Stories and Strategies for Public Relations and Marketing

Politicians, like any public figures, sometimes make verbal slips or misspeak, leading to memorable and often humorous moments. Here are a few notable examples:George W. Bush: Known for his malapropisms, one of his most famous misspeaks was when he said, "They mis underestimated me," combining "misunderstood" and "underestimated."Barack Obama: In 2008, while campaigning, Obama mistakenly said he had visited "57 states" in the U.S., obviously misspeaking the number of states.Dan Quayle: As Vice President, Quayle famously misspelled "potato" by adding an unnecessary "e" at the end during a school spelling bee.Donald Trump: Known for his unique speaking style, Trump once referred to the CEO of Apple, Tim Cook, as "Tim Apple," which became a widely discussed gaffe.Joe Biden once introduced Barack Obama as Barack America.Keeping politicians on message and on strategy can be tough. In this episode we explore a few ways to do it.Listen For4:35 Storytelling in Political Communication5:40 Understanding Your Audience and Choosing the Right Channels7:26 Utilizing Digital Media13:10 Crisis Management and Reputation BuildingGuest: Krysten Copeland, KC & Co CommunicationsWebsite | Email | X | InstagramRate this podcast with just one click Leave us a voice message we can share on the podcast  https://www.speakpipe.com/StoriesandStrategiesStories and Strategies Website Do you want to podcast? Book a meeting with Doug Downs to talk about it.Connect with usLinkedIn | X | Instagram | You Tube | Facebook Hey, we’re on Threads under Stories and Strategies Request a transcript of this episodeSupport the show

The University of Oregon has introduced the first master's program in immersive technologies, focusing on augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and extended reality (XR). The program aims to create thought leaders and strategists in the field, helping organizations understand and utilize these technologies. Despite slower adoption rates than expected, AR and VR technologies are still experiencing steady growth. The program also highlights successful uses of AR and VR, such as the Australian wine brand 19 Crimes, which uses AR to animate the images of convicts on their wine bottles, providing a richer brand experience for consumers.But are we ready to use these tools? Are our audiences ready to consume them? And how do we ensure they’re used to address not only business opportunities but social and environmental challenges?Listen For:5:11 The Emergence of Immersive Media in Marketing7:40 The Challenges in Adopting AR, VR and XR Technologies10:22 The Impact of Hype-Cycles on Technology Adoption15:28 The Importance of Media Literacy and Strategic Communication in Emerging TechnologiesGuest: Donna Z. Davis, Ph.D., APRAssociate Professor + Director, Immersive Media Communication Master’s Program + Director, Oregon Reality (OR) Lab | SOJCLink to the Immersive Media Communications Master’s Program X | Link to Donna’s VR publicationsRate this podcast with just one click Leave us a voice message we can share on the podcast  https://www.speakpipe.com/StoriesandStrategiesStories and Strategies Website Do you want to podcast? Book a meeting with Doug Downs to talk about it.Connect with usLinkedIn | X | Instagram | You Tube | Facebook Hey, we’re on Threads under Stories and Strategies Request a transcript of this episodeCheck out the Building Better CMOs podcast Support the show

This week we’re offering another bonus episode in the form of a “Feed Drop” by The Speak Good Podcast. This episode was first published by Throughline Group in June 2022. Brad Phillips and Christina Mozaffari reveal six advanced public speaking tips – from how to present more effective slides to how to improve your look during a virtual presentation.  Throughline GroupWebsite | Email | Blog | Listen to The Speak Good podcast  Connect with Stories and StrategiesLinkedIn | X | Instagram | You Tube | Facebook Hey, we’re on Threads under Stories and StrategiesRequest a transcript of this episodeCheck out the Building Better CMOs podcast Support the show

In today’s crowded digital landscape, standing out as a genuine thought leader amidst the cacophony of voices is a unique challenge. Many voices may be influential, but all can claim the title of a true thought leader. Some naturally gravitate to this role, others pursue it, a few stumble into it. Some are bold visionaries. Others are evolved communicators, or they have a consistent presence (you know what they’re about). And then some are action-minded community builders. Regardless of how one attains the status of “Thought Leader” it’s important for companies to provide the time and resources for thought leadership development. It should be an intentional part of a leader’s role, rather than just a side project. When nurtured correctly, it can yield significant benefits for the companies and individuals. Guest: Kathleen LucenteLinkedIn | X Red Fan CommunicationsLinkedIn | Instagram | X | WebsiteRate this podcast with just one click Leave us a voice message we can share on the podcast  https://www.speakpipe.com/StoriesandStrategiesStories and Strategies WebsiteDo you want to podcast? Book a meeting with Doug Downs to talk about it.Connect with usLinkedIn | X | Instagram | You Tube | Facebook Hey, we’re on Threads under Stories and StrategiesRequest a transcript of this episodeSupport the show

In 1917 the US Government found a unique way to reach a mass audience before mass media even existed. Movies. When projectionists needed to change the reel mid-movie, that took about four minutes. That was the perfect window of time to deliver a patriotic message and support an effort that ultimately changed the world.The four-minute speeches used an old tool (speeches) but embraced a newer technology (movies). And the true brilliance of the delivery was finding that window of time when people were most likely to listen.In this episode we speak with the chair of the Public Relations Society of America (2023) Michelle Egan, exploring the modern role of communications professionals as we embrace emerging artificial intelligence. And we look at how the role might change over the next 50 years as technologies continue to evolve. Listen For: 5:22 The adoption and perception of AI tools7:13 Ethical considerations in AI12:10 The evolution of the PR professional15:29 The future of PR and professional communicationsGuest: Michelle Egan, APR, Fellow PRSA, 2023 PRSA ChairLinkedIn | Facebook |Instagram | X | PRSA | PRSA Code of EthicsRead Michelle’s editorial “How Important is it for Your Organization to Have a Code of Ethics?”Rate this podcast with just one click Leave us a voice message we can share on the podcast  https://www.speakpipe.com/StoriesandStrategiesStories and Strategies WebsiteDo you want to podcast? Book a meeting with Doug Downs to talk about it.Connect with usLinkedIn | X | Instagram | You Tube | Facebook Hey, we’re on Threads under Stories and StrategiesRequest a transcript of this episodeSupport the show

Wikipedia is one of the most-visited websites in the world. Additionally, it has influence. The information on Wikipedia is also disseminated across the web on Google’s Knowledge Graph and associated search page components, quick summaries of topics on Siri and Alexa, and even into news articles, podcast discussions, and government websites.  Wikipedia is also of interest for SEO practitioners, heavily influencing Google search results and now impacting outputs from generative AI software like Chat-GPT. Everyone from journalists, investors, and your customers are using Wikipedia to understand your company. Do you understand how it works and what you can do about it? Listen For4:17 The importance of Wikipedia for PR and SEO5:51 The role of Wikipedia editors10:38 Brand presence on Wikipedia12:13 Common mistakes Brands make on WikipediaGuest: Rhiannon RuffEmail | LinkedIn | Lumino Digital’s website | Rhiannon’s book Managing a Crisis on Wikipedia Rate this podcast with just one click Leave us a voice message we can share on the podcast  https://www.speakpipe.com/StoriesandStrategiesStories and Strategies WebsiteDo you want to podcast? Book a meeting with Doug Downs to talk about it.Connect with usLinkedIn | X | Instagram | You Tube | Facebook Hey, we’re on Threads under Stories and StrategiesRequest a transcript of this episodeSupport the show

The benefits of a multicultural campaign should be obvious by now but let’s document some of them so it’s clear.Reflect societal trends and valuesYou’re able to actually understand more of your audience/stakeholdersInvolve people in appropriate settings and contextCreate tailored marketing content and strategiesBroaden your brand’s story as inclusive of diverse culturesSeptember 15 through October 15 is Hispanic Heritage Month. It’s recognized in the United States, but also in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Perto Rico, Spain Uruguay, and Venezuela. There’s also recognition in the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia.In this episode we connect with Cuban American Manuel Machado from CCOM Group which specializes in multicultural campaigns. Guest: Manuel Machado, Co-Chair CCOM GroupEmail | X | LinkedIn | CCOM Website |Forbes Article by Manuel Leave a rating for this podcast with one click Leave us a voice message we can share on the podcast  https://www.speakpipe.com/StoriesandStrategiesStories and Strategies Website Do you want to podcast? Book a meeting with Doug Downs to talk about it.Connect with usLinkedIn | X | Instagram | You Tube | Facebook Hey, we’re on Threads under Stories and StrategiesSupport the show

It’s an area of the world so few of us in the west really understand. Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Mongolia. All countries that make up what we can refer to as Central Asia. The list of Global Top 100 companies is growing there as Google, Coca Cola and others understand how important it is.  In the midst of this region’s rapid growth and transformation, PR and Marketing specialists must consider the unique rules governing their work. The media landscape is different across the region with some nations embracing freedom of speech and press, while others follow a more government-controlled media approach and others still are influenced by powerful oligarchs. In this diverse media landscape traditional media is still powerful but now social media’s influence is growing rapidly and has become a powerful tool in shaping narratives and influencing public opinion. Guest: Alexander LikhtmanEmail likhtman@itcomms.ioAlexander’s bio and articles he’s writtenOn FacebookOn LinkedInOn Instagram Leave a rating for this podcast with one click Leave us a voice message we can share on the podcast  https://www.speakpipe.com/StoriesandStrategiesStories and Strategies WebsiteDo you want to podcast? Book a meeting with Doug Downs to talk about it.Connect with usLinkedIn | X | Instagram | You Tube | Facebook Hey, we’re on Threads under Stories and StrategiesRequest a transcript of this episodeSupport the show

Propel Media has released its Q3 2023 Media Barometer and again it’s showing journalists responded to only 2.99% of nearly 500,000 pitches sent to them. It’s the third straight quarter in which journalist response rates are below three percent and a rather clear signal to PR pros we need to shift our pitching tactics to beyond just mainstream media. This year alone Buzzfeed News shut its doors, Vice filed for bankruptcy, ESPN laid off 20 on-camera personalities, the LA Times laid off 74 newsroom staff, and Insider nixed 100 jobs. Outside the US in Canada, Australia, and Great Britain similar stories are unfolding. In this episode, why response rates are so low and which pitches have a glimmer of hope. Guest: Zach Cutler, Propelhttps://www.propelmypr.com/LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/propel-crm/ Twitter @propelprm Facebook https://www.facebook.com/PropelPRM Download the Propel Media Barometer – Q3 2023Leave a rating for this podcast with one click Leave us a voice message we can share on the podcast  https://www.speakpipe.com/StoriesandStrategiesStories and Strategies WebsiteDo you want to podcast? Book a meeting with Doug Downs to talk about it.Connect with usLinkedIn | X | Instagram | You Tube | Facebook Hey, we’re on Threads under Stories and StrategiesRequest a transcript of this episodeSupport the show

Understanding the structural changes that happen in our brain when we change our minds adds a fascinating dimension to the study of this cognitive phenomenon. We already recognize that external factors such as new information, social influences and familiarity play significant roles in our decisions but exploring the underlying neural transformations provides deeper insights.  When we alter our perspectives or revise our beliefs, intricate neuronal connections within our brains undergo modifications. These changes involve the strengthening or weakening of synaptic connections between neurons to form new neural pathways.  Change your mind and you change you. Guest: Allyson Andrade, Ph.D. Candidate Behavioural Neuroscience, University of GuelphAandra02@uofguelph.ca   Leave a rating for this podcast with one click Leave us a voice message we can share on the podcast  https://www.speakpipe.com/StoriesandStrategiesStories and Strategies Website Do you want to podcast? Book a meeting with Doug Downs to talk about it.Connect with usLinkedIn | X | Instagram | You Tube | Facebook Hey, we’re on Threads under Stories and Strategies Request a transcript of this episodeSupport the show

An online survey of 300 people in the United States, Germany, and South Korea explores consumer perceptions of media brands vs other brands. Among the findings:When people trust the content shown on the platform, they were more likely to trust the platform (and vice versa)The media channel being used (i.e., television news) has a significant impact on the level of trust in the content being consumedWe think of television, radio, film, music, social media, print, outdoor ads, and video chats as media brandsWe don’t think gaming, online retailing, influencers or global tech brands are media  Guest: Steffen HeimLinkedIn  Download the study Exploring Trust in Media Brands today: Definition, Dimensions and Cross-National Differences Leave a rating for this podcast with one click Leave us a voice message we can share on the podcast  https://www.speakpipe.com/StoriesandStrategiesStories and Strategies Website Do you want to podcast? Book a meeting with Doug Downs to talk about it.Connect with usLinkedIn | X | Instagram | You Tube | Facebook Hey, we’re on Threads under Stories and Strategies Request a transcript of this episodeSupport the show

One might use social media in a social marketing campaign but they are starkly different things. Social marketing is a marketing approach designed to influence behavior with the primary goal to be achieving the common good.The first evidence of social marketing was in 1963 at the Indian Institute of Management when they introduced a national family planning program with high quality, government brand condoms distributed and sold throughout the country at low cost.Other campaigns you know have followed the social marketing approach including anti-tobacco campaigns, skin cancer campaigns promoting the use of sunscreen with slogans like “Slip! Slop! Slap!”AIDS, water conservation, and numerous health industry campaigns have also followed the social marketing approach. Guest: Julie Colehour, Partner C+CJulie is the co-author of Social Marketing: Behavior Change for Good, Edition 7Connect with Julie on LinkedInConnect with Julie on Twitterwww.cplusc.comLeave a rating for this podcast with one click Leave us a voice message we can share on the podcast  https://www.speakpipe.com/StoriesandStrategiesStories and Strategies WebsiteDo you want to podcast? Book a meeting with Doug Downs to talk about it.Follow us on:LinkedInTwitterInstagramFacebookOur NEW You Tube ChannelRequest a transcript of this episodeSupport the show

Measurement is a key part of the success of any professional communications plan. And it’s the same with internal communications. But the right kind of measurement, and measuring the right things is just as important. A 2023 Deloitte Study shows 58% of corporate affairs leaders consider data and insights to be their top area for improvement. Good internal communication should go beyond proving value, it should be a strategic tool, helping leaders diagnose issues, find resources, create programs and take action based on insights from data analysis. Guest: Aniisu Verghese, Ph.D.https://www.aniisu.com/ aniisu3@gmail.com  Look for Aniisu’s newest book Inclusive Internal Communications on Amazon Leave a rating for this podcast with one click Leave us a voice message we can share on the podcast  https://www.speakpipe.com/StoriesandStrategiesStories and Strategies WebsiteDo you want to podcast? Book a meeting with Doug Downs to talk about it.Follow us on:LinkedInTwitterInstagramFacebookOur NEW You Tube ChannelRequest a transcript of this episodeSupport the show

The Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) has launched an initiative to find the ultimate Campaign that Changed the World over the last three quarters of a Century. CIPR is asking YOU to vote on one of the seven PR Campaigns shortlisted below as the best in the last 75 years: 1948-59 Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott 1960-69 Civil Rights Movement in the United States 1970-79 The first Earth Day 1980-89 AIDS activism: a medical breakthrough 1990-99 Virgin Atlantic vs British Airways 2000-09 iPhone Launch 2010-19 Climate Change: The Paris Agreement 2020-23 Covid, vaccinating the worldYou’re familiar with each of these including some iconic moments and sound bites, but how much do you know about the actual campaigns? We cover them all in this episode.If you were to pick just one… JUST ONE… what would it be? Read the CIPR News ReleaseSPOILER - Voting closed June 23, 2023 and the winner was...2000-09 iPhone Launch  Guest: Anne Gregory, Ph.D., BA, FRSA, HonFCIPR, Huddersfield UniversityEmail a.gregory@hud.ac.uk On Twitter @gregsAnne Leave a rating for this podcast with one click Leave us a voice message we can share on the podcast  https://www.speakpipe.com/StoriesandStrategiesStories and Strategies WebsiteDo you want to podcast? Book a meeting with Doug Downs to talk about it.Follow us on:·        LinkedIn·        Twitter·        Instagram·        Facebook·        Our NEW You Tube ChannelRequest a transcript of this episodeSupport the show

With the emergence of more generative AI (see Chat GPT3 or GPT4…) there’s a new required skillset emerging in Communications – we are going to need skilled people who know how to prompt the AI software successfully. Prompt engineering is a concept in artificial intelligence in which the description of the task the AI software is supposed to accomplish, is embedded in the input.  Those who know how to speak with the software, to prompt the most effective outputs, become extremely valuable. Very quickly this is changing how young people prepare for a career in PR, with many including data science now in their studies. Aaron Kwittken saw this coming. He built a new PR platform that leverages natural language processing and machine learning to help brands more effectively target and pitch journalists around the world. It’s an idea that makes perfect sense now, but it was a tougher sell to investors when it first started. Guest: Aaron Kwittken, founder and CEO Prophet and Stagwell Marketing Cloud’s Comms Tech UnitWeb page https://www.prprophet.ai/ Aaron’s personal weg page https://aaronkwittken.com/ Email Info@AaronKwittken.Com Leave a rating for this podcast with one click Leave us a voice message we can share on the podcast  https://www.speakpipe.com/StoriesandStrategiesStories and Strategies WebsiteDo you want to podcast? Book a meeting with Doug Downs to talk about it.Follow us on:LinkedInTwitterInstagramFacebookOur NEW You Tube ChannelRequest a transcript of this episodeSupport the show

It’s as if we have a new toy. When Open AI released Chat GPT-3 last November, and made it fully accessible to the public, it suddenly changed how we can create engaging and relevant content for our audiences, with just a few prompts. Not only can we CREATE content, but we can also gather valuable insights into customer behaviours and preferences like never before. By analyzing the data generated by customer interactions, businesses can identify patterns and trends they can use to optimize their strategies. But it’s all so new for so many of us. What exactly can we do with this NEW TOY? Leave a rating for this podcast with one click Guest:  Brad Williamson, Lead Strategist Catch DigitalCatch Digital website https://www.catchdigital.io/ Email hello@catchdigital.io Leave us a voice message we can share on the podcast  https://www.speakpipe.com/StoriesandStrategiesStories and Strategies WebsiteDo you want to podcast? Book a meeting with Doug Downs to talk about it.Follow us on:LinkedInTwitterInstagramFacebookOur NEW You Tube ChannelRequest a transcript of this episodeSupport the show

We’ve seen this coming for a long time, but thanks to skepticism, and maybe a little sleepwalking, it’s never really bubbled to the top. But with the launch of Open AI’s ChatGPT Tool in November 2022 based on the GPT-3 dataset there’s a sudden surge of interest in in the PR industry around what’s happening with Artificial Intelligence and how we might be either impacted or supported (depending on your personal level of optimism).An exceptional new report by Stephen Waddington and Andrew Bruce Smith, available through CIPR looks at 10,000 marketing tools and focuses its analysis on those related to public relations.And if you suspected Chat GPT is just the tip of the iceberg – you’re right.Download the Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools and the impact on public relations (PR practice (2023) Guest: Stephen Waddington, Founder and Managing Partner of Wadds Inc.Website https://www.wadds.co.uk/ Email stephen.waddington@wadds.co.uk Follow on Twitter @wadds Follow on LinkedIn Listen to our 2020 episode with Jean Valin and Anne Gregory examining the AI in PR Ethics Report. Leave us a voice message we can share on the podcast  https://www.speakpipe.com/StoriesandStrategiesStories and Strategies WebsiteDo you want to podcast? Book a meeting with Doug Downs to talk about it.Follow us on:LinkedInTwitterInstagramFacebookOur NEW You Tube ChannelSupport the show

This week we’re offering a bonus episode in the form of a “Feed Drop” by the podcast Woman Up With the Sister Brand. This episode was first published by Woman Up in early March 2023Macro influencers offer huge audience numbers, sometimes in the millions. But right now the trend is toward micro influencing and there are all kinds of reasons for that not the least of which is there are “fake” macro influencers out there charging insanely high fees AND THEY’RE BEING FOLLOWED BY BOTS.Micro influencers also tend to bring, not only a targeted audience but a loyal one. Forbes estimated micro influencers offer a 60% higher engagement rate which leads to a 20% higher conversion rate. They’re often more willing to work with new or smaller brands and best of all they provide access to niche communities.But how do you know the right micro influencer to choose? How do you know they’re “On Target?” And what kinds of fees are the going rate?Listen to, and follow, Woman Up With the Sister Brand https://thesisterbrand.com/podcast What do you think of the Feed Drop Concept? Let us know in this anonymous surveySupport the show

A 2023 new study by Social Insider reveals what most social media experts already know. Engagement by followers on social media – ALL social media channels – is down… again. While Tik Tok ranks by far the highest for engagement, it too is in decline.But more and more leaders, PR pros, marketers, continue to rely on social media. Many think it’s just a matter of “going viral” or growing their following to the point they can be considered an influencer. None of that is impossible but maybe more than a little exaggerated. While social media has value, it’s increasingly evident it’s only a tool in the box.In this episode, PR veteran Robert Wynne has some cautious words about putting all your eggs in the social media basket.Guest: Robert Wynne, President Wynne CommunicationsEmail Robert rob@wynnepr.comWebsite https://www.wynnepr.com/ Robert’s Book: The Persuasion Business on AmazonCheck out the Med-PR Networking Conference in New York https://www.wynneevents.com/med Read the Social Insider blog referenced in these show notes. Leave us a voice message we can share on the podcast  https://www.speakpipe.com/StoriesandStrategiesStories and Strategies WebsiteDo you want to podcast? Book a meeting with Doug Downs to talk about it.Follow us on:LinkedInTwitterInstagramFacebookOur NEW You Tube ChannelRequest a transcript of this episodeSupport the show

Web3 marketing refers to marketing strategies and tactics specifically designed to reach audiences within the Web3 ecosystem. Web3 refers to the decentralized and distributed internet and the technologies that enable it.There are many ways to interpret Web3 communications. It might include using a decentralized social network or web forum to engage with audiences, using blockchain-based systems to track and verify the effectiveness of marketing campaigns, or using decentralized apps (often called dApps) to create interactive and immersive marketing experiences in a digital world. Guest: Robert Lund, Chief Creative Officer and Co-Founder Studio TBDWebsite https://studio-tbd.io/ Twitter https://twitter.com/StudioTBD_NYCInsta https://www.instagram.com/tbd.products/ Email info@studio-tbd.io Leave us a voice message we can share on the podcast  https://www.speakpipe.com/StoriesandStrategiesStories and Strategies WebsiteDo you want to podcast? Book a meeting with Doug Downs to talk about it.Follow us on:LinkedInTwitterInstagramFacebookOur NEW You Tube ChannelRequest a transcript of this episodeSupport the show