By the Numbers: Why Metrics, Math & Profits Rule in Business

Feb 22 2012

Running my PR firm has taught me a lot about the importance of efficiency, process and profitability. I also have good counsel (that I pay for) and thought I’d share what the past 17 years of ownership has taught me. Coupled with this is the fact that I’m being asked to speak more often on the subject of integrating social media with traditional marketing campaigns and how companies can track and measure their efforts. In my own business, I know that is important as investing in social takes time and people.

Young Entrepreneurs: What’s in their DNA?

Feb 13 2012

I know that there is a lot out there about what it means to be an entrepreneur, including plenty of case studies and real-life examples. What I find most fascinating are the characteristics of people who excel as entrepreneurs. If you do some research, the word enterprise comes from the French word “entreprendre” or “to undertake,” dated as far back as 1852. The word defined means one who organizes, manages and assumes the risk of a business or enterprise—pretty true today. Each year, BusinessWeek publishes its list of “America’s Best Young Entrepreneurs of (insert year).” Each year I read…

Social Media Expert Comes to Memphis to Discuss “Legal Landmines”

Feb 02 2012

If you’re in a regulated industry like banking, health care or finance or law, this seminar is for you. Howell Marketing Strategies is pleased to announce that their senior social media strategist, Glen Gilmore, will delivering the keynote presentation at the Memphis Daily News Social Media Seminar, on Thursday, February 9. Gilmore, a former prosecutor who served eight years as mayor of New Jersey’s seventh-largest city, Hamilton, will be discussing “Social Media Landmines – What Businesses, Marketers, Corporate and Legal Need to Know.” It’s crucial for businesspeople to understand what the ground rules are so that they do not…

Think You Can Work in PR? What Newbies Need to Know

Jan 25 2012

Photo Credit: lizzymayhew.tumblr.com If you have just graduated from college or perhaps you are switching jobs and you see a posting for a position in a public relations firm, you might consider doing some research before you apply. The PR industry is moving and changing fast—although many of the traditional core values still apply—and it’s hard enough for the veteran PR pros to keep up.

FedEx Gets it Right in Response to Viral Video

Dec 21 2011

Forty-eight hours ago, a customer who received a broken monitor uploaded a video to YouTube showing why his item arrived in less than perfect condition: the careless FedEx employee. The video has since made it way around the web, gaining over 2.7 million views. The amazing example of customer service is the immediate response from FedEx—they did what they were supposed to do. What went social, FedEx addressed socially. The day after the upload, FedEx began tweeting: “We saw the video and quite frankly were shocked. This was careless treatment of a customer package by our courier and will be…

What John Wayne Can Teach Memphis

Dec 09 2011

“Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway” -Mr. John Wayne When I think about my favorite movies, I think about the ones where the good guys beat the bad guys, movies in which the goodness and evil mix it up luring us as watchers to feel and think. But hey, that’s Hollywood where we’re not required to “do” anything, just watch and be entertained. Unfortunately, there is a bit of a parallel here in our city of soul and promise that we call home. Recently on Twitter, I saw a post by a Memphis City Council member…