business

I had to speak recently at an event. The mood was heavy, we were talking about money and EVERYONE has been affected by this economy in some way or another. I was giving a transparent account of my giving for the year (and how tricky it was to make a charitable commitment—I did it. I believe in giving.) and I was surprised that right out of the gate I had people laughing. Now here’s the thing—that was not my intention. But sometimes the truth is funny, even when it hurts.

It got me thinking about business. In our business we do a lot of pitching, whether we are pitching a potential client, existing clients, the media or just consumers. And when we’re asking people for their money or their time it’s usually a serious business. So, how appropriate is it to inject a little humor into the proceedings? Well, I guess that depends on a few things: 

1. Does your “audience” have a sense of humor? If they don’t, tread lightly.
2. Is your subject life or death? If it is, stay clear of jokes.
3. Is the mood heavy or ambivalent? (Humor can lighten an intense room, but it can also piss people off)
4. Do you really care about bumming out your audience? In other words, even if they are in a sour mood, are you willing to strike out on the humor path?
5. How important is it for you to keep it light? If your natural personality leans toward “fun” will presenting a too serious side make you feel silly, or vice versa?

Personally, I think providing a light touch can always help in a meeting. Everything feels so serious these days. If there is anything this economy has shown us it is that no one has anything figured out—not really. So, stop taking yourself so seriously and laugh a little!

Source: www.moonbattery.com 

Our agency works with various chocolate brands so we are keyed into the food blogs. And there are some that we can’t live without!

Candy Addict Blog: This is the premier go-to blog for candy news and reviews. If you are a candy lover (and just about everybody is in some form or fashion) than you need to give this blog a spin, and fast! The writer is brilliant and sheds light on all types of tidbits that you, the candy addict, may have not ever considered as you are downing that little piece of heaven.

Chocolate Atlas: Chocophiles absolutely MUST check out this blog. If you love chocolate, have a global sensibility and a sophisticated palate (doesn’t everybody??) then this is the blog for you!

The Nibble: This gourmet food blog has a section entirely dedicated to chocolate. If you love chocolate, and I’m just not sure who doesn’t, you NEED to take a peek (or a long look). This is a great resource and you can trust that ALL the info included has been carefully considered.

Zomgcandy: Ok, the name is a bit interesting, BUT the content is fab! This top “sweet tooth” destination features taste tests (how else to distinguish between the good and the supremely good) and expertly reviews the very best of “all things sweet.”

Enjoy!

This week my illustrious team suggested I write about various blogs that we love to follow. I was up for the task but feeling kind of weird about it (most of them are fashion, beauty and food) after watching the news. There is the situation in Iran, more global warming trends and an extra day of the US Open to follow… In other words maybe there were more important things to consider today. And I am considering them, as I list some of our fav fashion blogs:

• Garance Dore is an incredible photographer, illustrator and writer. Her blogs range from documenting street fashion all written in her characteristic style that blends sharp wit with satirical humor.

• The Luxirare blog mixes fashion and food and inspires all us to get into that kitchen and try our own hand at culinary masterpieces, albeit in their gothic/punk form.

• Childhood Flames' writer is all of 15 years old! Check out her chic style as she editorializes on her fav designers. She even shares DIY projects via videos and photos…

• Model Gala Gonzalez gives us all an inside peek at the life of a muse. She documents her daily outfits (this girl has style) and gives us the run down on the various editorials she has been featured in.

• The Jakandjil blog highlights the all-important street style that truly influences and impacts fashion (don’t be fooled, it does). There are images of notable fashion figures as well as random fashion-forward peeps from around the world.

Tomorrow, BEAUTY!

There was a recent episode on a reality show that featured a young bride in her twenties that didn’t know the movie “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.” (Apparently, she was going to look a lot like Audrey Hepburn on the big day.) I mean, come on. But don’t be surprised. A lot of the young people I know don’t know anything about Elvis, the Beatles and forget about Clark Gable. So, it got me thinking. How important is “history” for good public relations… I think it’s incredibly important, especially if you specialize in the consumer sector.

Ok, I am using the word history loosely. It’s really about having a good understanding of poplar culture and that means knowing your history too. So when a fashion designer brings out a new black dress, it’s wise to understand how Chanel changed the course of fashion with her “new thinking” and how this effected everyone else around her. Or, how the “Rebel Without A Cause” era ushered in the more widespread (and accepted) use of blue jeans. If you love chocolate it might be interesting to know that the Aztecs loved this delectable treat first (though they used it as an elixir). Or maybe that it was first enjoyed as a drink in Europe long before it was converted into a bar. Or that it’s darkest form is a great antioxidant.  Never mind understanding how Frank Lloyd Wright shifted popular thought around what makes good architecture thus inspiring a bestseller (“The Fountainhead”) and the art world as a whole.

What has this got to do with pr? Well, we work with chocolate brands so knowing how this treat has evolved over time helps us build relevant stories today. We work with fashion brands, positioning them as the “new classic” means we’d better know who the classics are… And the thinking goes on. So, if you’re considering making this a career, brush up on your history. It’s a must.

Source:  www.tutiz.com, www.mischastyle.com

So there’s this “newish” term that everybody seems to be using: LOL. What? Gosh, I didn’t know what it meant when a colleague at another agency used it instead of “sincerely” or “best.” LOL? Ok, I figured out what it meant (after asking, like a goofball) but I wasn’t sure I would be using it anytime soon. So, I guess the question is, LOL, is it appropriate for business???

It’s been cropping up everywhere. In my business correspondence, between friends, on all my social media platforms and on my favorite escapist blog/site Icanhascheezburger. They are, after all, LOL cats. And if you want to become one, you have to understand the LOL.

Let’s face it, everything has been getting far more familiar these days. From what we wear to work (jeans and more jeans) to how we speak to our boss (no more Miss, Mrs. or Mr.—often it’s just “hey you!”) to how comfortable we are sharing our personal details. Yep, I was out late on a drinking binge, you couldn’t possibly expect me to be in at 9AM. It is what it is. LOL takes the edge off. It’s the nice way of saying, “Hey, it’s all ok, we’ll work this out.” I guess LOL might just be good for business.

Politics happen, and it’s never any fun. It’s just what people do. They can’t help themselves. Since politics can be expected I’ve come up with a few simple rules to live by:

Don’t take sides (make sure to honorably stand by what you believe is right but make it clear that your opinion is an expert one, and not personality based)

1. Keep your nose to the grindstone (good work will win out and if it doesn’t, there really isn’t anything you can do about it)
2.  Don’t take sides (make sure to honorably stand by what you believe is right but make it clear that your opinion is an expert one, and not personality based)
3. Don’t promote yourself, allow your work to promote you (ok, if you’re in pr that seems like an oxymoronic statement, but it will keep the emphasis where it should be)
4. Try not to take anything too personally (it’s HARD not to, but it is what it is)
5. Don’t allow yourself to get too wrapped up (you’ll miss your next big opportunity—energy is a terrible thing to waste)
6. Don’t be afraid to quit (if the working relationship is untenable then take one for the team)

Simple rules, but they work. The real key is to stop trying to control everything. Oh goodness, that is so hard for me, but it always works. Always!

Our agency is less than three years old. We’re a bit late to the game on the “win some awards” strategy. I realize it’s a really good thing to win awards for your work. I’m sure those agencies that do win deserve it. But, what I realize is that this is almost a full-time job. So, before we embarked on our quest for awards I really did some assessing. Is it worth it? Does it really matter? Do potential clients really care?

I do think coming up with the Dove “Real Women” campaign (Edelman) deserves all the awards it has won. But do clients really care? Because ultimately that’s what you do it for, the potential clients… Here’s the thing—I’m not sure. We’re going to do a little survey and see what the sentiment is out there. I do think showing great case studies to potential clients is the best way to showcase your work. But throw in an award, could that tip the balance? I suspect we’re going to go for it. We have some kick-butt WOM campaigns that are really moving the needle for our clients and could be good fodder for the award cycle. Next stop? A Silver Anvil (it’s good to up the stakes!)!

I personally think a good-looking office is good for the people. After all, you have to go to this place everyday. Don’t you want to feel good about your destination? But what constitutes a good-looking office? Of course that is a hyper relative question. 

I’m a bit (a BIG bit) of a neat freak so for me a good-looking office means a high level of organization. BUT, I don’t want my environment to feel like a hospital (that’s no fun). Many pr agencies I know are messy—we’re in the paper business. Plus, there’s always stuff (especially if you work with consumer products). So we have to work extra hard to make our environment neat (if that’s what we like). But it’s doable, especially if you “brainwash” your people into believing it’s critical for good business (of course it’s not).

So, we have white lacquered desks and clean bright colors. But we have an amazing chocolate brown seagrass wall-to-wall carpet (excellent for disguising coffee drips and the like) that helps create a bit of warmth. And here’s the good news: The teams really seem to like it. I think the environment helps them feel good about coming in every morning. So, for obvious reasons, I am a fan of the good-looking office. And it doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg (just be creative!).

Our company represents several companies that have excellent products for an excellent price—especially in this economy. Alas, some we cannot promote (for various reasons) but the concept got me thinking. In a time when the “value” message continues to reign, what really is an affordable indulgence and does it really matter…

Well, of course it does! I don’t care who you are everyone is looking to save, but indulging oneself will never go out of style. For those brands that promote their products as an affordable indulgence (and this we know is relative—Jeep vs Hummer = affordable indulgence) making their mark has never been more important.

So what would be an affordable indulgence? A little, delicious piece of chocolate? Yep, that’s rates high for moi! A new lipstick? Sure thing! Can’t afford the dress, but hey I can change up my look with a new red shade. How about a food processor? What? Well, start saving and cook at home, but bypass the frozen dinner and try to “out rival” your local restaurant with your own recipes. What’s the ultimate affordable indulgence? Love, but that’s another story altogether…

As a communications agency with a heavy focus on public relations (and now Word of Mouth!) it’s been interesting to watch the morphing of various disciplines within this space. I really enjoyed the TBS original production “Mad Men.” What a time that was, forget the martinis, just a ton of (mainly) male ego on the loose. I’ve worked with a lot of agencies in my day, and I can tell you that heady sense of righteousness still exists. I think you need to live a little on the edge to get out there and sell advertising “stories.” It’s part of the gig, and that’s ok with me. But things are changing, and the corner office television commercial machine is changing with the times too.