason Aten <a href="https://www.inc.com/jason-aten/robinhood-destroyed-its-brand-in-less-than-a-day.html">wrote</a>: "It takes a long time to build a brand, but not long at all to destroy it. In Robinhood's case, it took less than a day."</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;">PR SOLUTIONS:</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;">So, how does Robinhood regain its reputation as a fighter for the little guy investor? Or can it?</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I believe it can, but it must demonstrate in the coming months that it did not respond to pressure from Wall Street, or even the White House which many speculated had occurred.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It has already begun the work it must do, including dispelling rumors that it acted to stop trading on behalf of a hedge fund, Citadel - something which would likely mean the death of the app, if true.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Tenev tweeted,</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"As a brokerage firm, Robinhood has many financial requirements, including SEC net capital obligations and clearinghouse deposits. Some of these requirements fluctuate based on volatility in the markets and can be substantial in the current environment. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;">To be clear, this decision was not made on the direction of any market maker we route to or other market participants."</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;">(The California-based Sequoia hedge fund sought to squash such rumors late Thursday afternoon, <a href="https://twitter.com/sequoia/status/1354921310879588357?s=20">tweeting</a>, "Sequoia did not pressure Robinhood to halt the trading of any stocks. This rumor is completely false.")</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Over the next few weeks and months, Robinhood needs to act decisively and speak out clearly to restore confidence and trust in its product, and, frankly, the system it works with. Speaking for an entire market is definitely a tall order, and usually not one public relations would need to take on.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;">But given the tremendous lack of trust that has accrued in such a short period of time (just a few days!) It's one the app must take on.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Hopefully they have a PR team that is instructing the Robinhood application's board that it cannot hide behind technicalities or even the SEC, and preparing them for the Congressional grilling that surely awaits them.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Robinhood app must take strong, clear actions, and their PR team must then explain those actions in a confident way to investors and customers alike. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Then, maybe six months from now, the Robinhood app just might still exist.</span></div></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1804336612554310627.post-1226673401958761192020-12-15T21:47:00.000-05:002020-12-15T21:47:07.364-05:00Petco's Year-End PR Disaster: Killing Their Cat And Dog Logo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SYRabLD0q_U/X9ltXGRsFiI/AAAAAAAAhqI/nWza33A66sgdAlYBUDYN7cPomT86brNlQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1080/FB_IMG_1608084336982_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="254" data-original-width="1080" height="75" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SYRabLD0q_U/X9ltXGRsFiI/AAAAAAAAhqI/nWza33A66sgdAlYBUDYN7cPomT86brNlQCLcBGAsYHQ/w320-h75/FB_IMG_1608084336982_1.jpg" title="Petco's new lifeless corporate logo" width="320" /></a></div><p>If you're one of the largest pet supply retailers in the USA, how do you take off all your pet owner customers? Removing the beloved cat and dog characters from your stores logo is probably the best way. And that's exactly what they did.</p><p><a href="https://www.prweek.com/article/1702635/your-new-logo-cold-lifeless-consumers-outraged-petco-removes-cat-dog-logo#">PR Week reports</a> that the pet store giant announced in early December its plan to remove the red and blue characters from the front of its stores nationwide, replacing it with simply the word "Petco" in black lettering.</p><p>The logo change is reportedly part of Petco’s rebrand to "Petco, The Health + Wellness Co" from "Petco Animal Supplies.</p><p>But many customers were having none of it.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VBfO1M-X2h0/X9l1EctXSiI/AAAAAAAAhqU/Cd5ugadSMKQv86rlJo_RMm20NQfWzCQdgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1496/20201215_202637.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1141" data-original-width="1496" height="153" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VBfO1M-X2h0/X9l1EctXSiI/AAAAAAAAhqU/Cd5ugadSMKQv86rlJo_RMm20NQfWzCQdgCLcBGAsYHQ/w200-h153/20201215_202637.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>The new, pet-free Petco corporate logo was an immediate PR disaster, trashed online and dubbed as "cold and lifeless." <p></p><p>The pet store clarified that the animals - apparently named Ruff and Mews - are “here to stay.” But only in their advertising.</p><p>That didn't do much to mollify Twitter, which scathed the brick and mortar retailer.</p><p>"I don't CARE if they're still present in advertising I want them back to being present on the LOGO gosh darnit," said one Twitter user, <a href="https://twitter.com/AnOutlawed/status/1337340243536572418?s=19">@anoutlawed</a>, in one of the more printable remarks.</p><p>Another <a href="https://twitter.com/Abrasivism/status/1336863005410095104?s=19">wrote</a>:</p><p>"Dear @Petco, Your new logo is cold and lifeless. Is the next step phasing out pets, until you're just "co" Cause at this point - might as well."</p><p>And <a href="https://twitter.com/Min_Pin_EP2/status/1337968193156079617?s=19">another said</a>, bluntly: "New logo is complete garbage. Lol I dont think I've ever seen a worse downgrade. Fire whoever thought of this s****."</p><p><a href="https://twitter.com/CoolBeansMAO/status/1337255768651780098?s=19">Cool Guy Mark wrote</a>: "Why do you hate your customers? New logo is neutered 😞"</p><p>It's unclear what the company was thinking. and it's also unclear whether they did any research on how beloved these characters actually were before making the change public. </p><p>The company's initial response was apparently silence, indicated by the PR Week article noting that a comment was not immediately forthcoming from the company PR department, which clearly was not the best move, especially when a magazine and online industry journal for the public relations industry calls for comment.</p><p>Chalk it up to the year 2020 taking two more victims. Unless the company backtracks in early 2021, which it surely should.</p><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1804336612554310627.post-60907101142424149862020-11-10T14:38:00.001-05:002020-11-10T14:38:25.672-05:00#AbbottMediaGroup Does Social Media<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V4yTmIm0vkg/X6rrqZGLidI/AAAAAAAAhGo/dcAbnSNA338BiYCsrrIM79BhjBGT-b-SwCLcBGAsYHQ/s405/AMG%2Bdoes%2Bsocial%2Bmedia_Burg.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="242" data-original-width="405" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V4yTmIm0vkg/X6rrqZGLidI/AAAAAAAAhGo/dcAbnSNA338BiYCsrrIM79BhjBGT-b-SwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/AMG%2Bdoes%2Bsocial%2Bmedia_Burg.png" width="320" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><p>One of the things AMG hears all the time is "Oh, our group can handle social media in-house." The first question we ask the one saying it is usually, "Oh, really? Then why is your last Facebook post and tweet from March, 2015?"</p></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">The sad fact is, in-house social media is often viewed as "extra," rather than an integral part of what you're group or company is doing, and it can easily drop from the radar. And many executives and business owners are too busy to do social media, or aren't skilled in crafting effective messages.</span><br style="animation-name: none !important; background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; transition-property: none !important;" /><br style="animation-name: none !important; background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; transition-property: none !important;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">AMG not only keeps you up to date with quality social messaging, we can also provide guidance that will help you avoid costly online pitfalls and mistakes. Talk to us TODAY about letting </span><span style="animation-name: none !important; background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; transition-property: none !important;"><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl oo9gr5id gpro0wi8 lrazzd5p" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/abbottmediagroup?__eep__=6&__tn__=*NK*F" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; animation-name: none !important; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: inherit; font-weight: 600; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation; transition-property: none !important;" tabindex="0">#AbbottMediaGroup</a></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"> manage your online social media presence!</span><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1804336612554310627.post-20076853706347089872020-08-27T13:04:00.001-04:002022-08-27T13:08:36.792-04:00That time when Shark Tank laughed a surgical mask designer off the stage [Abbott Media Group]<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xDWZDeTpdXk/X0dQ-LLXOSI/AAAAAAAAe0U/HBr8whh9J3Ydh4Yym0kBke4Fsquw-_q-gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Featured.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xDWZDeTpdXk/X0dQ-LLXOSI/AAAAAAAAe0U/HBr8whh9J3Ydh4Yym0kBke4Fsquw-_q-gCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Featured.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
When you make a mistake, own it. That's a solid public relations principle far too few in business, politics, and entertainment follow, probably because it's difficult.<br />
<br />
Shark Tank's Daymond John recently demonstrated just that principle, however, in a video and post on his <a href="https://www.instagram.com/tv/CEXEnzwnMzv/?igshid=3ktkgxamz0c3">Instagram feed</a>.<div><br /></div><div>Barbara Corcoran also <a href="https://grow.acorns.com/barbara-corcoran-missed-investment/">says</a> it was a missed opportunity<br />
<br />
On September 6, 2009, Irinia Blok, a 32-year-old American immigrant from Russia, had appeared on the ABC show "Shark Tank," then in its first season.<br />
<br />
She was pitching her unique business idea, "Face Blok," surgical masks that are whimsically decorated. She told the sharks that there was actually demand for them in hospitals, though she had only sold a few hundred.<br />
<br />
She was met with uproarious laughter from all the Sharks almost immediately.<br />
<br />
Her segment, when it aired, was clearly played for laughs, with "circus clown" music heard on the show when she spoke.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aoc2SifnO0Y/X0dRLbe5OlI/AAAAAAAAe0Y/lfggzvLWVv4aBC_unL1lTalEKNVIXlUoQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Before-241x300.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="241" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aoc2SifnO0Y/X0dRLbe5OlI/AAAAAAAAe0Y/lfggzvLWVv4aBC_unL1lTalEKNVIXlUoQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Before-241x300.jpeg" /></a></div>
The Sharks were incredulous at the concept, some even refusing to try on the masks when Blok offered. Kevin O'Leary tried on a mask featuring a pig snout, doubting openly whether anyone would wear such a thing. Daymond John mockingly wore one on his head.<br />
<br />
She said she received 700,000 hits on her website after media coverage. But O'Leary noted that the Swine Flu epidemic earlier that year was "an epidemic that came and went," and prophetically said, "You need a new epidemic to get that kind of hit profile again." Prophetic.<br />
<br />
Jump ahead to Aug. 26, 2020, when that same Daymond John posted a video of the segment to his Instagram feed titled, "hindsight is 2020." He wrote:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"As we've come to see, many entrepreneurs have visions/ideas better way ahead of the times. Sure, the ideas may seem ridiculous or even comical, at the time, but as we're starting to learn, we shouldn't dismiss them altogether because one day, they may prove to be useful, such as these novelty masks. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
There didn't seem to be a purpose for them back then, but Irinia Blok was definitely on to something because look at us now... we're all wearing masks. The joke is on us now!"</blockquote><div>Shark Tank’ star Barbara Corcoran similarly recalls her ‘worst missed investment’: ‘If only I knew then what I know now!’ she <a href="https://grow.acorns.com/barbara-corcoran-missed-investment/">told</a> Grow investment magazine in 2021. </div><div><br /></div>
The bottom line is that it's important to admit and "own" your mistakes, hasty judgements, and oversights. Kudos to Daymond and Barbara for doing that so, publicly!<br />
<br />
As for Irinia, she's doing just fine. Before her appearance on the show, in 2007, as a member of Google's graphic design staff, she had independently created the now-famous green robot logo later adopted by the company for its Android phone operating system. It became synonymous with the product in the 2010s.<br />
<br />
She no longer sells the designer masks, but has a full-time job as design lead at Google Research/AI. Not a bad consolation prize!<br />
<br />
Online: <a href="https://www.irinablok.com/">https://www.irinablok.com/</a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1804336612554310627.post-48827584265029074452020-03-20T07:00:00.000-04:002020-03-20T07:00:02.785-04:00Political Campaigning In A Time Of Crisis [Abbott Media Group]<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-scu43DjuT7g/XnQiXSa7uUI/AAAAAAAAWGE/T5xVaXUpjbEJcza-Kv9YdzC8zGFRoL-bACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/coronavirus%2Band%2Bcampaigning.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="570" data-original-width="1200" height="190" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-scu43DjuT7g/XnQiXSa7uUI/AAAAAAAAWGE/T5xVaXUpjbEJcza-Kv9YdzC8zGFRoL-bACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/coronavirus%2Band%2Bcampaigning.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
With fears of the Coronavirus sweeping the nation, there seems to be little time for political campaigning.<br />
<br />
In fact, election dates are being pushed back by months in many local communities, and political candidates may find themselves way down on the media's list of priorities.<br />
<br />
Candidates should definitely not continue with a "business as usual" approach. But this doesn't mean they can sit at home and wait until June (or in some cases, late Autumn) to start campaigning. Actually, this delay presents an excellent opportunity - especially for non-incumbent upstart candidates - to stay in touch with supporters and continue to introduce themselves to new voters.<br />
<br />
Of course, the new realities of the outbreak make many traditional ways of campaigning impossible for the moment. These now-forbidden staples of campaigning include door-to-door canvassing, campaign rallies, attending party meetings, and any other kind of face-to-face meetings.<br />
<br />
However, there are still a great number of ways to reach out and remain in contact with voters, and keep candidates' names in the public eye, including extensive (daily) use of social media, speaking frequently on major issues your voters care about in print (via news releases and press statements) and short videos with tightly worded messages that convey campaign themes.<br />
<br />
That last point is vital. You MUST have a compelling, consistent campaign message, and repeat it often. When I start working with a candidate, we first create a strong stump speech composed of a consistent list of campaign issues their voters care about, written around a short biography that is compelling and interesting. That's the basis of all future messaging, including the stump speech. Voters crave consistency, especially in a crisis.<br />
<br />
And speaking of the crisis, candidates must comfort voters, and speak out (in the appropriate way) about how incumbents are handling it, and should be clear about how THEY would handle it.<br />
<br />
Let me end by saying that best way to accomplish all this is to HIRE A PROFESSIONAL! I can help candidates navigate the new realities online and off, and present a consistent, compelling message that will keep voters engaged in this time of crisis. If you are one, or know one who could benefit from my services, put them in touch with me.<br />
<br />
Stephen Abbott<br />
<a href="http://abbottmediagroup.com/">AbbottMediaGroup.com</a><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1804336612554310627.post-5330360530328195682019-06-24T12:45:00.001-04:002021-01-18T16:22:26.859-05:00New Roles For the Old News Release [Abbott Media Group]<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-22Z3bLFVyrM/V5wFUVDPv1I/AAAAAAAAEfs/EqLHpE4Q7F0mf6M3M228tDAJ4SWJpvOlwCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/forimmediaterelease.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="311" data-original-width="450" height="221" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-22Z3bLFVyrM/V5wFUVDPv1I/AAAAAAAAEfs/EqLHpE4Q7F0mf6M3M228tDAJ4SWJpvOlwCPcBGAYYCw/s320/forimmediaterelease.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">
Long gone are the days of your PR firm or your own organization simply sending out a press release to the media, sitting back, and thinking that the job of promoting product, service, or individual has been completed.<br />
<br />
That's because <b style="background-color: #fcff01;">the news media are no longer the sole audience of the news release.</b><br />
<br />
Stephen Abbott of Abbott Media Group is skilled in using tried and true tools and techniques such as the news release, putting them to work in new ways.<br />
<br />
AMG understands that news releases today can play several functions in the promotions process,. Releases sent to the media aren't necessarily to ensure immediate coverage. In fact, it's often unrealistic to assume that everything sent will be published.<br />
<br /><span style="background-color: #fcff01;">
In Abbott's political campaigns, frequent releases have served the purpose of showing that a campaign is active, has hired staff, is raising money, is engaging with voters, and is seriously contesting the race. </span>And it must be understood that releases from political campaigns have several audiences. Not just local news media, which may or may not be covering local politics, but also political leaders, local business leaders, elected officials, and of course voters. Sometimes releases specifically targeted to these Publics make more sense than the single, standard Release<br />
<br />
Releases written for business can play a similar role by simply reminding local news media and others that the business is active in the community and open for business.<br />
<br />
Releases sent to internal Publics also have a reassuring effect, and can communicate best practices within a business organization, as well as communicating new policies and procedures to everyone, not just to a select few. Effective internal Communications also build a sense of rapport and togetherness within organizations, reducing gossip and misunderstandings, as well as employee turnover.<br />
<br />
They can also be employed to convey the new or long-held mission and vision of a group or company. These reminders, written in news-worthy, fresh ways, help solidify the reputation of the group or company within a community, and help clarify the purposes towards which they're striving. They also clear up misconceptions that could damage reputations or cloud the purpose of a company in the public's perception in the long term.<br />
<br />
News releases, of course, continue to fill the traditional role of introducing new products and services to current and future clients and customers. They still must primarily be sharing something NEW, and be News Worthy in order to be considered for print and digital distribution. But they also can demonstrate to clients that a business has the expertise in the field in which they operate, capable of bringing the latest technology and techniques to bear on their behalf.<br />
<br />
Frequent news releases posted on a company or campaign website are an easy way to provide fresh content for visitors. Web content that is frequently changing and updated ranks higher in searches.<br />
<br />
Finally, news releases can play a vital role in conveying to relevant Publics within the community that a business is engaging actively with it, playing a positive role by giving back through charitable giving and social involvement. This has the effect of building positive feelings towards the business, enhancing its reputation and making future business transactions with them more likely.<br />
<br />
AMG and Stephen Abbott understand how to fully employ all the aspects of news releases, and use them to the fullest effect on behalf of clients. Contact AMG today for more information. <a href="http://www.abbottmediagroup.com/">www.abbottmediagroup.com</a>.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1804336612554310627.post-13405680619434220292019-01-26T11:55:00.000-05:002019-01-26T11:57:00.006-05:00About That Controversial Gillette Ad - Should Corporations Engage In Social Commentary?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2LDILbwIL5Y/XEyPQev9nKI/AAAAAAAAJ04/f13Q9rtQ1dEAMbJ1PUybGw1ZPqgdLhZbACEwYBhgL/s1600/Gillette%2BAd%2B_kids%2Bfighting.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="780" height="191" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2LDILbwIL5Y/XEyPQev9nKI/AAAAAAAAJ04/f13Q9rtQ1dEAMbJ1PUybGw1ZPqgdLhZbACEwYBhgL/s400/Gillette%2BAd%2B_kids%2Bfighting.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
About the controversial Gillette ad, it's beautifully filmed and one could argue that it simply calls on men to step up and do what's right when they see men bullying and belittling women. Great. Long overdue, and there's nothing wrong with that general sentiment.<br />
<br />
But the #MeToo movement the ad references often devolves into anti-male hate and a generalization that all men are inherently aggressive by their very nature, and need "fixing." This turns this into a politically-charged ad, and a socially polarizing one.<br />
<br />
Should corporations be involved in political ads and "virtue signaling" about social issues at all? From a #PR point of view, these kind if ads can appeal to one side of an issue, but repel others, so they are inherently risky, and divisive.<br />
<br />
Gillette, and its parent company Procter & Gamble, likely assumed that everyone would be on the side of not being rude to women, but the perception of the ad as an attack on all men, as some in the Me Too movement have sometimes sounded, seems to be overwhelming this benign interpretation of the ad, leading to a massive #boycottGillette effort, emerging on the social platforms Twitter and Facebook.<br />
<br />
We have of course seen this before, as when companies such as 84 Lumber have waded into the immigration debate with a Super Bowl ad featuring illegal immigrants crossing the border.<br />
<br />
Gillette now faces a boycott from men, their primary users, while getting praise from women. A dangerous economic strategy, and a warning for other companies that are tempted to wade into divisive political issues.<br />
<br />
Stephen Abbott<br />
#AbbottMediaGroupUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1804336612554310627.post-38594691249438688952018-10-26T13:42:00.000-04:002018-10-26T13:44:32.030-04:00"Newsweek" May Be Dead In The USA, But Its International Edition Keeps Political Coverage Alive [Abbott Media Group]<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ltK-GNR9CqE/W9NPtkiEVSI/AAAAAAAAJVY/6CxjgukoC7QhjacqTSEsDTklOYNaWQowQCLcBGAs/s1600/Kurz%2Bon%2Biphone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="213" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ltK-GNR9CqE/W9NPtkiEVSI/AAAAAAAAJVY/6CxjgukoC7QhjacqTSEsDTklOYNaWQowQCLcBGAs/s320/Kurz%2Bon%2Biphone.jpg" width="320" /></a>It's not commonly known that magazines in the US have European or international editions, often with totally different material.<br />
<br />
While Americans get "news" magazines that are busy pandering to one side of the political spectrum, or pop culture slop about fads or TV and movie entertainers, the Europeans at least get some coverage of actual personalities and issues that are changing their political lives.<br />
<br />
Take, for example, Newsweek, which has in recent years become a shadow of its former self, which is to say, a magazine more obsessed with attacking the political Right than reporting "news."<br />
<br />
In their <a href="https://pocketmags.com/us/newsweek-europe-magazine">October 26th International Edition</a>, they featured a story on Austria's young Chancellor Sebastian Kurz. While not entirely "fair" (and arguably inaccurate, at least in the description we could find, below) the eight-page cover story at least introduced readers to this fascinating political leader:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"In May 2017, when Sebastian Kurz took control of the center-right Austrian People’s Party (OVP), he remade it in his image. Lest the world underestimate the significance of this, the thirty two year-old rebranded the OVP as the Sebastian Kurz List–New People’s Party. Seven months later the conservative populist became Austria’s youngest-ever chancellor, in addition to the world’s first millennial head of state and, according to some analysts, the future of Europe. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Like other right-wing populists ascending to power in the European Union, the ambitious Kurz has pushed a hard-line immigration agenda in response to economic stagnation and the Syrian refugee crisis. But his youthful persona and political happenstance have elevated his status and his ideas far beyond Austria’s borders."</blockquote>
While the truth is out about Kurz's full conversion to the "right wing" (some on the actual right wing in Europe say he's starting to cave in to European bureaucrats on a few issues, including mass migration into Europe) kudos to Newsweek's International edition for at least covering a political leader of significance. Austria's public broadcaster, ORF, took <a href="https://orf.at/stories/3070602/">note of the coverage</a>, as well (In German. Use Google Translate to read in English.)<br />
<br />
Now, if only most Americans knew who he was. Or who Angela Merkel or Emmanuel Macron are, for that matter.<br />
<br />
Don't the media elites think we can handle such meaty discussions about politics? Do they not think we DESERVE to have those discussion.<br />
<br />
Abbott Media Group does.<br />
<br />
To get a broader picture, be sure to read <a href="http://worldpoliticsnews.blogspot.com/">World Politics News</a> daily. And please support Abbott Media Group's latest venture, the <a href="http://www.gofundme.com/abbott-news-service">Abbott News Service</a>.<br />
<br />
Abbott Media Group can be found online at <a href="http://www.abbottmediagroup.com/">www.abbottmediagroup.com</a>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1804336612554310627.post-8546063350232256072018-09-10T09:24:00.000-04:002018-10-03T12:02:47.499-04:00Abbott Media Group Launches Funding Campaign For Abbott News Service <a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-q4dctkC6rGY/W5Z3mj6uqdI/AAAAAAAAJCM/F7I_3RfEcqoXRvKWbjMsn78kra_nsWO6QCLcBGAs/s1600/TANS%2BCollage%2BLarger.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1230" data-original-width="1470" height="267" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-q4dctkC6rGY/W5Z3mj6uqdI/AAAAAAAAJCM/F7I_3RfEcqoXRvKWbjMsn78kra_nsWO6QCLcBGAs/s320/TANS%2BCollage%2BLarger.png" width="320" /></a>NEWS RELEASE<br />
Abbott Media Group<br />
www.abbottmediagroup.com<br />
<br />
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<br />
<br />
Today, Abbott Media Group is launching a campaign seeking seed funding for Abbott News Service, the next stage in the evolution of news coverage of global politics and social trends.<br />
<br />
THE PITCH:<br />
<br />
The Abbott News Service will finally expose Americans to unbiased coverage of international politics, elections and global social trends, using multiple online media platforms.<br />
<br />
When fully funded and operational, The Abbott News Service (TANS) will feature original reporting and photography and concise news stories of under 250 words. We’ll seek exclusive, local reporting and interviews with influencers.<br />
<br />
Using its website, social media platforms and a mobile app, TANS will disseminate original news content in ways that are innovative, interesting and engaging.<br />
<br />
BACKGROUND:<br />
<br />
The Abbott News Service is the next step in the evolution of the World Politics News blog (worldpoliticsnews.blogspot.com) which Abbott Media Group owner Stephen A. Abbott has edited nearly every day since 2012.<br />
<br />
Our mass media is failing us. It's failing to give us the news we deserve about the political events and social trends that, in a Globally interconnected world, could soon reach our shores and drastically impact our lives – both in positive and negative ways.<br />
<br />
We need a revolution in Mass Media to ensure that we’re aware and alert to these trends, before they reach America’s shores. The Abbott News Service is the start of this revolution.<br />
<br />
We're building the Abbott News Service to take on Big Media and fill the huge gap they’re leaving in international news coverage. We'll bring Americans the news they’re missing, and will insist on news that's accurate, unbiased and unfiltered.<br />
<br />
This will not be “advocacy journalism,” since it will not serve as a mask for partisanship disguised as journalism, from the Left or the Right. The only thing TANS will advocate is the expansion of Americans’ knowledge of politics and social trends around the world.<br />
<br />
THE DRIVING FORCE:<br />
<br />
The Abbott News Service will be overseen on a daily basis by World Politics News Editor-In-Chief and Founder Stephen A. Abbott, a veteran journalist, blogger and communications consultant from Central Florida.<br />
<br />
TANS will seek to contract with American and native citizen journalists both overseas and in the US to report on international politics and social trends, paying them by the story. TANS will consider extending internship opportunities to qualified journalism students.<br />
<br />
The Abbott News Service will eventually seek to license stories produced by its reporters to outside media organizations, functioning, in part, as a traditional wire service.<br />
<br />
FUNDING:<br />
Abbott Media Group is seeking $20,000 in initial/seed funding, using a GoFundMe account and other fundraising methods. For more information and to support the Abbott News Service, go to <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/abbott-news-service">https://www.gofundme.com/abbott-news-service </a><br />
<br />
ABOUT:<br />
Abbott Media Group was founded in 2008, the successor to Stephen Abbott Communications (2003-2008.) It relaunched in 2015, with a focus on online media, reputation management, social media management, and ePublishing. They can be found online at <a href="http://www.abbottmediagroup.com/">www.abbottmediagroup.com</a>, on twitter at <a href="http://www.twitter.com/abbottmedia">@abbottmedia</a> and on facebook at <a href="http://facebook.com/abbottmediagroup">facebook.com/abbottmediagroup</a>.<br />
<br />
Founder and owner Stephen A. Abbott graduated with a BA in Communication Arts with a concentration in Public Relations from the University of West Florida in Pensacola, Florida.<br />
<br />
###Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1804336612554310627.post-77296608400178593812018-09-07T09:00:00.000-04:002018-09-07T09:00:01.264-04:004 Ways To Fix Our Broken Network Newscasts [Abbott Media Group]<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1D2veOpwWmQ/VIOfoDSbv8I/AAAAAAAACZs/Bbq_MsgWD0k/s1600/nbcnightlyset_NOISE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1D2veOpwWmQ/VIOfoDSbv8I/AAAAAAAACZs/Bbq_MsgWD0k/s1600/nbcnightlyset_NOISE.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Network news - news programs shown on the original Big Three networks and other, newer, upstarts - is broken. Below are four examples, and what I believe they need to do to fix their news programs to better serve the American people:<br />
<br />
More International Focus - A "world news" program that focuses solely on domestic news is not worthy of the name, and international celebrities getting into trouble or the latest plane crash overseas doesn't count as "news." Americans who are insular and insulated from the news of the world are suddenly surprised by trends both friendly and ferocious when they hit without warning. When that happens, that's a failure of the "world news" programs we watch. <b>Network newscasts must rededicate themselves to covering the entire world.</b><br />
<br />
More International Politics - Political trends are also vital to our full and complete awareness as voters and as citizens. It may not, at first glance, seem important that a new anti-American party is rising in the polls in a nation traditionally friendly to the USA, or that a certain governor was elected in a prefecture in Japan. But if that nation turns hostile, or if that governor is more hostile to Americans remaining in a military base there than his predecessor, then that indeed is a problem that will have regional and international repercussions. <b>Network newscasts should commit to covering international politics, because it's relevant.</b><br />
<br />
The Weather Is NOT "news" - It's snowy in the winter in the Northern half of the United States. It's a fact. It's not, however, news. It's exciting to show cars skidding off the road, rivers frozen and, in other climes, wet summers, minor hurricanes and tornadoes. But aside from in-depth analyses of how slowly the aid got there after the storm, or how we are adapting to changing weather patterns, it's not "news," and besides, that coverage is being done already on local TV. <b>Network newscasts should stop wasting time covering routine and expected weather, and blowing storms out of all proportion.</b><br />
<br />
Fewer YouTube Videos - What's truly shocking about today's American nightly "newscast" is the inclusion of actual YouTube videos. ABC News includes these (and the "look at the unique playing on a ___ team" videos) in its "Index" segment near the end of the program. It literally shows YouTube videos of animals doing funny things, near-miss car accidents and other hilarity, which we can see with better justification on shows like "America's Funniest Videos" or its cable show equivalents. <b>The YouTubization <span style="font-size: x-small;">(tm)</span> of Network news must end. </b><br />
<br />
"If it bleeds, it leads" was the old saying about the nightly news and the local paper. National Network newscasts shouldn't fear though. There is plenty of blood in the political turmoil around the world to drench their viewers' hearts. There are also demonstrations, corruption, trade deals, hard-fought elections, coups and uprisings, and much of it with very real and sometimes immediate consequences for American voters and consumers.<br />
<br />
That's one of the reasons why I founded <a href="http://worldpoliticsnews.blogspot.com/">"World Politics News,"</a> a news aggregation service that points American readers to the news they're missing on the nightly network newscasts.<br />
<br />
American news organizations owe it to us to bring us the world, and to show us accurately and fairly what's happening THERE before it happens HERE. And if they begin to do this again, the nightly "World News" programs will once again be true to their names.<br />
<br />
Stephen Abbott<br />
Abbott Media Group<br />
<a href="http://www.abbottmediagroup.com/">www.abbottmediagroup.com</a><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1804336612554310627.post-69278034002165445872018-07-13T09:00:00.002-04:002023-07-09T00:45:48.869-04:00How #PR Can Subvert The Traditional "Marketing Funnel" [Abbott Media Group]<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AniBoRqEWy0/W0PAqRSAzQI/AAAAAAAAIhU/2uin3a3bgtYgtK5GVf9JqSEE88U7FxBcgCLcBGAs/s1600/Marketing%2BFunnel.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="600" height="237" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AniBoRqEWy0/W0PAqRSAzQI/AAAAAAAAIhU/2uin3a3bgtYgtK5GVf9JqSEE88U7FxBcgCLcBGAs/s320/Marketing%2BFunnel.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Public Relations is not Marketing, nor is it Advertising. It's actually better. The traditional "Marketing Funnel" consists of leading people to an Awareness of a brand, then to their Interest in it, followed by Conversion (a Purchase) then Brand Loyalty, which leads to Advocacy of your brand by the loyal customers.<br />
<br />
Which is all good, and it tends to drag customers through the process effectively, when implemented correctly. But it can be time-consuming and every step in the process must be followed with the next step in order for it to be effective.<br />
<br />
Advertising is also different from Public Relations, and from Marketing. For example, advertisers often want to go from Awareness directly to a quick sale, which can lead to crass, high-pressure appeals.<br />
<br />
Note that I'm not saying there's anything WRONG with Marketing or Advertising as concepts or business practices. Both are critical to understanding consumer behavior and directing them towards becoming happy and loyal customers.<br />
<br />
But <b>with Public Relations, we have a way in which we can "short circuit" this process, and possibly make it more effective.</b> If such a system existed, wouldn't businesses want to employ it, alongside traditional methods?<br />
<br />Here's how:<br />
<br />
In PR, awareness of your brand's Good Deeds and/or its commitment to its Mission and Core Values can lead directly to people becoming brand Advocates, especially online, leading to them become Loyal customers.<br />
<br />
We've seen this over and over again online, in which a poster on Twitter or Facebook or Instagram reacts to a positive action by a company, and says, "Great move! I want to do business with a company like this!" When the poster is a known figure, you have achieved a degree of social proof - an Influencer who directs others to buy and support a brand. This is priceless, and can do more for a brand than a thousand TV or radio ads.<br />
<br />
Consider letting Abbott Media Group use social media and PR communications tools to build positive awareness of your brand!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1804336612554310627.post-39074111226442313182018-07-08T12:00:00.000-04:002018-07-08T12:00:07.455-04:00Creepy #PR Job Ad Seeking "Youthful" Female To Be The "Face" Of A Company Is All That's Wrong With PR [Abbott Media Group]A recent job posting illustrates EVERYTHING that's wrong with PR today, or at least the growing perception of PR as a damaged profession with a reputation problem.<br />
<br />
The ad, on the popular job search site "Glassdoor," read:<br />
<br />
"We are looking for a youthful, energetic, personable, presentable, female for an overseas Public Relations position," it began, "The candidate will be the face of our Asia operation. Please send details and photo if possible."<br />
<br />
It's signed - rare for an ad even on Glassdoor - by the male president of this company, which I've blacked out to avoid holding him up to public ridicule. Both his first and last name were included in the original ad.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xQe141n00sQ/W0Fcy8qCBtI/AAAAAAAAIgA/gN8nTJe6s3AC7KAXr8e9SR-kw1Dta2IYgCLcBGAs/s1600/PR%2Brep%2Bfemale%2Bonly%2B-%2B1st%2Bline%2BSML.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="542" height="316" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xQe141n00sQ/W0Fcy8qCBtI/AAAAAAAAIgA/gN8nTJe6s3AC7KAXr8e9SR-kw1Dta2IYgCLcBGAs/s640/PR%2Brep%2Bfemale%2Bonly%2B-%2B1st%2Bline%2BSML.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
This is wrong on so many levels. Aside from being an illegal job ad (gender-specific, which is forbidden by employment law) it's a bit creepy for a male president/CEO to be asking for a photograph - akin to a dirty personal ad in the back of a magazine or on the old "Backpage" or Craigslist personals, it sends a horrible message about the profession. One plausibly may wonder if he hopes to travel with her.<br />
<br />
The ad's descriptions are equally troubling.<br />
<br />
"Youthful, energetic" is "code" for "no one over 30 need apply. Age discrimination sucks, but it's a reality in the business world. And tolerated.<br />
<br />"Personable," well, of course a PR person will be personable - someone who is likable and generally likes people. Though that's a child's definition of "public relations," and every store clerk or auto show platform model can't be said to be in "public relations," just because they interact with the public - though that's a vital component for business success, for sure.<br />
<br />
The final two descriptors, "presentable, female," are at the heart of the problem with this ad. "Presentable" seems to be a code word for "pretty." Now, there's nothing wrong with being pretty, or presentable, so long as the latter means how a person presents oneself, in dress, demeanor, and especially verbally and in writing. If THOSE were the criterion used by the CEO here, that would ELEVATE the profession, not demean it or raise ludicrous stereotypes as this ad does.<br /><br />Let's also mention that the ad apparently breaks the terms of service Glassdoor has published on its own site, which state, "You may not post any job ad that ... <b>gender</b>, race, religion, sexual orientation, <b>age</b>, disability, or any other ground(s) prohibited by applicable law."<br />
<br />
CEOs of corporations should never use the tactic of pushing a "pretty face" in front of a news conference, so stakeholders and the general public will more easily forget the bad news about a company or CEO. That plays to the basest of negative stereotypes about PR.<br />
<br />
This amounts to putting supermodels on catwalks wearing corporate logos. Corporations should be educated by real PR pros that this won't motivate any but the creepiest of men to patronize their businesses and buy their products and services. And it won't be enough to distract the media from a company's missteps.<br />
<br />
A bit of a disclaimer. A search for the company on Google on July 7, 2018 at 8 pm (Central) produced no results. A Linkedin profile mentioning his name and company produced a blank page. It's unclear whether the ad, posted on July 7, 2018, is for a legitimate operation. If so, shame on the company's president. If not, shame on Glassdoor for facilitating this gross person's fantasy.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
----------------<br />
Stephen Abbott is the principal of Abbott Media Group. He's not "pretty" nor "young." He's a male over 50, and has over two decades of actual experience building brands and reputations. Abbott Media Group can be found online at <a href="http://www.abbottmediagroup.com/">www.abbottmediagroup.com</a>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1804336612554310627.post-32597042945040340822018-05-07T14:18:00.000-04:002018-05-07T14:18:57.258-04:00Boycott Of Cafe That Posted "Anti-Gun" Message Becomes Lesson In Political Rhetoric [Abbott Media Group]Ellen's Cafe in Dallas, Texas is finding out that words have meaning - and that not using the right words, especially in political discussions, can have severe consequences.<br />
<br />
If their recent post is accurate, they profoundly blundered when they posted a message on the bottom of their customer receipts that they wanted to advocate for, "reasonable and effective gun regulations."<br />
<br />
Their blunder wasn't posting such a message (they have that right, as all Americans do) But because they didn't understand that there's a certain way one speaks in politics and people want to hear "key words" when discussing "hot button" issues - be it gun rights, abortion, among others. And they apparently didn't know this before wading in.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IMG_RxVCdgs/WvCVhy6esQI/AAAAAAAAH_w/wGiTnNne-IsBdF1vDzQlWZYxnWOZGBcSACLcBGAs/s1600/EllenRecepit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IMG_RxVCdgs/WvCVhy6esQI/AAAAAAAAH_w/wGiTnNne-IsBdF1vDzQlWZYxnWOZGBcSACLcBGAs/s320/EllenRecepit.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
The language they used, for instance, "reasonable and effective" are viewed as 'code words' by those on the political Right and specifically by NRA members as language the Left employs to advocate for strong new laws against gun ownership.<br />
<br />
And that's just what happened in this instance. The message was interpreted as a political call to arms to the cafe's liberal customers.<br />
<br />
The NRA's twitter account itself posted a photo of the receipt (at left) urging members to avoid the restaurant, which was located near this year's NRA convention site.<br />
<br />
The receipt language went viral, of course, and calls for boycotts of the cafe spread across the internet.<br />
<br />
The problem was, the cafe owners say they SUPPORT gun rights and the Second Amendment.<br />
<br />
They said, in <a href="https://www.facebook.com/EllensDallas/photos/a.408518879221189.92559.335508316522246/1924294230976972/?type=3">a May 4 Facebook post,</a> their wording mistake was an honest one.<br />
<br />
"The opposite is true. We support the Constitution, including the 2nd Amendment, 100%. And like the NRA, we also support finding solutions to the senseless killings that happen much too frequently. We believe those two things are completely compatible."<br />
<br />
The cafe, by all accounts, meant well. The cafe held a sympathetic <a href="https://vimeo.com/233249957">"round table" interview</a> with Dallas Police officers last October about the July, 2016 shooting that killed two Dallas officers. They don't appear to be "anti-gun" any more than they are "anti-cop."<br />
<br />
The media, of course, is focusing now on the detestable death threats and anger the errant language provoked, and there really is no excuse for that behavior.<br />
<br />
The best lesson that can be learned from this is to use language - in politics, especially - with political sensitivities in mind. Understanding what your audience wants to hear is key to getting your message out to them - whether you're a politician, an interest group, or a cafe owner.<br />
<br />
<br />
__________________________________________<br />
Stephen Abbott is principal of Abbott Media Group, a reputation agency. <a href="http://www.abbottmediagroup.com/">www.abbottmediagroup.com</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1804336612554310627.post-2071301371193155672018-02-04T21:36:00.002-05:002019-02-04T11:14:50.441-05:00"Stand By You" Budweiser 2018 #SuperBowlAd is a #PR Winner [Abbott Media Group]<div style="font-size: 16px;">
<div style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, sans, sans-serif;">
<center>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DMh32pcD4o4" width="560"></iframe></center>
</div>
<div>
<div style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, sans, sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Budweiser took the early lead in the "Public Relations Super Bowl" with its ad, "Stand by You," which aired early in the Third Quarter Sunday night.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The ad tells the story, in a simplified manner, of their efforts to provide cans of water to areas in need during natural disasters in Puerto Rico, California, Florida, Houston, and elsewhere.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I say "simplified," because the beer producing company clearly doesn't switch over to making water by pushing a single button in the brewing facility. But switch over they do, and the good they do is undeniable.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The ad is emotional and effective, clearly portraying the company and its dedicated employees in a positive light. And it's bound to be discussed in post-game discussions throughout the country's living rooms, as well as in the media early in the week. Those in areas of the nation they've served during natural disasters will definitely be talking about this.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This is a clear PR Win for the company, with great exposure during this high profile game.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Nicely done, Budweiser. You win the Super Bowl #PR Ad War!
</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 16px;">
<br />
--------------------<br />
Let #AbbottMediaGroup throw a PR and Reputation "Touchdown" for your company, campaign or organization. <a href="http://www.abbottmediagroup.com/">www.abbottmediagroup.com</a></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1804336612554310627.post-43648812695723478242018-01-29T09:00:00.000-05:002018-08-01T13:56:00.636-04:005 Characteristics of #Reputation [Abbott Media Group]<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Bv3GEpsQmfI/VzOlkMvp1uI/AAAAAAAAEQo/d4BoYctTCN4OHY0r_FT8hDhNgkLHp1H5gCPcB/s1600/newspaper_stack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Bv3GEpsQmfI/VzOlkMvp1uI/AAAAAAAAEQo/d4BoYctTCN4OHY0r_FT8hDhNgkLHp1H5gCPcB/s320/newspaper_stack.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Like any tool, a reputation constantly needs sharpening to be effective. But it can be double-edged instrument that can cut you and severely damage you, if you're not careful, or mishandle it.<br />
<br />
Reputation can be a hard concept to wrap one’s head around. So, bolstered by wise words of wisdom, here are five characteristics of reputation of which businesses and individuals need to be cognizant when seeking to change or improve their reputations.<br />
<br />
1. A Reputation can’t be built on false promises - "The way to gain a good reputation is to endeavor to be what you desire to appear," said the Greek philosopher Socrates. <span style="background-color: yellow;">Your advertising materials won't fool anyone if your promises aren't being kept.</span> If our luggage is lost, we will not believe the ad calling the airline "competent." In the same way, your company’s reality-on-the-ground must match the rhetoric your Reputation Agency is putting out about you, in order for your believability to remain intact.<br />
<br />
2. <span style="background-color: yellow;">Reputation must reflect what you’re doing NOW</span> - Automobile manufacturer Henry Ford said, ‘You can’t build a reputation on what you're going to do.” It’s all well and good that you PLAN to do something great. But if you’re not doing it yet, or (worse) if you don’t follow through, it will hurt you more than if you hadn't promised to do it at all. In short, your reputation is a result of what you've done in the past.<br />
<br />
3. A reputation pays off in the long run - “A reputation for good judgment, for fair dealing, for truth, and for rectitude is itself a fortune,” said social reformer Henry Ward Beecher. <span style="background-color: yellow;">There’s not really a way to weigh the value of a good reputation, or that of a good one that’s been lost.</span> Your customers, if they’re happy, reach out to dozens of people about your products and services, but also about your attitude and helpfulness, and that of your employees. A reputation pays off in many innumerable ways, most of which you will never know.<br />
<br />
4. A reputation can’t be a con job - Author and artist Elbert Hubbard wrote, “Many a man’s reputation would not know his character if they met on the street.” A reputation must be true and reflective of the subject it purports to represent. <span style="background-color: yellow;">No one can "create" a glowing reputation for someone who's character is genuinely bad</span>. Again, today’s consumers simply are too smart for such a cynical exercise in deception, and frankly, AMG (along with every other ethical PR professional) will not participate in such a deception. As in other examples here, the perception must match the reality. A con job will simply further tarnish a damaged reputation, and it’s simply not worth it. Issues involving the character and practices of your company must be addressed BEFORE “re-launching” yourself and your name to the public.<br />
<br />
5. Your reputation can be ruined by others - George Washington said, "Associate with men of good quality, if you esteem your own reputation; for it is better to be alone than in bad company." If you’re associated in the mind of the public with a rouge company or an unscrupulous person - even if it’s not YOUR company or employee - your reputation could be hurt by it in the eyes of the public. That may not be fair, but it’s reality. <span style="background-color: yellow;">People sometimes don’t distinguish between you and a bad act committed by someone close to you.</span> As Washington said, in that case, it’s better to be seen alone and apart from them, and AMG can help you distance yourself from trouble with a clear reputation management plan.<br />
<br />
Contact Abbott Media Group if you need help creating compelling messages that build your reputation!<br />
<br />
<i>By Stephen Abbott, Principal, <a href="http://www.abbottmediagroup.com/">Abbott Media Group</a>, which creates inspiring, engaging messages that build reputations. On <a href="http://twitter.com/abbottmedia">twitter </a>and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/abbottmediagroup">Facebook</a>.</i>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0