Communication of the People, by the People, and for the People
January 20, 2010
The upset by Scott Brown in winning the election in Massachusetts to fill Senator Edward Kennedy’s vacant seat was a real shocker. A Republican in the most Blue state in the nation? But maybe rather than an anomaly, it portends the future.
Communication is a two-way process and the politicians in Washington have proven themselves tone deaf. They didn’t listen. The labels Democrat and Republican have lost their currency.
Voters in America are angry at the direction of the country. Thanks to the Internet and Social Media, they have developed their own communities to exchange ideas and vent. Why weren’t Washington and the politicos tuning in? Read more
Thank You Notes Are Not Only a Courtesy, They Can Lead to New Business
November 30, 2009
Today’s guest columnist, Andrea Nierenberg, discusses the importance of the personal note in business. This often-overlooked practice can make you stand out from the competition and nurture important business relationships at a time when electronic communication has become ubiquitous. The article is adapted from her monthly newsletter.
One of the easiest and most effective ways to stay in touch is with the power of the personal note with a “thank you” to a business associate. In research I’ve conducted, I ask the question, “How many of you send out personal notes?” I also ask, “How many of you receive personal notes or cards from clients or business associates?” The response indicates that few people take this practice seriously. As a follow up, I ask, “Has anyone received notes of appreciation, and how does that make you feel?” I trust you know the answer to this last question.
Here are eight opportunities to send a “thank you,” and when and how to do it effectively: Read more
7 Steps to Making Your Employees Brand Ambassadors
August 19, 2009
Your employees can be your best brand ambassadors. What does that mean? It means you can mobilize an army of employees dedicated to communicating your company’s key messages and building your brand reputation online. First, it is essential to establish a positive two-way dialogue with employees so they feel involved in the process of promoting the company. They need to know management is listening to them and that they are important to the company’s success. The key is trust – companies can’t control what employees say but if you have good relations with employees you can trust they will represent the company well. Zappos, Intel, Comcast, IBM, Diamond Technologies and a host of other companies have done it. So can you. Read more
Does Your Company Have a Social Media Director? Take The Poll
July 26, 2009
I’ve posted a simple 5-question poll on Linked-In: Does Your Company Have a Social Media Director to Manage the Company’s Social Media Strategy? Click on Social Media Poll if you would like to take the poll.
I’ll be posting the responses. Also, please use the Comment section in this post if you would like to add your thoughts on the topic. I look forward to hearing from you. Thanks!
Michael Jackson and Communicating Through the Language of Music
June 29, 2009
Much has been written about the shocking and untimely death of Michael Jackson. He was truly one of the greatest communicators of all times. There is unlikely to be anyone like him again. As David Segal wrote in The New York Times , “On the most basic level, this is matter of business and math. Michael Jackson has sold an estimated 100 million copies worldwide of the 1982 album ‘Thriller,’ which spent more than 31 weeks at the top of the Billboard charts. It’s one of those high-water marks that nobody will touch Read more
Communicating With Passion
April 18, 2009
Whenever change permeates a big company, resistance is inevitable. The announcement of change itself raises anxiety levels, creates doubts in employees’ minds, and makes them feel vulnerable and uncertain. And it raises serious questions:
• What will this mean for me?
• If I must operate differently, am I up to it?
• Do I really believe what I’m hearing about the future of the company? Read more
Domino’s Pizza — a Classic Failure in Crisis Communications
April 16, 2009
This morning’s newspapers were filled with stories about two Domino’s Pizza employees videotaping a prank in which they do pretty disgusting things to a pizza they were preparing for delivery. They put the video up on YouTube and the rest is history. The viral community swiftly carried the story to a world-wide audience eager to spread the dirty word about Domino’s. Too late, the company realized that the traditional response — send out a press release and hope for the best wasn’t going to work. This is the lesson they learned. Read more
Juicing Up the Annual Report
March 11, 2009
Spring is coming and so is the avalanche of annual reports that public companies send to their shareholders. And, as usual, most of them will be as dull as dishwater. Think about it. When was the last time someone told you he had curled up in bed with a good annual report to read? Not likely, unless sleep was the primary motivation. Annual reports can be real dullards. Read more