Some stories making the rounds regarding Public Relations:

• I recently visited Atlantic City and have to say it’s truly an awfully unattractive, gross city.  While Atlantic City’s marketing alliance has apparently hired the world’s largest Public Relations Firm to “help revitalize the town’s tourism image”, not sure with what’s now in place they can succeed. Good PR can’t help a bad product.  Read more: http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/breaking/atlantic-city-alliance-hires-edelman-world-s-largest-public-relations/article_640ddad8-6c95-11e1-952d-001871e3ce6c.html
• In another case of the product has to be good for PR to work, apparently Montreal’s Olympic Stadium is universally perceived of as “a dark, empty place.” This weekend, a section caved-in of an “underground parking garage near the stadium” – and once again, if the product is bad, Public Relations can’t solve it all.

http://www.montrealgazette.com/Montreal+Olympic+stadium+stage+they+will+come+expert+says/6274223/story.html#ixzz1owxiQlHA

• One often wonders if professional athletes realize that the spotlight is always shining on them – for example, Ndamukong Suh, an All-Pro NFL Player who has been previously voted “the dirtiest player” in the NFL by a poll of his fellow players. Despite that, he has endorsement deals, including Subway– so one may think with a questionable reputation he’d be upset (or at least pretend to be upset) when caught driving 91 miles per hour in a 55-mph zone. But instead, he tweeted “”Love the HATE, please keep it coming!! #PDXNEWS #ESPN No insurance?! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA #toofunny.”
  • And as The Detroit News reminds us he stomped a player and denied it during a nationally televised Thanksgiving game, and has been involved in “two potentially serious traffic accidents — one in Portland last December during his suspension when he crashed into a tree, a drinking fountain and a light pole with three passengers in the car; and one when he was still at Nebraska when he caromed an SUV off three parked cars.” One may say this is a man who has a need for a crisis PR Agency at his disposal, and should be quiet and apologetic rather than brash and aggressive. I’d say this is a man likely to have more problems.

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120310/OPINION03/203100392/Lions-star-Ndamukong-Suh-should-leave-driving-others?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE%7Cp

Ronn Torossian

In real time social media, there isn’t much room for a mistake -nor time for review of every comment when engaged in a conversation. Giving an intern with little perception of the major business threat at hand can be detrimental to a brand.

Here posted on the prestige Barney’s New Yorks Facebook Page we can see that accidentally an intern posted to 168,037 fans about his accounting exam that they didn’t do well on either.

 

 

 

Another important thing to keep in mind with social media and digital pr is don’t wait for your first Facebook crisis tocome up with an escalation plan.

A well run social media campaign requires leadership from social media professionals, like 5WPR who can spot the pitfalls and avoid crisis pr situations.  Why leave your brand’s reputation to chance?

For more information on Ronn Torossian or 5WPR, be sure to stay connected!

If NY Knick rookie phenomenon Jeremy Lin is the real deal on the court, expect him to be the most popular athlete marketer off-the court for many years to come.  This young man will be the face of the NBA – and surely the face of many mainstream, major brands. “Lin-sanity” has just begun – and this 2010 Harvard graduate is destined for marketing greatness if he can deliver on the court.

 

Jeremy Lin is a marketers dream – and to top it all off he is playing in the biggest media market in the world. He can be bigger than David Beckham, bigger than Michael Jordan – he’s Tiger Woods pre-scandal. Jeremy Lin is the American dream – for people, marketers and the world.

 

Only 6’3, he’s approachable, relatable and looks like the boy next door. A Harvard graduate – the very definition of brains and brawn, Lin is a hard working underdog who was an undrafted free agent and cut by 2 teams.  He’s International – the 1st American-born NBA player of Taiwanese or Chinese descent & 4th Asian-American ever in NBA he has the potential to further open China to the NBA. Asian TV partners of the NBA have already added Knicks games to their broadcast schedules – “Lin-sanity”.

 

This humble young man has been living with his brother and sister-in-law and already has a foundation in his name whose aim is to “provide “financial, educational and spiritual assistance and to make a lasting difference in the lives of others.” Lin speaks of his religion and family – and seemingly less polarizing than Tim Tebow, Jeremy Lin epitomizes the American dream.

 

Lin is a real role model – a dream face for brands who are authentic, passionate and hard working. If NY Knick rookie phenomenon Jeremy Lin is the real deal on the court, expect him to be the most popular athlete marketer off-the court for many years to come.  This young man will be the face of the NBA – and surely the face of many, many mainstream, major brands.

 

“Lin-sanity” will be bigger than Air Jordan if Lin can deliver on the court. Watch out world, we are all hoping Jeremy Lin and “Lin-Sanity” is here to stay.

 

Ronn Torossian is the CEO of 5WPR, a top 25 PR agency, and author of PR Book “For Immediate Release.”

“Status quo killed Kodak; standing in place today in a fast moving world simply doesn’t work. Even successful brands no matter big or small have to keep moving” from Ronn Torossian CEO of 5WPR.

A book excerpt from Ronn Torossian, CEO of 5WPR best selling PR book – “For Immediate Release”

Never Enough: Build on Every Media HitWhen we secure features in media, it’s just the beginning of the value of a media hit. Articles are often more valuable after they are published than when they first come out.  Some tips on making that media mention last:

• Create a PR book. Get yourself a few three-ring binders and place your brand’s name and logo on the cover. Fill it with copies of media mentions and articles. Place a binder on your desk, in your reception area, and give one to your C-suite executives and sales managers.

• Frame reprints and line your walls with them.

• Take excerpts from the media and utilize them in marketing materials and advertising (“According to XYZ News outlet, CEO John Doe is a leading strategic thinker . . . ”).

• Post articles on your company website and Intranet for both Web visitors and employees to see. (And, of course, link articles properly for SEO building, use the material on social media, and so on.)

• Send article mentions to a robust e-mail list of past and present customers and constituents, opinion leaders, bankers, investors, key vendors and clients, political leaders, and media contacts.

• Use media mentions to recruit.

I am proud that my Public Relations Agency, 5WPRis one of the few to be open during Xmas and New Years – and whenever anyone asks me why its a fairly simple answer – Do newspapers still publish, and TV still do stories ? As long as the answer is yes, then we too will be open.