Social Media 101: Beware Of Twitter Bullies

I'm a news junkie, so I love Twitter.  It gives me a variety of up-to-date information at lightening speeds.  I get tidbits of national news, local politics, business tips and pop culture in a matter of seconds.  If you're in PR and you're not using Twitter as a resource?  *side eye* 

Anywho... I enjoy Twitter.  But like everything, it's not perfect.  Case in point: A lot of people use Twitter to bully, degrade and harass folks.  They sit behind their computer (lurking, I imagine), spewing out mean and hateful comments whenever they want.  Twitter bullies.  *sigh*  Unfortunately, most them do this on a daily basis.  And what's more troubling is, a lot of Twitter bullies have a large number of followers, which essentially fuels their twisted egos.   

They think it's cool to make fun of celebrities, laugh at children's shortcomings and tell people they're ugly, fat and unwanted.  I personally don't know what's going on with your spirit that allows you to put someone else down on a regular basis.  You've got to be a sad bucket of broken dreams to do that, and enjoy it.  

In 2012, a study showed that there were 15,000 bully-related tweets posted every day. That's more than 100,000 tweets that pollute Twitter each week.  Terrible.  But there are things we can do to stop this Twitter bully nonsense: 

• Don't engage with them or acknowledge them (Ignore them)
  
  
• Block them (Prevents a person from following you or seeing your timeline)
  
  
• Reporter them to Twitter (Twitter has a strict policy about bullying, abuse & harassment)

Most important, always focus on the positive.  Twitter is not a bad thing.  Don't let others ruin it for you. 

PR Tip: Think Like a Reporter/Journalist

Reporters get TONS of pitches from PR folks every day.  There's no way they can do a story for every pitch that comes their way.  It's impossible and unrealistic.  

If you're contacting the media about your company, product, event or client, be sure to put yourself in their shoes.  A reporter's day is pretty hectic.  The worst thing you can do is get on their bad side.  And by bad side, I mean...not knowing some simple, basic things. Try to to make it easy for them.  Here are a few helpful tips:  

Do Your Homework - Make sure you understand the reporter and the reporter's audience.  Do some research.  Ask yourself--Will my story appeal to the reporter's readers/viewers?  Is my pitch something this reporter will likely cover? (Be honest with yourself!) Tailor your pitch to fit the reporter and his/her audience.

Deadlines - If you don't know what a reporter's deadline is, ask.  Nothing frustrates a reporter more than receiving a call from someone when they're working on deadline to finish a story. Typically with TV news, you don't want to call/contact them any time before a newscast. 

Yesterday's News (Be Timely) - News has a cycle. The term "yesterday's news" is real. Make sure that whatever it is you're pitching is timely and relevant.  Old news is not news and reporters will not be interested.  Things are moving fast in the newsroom!  Keep up!

Stick To 5W's - Reporters have a big appetite for information, but they also want you to keep it brief and stick to the facts.  Remember, you want to make it easy for them. Give them the WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE & WHY of your pitch.

  

Apple's Awesome PR Sauce: Their Customers

Apple has THE best PR team ever!  Their customers.  

Think about all of the people you know who use Apple products.  Tons of them, right?  They don't just use the products, they're die-hard, lifelong evangelists for Apple.  Say something - anything bad about their iPhone, MacBook Air or iPad and those folks will come for you with the ETHER! 

Not only are they loyal customers, but they encourage others to do the same.  It's almost like they work for the company.  Like they own stock in Apple!  They're so serious that...Apple users will look at you funny when you say your cell phone is an Android.  And if you tell them you're still using a Blackberry???  Whoa.  They'll give you a blank stare, giggle or shake their head in disbelief.  Their passion is undeniable.  

Why?  They genuinely believe Apple products are THE best.  And that's PR at it's best!  Great PR influences people's perception of a company, product or brand.  So much that they want to share that enthusiasm with others.  So much that the cost of that product or service is secondary.  So much that they will defend that company, product or brand to the very end! 

Apple's awesome sauce is grounded in phenomenal PR.  Their reputation has created this army of supporters and customers who carry that Apple torch (proudly) through the rain, sleet or snow. 

Whether you're an Apple fan or not, you gotta respect that.  

    

So You've Asked People To 'Like' Your Facebook Page, Now What?

I have a lot of friends who are small business owners.  Unfortunately many of them haven't included social media tactics in their overall business strategy. *sigh*  But, THAT's another topic for another time.   

Back to the subject at hand... 

So...you've asked people to 'like' your new Facebook company page.  Now what?   First and most important, look at your company's business goals.  Remember: 

Social Media is Not a One-Off  =  Your social media strategy shouldn't have its own agenda.  It should align with your overall business strategy.  For example, if one of your key issues as a company is to raise the level of awareness around a new product or service, then your social media efforts should support that.  

Create An Editorial Calendar - An editorial calendar is basically a daily listing of posts that will go on your page. Relevant, consistent, engaging content is super important on Facebook.  Sure, being spontaneous is a part of social media.  But remember, you want to focus on your overall business goal(s) too.  An editorial calendar will help you do that.  It will help you stay on track.  

Keep Your Posts Short & Sweet - No one has time to sit and read a thesis about your product and whatnot.  Keep it short.  The shorter, the better. 

Add Images - A post without an image is like a cupcake with no icing.  Blah.  Content is moving fast on Facebook. People are seeing all kinds of things in their feed.  You want to grab someone's attention quickly.  Great images can do that.    

Real Time Engagement - Not only do you want to add fans to your page, but you want to interact with them too. You want to answer their questions, respond to their compliments and assist them if they have a problem.  If you can't do these things personally, hire someone who can. 

Understand & Utilize Facebook Insights - Insights is sooooo valuable!  This tool will show you who your fans are, where they live, what posts they like, what times of day they're online, etc.  Get familiar with Insights.  It will help you find out which content works best for your audience and how you can improve. 

Scheduled Posts - You can schedule posts on Facebook.  In fact, you can schedule posts up to six months in the future.  How cool is that?!  With this feature, you'll be able to post more content without being strapped to a computer all the time. 

I know this seems like a lot, but if you really want your business/brand to have a successful Facebook page, you have to take it seriously.  Start with these things first.  I think you'll be pretty impressed with your results.  

You're Being Interviewed By The Media? Here's What NOT To Do!

Take a look at this interview with former reality star Kate Gosselin and her twin daughters.  Brace yourself.  It's brutal.



Awkward, right?  My guess is that Ms. Gosselin's publicist prepped her and her girls for this interview.  But when the cameras started rolling...something happened.  The kids became nervous (understandable).  Emotions took over (common mistake).  And the interview took a left turn with the reporter's questions (it happens). 

Know this: Great interviews don't just randomly happen.  No. No. No.  Preparation is key!  

Tips:

• As an interviewee, you have to know what you want to accomplish in the interview.  Ask yourself - What is my goal here?
  
  
• Decide what it is you want to say.  Create 3-4 key messages and stick to them.
  
  
• During your interview, stay focused and confident.  Remember, you're there to accomplish your goal!
  
  
• If you're asked a question and you don't know the answer, say so.

Being interviewed by the media can be extremely intimidating.  Without the right preparation, you could end up making a fool of yourself.  No one wants that, right?  Right!

A Press Release Is NOT a PR Strategy

I received a "SOS/help" text message recently from someone looking for a press release template.  A template?  In all fairness, this person doesn't work in PR.  And to my knowledge, they've never worked with a publicist or a PR professional directly on a project (In other words: They've never hired a PR person).  I don't know why this person needed a press release, and I totally understand their blindness when it comes to PR, but it got me to thinking....  

Sooooo many people think that the magical, enchanted press release is the key to gaining positive exposure for their product, client and/or service. That somehow, sending a press release is going to land them a spot in a national publication or popular network show. Nope.  Nothing could be farther from the truth! 

Now, don't get me wrong.  A press release does serve a purpose.  But, it's simply a tactic; A piece of an overall PR strategy. Tip: In order to be effective, a press release should be relevant and newsworthy.  It should tell a story of value, and it should be well written. Why?  If your press release is created correctly, your chances of having it published "as is" increases significantly.    

Sending out a press release to the media is great, but it shouldn't be the extent of your PR plan.  It's equivalent to trying to swim in three feet of water.  You'll just be flapping and kicking your heart out...and going nowhere.

PR Tip: Make Sure Your Website Is Media Friendly

So, you have some amazing news to share about your company.  You decide to send out a press release to make the announcement.  Because it's unique, informative, relevant and compelling (Press Releases 101), a reporter takes notice.

He/she wants to find out more info, so they go to your company website.  Happens every day.  Make sure it's ready. Here are some tips:

Is your site organized, professional and easy to navigate?  Nothing pains a reporter more than having to stumble all over a site.  Keep it simple, intuitive and user friendly. Remember, reporters are on deadline, so they don't have a lot of time to "find" things on your website.  They will leave and move on to the next story.  *Include a "search" function so reporters can find what they need quickly.

Is it social media friendly?  Don't forget, bloggers are the media too. Always make sure your website content is shareable in the social media space.  Including easy "share" buttons on your site will help with that.  Killer content helps too.  If the content on your website is engaging, helpful and unique, bloggers will share it with their followers.    

Are there downloadable photos, images, videos?  Reporters and bloggers like to include photos/images/videos with their stories.  Make sure they can download these items quickly from your site.  The photos/images should be high resolution and the videos should be quality.   

Include a "Press Room" section.  Reporters and bloggers will love you for this!  It's a one-stop shop for them.  Your press room should have a press kit, which includes: your bio, company fact sheet, recent press releases, recent media coverage and photos/images/logo. Be sure to make a PDF version of your press kit that can be emailed to anyone. *Make sure your press room is always current/updated.

Links - Limit them & make sure they work.  Don't include a ton of links to other sites on your website.  Links can be like wild goose chases to reporters.  Remember, the clock is ticking. They have to turn in their story. No time to waste! And for the love of God, make sure your links work!  Double check, triple check - do whatever.  Make sure they all work.     

These are just a few tips.  I could go on and on, but I don't want your head to explode. :)  Start here.  Access your site again after you implement these things, and continue to work and make it better. 

PR Tip: Newsjacking - It's Legal & It Works

If I had a $1 for every friend or associate who asked me for PR help with their business, project or personal brand, I'd be able to buy all the cupcakes in the world!  As much as I love cupcakes and helping people, realistically it's impossible to help everyone, so I don't.  I can and do give PR tips all the time though. 

So here's one of my favorites: Newsjacking.  Yes, it's legal.  No, it's not unethical.  PR folks do it all the time.  

News is constantly happening.  Every hour. Every minute.  Newsjacking is simply injecting your ideas (i.e. your business, your product, your service, etc.) into a hot, current news story. The key to newsjacking is timing, so make sure you're following your local and national news outlets daily. In other words, stay ready!

Once that breaking news happens, create something (blog post, video, tweet, article, etc.) relevant and appropriate (that's key too!) that will grab the media's attention.  Newsjacking is responding to a news story, and adding value to it that will be beneficial for the audience/readers.      
Here's an example: 

The Super Bowl is a big deal, right?  You already know the media is going to be talking about the teams, the plays and the halftime show. (Remember, stay ready.)  So, remember last year when Beyonce shut it down with her halftime performance?  Like, she literally SHUT IT DOWN!  The power went out and the game was delayed for about 20 minutes.  Well, here's what the Oreo cookie folks tweeted minutes after that happened: 

Perfect!  They newsjacked the Super Bowl outage.  The tweet went viral because it was savvy, fun and relevant.  

Last thing - Be careful and use good judgement with newsjacking.  You don't want to newsjack a negative, somber story and/or make light of it.  You do that and you'll be looking at a PR disaster. If you don't believe me, google "Kenneth Cole Cairo tweet."  #Yikes

For The Love Of Everything Holy, Protect Your Brand!

Real Quick:

A lot of people think only large corporations and business conglomerates should be concerned about their brand.  Wrong!  Always remember that you are a brand.  Yes, you!  Think of yourself as the CEO of you.  It doesn't matter if you're a teacher, a police officer, a business owner or someone in the spotlight. YOU determine your brand (make sure it's authentic).  YOU work hard to maintain your brand (manage people's perception of you).  YOU protect your brand.    

Side Note:  The "Beyonce" brand  (Yes, she's a brand) is an excellent example: Talented.  Professional.  Business woman.  Mother.  Fashonista.  Wife.  No-Drama.  Philanthropist.  Whether you're a fan or not, you gotta respect the Beyonce brand. 

I recently watched a reality TV series (I know, I know. *holds head down in shame*) where a very popular, talented, R&B singer single-handedly destroyed her brand over the course of a few weeks.  

What took years to build, she tore down in one season of reality TV.  Show after show, her ego, attitude and unwillingness to collaborate with other artists was almost too painful to watch.  And on top of all of THAT, she also came across as a bully!  Whew!  #fail

The "PR" me cringed every time I saw her and her antics on screen.  

Lesson:  Don't compromise your brand for anyone or anything.  Commit to that.  Remember to always protect your brand.  And think before you react.  Ask yourself, "Is this helping or hurting my personal brand?"  If it's hurting....do I even need to say anything else?

Note:  If you're ever asked to do a reality TV show, remember this: The production company doesn't have fans, a reputation or a brand to protect.  It's your responsibility to protect your brand.

What Is PR & How Is It Helpful? Glad You Asked....

First Things First, What Is PR - Public Relations? 

If you're a PR professional, you should know the answer to this question.  And you better be able to answer it quickly and accurately.  If you can't?  Well now... It's time for you to reevaluate some things.  But if you're a business owner or just curious, here's the gist of it:

PR is what people think of you once you've left the board room.  What they say about you once you've left the party.  It's perception.  It's how a person feels after they leave your store or receive services from you or your staff.  It's how people remember you.  It's part reputation and part branding.  Ask yourself, when people think of me, my company or image, what's the first thing that comes to mind?  

How Is PR Helpful? 

Your reputation impacts your market capitalization.  In other words, people's actions (i.e, purchasing products, supporting an organization, person, event, etc.) are based on their perception.  So, if people think a business/person is unprofessional, has poor customer service and offers services that aren't valuable and/or priced fairly...what do you think?  You think they're going to support it financially?  Probably not.  

PR can help to change those negative perceptions.  How?  Many different ways.  A PR strategy should always be custom tailored to the needs of a business (No one size fits all approach!) That strategy can include tactics that focus on social media, traditional media, community partnerships or brand awareness.  

The great thing about PR is, it's one of the most cost effective, impactful commitments you'll ever make.  Trust me.  And if you don't believe me, listen to what Bill Gates, Co-founder and Chairman of Microsoft has to say:  "If I was down to my last dollar, I'd spend it on PR." 

** fade to black **
 

Note: This info is applicable to your personal branding and PR also.  Again, ask yourself when people think of me, what's the first thing that comes to mind?  Is it good, bad, complicated or "other"?  Be honest and be ready to make the necessary changes if you need to. 

No PR Strategy For Your Small Business?! - WHY???

If you're a small business and you haven't thought about a PR strategy for your company, I just have one question for you:  What are you waiting for, my love???

Listen.  PR is THE most cost-effective alternative to expensive traditional marketing. It's one of the best ways to let people know you're here.  It's word of mouth and it works.  Trust me. 

Before I give you some PR tips, be sure to think about your strategy first.  That includes understanding your audience, determining your company goals (be specific!) and creating effective communication (key messaging that will reach your audience, tone, etc.).  Start there and remember to plan your strategy based not on the here and now, but where you want to go.

Here are some other PR tips: 

Social Media - Careful.  Just because social media is free, doesn't mean it's a one-sizes-fits-all kinda thing.  First, be clear on what your goals are (that's the strategy part).  Are you looking to get more media hits?  Publicity around your launch or the launch of a new product?  More exposure?  Increased sales?  Second, know where your customers/potential customers are: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc?  Lastly, commit to engaging in a social media channel that's right for your business, and do it!   

What's Your Story? - If you really want to connect with people, I mean REALLY connect with people, you gotta be transparent.  The best way to connect with people is through storytelling.  You left corporate America to fulfill a life-long dream of mentoring kids?  Share that!  Don't be afraid to share nuggets of your life.  

Partner With Your Local Community - Tie your company to a non-profit cause.  Giving back to your local community is not only the right thing to do, it will likely garner you some media attention.  

Don't Be Shy (Closed Mouths Don't Get Fed!) - Get out and about!  Make new friends. Meet and connect with people in your community.  Attend social events, exchange information with others about their businesses and follow up.  Some folks call that "networking" (ugh--I hate that term!), I call it building relationships. 

Show Your Personality (Have Fun!) - Whether you have a food truck, a pet-sitting business or a new hair salon, you have to love what you're doing. You have to.  Bring that love, energy and enthusiasm to your work.  People do business with people they like. Always remember that. 

Michelle Obama Was Heckled? She Handled It Just Fine...

Let me preface this post by saying that I'm a HUGE Michelle Obama supporter.  So, my comments here will be biased based on my love for her.  If I offend anyone... *sips smoothie*   

The last few years for me politically have been bittersweet.  I watched as the country elected (and re-elected) its first African American president.  A great, unforgettable moment in history, right?  Yes!  Since this post is about Michelle Obama, I won't rant about my unwavering support for President Obama.  But, just know this...I think he's pretty dope. 

Now here's the "bitter" in the bittersweet part:  The Obamas have endured more ridicule, criticism and down-right hate than any other First Family I've ever known.  And through it all, they've been incredibly polite - to say the least.  I've often wondered, how in the !*@% do they do it?  I'm not sure if I could be so "nice." 

Michelle Obama... Over the past 4+ years, like millions of people all over the world, I fell head over heels for her.  She's smart, beautiful and so gracious.  I could go on and on...  A breath of fresh air!  

A few days ago, Michelle Obama was heckled by a woman as she spoke at a Democratic fundraising event.  She responded quickly by basically stating her intolerance for that kind of behavior.  Michelle approached the heckler and told her that she would leave: "Listen to me or you can take the mic. You all (audience) decide. You have one choice."  

The audience of course, wanted Michelle to stay.  She stayed and finished her speech.  The heckler?  She was escorted out of the event.

Some critics have come out and said Michelle's Obama behavior was inappropriate.  What?  Ummmm yeah--No.  The heckler's behavior was inappropriate and rude.  Michelle merely exerted herself as a guest speaker and First Lady.   
       
The PR me thinks she handled this perfectly.  Her reaction was transparent and real, wrapped up in the most respectful, unapologetic packaging ever.  She wasn't defensive.  She didn't raise her voice.  She didn't become irate.  She doesn't have to.  Why?  Because she's Michelle Obama, First Lady of the United States.  Respect it.  

The Harlem Shake: A PR Lesson

Do me a favor, go to YouTube and type in the words "Harlem Shake."  Tell me what you see. I'll wait (there are more than 220,000 results).  *sips smoothie*  

The Harlem Shake.  Get into it.  It goes a lil' something like this... Put something on your head /over your face (a hat, scarf or ______)... *Harlem Shake techno music plays*  Start dancing slow, do whatever you want.  Then, as the music climaxes, just wild out.  Get crazy, wacky, jump up and down....do you for about 30 seconds.  That's it! 

Crazy, right?    

As a PR professional, I'm always fascinated when something goes "viral."  Part of me thinks, hey--this kinda stuff doesn't just happen.  No freakin way!  There has to be someone or something behind this. The other part of me understands and appreciates great PR.  

The "PR me" knows that phenomenons like these are unexpected, totally organic and will eventually fade away.  But for me, great PR is addictive.  And viral PR?  Woo la la.  LOVE it!  And while you can't predict when something will go viral, there are some things you can do to get people interested and excited about your product/company/service, and grab their attention like the Harlem Shake: 

• Create something that quickly entertains/educates your audience, and hits a nerve.
   
• Use the power of the Internet/social media to pass it on to others; make it sharable (If it's a video, make it focused, consistent and short.)
  
  
• Don't duplicate what's already been done - People won't be as engaged if they've seen/done it before.
  
  
• Don't be afraid to add a bit of humor (be careful...it HAS to be funny or it could backfire.)
  
  
• Luck - Even with the best strategy in place, sometimes success involves a little luck.

Remember there's no blueprint to creating something viral.  But if you incorporate the above elements in your PR plan, you'll create something that's impactful and memorable.

Unwritten Rules of Twitter: What They Don't Tell You When You Sign Up (Volume I)

It's no secret.  I love Twitter.  When I joined the Twitterverse a few years ago, I admit--I was a little naive. So, I jumped right in (Look Ma, no hands!)  There were no instructions, no warnings...I'm still waiting on my "Welcome to Twitter" muffin basket.  Nada.  Nothing.  Zero.

And I realized very quickly there were a lot of things the Twitter Welcoming Committee doesn't tell you.... (Thank me later):

• Typing the word "your" on Twitter when you mean "you are" can be dangerous.  Jesus himself could get on Twitter and say "Fear not, child. I know that your going to heaven," and someone will respond to him and say..."Actually, it's you're."
  

• There's no reason for you to combine your "hahahas" and "lols" in the same tweet.  Way too much.  Nothing is ever THAT funny.
  
  
• Don't ever say ANYTHING bad about Beyonce.  Her fans are ruthless and will come for you with the ETHER.
  
  
• Unfollowing Folks (Part I)
  Listen.  The unfollow struggle is real.  People (including me) always think waaaaaay too much about it. Then...they do it anyway. Just know that this is normal.  Don't beat yourself up about it.
  
  
• Unfollowing Folks (Part II)
  If you unfollow people, don't tell them.  It's like announcing you're leaving a free concert in a room full of people. Awkward and...lame.
  
  
• "Twitter After Dark" is real and in full effect after midnight on weekdays, 11:00 pm (EST) on weekends.  If you can't handle the raunch & ratchetness, log off and come back during daytime hours.  No shame, just go.

• Deleting Your Twitter Account
  There's no need to let the Twitterverse know you're deleting your account.  No one really cares and you'll be back after a week or so.
   
• If you're a Kim Kardashian fan, you might want to keep that to yourself.  People go IN on her (and her fans) on Twitter like you would not believe.

•  If you're not careful, Twitter will harden your heart.  It will darken your soul, if you let it.  Before you know it, you'll be slandering dead celebs and sick kids with the quickness. So....think before you tweet.
  
  
• Non-parents, be careful.  Tweeting about kid topics (potty training, disciplining, homeschooling, etc.) could get ugly.  Tread lightly here or else.... #MommysDontPlay

Hi, I'm An Egg With No Bio (Twitter Woes)

I love Twitter.  I can't live without it.  Not for the obvious reasons you think, either.  See...I'm a bonafide, unapologetic, Grade A news junkie.  With Twitter, I can connect with reputable newsmakers anytime and anywhere I want.  Whew. Yes. That's incredibly dope to me.  #nerd

I love the cadence and speed of it too.  It moves fast.  Like, Danica Patrick fast!  Fact: Twitter broke the news about Michael Jackson's death, the Hudson River plane crash and Osama bin Laden's raid & death. THAT's how fast it works.  If you don't "get" it.  I advise you to get into it.  If you're in PR and you're not on Twitter....drop the "P" and the "R" from your job description, pack your stuff, do not pass Go and kindly....leave.  Yep, I went there. *files nails* 

Anyway, I digress....  So yeah, I love Twitter. 

Here's the problem.  *sigh*  You know the small area at the top of a person's/company's Twitter profile?  The area that should have a picture/image/logo and a description listed?  Yeah, that one.  I really want people to stop leaving that section blank. STOP.   

First of all, it's 2012.  We gotta move past the default "Twitter egg with no bio" purgatory place.  I mean, who wants to connect with an egg?!  Come. On!  Having an egg as a profile picture (with no bio) is equal to someone showing up to a Democratic dinner party wearing a Mitt Romney costume.  Awwwwkward.

And Eggheads...listen.  I won't follow you.  I won't talk to you.  I won't acknowledge you.  No. No. No.  Not gonna happen!  Not until you take a sec, upload a picture and create your bio.  My tip: Don't stress about it...keep it simple. Think about your interests, prioritize (business vs. personal) and remember key words (Twitter is a search engine.)  Click here to see mine.  If you need more help, hit me up.  Remember, I'm here for you. :)

Exhibit A

You Might Be a Great Publicist/PR Professional If....

Real quick: In every working field, there are people who are just... *blank stare*  *yawn*  *files nails* at what they do. There are some who are actually pretty doggone good at what they're being paid to do.  And then, there are those who are just drop-dead amazing at their craft (i.e. Beyonce, Phil Jackson, Valerie Jarrett, Shonda Rhimes, etc.)  PR is no different.

If you're looking to hire a publicist, if you're a PR newbie or if you're evaluating your commitment to the field, here are some things to seriously think about....

Obvious Signs of a Great Publicist/PR Professional: 

• Great listeners (Listen with intent to understand)
  
  
• Exceptional writers
  
  
• Strategists who will roll up their sleeves & jump head first into their bag/toolbox of tactics
  
  
• News junkies
  
  
• Highly creative (Thinks outside of the box & has fun doing it)
  
  
• Great communicators (Can hold an engaging conversation with anybody)
  
  
• Can't (and shouldn't) live without social networks
  
  
• Attention to detail is insane...On a scale of 1-10, it's about a 25
  
  
• Understand that PR is NOT a 9-5 job

 

Kim Kardashian & Herman Cain Need Paddles - They're In the Same Boat!

I work in public relations, so I view the world through a PR lens. It's my filter for everything really. I can't help it.  I pay attention to news stories for the angle, I listen to interviews for the messaging, I rate the media savviness of popular celebrities (Kanye West is a genius), and I watch closely when there's a high profile crisis happening right before my eyes.  I think to myself...if I were the lead PR counsel for this, how would I handle it?  What would be my strategy?  My tactics?  My plan of action?  And then, I put on my Snuggie, hair in a ponytail, pop some popcorn and sit back & watch it all play out.     

Case in Point: OK--you'd have to be in a Halloween candy coma if you haven't heard the news about Kim Kardashian; no need for me to elaborate, right?  And Herman Cain.... Well, he's been in the news a lot lately because he's vying to be the country's next President.  But, things have gotten a little sticky recently.  The public now knows that not one, not two, but three women accused him of sexual harassment in the 1990's. *cue in dramatic music*   

For Kim... She has some serious damage control to do here.  Her image, in the court of public opinion is in the gutter right now. She's already apologized to her fans. OK--I get that.  But Lord, this girl has got some major work to do!  My advice to Kim:

• Confront each & every negative accusation and rumor... Be careful - what you say is important, but when, where and how often you say it is even more important.
• Don't attack the media...you need them.
• No dating for a while...let's move away from what got you into this mess.   
• Buckle up...it's gonna be a long ride.

Mr. Cain... Sex and politics is, and will always be a very, very fascinating news story. The media loves it and people just can't get enough of it.  *Sidebar: Hey, I don't make the rules, but it is what it is...  My advice:

• Understand...this issue is not going away.  
• Address the charges head on.  Tell the truth.....and tell it early.  Time is ticking (10 days and counting). This story is getting bigger and bigger, and more complicated by the minute.
• Keep planning ahead.  Since this issue isn't going away, anticipate and prepare for the worse. 
• Buckle up.  It's politics.  Bumpy, nasty, dirty ride...

Hip-Hop: A Love Letter

One thing that really surprises people about me is that I’m a huge fan of hip-hop music. Huge.  I literally have thousands of songs on my iPod and a large portion of my personal catalog is hip-hop.  Old school, new-school, conscious rap, southern rap, alternative rap, crunk stuff, Miami bass, you name it!

I think it’s the creative artist in me.  To me, rappers are just modern day poets.  They have the unique ability to take complex, controversial and often times painful life experiences, and create stories.  Stories that I, me *points to self* can relate to.  That’s so dope to me! 

I mean, who would think that a kid from the Marcy Housing Projects in Brooklyn, a former drug dealer who was abandoned by his father, could write ‘Song Cry’? One of the most beautiful love songs I think I’ve ever heard.  It’s a familiar script: Boy meets girl. They fall in love.  Boy messes up (big time).  Boy loses girl.  End of story.  But there’s a twist to this story. The break-up was so bad that dude wants to break down and cry, but instead he raps “I can’t see ‘em (tears) comin down my eyes, so I gotta make this song cry.”  And that he does.      

The end product: A 5-minute emotional hip-hop love letter to his beloved lost "one".  Brilliant.  A part of my heart aches every time I hear that song.

So, I guess this post is my love letter to hip-hop…

You (hip-hop) are…an old friend who’s still young, hot and exciting. I love that you challenge me to think outside of the box and you constantly remind me that it’s not always about the package, but the message instead. I admit, I don’t always understand you.  But I do understand the method to your madness.  I admire your history.  And I can’t wait for other generations to experience you the way I that have.

My love for you can be summed up with a question. “Oh you fancy, huh?”  Yes…yes you are.

My Top 10 All-Time Favorite Hip-Hop Songs

1. Keep Ya Head Up – Tupac (My favorite rapper of ALL time!)
2. Int’l Player’s Anthem – Outkast
3. Song Cry - Jay-Z (Tupac is my #1, Jay is #2)
4. Cha Cha Cha – MC Lyte (My favorite female MC)
5. One More Chance - B.I.G.
6. Flava In Ya Ear - Craig Mack (I’m probably his #1 fan)
7. Music – Eric Sermon
8. Empire State of Mind - Jay-Z & Alicia Keys (Best collab in hip-hop history)
9. Rapper’s Delight – Sugarhill Gang (The intro alone makes me smile)
10. One Mic – Nas (Deep…very deep)

                                                                             "Song Cry"

Pretty Little Girls

If you looked up “girly-girl” in the dictionary, there’d be a picture of me sitting there in a fabulous pink dress, with my legs neatly crossed, face beat, lips shining (Lip gloss is my favorite!), drinking some afternoon tea, and reading my most recent copy of Cosmopolitan magazine.

I really do love all of that stuff!  So it was a surprise to some people (those who don’t really know me), that I was bothered by Walmart’s recent announcement about their new line of beauty products.  Beauty products – no big deal right?  Did I mention this line is tailored for girls between the ages of 8 and 12?  It’s being branded as an “anti-aging” line designed for “young skin” and it will feature blush, mascara, lipstick and face shimmer. 

Lipstick and blush for 8 year-olds?  Seriously??? 

I’m not mad at Walmart for deciding to run this campaign. They’re a business, and businesses are in the business of making money. Point blank.  And the beauty industry is BIG MONEY.  What frustrates me is the message that this is sending to young girls.  To me, it reinforces an unhealthy focus on exterior, superficial, physical beauty.   

The vanity obsession is everywhere.  Turn on the television on any given day and you’ll see young women who are consumed with their appearance. Part of it is just being insecure (We’ve all been there.)  And companies know that. That’s why they spend millions on marketing campaigns that focus on the beauty benefits of their product.  Get it?   

Yes, I enjoy wearing make-up, but I’m a woman who’s comfortable and confident in her own skin (with or without lip gloss). Young girls should be encouraged to be smart, outspoken, compassionate and fearless. And they should be reminded that real beauty doesn’t come from the perfect shade of face powder.  It comes from within and is always accompanied with great humility.    

Let's leave the lipstick and blush on the shelf where it belongs.    

Uncle Luke - Miami's Next Mayor?

Disclaimer:

Let me preface this post by saying upfront that I was born and raised in Florida.  Therefore I have a certain affinity for Luke and his music (affectionately known as “Miami Bass”). **pause for a collective gasp** 

Most people know him as Luke, or Uncle Luke, but his government name is Luther Campbell.  He was the outspoken leader of one of the most popular rap groups of all time, the 2 Live Crew.  His trademark: His controversial ‘nasty as he wanna be’ booty-shaking music that dominated the charts in the 80’s. But he’s also known for his highly publicized obscenity case that challenged the Supreme Court to defend free speech --A music censorship victory and a major win for the entertainment industry.   

Not only did he sell millions of records and make gobs of money, but he was the founder of Luke Records, the first independent black owned record company owned by a rapper. He was also was one of the first artists to distribute his own music.

It’s 2011 now and Luke’s a husband, and a dad.  He’s a different man.  But one thing about him that hasn’t changed…he’s still controversial as hell!  Up next, politics.  Yes—the man who wrote hits like "Do Wah Diddy Diddy" and "Me So Hor*y" is seriously considering entering the race to become Miami’s next mayor.  Sounds crazy right?  Not to me.  Here’s why:

In most cities in Florida, Luke is considered a legend (I’m dead serious) and in the world of hip-hop, he’s an icon (If you don't believe me, ask Jay-Z).  Luke was born and raised in Miami.  He's a smart and successful businessman who genuinely loves the city, and is committed to making it better.  Although he’s somewhat retired from the music biz, he’s still very connected to young people.  He currently serves as assistant football coach for Miami-Dade Central High School and is a very active philanthropist in his community.  Luke is brutally honest and forthcoming about his past and the present (He’s transparent--what you see is what you get!)

And lastly, Luke is no stranger to politics.  He was a very outspoken supporter of many Get Out The Vote campaigns during the 2008 Presidential election, and he frequently gives national commentary about current political issues (He's actively engaged in the political process.) 

You think it's silly, absurd and impossible that Luther "Luke" Campbell could be the next mayor of Miami? Think again.....    

Luther "Luke" Campbell