Conch farms in Turks and Caicos. Conch fritters, and conch in numerous other culinary forms, can be bought at almost every restaurant in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Yet they are endangered. How can this be? I recently visited these islands and their stunningly gorgeous beaches to see firsthand what was happening with the coral reefs there. I had been there 10-15 years ago on a SCUBA diving trip and was interested in seeing if the reefs were surviving climate change, tourist bumping and the notorious lionfish infestation of the Caribbean. Instead I stumbled on the queen conch issue. [ Read More ]
PR for Robotics Companies
I have been interested in doing PR for robotics companies for many years. Just ask my friend Tandy Trower, former head of robotics at Microsoft and founder of Hoaloha Robotics, a company creating companion robots to enable seniors to live more active and independent lives. When I sent Tandy various media articles over the years, he delighted me with long email responses that helped educate me about the industry. I am grateful that he shared this knowledge and provided years of encouragement. In 2016, I have had the honor and privilege of working with three amazing robotics companies. [ Read More ]
Your Life as a Museum
In this age of personalized media, I have often thought about the concept of each of our lives as a museum. What would yours look like? What rooms would it contain and what would be in each of those rooms? My rooms might be Exploration, Connection, Adventure, Laughter, Fun and Wisdom. It is an interesting and expansive exercise to define your life in collections like that. It also forces you to think about the things that really matter to you and all that you have done with your life. [ Read More ]
Cringing at the PR of Politics
Every marketing and public relations person, no matter how strong you are, should be watching the presidential race. Don’t get me wrong. There are many things I would rather do, like ride my bicycle or go sailing, than watch these folks duke it out. But it’s a feast of learning about what to do and not to do. These campaigns are run by some of the nation’s strongest campaign strategists, yet there are so many little mistakes and some downright major blunders. We also can spot some very smart positioning and maneuvering. Some of it so savvy and twisty it almost makes me cringe. [ Read More ]
Dear Oceans, Thank You
Our oceans are precious. And today, on World Oceans Day, we celebrate them. We all need to pause today and thank the oceans for the food that we eat; oxygen we breathe; medicines they provide (both discovered and undiscovered); the marvelous marine life that delights us; recreation in the form of surfing, diving and sailing; and their stunning, breathtaking beauty. [ Read More ]
Ahhh, Sweet Media Coverage
There is a lot marketing I do for client companies and organizations in addition to public relations. That said, below is some of the media coverage I have negotiated for clients recently with strong strategy and execution. [ Read More ]
Seattle: A Passionate Place
Seattle makes me proud. The people are top-notch, the scenery is breathtakingly spectacular and the businesses are stellar. Some of the most amazing, often world-changing, companies started here, including Microsoft Corporation, Boeing, Amazon, Expedia, Starbucks, Alaska Airlines and REI. I have used products and services from each of them, many times. Other impressive ones have, at some point, moved their headquarters here, such as Holland America Line. And new businesses are following in their footsteps—companies that focus on space, robotics, exploration and virtual reality. [ Read More ]
Space and Sea, What is to Be?
Many companies are evolving to explore space. What an exciting world we live in with endless possibilities! The lure of space is sexy and fun, glamorized by fabulous movies such as “The Martian.” Who can resist following all the news about rockets, satellite launchers and possible tourist trips into space? It is a frontier that entrepreneurial spirits are going after with gusto. And who can blame them? They are all pushing our [ Read More ]
5 Irresistible Daily Newsletters
Some media outlets are doing an excellent job. Today I want to give a shout-out to some of my favorite free daily newsletters. These are the ones I look at regularly and find interesting, intelligent and compelling. Even when I am super busy, I can’t resist taking a quick look at them. [ Read More ]
23 Ways to Maximize the ROI of Media Coverage
It has always been amusing to me how many small to mid-size companies want “really, really great” media coverage, only want to pay relatively little to get it, don’t want to work too hard at it and then have absolutely no idea how to maximize their return-on-investment (ROI) once they do get it. This blog is about the last one. I have been helping companies get great media coverage for many years and below I outline how to maximize the immense value of a positive piece of coverage. [ Read More ]