Using algorithms for public relations

Anyone with a basic training in the domain of PR knows that the possibilities to predict a big crisis are limited and thus, investing in prevention is the best solution. However, in an era when hundreds of apps are created daily, there should be a cure for unexpected crisis. A startup from Singapore found the solution and here we are: the PR crisis - or honestly speaking, most of them - could be prevented. 

Sounds terribly optimistic, isn't it? Like engineering almost.

Quoting effect

The week is about to end, and I still have to upload three blogs with content for proudly entering the week-end. Before that, I would like to say a couple of words about the use of quotes in a communications approach.

Although it is not recommended to have literary and bibliographical projections for the daily communications - think about a quote from Shakespeare in the lead of a press release about the launch of a new washing machine, or for starting a press conference. But, if you are on social media, connecting creatively a quote - from Shakespeare, let's say - in connection with qualities attributed to the washing machine it's not inappropriate at all. Gathering quotes and old sayings about the connection between health and cleanliness would be helpful in finding ideas for blog posts, tweets or Facebook status or for creating interesting ads.

As usual, you need to use the proper environment for the proper tool. Or the opposite.

Happy networking week-end to everyone!

Twitter for companies

I will be positive and will outline a couple of advantages of opening a Twitter account for companies. I will refer mostly to companies, whatever the object of activity. From case to case, you have extended opportunities to offer specific information, based on your services. My post want to be a kind of encouragement for all the possible companies to go as faster as possible into the virtual world.

- You get visibility among your potential clients. First of all, you start to spread information about you on various professional forums and webs.

- You have as well the possibility to be aware of what your competitors are doing: what kind of services are they offering, what kind of public events are organising or how they answer various problems facing your market.

- You are in touch with the media and interested journalists. You could offer permanent updates about what you do, about what your clients are doing. You create a multiplied effect and offer any time possible subjects the journalists could write about. Of course, you have to be aware to do not "spam" the web with various kind of irrelevant information, but to be targeted enough to create a certain interest from the part of the journalists.

- The web interventions and the posts related to your activity as well as to the activity of the market are outlining your added value and your special profile. You could easily brand and rebrand yourself among your target groups than using the classical media tools.

But, of course, as I stressed on other occasions as well, a very intensive social media presence is not an excuse or could excuse a poor record in the daily, real life. Rather the opposite. Lying about yourself and your activities "online" are most likely to be exposed by the other partners, neighbors and competitors from the virtual world.

Using the right word

Glamorous words. The last new entry fantastic words found in some sophisticated - or pretending to be - books. They make us feel special, to impress people - including by creating them the lack of comfort when it is understanding what we want, in fact, to say. But, as clothes, words have a very contextual use. A very sophisticated silk dress and rich jewelries we decide to wear at 8 o'clock in the morning are not improving our image, but - if we are not very kitsch- make the other doubt seriously about our capacity to make rational choices about our life. Even some of them we do not want to hear about, what we dress is telling a lot about ourselves.

The same, the words. I always appreciate people who are able to use a diversified vocabulary. The condition is to use the right word, when necessary.

One of the challenges I am facing very often is exactly about finding the right words. In the PR messages, you need to be as clear as possible, for an audience who, in general, do not have too much time. And want to hear or read your messages very fast. An to remember, at least 10%.

So, if we agree that the same think could be said in more than 10 times, we hope to agree as well that the number one and number two choices of describing something should be the simplest one. Without diminishing by this the core concept, or without weakening the ideas. But, making it understandable for a broad area of individuals.

Using sophisticated words and constructions is not at all a sign of intelligence. And nobody will pay you more because of your hectic vocabulary. But for being able to make things understandable and decryptable. Do you feel humiliated or under used according to the professional and academic capacity you assume to have ? Maybe you are not in the right professional position!

School Communications

A very good example from a normal German school.

The parents are part of a network where they are able to exchange e-mails and ask questions to the principal and other teachers regarding the content and the program of the school. Monthly, you receive newsletter with the main activities taking place in the near future, or those already organised, as well as the main changes regarding the teachers and the program.

Periodically, you have the usual parent's meeting, but as well other socializing events purposed to offer to the parents better ways to know each other and, eventually, to identify their common problems.

Question

If 24 months ago, including in a PR and communications plans, the social networking platform was a futuristic and innovative way to see things, nowadays, the presense of those tools is normal. What it is normal too, and always was, is to offer a valuable and creative content to those networking solutions. Here I see the main challenge because, even many of us, we are using several time the day almost all those tools, we still not have (the almost) full management. Because, we need to adapt our thoughts and ways of thinking to an environment always on the move. How to do it faster and better?

Food bloggers

met food PR. Not to change roles and try to convince each other of their unique truth, but to talk and exchange ideas. A matter of dialogue and transparency.

Total freedom

for movie-making. In terms of distribution.

As long as you have the blogging platform to write and share your interests and thoughts with similar individuals, why not to do the same in the area of movies? The money are still an issue - a big one - but you know that part of it will no go to the distribution channels. For example. It is not enough to have the artistic talent, you should be a good PR and marketer. You cannot know all and be the best in all the domains.

US Marines, not allowed to network

Because we haven't achieved yet the universal peace and socialization interest should stop when meeting the national interest.

Anyway, the idea to launch the own social networking tools is, in my opinion, a good idea, as it could compensate, including psychologically, the interdiction in itself. In the same time, the military sector could develop its PR and marketing aims through the social networks.