What's in store for this edition:

• Communications is PR

  • Communication Principles

• Micro-holiday and Celebrity Collaborations 🍩

• COOL or CRINGE: 🌯 Chipotle is Wrapped Tighter than a Burrito

• TOOLKIT 🧰 — SOS Media Queries

• Attention Seeker of the Week 🐶

Communications is PR

Communication is the core of public relations. While the principles of communications always apply, the packaging, or delivery method, may differ.

Let's talk about these principles to ensure you are using the best practices possible.

When you communicate with your community, who you defined last time, ask yourself the following questions:

Communication Principles

• Is my message clear, consistent, and in harmony with the company’s overall mission?

• Do I know who I am talking to?

• Am I being courteous, and professional?

• Am I being genuine, transparent, and humble?

• Am I open to two-way communications?

• Am I listening to the feedback, interacting, and encouraging conversation?

• Is my message consistent with the established brand identity?

• Is my message on time?

Various methods of communications include, some are verbal and some are written:

• Press releases

• Social media posts

• Websites, blogs, podcasts

• Community events

• Newsletters

• Public speaking and interviews

• Partnerships and collaborations

• Online forum replies and customer service responses

Do this now: Review the last 3 communications you’ve made with your community. Then, grab a note pad and write down your answers to the questions below so you can review them before your next message goes out.

1. Do they align with your brand identity and values?
   __ Yes __ Needs Help

2. Do they use the communication principles listed above?
   __ Yes __ Needs Help

3. What principles can be implemented better? _________

Next episode: Who am I talking to? Get the details on your community and what to do with it.

Get PR techniques from recent news.

Newsworthy

Micro-holiday and Celebrity Collaborations 🍩 

How many times do you see "National [insert product here] Day.” These micro-holidays, or social media days, are great ways to get media attention and increase your business.

Can you find one that you can use?

Here’s a 2024 Weird Holidays to celebrate calendar to help you plan.

Are you a small mom and pop doughnut shop? Why not arrange in advance bringing donuts to local radio station? Or ask if one of the reporters would like to come make donuts with you.

For National Lollipop Day, we made huge lollipops with large custom writing with the Morning Show name on it. That landed us a spot on the news for that morning with invites to return again for more guest appearances.

Essential strategy:

• Plan well in advance.

• Pitch to the right reporter.

• Produce good content.

• Get creative and make it visually interesting, unique, fun.

💫 Pro Tip: Reporters will love you even more if you share content such as you high quality images, videos, graphics, hashtags, product descriptions and links to your owned media. You can provide to them directly or make them available on your website’s newsroom.

Not always do your efforts land a spot, but even if you don’t get press, it makes for good social media content and adds for a bit of brevity.

I personally love that the artist Jelly Roll teamed up with Dunkin’ Donuts for National Donut Day. So fun!

✍️ Key PR Takeaway: Use micro-holidays in your PR promotions, product development, and social media plans. Planning in advance, pitching to the right reporter, and making sure it is visually interesting are important to get results.

Learn from others.

100% Cool : 0% Cringe

🌯 Chipotle is finding itself wrapped up tighter than a burrito in a TikTok viral trend accusing them of being stingy on portion sizes.

Rumors started, saying they were serving smaller portions, which lead to the spreading of a “hack” which is if you film your food being made they will give bigger portions.

Then, a representative from Chipotle made a statement to the press. This is a good way to go on record and clear up any rumors going around.

Plus: The CEO of Chipotle, Brian Niccol, appeared on a TikTok video making a joke about a secret way to get more rice or pico. This funny video got over 14 million views.

✍️ Key PR Takeaway: If you find yourself the subject of a social media frenzy, one option is to reply with humor to show your funny, human, charming side. If it’s a big deal and you’re a big company, then consider issuing an official statement.

Useful PR Resources.

🧰 TOOLKIT

Source of Sources (SOS) Media Queries

One tool that gives you a short list of journalists that are looking for sources, or experts like you, to share their knowledge try subscribing to SOS - Source of Sources.

You’ll get a few emails daily with the requirements the journalist has. This can be helpful for scouting out a story that could fit for your brand, business, or organization.

Important note from the owner: “ONLY REPLY IF YOU ACTUALLY HAVE SOMETHING PRODUCTIVE TO ADD. If you pitch a reporter off-topic even once, and it gets back to me, you’re gone. No exceptions, no appeals.”

Reality check: So, please, please, please ALWAYS follow the directions and requirements from reporters. Do not ever twist the story idea, or stretch it just to make it fit your ideas, otherwise you will get blocked.

Attention Seeker of the Week

4 year old Havazu Samson will stare at you, tongue out, until he falls asleep or gets the attention that he demands. Okay mini-might, we are all ears for you.

I must have been hungry this week, since I featured donuts and burritos for the news. 😋

Until next week, keep your shades on and stay cool.

Your fellow Seeker,
Keren

🕶️