Since its arrival, ridesharing service Uber has been engaged in a bitter turf war and public relations battle with a myriad of taxi companies, associations and drivers. Uber presents itself as a disruptive new service that is transforming the way “the world moves” through the use of engaging technology, while the taxi industry protects their status quo and argues that Uber isn’t playing by the rules and is destroying their livelihoods. Both sides have experienced victories, but it’s Uber that seems to have the upper hand. Though the smaller taxi companies and associations have less PR/marketing resources than Uber, they have also committed strategic blunders, and – from my perspective – haven’t utilized best practices and new marketing strategies. What Can Advocates And Activists in The Non-profit Sector Learn From the Uber/Taxi Cab PR Battlefield Advocates and activists in the non-profit sector can learn a lot from the taxi industry’s […]
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Ricky Gervais’ Top 6 Social Advocacy Techniques on Twitter
With its than 300 million active users and mobile-friendly and real-time format, Twitter can be a powerful vehicle for advocating social change. But what does an influential social advocate on Twitter look like? And how can advocates in the non-profit, charitable and political sector use this social media platform to bring about desired change? British comedian Ricky Gervais is a top Twitter advocate with more than 9 million followers. Gervais frequently uses his Twitter account as a megaphone to advocate for animal rights, a cause for which he cares deeply. In a single tweet, Gervais was able to amplify the story of Bryce Casavant, a British Columbia conservation officer who was suspended for refusing to kill two bear cubs. Due to Gervais’ support on Twitter, Casavant’s story quickly became international news. The bear cub story isn’t the first time Gervais has used Twitter to advocate for animal rights. The activist […]
Read moreHow to Cover an Event Like a Pro
Have you ever been asked to cover an event, but were unsure how to get started? Covering and writing about an event for your organization is a multi-step process that involves a different approach than other forms of communications writing. The key to great event writing is to have experiential content without being too chronological. I have covered many events in my career—from tradeshows to networking events to award ceremonies—and rely on a proven process to create articles that are sure to engage my readers. Cover an event like a pro! Follow my advice below on how to write a great article for your next event. How to Cover an Event Like a Pro Get existential Why are you covering this event in the first place? And how will it benefit your organization and cause? You need to ask yourself these questions. In my experience, there are 3 kinds of […]
Read moreThe Good, Bad and Ugly of Social Media Crisis Communications
Social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter can be a scary place during a crisis. One poorly written comment or response can be devastating, turning public opinion against the perceived offender. However, social media can also be a valuable crisis communications tool and can be utilized to get out your side of the story. To improve our social media crisis communications, we must learn from the successes and failures of others. For this reason, I have listed below what I consider to be the good, the bad and the ugly of using social media during a crisis. The Good: Britt McHenry’s Twitter apology ESPN reporter Britt McHenry upset everyone when she was caught on camera being nasty to a female tow-truck employee, ridiculing the woman’s weight, education and appearance. Anyone who saw the video was left with a terrible impression of McHenry. At first, McHenry was silent about the issue […]
Read moreGot Writer’s Block? Try The 15-Minute Writer’s Workout
Writing an article can be a very difficult task. This is especially true if the deadline for your article is self-imposed and/or not due in the near future. Without the pressure of an immediate deadline, it’s very easy to fall into that terrible state of procrastination and idleness, what I define as Writer’s Block. The 15-Minute Writer’s Workout If you have Writer’s Block or problems with procrastination, try the 15-Minute Writer’s Workout. It will transform you into a writing machine. The 15-Minute Writer’s Workout is amazingly simple: • Set your timer to 15 minutes • Write for 15 minutes straight • End of writing exercise (It’s totally up to you whether you want to continue writing beyond the designated time.) • Repeat the next day Fifteen minutes doesn’t sound like a lot of time, but it’s amazing how much work you can get done. On good days, I can write […]
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