Can You Handle the Difficult Questions

from The New York Times comes a helpful primer of communication “do’s” and “don’ts” as seen by a range of crisis managers in the professional PR priesthood. Of course, there’s anything but universal agreement on how best to handle a crisis, but one thing is universal and certain: Some plan is better than no plan. In Case of Emergency: What Not to Do Whoever suggested that all publicity is good publicity clearly never envisioned the wave of catastrophe engulfing high-profile corporations over the last year, laying waste to some of the most meticulously tailored reputations on earth. … As conventional wisdom has it, the three companies at the center of these fiascos worsened their problems by failing to heed established protocol: When the story is bad, disclose it immediately –... Continue Reading

The Disappearing Town Square: A Look Into the Future of Community

Over the past months I have watched my town (yes, it really is a town, with sidewalks, pedestrians and outdoor cafes) and by extension, the community it serves, lose more than a few independent and valued local merchants. Gone are a family run luggage shop and a sporting goods merchant, a boutique shoe store, a children’s clothing shop and a gift shop that closed up by posting a sign on their window for their new online business web address. The double punch of a difficult economy and the fast growth of online commerce did them in. They say the economy is starting to revive but for many businesses that failed, the way back to the consumer may be one that does not include a storefront. Barnes and Noble recently announced it may close many of its 700 outlets, a move Borders Books has already taken. In... Continue Reading

On the Web: High Holidays or Groundhog Day?

by Yoram Samets As we approach the High Holy Days – the most important of all Jewish holidays, the time of year we solemnly ask for forgiveness from our loved ones, take on the deeply moving task of spiritual self reflection and introspection, and welcome our estranged family members to experience these days of awe in our synagogues – is your Jewish institution’s website any different than it is at say, Tu B’shvat or Groundhog Day? I mean, really different? For synagogues, JCCs, schools, federations, bureaus of Jewish education and other Jewish institutions and organizations, this is a time of year when new faces appear, new relationships are formed, new commitments are made, old friends are brought together, and leadership and activity can shine. In other words, this is the one time... Continue Reading

Are You Doing a Good [Marketing] Job?

You market your organization and its programs and services, but to what end? As you sit back and look at your nonprofit marketing program as a whole and evaluate your own performance as a nonprofit marketer, consider these questions: How does your marketing strategy make you stand out from the crowd? Are you conveying what is unique and valuable about your organization and programs? Is it clear to the people who matter most to your success who you are and what you do? Is your marketing different enough from other organizations working in the same space? Is your organization perceived as a leader or expert? What’s your status or reputation within your field? How does your marketing strategy help you position yourself or your nonprofit as a leader or expert? How trusted is your organization, and how... Continue Reading

Are You Infor-taining Me?

Some of the best nonprofit communications I have seen lately, have been ones that fully understand information delivered in straight up “words on paper or screen” format no longer works. I know, I love the written word too, but communication today is done mostly on the quick (unless you are at the beach right now with a good book or book reader in your hands) and requires a whole new way of figuring out how to grab attention that then allows you to effectively communicate. The Chronicle of Philanthropy‘s Peter Panepento recently brought attention to some of the more creative ways organizations are using video to get their messages out. While some of his selections are not all that unusual, one from Israel by the Youth Renewal Fund (and created with a very small budget) demonstrates... Continue Reading

Why You Can’t Think About Social Media In A Vacuum

Social media strategy and practice is so much richer when ideas are shared and commented upon. Beth Kanter famously sets up wikis to share and gather knowledge for almost all of her projects, and uses her official Facebook Page to source ideas and get feedback. Linkedin groups emphasize knowledge-sharing. Brands have marketing and project management teams that collectively think about their social media. We are all trying out social media in new ways, while dealing with a geometrically increasing amount of data and information, and staying on top of ever-evolving platforms and new channels. We all need a social media support team. Last week, I had the privilege of working with a nonprofit team to brainstorm for two days about their social media. Not only was it fun, but what came out of the two days... Continue Reading

What Makes A Killer Social Media Press Release?

Last week, I received an absolutely incredible press release; a vivid, kinetic preview of an event, the ROI Summit, entitled “The Future is Here.” The ROI social media press release (SMPR) included photos, a twitter pitch, recent news, online resource links, featured Summit participants, videos, and of course…the pitch. Toby Dershowitz, of The Dershowitz Group, was kind enough to talk about how the company crafted the SMPR, best practices, how to measure the success of a SMPR, and predictions about the future of the social media press release. What did you want to feature in the ROI social media press release? We wanted to highlight three things: The vision of Lynn Schusterman, who has made the ROI Community her signature philanthropic project. The members of the ROI network – their... Continue Reading

Communication is King

from Harvard Business Review: Don’t Leave Communication out of Marketing Graphic design, marketing, and communicating are three different things, but all too often they become substitutes for one another, both in language and in practice. This happens at every level of business, from the small entrepreneurial up-start all the way up to the Fortune 500 consumer brand giant. And the stakes are high. If you’re starting a new enterprise with limited power for getting the word out and you blow the communication, it’s all over. And if you’re a multinational and you do the same thing, you’re throwing millions of dollars down the toilet, or worse, creating negative effects for your brand that may cost you twice as much as what you’re spending. [Translate] Bookmark:  Read More →

Time to Chill

It’s the sixth of July and the first, full-fledged heat wave is upon us here in the Northeast. The temperature is expected to reach 102 degrees in New York City today – or at least that is what the local meteorologists are predicting. It’s hard to tell what is driving their breathlessly excited forecasting – heat prostration or just the opportunity to have a “big” weather story to tell. I simply want the facts. I can add my own emotional spin. Isn’t that what we all want? Information. Delivered clearly, promptly, and with a little knowledgeable perspective if available. If you don’t have the knowledge to offer a valued perspective, that is okay so long as you stick to the facts. That is why I have mostly given up on getting news from television, radio... Continue Reading

50 Milliseconds to Make an Impression

This post is just as applicable to a nonprofit as to a business. from Smart Blog on Social Media: Does your business look trustworthy online? A recent survey found that 75% of Web users admit to making judgments about the credibility of a company based on the appearance of its website, said Tiffany Jonas, president of Aio Design, during her presentation, “Building Online Credibility: Dos and Don’ts for Small Businesses,” on June 11 at the National Association of Women Business Owners‘ 2010 Women’s Business Conference in Washington, D.C. Moreover, researchers have found that 50 milliseconds is the average amount of time it takes a Web user to judge a website’s visual design. That means it doesn’t matter how strong your content is – if your website looks shady, most people aren’t... Continue Reading

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