Expert insights. Personalized for you.
Pixabay. Some may assume that those who work in technology PR have similar gigs – but the assignments can vary substantially. First, almost every company is a tech company today, right? So just adding “technology” to PR does not shed much light. MORE
Pixabay. The EV blog Electrek broke the news last week that Tesla is dissolving its PR department. Editor-in-chief Fred Lambert’s story covered journalists’ growing frustrations with the comms team leading up to its shutdown. MORE
Should CEOs speak out on social, civil and political issues? Should brands take a stand? Pixabay. Back in the day (meaning just a few years ago) the answers were easier. It was a more innocent time and easier for businesses to step up to the plate when government was not doing its job. The Edelman Trust Barometer (an annual gauge of trust in institutions) has long ranked CEOs higher than others. . Today it’s more complicated. MORE
I realized that I have been making a lot of noise on the Fusion PR website about PR, Done & Doner – but have said nothing here. Three great episodes in, I guess it is about time. MORE
It has been almost a year since I blogged about common startup PR myths. That post drew from NY Tech Meetup mail list discussions and cited arguments for and against PR. Since then, I’ve run across a few more myths. So I thought I’d update that post. You Don’t Need PR if you have a Great Product. This myth is based on the old cliche’ that if you can only build a better mousetrap, the world will beat a path to your door. In other words, marketing doesn’t count. MORE
Here is the third installment in my series about maximizing “secret sauce” in tech marketing. In the first post, I explored the meaning and history of the term, and shared examples. Then, in the next one, I outlined steps to turn your core IP into a PR asset , and included case studies. MORE
The fourth wall is a figurative one at the foot of a stage (the other three walls shape the room of the set). Actors breach this wall when they talk to the audience. Similarly, PR is being challenged to break through mass communications and take the message directly to individuals. . MORE
We are proud to introduce PR: Done and Doner , a podcast that equips tech PR and marketing pros with the info needed to get the best possible results. It is not just about mastering the changing world of earned media, although that is key part (and not getting any easier, most agree). MORE
If social media were a brand, it’s one that I think most would agree has been tarnished. The reputation hits come from many directions. Sure, Facebook’s troubles have been front and center. It’s nothing short of mind boggling, the mischief and misdeeds that run rampant there. And it’s not just about Facebook or even social media. Others have come under fire too, for their content and privacy issues, in related areas of online like general Web, Google, and mobile. MORE
It was a while since I last checked in with Robin Schaffer , when I saw on LinkedIn that she’d just published a book: Analysts on Analyst Relations. We know Robin from our work on former client NICE Systems. MORE
Should brands get involved in culture wars? E.g. some thought that Nike was very shrewd in hiring Colin Kaepernick as a brand ambassador. He’s polarizing, but the bold move seemed to sync with their brand. For the uninitiated, Kaepernick is the football player who got lots of kudos and crap for sitting during the national anthem at games and inspiring others to do the same. MORE
People sometimes wonder how I started out in engineering and wound up in PR. Something that happened recently really made an impression and brought my career journey full circle, 35 years later. Read on to learn more, and I hope you enjoy the story! Geeking out with Audio. I was walking the NAB show aisles at the Javits Center in NYC a few weeks ago, taking in the exhibits and scouting new business when I decided to check out the neighboring AES (audio engineering society) show. MORE
PIxabay. Folks, I know I haven’t been writing here as much, Sorry for the interruption. These are unusual times. But the show must go on, right? People are stuck at home and clamoring for distraction and new episodes, er, posts. So pardon the DIY production, the dirty socks on the floor. MORE
I enjoyed attending the Global Insurtech Leaders Summit – Insurtech Insights in NYC last week. The event featured two days of great sessions and panels led by key execs from startups, carriers, journalists and investors. Insurtechs demonstrated their wares, and it was a great forum for networking and making connections. The Brella app made it easy to arrange 15-minute “speed dating” meetings at tables set up for this purpose. MORE
From Pixabay. I had blogged a while back about all those time wasters we sometimes run into; e.g. the deluge of pay-to-play offers you get right after releasing news over a wire. There’s another that has been bugging me and my teams: obscure analyst reports. MORE
Today I share Deborah Weinstein’s answers to questions about the challenges confronting social media marketing and digital communications. It is the latest in my series of interviews with industry experts (see this post , which sets the stage). My good friend Judy Gombita introduced us, and I am glad that she did. As you will see below, Deborah offers great insight. She leads Toronto-based Strategic Objectives with co-founder and sister, Judy Lewis. MORE
I was watching 60 Minutes this weekend, which ran a segment about AI that highlighted China’s growing clout in the tech (Silicon Valley, hope you were watching; you should be scared, very scared). They interviewed Kai-Fu Lee, the so-called Oracle of AI who boasts a Ph.D., Apple, Microsoft, and Google stints, and runs a Chinese VC firm that’s minted a number of AI unicorns. He painted an awe-inspiring picture of the state and direction of AI. MORE
Many wish to continue to write off public relations and kick it to the curb – by coldly saying that the profession and/or its trappings are dead. First it was gripes about the press release, and in the latest example, a report that tech PR is dead, which I just read in Inc. MORE
It’s dark in here. Let me find the light switch. There you go. Hey, where is everybody? It sure is quiet. These are the thoughts you might have, if you work in PR in the Age of Coronavirus. People are bunkered down. No one knows for sure when the crisis will end. MORE
It started several months ago. I was writing a Gmail when grey words mysteriously appeared ahead of my typing. “Hmmm, must be some new functionality,” I thought. Then: “Hey, this just might be interesting and useful!”. The suggested words did fit. But I was stuck, kind of. Was I supposed to keep typing, right over the new text? How could I just accept them? I muddled through, and this happened again the next time I wrote a Gmail. MORE
By now you have likely heard of the biggest news from the first days of the French Open this past weekend. It was actually about no news, or rather the refusal of one of the shining stars to engage in press activities surrounding the event. MORE
Working in PR seems the reverse of the old quote: “I refuse to join any club that would have me as a member.” ” Groucho Marx. The club, or field of PR, can disdain those who want to join; particularly people so entrenched that they lack little “real world” experience. MORE
Fusion PR works extensively in the cyber security space. We are often asked about how to handle the PR fallout from breaches. What are the similarities and differences with other kinds of crisis management? I decided to answer these questions in this post, with input from our team. Like other PR Crises? A cyber-attack is a special kind of crisis. It has some things in common with other types (e.g. product liability, malfeasance) in that the company’s reputation can also be at stake. MORE
They huddle around a conference room table. The lights go dark. The 35 mm slide projector floods the screen. It’s backlight shines an eerie glow on the presenter’s lower face. This is not just some an ad man (or woman). It’s the sermon from the mount. Or maybe Dracula. The pitch is delivered, building to a crescendo – the “a ha” moment in which the idea comes into focus. MORE
It can go by various names. IP (short for intellectual property). Or proprietary tech. Or keys to the kingdom. I like “secret sauce” Most who work in IT understand that this refers to the magical ingredient that sets a technology or solution apart. MORE
They come in various flavors. The too-good-to-be-true TV spot. The “Pssst I can get you into XXXX, guaranteed, just pay me $YYYY.” The endless procession of awards and articles with price tags attached. Many PR people reflexively dismiss these and spend a lot of time explaining why to clients. MORE
Neal Schaffer on Social Media Challenges & Opportunities for 2019. I was thrilled when Neal Schaffer agreed to participate in my series about challenges facing social media marketing. Neal is a social media speaker and consultant ranked by Forbes and others as a top influencer. I had the privilege of writing for his Maximize Social Business blog for three years, and have also spoken at several of his Social Tool Summit conferences. MORE
Pixabay. As we enter a new decade, I implore PR to do its part in protecting the journalistic info supply chain. Be truth-tellers. Be great fact-checkers. Now wait a second, I can hear you protest. That is not our job. We are paid to put the best possible spin on our news. To help the team win. MORE
We are often asked what it takes to succeed in PR, and about the client effort required. They’re great questions; the second part acknowledges shared responsibility. Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay. I’ve found that most just want great results, they’re not trying to milk an agency. But PR newbies may think that it will be easy – their groundbreaking news will almost sell itself; or that a proactive PR firm can do it all with minimal client input. MORE
I love the band Talking Heads, and saw them for first time in college many years ago. Back then, I thought they had a cool name – but only found out that it refers to the disembodied heads of yakking newscasters when my friend and fellow concert-goer explained. MORE
How to Surf the Tech Trends without Going Under. Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay. Everyone is familiar with tastemakers in fashion, music and popular culture. They indicate what is hot, and what is not, with words and actions. Those who want to stay ahead of trends pay close attention. MORE
It is once again de rigueur to slam PR agencies. I learned this from a prospect who clued me in to a podcast and Forbes article (the former by uber influencers who should know better; the latter was generally negative on agencies but had some great points). MORE
In my last post I explained the history and significance of secret sauce , or IP, in tech marketing. I also laid out the challenges of getting PR mileage from your core tech. To summarize, “secret sauce” underpins a solution or component. MORE
It’s hard to think of anything in our lifetimes that’s so taken over our lives and attentions. We’re all trying to adapt, with the best minds tackling the Covid health and economic crises, and focused on getting us back to work and the “new normal,” whatever that means. MORE
Flack's Revenge
OCTOBER 27, 2021
How to Surf the Tech Trends without Going Under. Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay. Everyone is familiar with tastemakers in fashion, music and popular culture. They indicate what is hot, and what is not, with words and actions. Those who want to stay ahead of trends pay close attention.
Flack's Revenge
OCTOBER 21, 2021
I realized that I have been making a lot of noise on the Fusion PR website about PR, Done & Doner – but have said nothing here. Three great episodes in, I guess it is about time.
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Flack's Revenge
JUNE 2, 2021
By now you have likely heard of the biggest news from the first days of the French Open this past weekend. It was actually about no news, or rather the refusal of one of the shining stars to engage in press activities surrounding the event.
Flack's Revenge
MARCH 9, 2021
Here is the third installment in my series about maximizing “secret sauce” in tech marketing. In the first post, I explored the meaning and history of the term, and shared examples. Then, in the next one, I outlined steps to turn your core IP into a PR asset , and included case studies.
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Inspiring the team to do their best, break through barriers and achieve milestones is the core responsibility of the startup leadership. Inspiring people to do great requires installing confidence and the ability to learn from setbacks and failures.
Flack's Revenge
SEPTEMBER 1, 2021
Many wish to continue to write off public relations and kick it to the curb – by coldly saying that the profession and/or its trappings are dead. First it was gripes about the press release, and in the latest example, a report that tech PR is dead, which I just read in Inc.
Flack's Revenge
OCTOBER 15, 2020
Pixabay. The EV blog Electrek broke the news last week that Tesla is dissolving its PR department. Editor-in-chief Fred Lambert’s story covered journalists’ growing frustrations with the comms team leading up to its shutdown.
Flack's Revenge
MAY 28, 2021
From Pixabay. I had blogged a while back about all those time wasters we sometimes run into; e.g. the deluge of pay-to-play offers you get right after releasing news over a wire. There’s another that has been bugging me and my teams: obscure analyst reports.
Flack's Revenge
APRIL 27, 2021
Working in PR seems the reverse of the old quote: “I refuse to join any club that would have me as a member.” ” Groucho Marx. The club, or field of PR, can disdain those who want to join; particularly people so entrenched that they lack little “real world” experience.
Flack's Revenge
DECEMBER 7, 2020
It can go by various names. IP (short for intellectual property). Or proprietary tech. Or keys to the kingdom. I like “secret sauce” Most who work in IT understand that this refers to the magical ingredient that sets a technology or solution apart.
When it comes to change communication, employees need your help to understand what’s happening. Use these four steps to help employees navigate change.
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Flack's Revenge
FEBRUARY 3, 2021
In my last post I explained the history and significance of secret sauce , or IP, in tech marketing. I also laid out the challenges of getting PR mileage from your core tech. To summarize, “secret sauce” underpins a solution or component.
Flack's Revenge
JANUARY 12, 2021
It was a while since I last checked in with Robin Schaffer , when I saw on LinkedIn that she’d just published a book: Analysts on Analyst Relations. We know Robin from our work on former client NICE Systems.
Flack's Revenge
SEPTEMBER 15, 2020
The fourth wall is a figurative one at the foot of a stage (the other three walls shape the room of the set). Actors breach this wall when they talk to the audience. Similarly, PR is being challenged to break through mass communications and take the message directly to individuals. .
Flack's Revenge
JUNE 1, 2020
It’s hard to think of anything in our lifetimes that’s so taken over our lives and attentions. We’re all trying to adapt, with the best minds tackling the Covid health and economic crises, and focused on getting us back to work and the “new normal,” whatever that means.
Advertisement
You've got a great idea, you've built your killer team, and you've maybe even gone through the first round or two of funding.
Flack's Revenge
JULY 28, 2020
I love the band Talking Heads, and saw them for first time in college many years ago. Back then, I thought they had a cool name – but only found out that it refers to the disembodied heads of yakking newscasters when my friend and fellow concert-goer explained.
Flack's Revenge
MARCH 30, 2020
It’s dark in here. Let me find the light switch. There you go. Hey, where is everybody? It sure is quiet. These are the thoughts you might have, if you work in PR in the Age of Coronavirus. People are bunkered down. No one knows for sure when the crisis will end.
Flack's Revenge
NOVEMBER 26, 2019
Pixabay. Some may assume that those who work in technology PR have similar gigs – but the assignments can vary substantially. First, almost every company is a tech company today, right? So just adding “technology” to PR does not shed much light.
Flack's Revenge
FEBRUARY 12, 2020
They come in various flavors. The too-good-to-be-true TV spot. The “Pssst I can get you into XXXX, guaranteed, just pay me $YYYY.” The endless procession of awards and articles with price tags attached. Many PR people reflexively dismiss these and spend a lot of time explaining why to clients.
Speaker: Smita Das, MD, PhD, MPH, Medical Director, Psychiatry and Naj Wright, MBA, C-Suite HR Executive
Through advances in technology and access to care, managers can be empowered to serve as the front line of defense to help identify employee AUD and SUD concerns before they escalate. Understanding AUD and SUD, and providing tools for your workforce to overcome the challenges that they pose, is key to fostering strong mental health at work. Join us for this important how-to discussion.
Flack's Revenge
FEBRUARY 25, 2020
It is once again de rigueur to slam PR agencies. I learned this from a prospect who clued me in to a podcast and Forbes article (the former by uber influencers who should know better; the latter was generally negative on agencies but had some great points).
Flack's Revenge
DECEMBER 20, 2018
Today I share Deborah Weinstein’s answers to questions about the challenges confronting social media marketing and digital communications. It is the latest in my series of interviews with industry experts (see this post , which sets the stage). My good friend Judy Gombita introduced us, and I am glad that she did. As you will see below, Deborah offers great insight. She leads Toronto-based Strategic Objectives with co-founder and sister, Judy Lewis.
Flack's Revenge
JANUARY 17, 2019
I was watching 60 Minutes this weekend, which ran a segment about AI that highlighted China’s growing clout in the tech (Silicon Valley, hope you were watching; you should be scared, very scared). They interviewed Kai-Fu Lee, the so-called Oracle of AI who boasts a Ph.D., Apple, Microsoft, and Google stints, and runs a Chinese VC firm that’s minted a number of AI unicorns. He painted an awe-inspiring picture of the state and direction of AI.
Flack's Revenge
AUGUST 6, 2019
Should CEOs speak out on social, civil and political issues? Should brands take a stand? Pixabay. Back in the day (meaning just a few years ago) the answers were easier. It was a more innocent time and easier for businesses to step up to the plate when government was not doing its job. The Edelman Trust Barometer (an annual gauge of trust in institutions) has long ranked CEOs higher than others. . Today it’s more complicated.
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PR and communications now rely on data-driven, real-time, iterative storytelling with metrics that help to manage crises, get ahead of the competition, and impact the bottom line. Learn how to build a Growth PR plan in this Onclusive whitepaper.
Flack's Revenge
JANUARY 15, 2020
Pixabay. As we enter a new decade, I implore PR to do its part in protecting the journalistic info supply chain. Be truth-tellers. Be great fact-checkers. Now wait a second, I can hear you protest. That is not our job. We are paid to put the best possible spin on our news. To help the team win.
Flack's Revenge
SEPTEMBER 11, 2019
Fusion PR works extensively in the cyber security space. We are often asked about how to handle the PR fallout from breaches. What are the similarities and differences with other kinds of crisis management? I decided to answer these questions in this post, with input from our team. Like other PR Crises? A cyber-attack is a special kind of crisis. It has some things in common with other types (e.g. product liability, malfeasance) in that the company’s reputation can also be at stake.
Flack's Revenge
DECEMBER 12, 2018
Neal Schaffer on Social Media Challenges & Opportunities for 2019. I was thrilled when Neal Schaffer agreed to participate in my series about challenges facing social media marketing. Neal is a social media speaker and consultant ranked by Forbes and others as a top influencer. I had the privilege of writing for his Maximize Social Business blog for three years, and have also spoken at several of his Social Tool Summit conferences.
Flack's Revenge
MAY 14, 2019
We are often asked what it takes to succeed in PR, and about the client effort required. They’re great questions; the second part acknowledges shared responsibility. Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay. I’ve found that most just want great results, they’re not trying to milk an agency. But PR newbies may think that it will be easy – their groundbreaking news will almost sell itself; or that a proactive PR firm can do it all with minimal client input.
In this Facebook guide for businesses, we’ll help you strategize with tips and techniques straight from our playbooks. We also let you in on the best practices for improving your lead gen campaigns, starting with a review of your performance metrics.
Flack's Revenge
NOVEMBER 12, 2019
People sometimes wonder how I started out in engineering and wound up in PR. Something that happened recently really made an impression and brought my career journey full circle, 35 years later. Read on to learn more, and I hope you enjoy the story! Geeking out with Audio. I was walking the NAB show aisles at the Javits Center in NYC a few weeks ago, taking in the exhibits and scouting new business when I decided to check out the neighboring AES (audio engineering society) show.
Flack's Revenge
JULY 11, 2018
They huddle around a conference room table. The lights go dark. The 35 mm slide projector floods the screen. It’s backlight shines an eerie glow on the presenter’s lower face. This is not just some an ad man (or woman). It’s the sermon from the mount. Or maybe Dracula. The pitch is delivered, building to a crescendo – the “a ha” moment in which the idea comes into focus.
Flack's Revenge
APRIL 16, 2020
PIxabay. Folks, I know I haven’t been writing here as much, Sorry for the interruption. These are unusual times. But the show must go on, right? People are stuck at home and clamoring for distraction and new episodes, er, posts. So pardon the DIY production, the dirty socks on the floor.
Flack's Revenge
FEBRUARY 21, 2019
It has been almost a year since I blogged about common startup PR myths. That post drew from NY Tech Meetup mail list discussions and cited arguments for and against PR. Since then, I’ve run across a few more myths. So I thought I’d update that post. You Don’t Need PR if you have a Great Product. This myth is based on the old cliche’ that if you can only build a better mousetrap, the world will beat a path to your door. In other words, marketing doesn’t count.
Advertisement
Learn how to find and use influencers and advocates to gain buyer's trust on your behalf.
Flack's Revenge
DECEMBER 4, 2018
If social media were a brand, it’s one that I think most would agree has been tarnished. The reputation hits come from many directions. Sure, Facebook’s troubles have been front and center. It’s nothing short of mind boggling, the mischief and misdeeds that run rampant there. And it’s not just about Facebook or even social media. Others have come under fire too, for their content and privacy issues, in related areas of online like general Web, Google, and mobile.
Flack's Revenge
JULY 3, 2019
Should brands get involved in culture wars? E.g. some thought that Nike was very shrewd in hiring Colin Kaepernick as a brand ambassador. He’s polarizing, but the bold move seemed to sync with their brand. For the uninitiated, Kaepernick is the football player who got lots of kudos and crap for sitting during the national anthem at games and inspiring others to do the same.
Flack's Revenge
JUNE 25, 2019
I enjoyed attending the Global Insurtech Leaders Summit – Insurtech Insights in NYC last week. The event featured two days of great sessions and panels led by key execs from startups, carriers, journalists and investors. Insurtechs demonstrated their wares, and it was a great forum for networking and making connections. The Brella app made it easy to arrange 15-minute “speed dating” meetings at tables set up for this purpose.
Flack's Revenge
NOVEMBER 21, 2018
It started several months ago. I was writing a Gmail when grey words mysteriously appeared ahead of my typing. “Hmmm, must be some new functionality,” I thought. Then: “Hey, this just might be interesting and useful!”. The suggested words did fit. But I was stuck, kind of. Was I supposed to keep typing, right over the new text? How could I just accept them? I muddled through, and this happened again the next time I wrote a Gmail.
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