Cogitations, Ruminations & Recommendations . . .
From GroupLevinson Advertising, Branding, Websites, Social Media & Public Relations
Summer is here. In public relations, it is said, never send a press release on a Friday, especially in summer. As sometime contrarians, we’ve challenged that and found a number of hard-working B2B journalists working, who’ve given our release attention and opportunity.
Happy June! It’s hard to believe that next month starts the second half of 2023. It’s a good time to review your marketing plans from Dec. or Jan. How are the results? How do they compare to your goals & expectations. June/July is a perfect time to reflect & then course correct.
I was reading an interesting political article that speaks to marketing as well-on the subject of the difference between chaos & disruption. My thoughts: chaos leads to no solution or endpoint while disruption does. In marketing, disruption may be valuable, but if there is no endpoint or goal, you’re creating chaos, which is rarely valuable …
Two terrific books to read on marketing strategy: “Marketing Warfare” by Al Reis & Jack Trout, and “Guerrilla Marketing” by Jay Levinson (no relation) are two classic books providing some valuable insight & perspective on strategic planning, whether you have a large or small company. Let me know how you liked them.
For best public relations results, it is important to think like the editor or assignment desk of the media in which you wish to be published, and to write your press releases according to their style. What kind of articles & topics do they publish? Is it only news? Or do they publish opinion or …
National news can affect you. Monitor it in order to be proactive regarding your own organization. For example, how much business did Philadelphia’s Republic Bank lose due to confusion with NY’s Republic Bank that went under? How wary were financial services customers of the industry after the Bernie Madoff incident? Be proactive to reassure customers/prospects …
How is your logo? It should communicate leadership. Is it a bold graphic that stands out among you competitors and boldly states you are the leader? Or is it a weak graphic & type font that gets lost among your competition?
How does your brand image look from the outside in? In other words, what image do you think people receive about your company’s brand-small, big, local, national, average, exceptional, cutting edge, stable, thought leader? How do you want to appear to maximize your opportunities for growth?
Retailers know that the use of urgency is a strong motivator leading to closing the sale. What if you’re not in retail? Manufacturing, professional services & non-profits can learn & be creative in harnessing timing, price change, interest increases and other factors to create marketing urgency.
Corporate culture: connect your people with a monthly internal newsletter where you let them post edited posts about their pets, kids, hobbies and other interests, together with some news about the company. It will help them feel more connected and part of your community.