Longevity is often something worth celebrating. And so it is with great pride and gratitude, along with an equal measure of humility, that I am delighted to say that Text 100 and Ketchum have achieved 10 great years working alongside IBM as its global public relations partners. Way back in 2001, IBM’s agency review process…

Don’t just provide audiences with information. Provide meaning! Our industry has long talked about the surfeit of messages. We’ve posed the question of how to “break through” a “cluttered” public space to reach target audiences. And we’ve devised all sorts of strategies, both content and media, to do exactly that. Here’s the thing: The problem…

Public relations professionals depend on long-term relationships they build with clients and colleagues. But relationships are topsy-turvy. Sometimes people disappoint us. And when they do, our ability to keep relationships on track hinges on the helpful feedback we give. If we don’t offer the proper feedback, both parties can become disillusioned. Relationships disintegrate, leading to…

This post originally appeared in Text 100′s Hypertext Blog I was one of the lucky ones who got a seat at the “Marketing Budgets Have Gone Social – Is it Working?” panel discussion at South by Southwest, sponsored by the Council of PR firms. The crowd came in droves to see if  David Witt of…

Austin is the “Silicon Valley” of social media. It is a hub of thought leadership, venture capital and resources for the burgeoning social marketing industry. It’s not surprising that the interactive conference at Austin’s hugely popular SXSW festival has become a “must-go” for both social marketing experts and those who want to learn more. This…

About 47 billion non-spam email messages are sent each day around the world . Social media use in the workplace is endemic (to the point where a little over half of companies in one survey reported banning it). With electronic relationships all the rage, is there still a need for good, old-fashioned face-time in business?

Although so much of marketing has traditionally been outside-facing, more companies are discovering the importance of marketing their brand to their employees, with an eye toward serving customers better. Internal communication designed to mobilize employees as brand ambassadors is a burgeoning field, and a huge growth area for public relations firms. We all know that…

We’ve heard a lot about listening over the past several years as marketers have sought to make the most of the social web. But are we really listening? Former President Calvin Coolidge once remarked that, “No one ever listened themselves out of a job.” Customer feedback today is easier than ever to come by, and…

With the advent of social media, transparency has become a buzzword bordering on obsession. Companies have clamored to provide end users with more access to the inner workings of the organization, whether in response to a crisis, in an attempt to prevent one, or simply in an effort to become more relevant. President Obama won…

If you’re in South Korea during the upcoming World Cup games, be prepared to cheer. Korean news media are reporting that automaker Hyundai is sponsoring a street campaign throughout that country to cheer on the national team.  An official sponsor of the games, Hyundai is partnering with municipalities and non-profits to stoke national fervor, and…