LT Public Relations

In the public relations industry, Microsoft is known as a “PR machine.” The company has always taken an aggressive, strategic and bold approach to marketing its products through the many channels of public relations. 

The biggest reason for their PR success has ultimately been that their products are stellar and competitively unmatched. Good products naturally breed good PR. 

Enter Windows Vista and Microsoft Zune. Two well-hyped products that have recently taken-it-on-the-chin for being sub-par.  Still stellar products–but not at the gold standard of Microsoft. For basic summary sake, the main reasons for the consumer bashing for Vista and Zune, respectively, is 1) it has too many bugs and is an IT nightmare 2) it’s not iPod.

Microsoft is well aware of their public perception issues for both products (and others) . . . good PR is knowing exactly the current public perception of your products and services–and then being able to embrace or address accordingly.

The Vista PR problem is too complex and overwhelming to address in one blog, so we’ll leave it alone.  The PR problem with Zune, on the other hand, can be addressed quite simply . . . Microsoft entered into the MP3 world way too late, and against a competitor (Apple’s iPod) that was too strong and had a firm grip on that sector.  Also, this week’s news that Zune was tripped up by leap year didn’t help the PR problem.

Not sure if it makes good business sense to continue with Zune if Microsoft continues to face a severe up-hill climb, lose money, and be plagued with bad publicity.  That decision is for the smart Microsoft folks to decide.

However, to develop (or re-establish) a solid footprint on the MP3 market–and ultimately generate good PR–a smart choice is to completely reinvent the media player market.  This means doing more than having a few more functionalities than the iPod–or looking cooler (tough to be cooler than Apple these days).

From LT Public Relations’ perspective, to generate buzz and get folks to buy a product, you must be different.  Zune just isn’t that different–and the public is responding (negatively).

What an interesting 2008 it has been . . . and we’re looking forward to more excitement in 2009.  Please continue to visit us for more public relations thoughts, trends and craziness in the new year.

Until then, Happy Holidays from LT Public Relations.

The question “should we announce during the holidays?” is asked to LT Public Relations every year during this time when a company has “big news” it wants to tout before the new year.  It’s a legitimate question–and every scenario has an appropriate response.

However, generally speaking, the answer is wait–Wait until the new year to make an important announcement, as it will likely have a better chance of pick-up from the media and the ability to generate awareness ro the target audience, as the press release is likely intended. 

The new year brings a host of optimism and receptiveness from the public.  Conversely, announcing during the holidays, you run the risk that reporters or your target audience will even be around to capture the news.  Like everyone, the reporters are already mentally checked-out and really don’t have the time, nor the desire, to accurately cover the announcement.  Plus, making an announcement during this time may be perceived as “forced”–i.e. your company needs to get this news out before the end of the year.

Again, each scenario is different, but typically the holidays are a quiet time where decisions have been made for the rest of the year–people are checked-out and only discussing topical world news or the weather.

Small disclaimer here–if your company has horrific news that it must announce before the end of the year, this holiday time might be a strategically good time to release the news.  Also, Fridays are typically better days to release this type of news.

Still not convinced?  Please contact LT Public Relations (503-477-9215) and we can discuss the “most wonderful time of the year” to make your announcement.

Happy Holidays!

A brief blog post today to commend PNC Bank for truly knowing how to service a target demographic–Generation Y.  The bank identified this younger generation as one of their main focuses–and delivered the goods on keeping them.

Instead of just marketing to them, the bank tailored its products and services to meet their needs.  For example (from last week’s BusinessWeek article, “User-Friendly Finance for Generation Y“), PNC Bank’s ‘Virtual Wallet’ enables customers to manage their money they way they know how (and trust).

Now today’s blog isn’t about blowing sunshine up PNC Bank’s behind, but rather to show an example of a bank that took ‘understanding its customer’ a little further.  This is good public relations for banks–and an excellent example that LT Public Relations hopes can survive beyond the novelty of attracting the attention of a specific demographic–but truly giving the customer what they want.

Because that really is the true barometer of a good PR campaign–a sound business decision that fills a void, while appropriately generating awareness to a certain audience.

Nice work, PNC Bank.  Now, when you figure out more about Generation Y’s direction and purpose in society, please keep us all informed.  

Yet another fascinating presentation was made during this week’s Oregon Bankers Association’s Winter Conference–this time by John Oliver of Laurel Management Systems.

Perhaps it was his classic English accent or the way he carried himself or the importance of his message–regardless, Mr. Oliver’s presentation on the role of the board of directors was on the money. 

The title, “The Role of the Director from a Business Perspective” set the tone for what the audience was about to hear–but would they listen?  The presentation about “the role of the director” transcended all industries (not just banks) and should make any board member a bit uncomfortable–yet energized to do the right thing moving forward.

So, what did he say to make it so fascinating?  Since we can’t type in an English accent, all we can do is give highlights–but even the highlights won’t do his presentation justice (you’ll have to contact him directly to get the real goods).  Last kudos–Mr. Oliver beautifully provided immediate implementable tactics–as opposed to just ranting about the current poor performances of board of directors.

OK, OK, OK, here are the highlights (but again, we’re not doing the presentation justice with this synopsis):

• Mr. Oliver examined the “duty of care” of the governance of board–”they’re the leadership of the bank–be seen!”  Moreover, represent the face of the bank in the community.
• Exercise sound and independent  business objectives.  Don’t just agree with the majority–ask the hard questions.
• Ensure the ONGOING VIABILITY of the organization (by staying relevant)
• Continuously learn–it’s the job of the board to stay up to date on trends
• Participate Actively and Intelligently–Don’s just show up . . . get involved.
• This was a big question to ask the board . . . “Are we meeting our customers’ needs?”
• Provide strategy–not desired outcome (yes, there’s a HUGE difference)
• Think strategically about the culture . . . “if your people are involved, there is a much higher employee satisfaction–which leads to quality–which ultimately leads to more profitability”

Throughout the presentation, it was important to understand the “need for EXCELLENCE.”  Moreover, understand the business perspective of “MEGATRENDS” such as a changing industry, disintermediation, product commodization, competition the consuming Public and aging customer base.

Again, we’re not doing the presentation justice–nor do we fully understand all the intelligence that was thrown our way–however, we do encourage you to contact John Oliver at Laurel Management Systems (oliver@globalbanktraining.com) for the betterment of your Board.

Happy Holidays!

LT Public Relations

Hello All.

We’re here live at the Oregon Bankers Association’s 2008 Winter Conference.  A surprisingly great turn out– with apparently more banks represented than ever before. 

The tone of the conference has been understandably somber–with much of the focus on the economy. There has been, however, a refreshing sense of assurance that we will get through this tough economic time–but it will take the “3 C’s,” as Chief Economist Steve Wood at Insight Economics proclaimed when describing what the policymakers should do–Be Clear, Be Consistent, Be Confident.

Another remarkable keynote speaker at the conference was Steve Williams from Cornerstone Advisors.  His candid look-back at the economy and our core issues made the entire audience cringe and shake their collective heads to think, “how could we have been so stupid?”

One very interesting part of Williams’ presentation was a look at what banks need to do to be innovative during these times.  It was a call-to-action, really, about developing a niche in the market.  It’s no longer good business to just be “small and local” and have “good customer service.”  A big driver, according to Williams, is to develop a niche.  Niche banking.

Williams went on to bullet out a few niche principles:

• Niche and focus are the best hope for growth and margin in the future
• A bank’s commercial treasury/payment strategy is potentially more important than its lending strategy
• Business Owners want deep knowledge and value-added processes/systems; banks are too weak in both areas (Bold statement, huh??)
• Only the competitive laggards are waiting to reinvent commercial loan processes
• Culturally, we associate innovation with risk
• –We move too slowly
• –We end up looking too vanilla

At LT Public Relations, we endorse this idea of niches and focus.  To truly communicate a bank’s (or any financial institution’s) uniqueness, it must find its niche and stay centered on that.  You’ll be able to better speak your target customer’s language, and ultimately, gain their trust and sustain their business.

Good stuff from the OBA’s Winter Conference.  Likely more to share tomorrow (December 9, 2009).

If you’re in public relations or a company looking to tout its best product, there is simply no bigger media “hit” than a positive endorsement from Oprah Winfry.  Once she says a product (or book or whatever) is A OK, then you’re golden–and watch the product sell.

Attempting to secure a positive endorsement on Oprah’s show is nothing new to us PR folks–we all know it’s the Holy Grail of coverage, but LT Public Relations is now convinced it’s the #1 media placement of all time.  That’s right, bigger than a positive segment on 60 minutes, bigger than a Super Bowl plug, bigger than the Ed Sullivan Show. 

For example, Amazon’s Kindle has been landing positive marks ever since its launch.  The company made the assumption that it produced enough Kindles for the Holiday ‘08 season.  Little did they know that when Oprah recently described it as her “favorite new gadget,” people flocked to Amazon–and Kindle is now sold out (with no more available until February ‘09, at the earliest).

See today’s (12/4/08) Wall Street Journal article. 

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122834809064877527.html

It’s amazing to say, but most of us here at the agency have never seen a whole episode of Oprah (some might be lying). But for those who have are claiming that her show has slowly become a massive product push . . . or the “biggest PR machine” on the planet.  Regardless of the perception, Oprah has the power to move product.

Now it ain’t easy to get on her radar, but when you do, be sure you’re ready and watch the orders come in.

At LT Public Relations, we’re constantly up against what people think public relations is and we’ve realized the perception is usually not good–and the understanding of what PR does is even worse.

It’s frustrating, but it’s the cards we’ve been dealt in a profession that hasn’t clearly been defined.  However, today’s blog isn’t about defining public relations–there have been many blog postings from us regarding what public relations is–including this one . . . Publicity or Public Relations. 

Today’s blog is about highlighting some of those misperceptions about public relations that truly irk us . . . here are a few . . .

The Spin Doctor

The Lobbyist/The Talker

 
Propaganda

Although some of these unfortunately exist, LT Public Relations is on a quest to put the public relations industry on its ear by providing its clients with value through remarkable strategy, execution and results–with honesty and integrity.

In early 2009, we will be launching a new public relations platform that will be a hybrid of the best practices of traditional and non-traditional public relations.  Stay tuned.  It’ll be something. 

We want to wish everyone a happy and safe Thanksgiving holiday.  Eat, drink and be merry. 

We’ll roll-up our sleeves again on December 1st and help whoever we can communicate better.

Best wishes,

LT Public Relations

pr@ltpublicrelations.com

Everyone is closely watching the news about the federal bailout situation–and the companies/executives who are being bailed-out.  Beyond monitoring where the money is going, the public is closely watching the current actions of executives of these troubled companies.

We’re talking about Detroit’s “Big Three” (Ford, Chrysler, General Motors), AIG, and a host of others who are seeking government money (or tax payers money) to stabilize their companies. We’ll spare everyone our views on the matter, but LT Public Relations is appalled by the current business decisions being made in regards to spending. That is, the decisions made by the executives of these companies to partake in expensive corporate outings, fly luxury jets to meetings and other frivolous spending.

These companies and executives are providing pretty lame excuses why they continue to conduct business extravagantly.  Regardless of the rationale, we are shocked that there is not a public relations representative or corporate communications person screaming to the executives to “STOP!”

This is not a time to conduct business as usual (even though the expenses for these luxuries have already been paid).  The public perception is that these “fat cats” are clueless and they’re going to continue to waste money on unnecessary things (e.g. ritzy retreats).

This is a time for executives to show that they “get it” and for public relations professionals to demand that they deliberately show cost-cutting measures by, for example, taking a bus to their next meeting or having their next dinner at Applebee’s. 

We’re shaking our heads about the poor decisions being made from a public perception stand point. It’s honestly embarrassing.

Need help on how to better manage public perception?  Contact us at pr@ltpublicrelations.com or 503-477-9215