We’re not in the business of picking on pro athletes. But it sure appears that some of them are quite good at social media blunders. We can learn from two ill-advised postings over the summer:
Shortly after Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin (aka RGIII) lost his starting job, an intern he hired to manage his social media postings “liked” a posting on Instagram criticizing the football team’s owner. Read more
How popular would sushi be if its menu description was “cold, dead fish”?
The challenge in message development, especially for an issue or product that you see all the time, is to make it interesting and memorable. Read more
As CommCore’s Nick Peters noted in our video blog, What Were They Thinking, Reddit’s interim CEO Ellen Pao took harsh criticism for a host of management actions and changes that culminated in her firing of the well-liked Victoria Taylor who ran the website’s popular discussion forum: Ask Me Anything. Read more
This is the story of a high stakes RFP (request for proposal) in Texas. It’s relevant to anyone who has ever been involved in a competitive bid that required both a written and oral component. Read more
Two unconnected events within 100 miles provide ample crisis communications lessons:
When Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake addressed the media and the public for the first time as riots rocked her city in April, she paid a steep reputational price with one poorly-articulated phrase. Read more
We don’t usually delve into the political arena, but Republican presidential candidate Rand Paul’s rough campaign kickoff is a reminder to public figures from business and entertainment — as well as politics — that preparation and an even temperament are crucial to effective communication. Read more
Your grandmother was right when she used to say, “Don’t toot your own horn, let others do it.”
That’s even more true in today’s 24/7 world of crisis management. Third party advocates and spokespersons are experiencing increased influence as a way to build brand reputation and defend it when a crisis hits. Read more
Almost at hyper-speed, the year-old Target and JP Morgan cyber breaches are already in the rear-view mirror. Even Sony Pictures, the U.S. military’s Central Command, and Home Depot cyber breaches – all recent – are fading from headlines and public memory. Read more
It doesn’t matter whether it was started by the rumor mill, an investor recommendation, or a public announcement, the M&A process is rife for speculation. M&A inquiries require a heightened set of skills when dealing with questions. Read more
The hacking of SONY Pictures data not only raises questions about whether threats can force a company to pull a product from the market place, but generates a host of new concerns for anyone who uses e-mail or instant messaging. Read more