Author: Brian Lee

It’s not a ‘public relations problem’

Posted on by Brian Lee

It’s a disservice to the public relations profession that the phrase “it’s a public relations problem” (or “it’s a public relations nightmare”) has entered our vocabulary as a way to describe a negative situation with an individual or a company.

When you have a leaky faucet, it’s not the plumber’s problem. When you have a rodent or insect infestation, it’s not the exterminator’s problem. In all these cases and more, it’s YOUR problem. The plumber, exterminator, etc. can help you out of your jam.

Public relations practitioners work with internal and external publics to help a person or company. Having those relationships are why we are called upon to “fix” problems, both private and public. This may mean reaching out to shareholders, the board of directors, regulatory commissions, customers, vendors and many more.

Crisis communications also fits under the PR umbrella. This area includes assessing and prioritizing potential threats, drafting Q&A, training spokespersons and developing a plan to contain and counteract the situation.

So next time something bad happens with a company or individual, remember that it’s their problem.

AP Stylebook updates

Posted on by Brian Lee

I’m getting fed up with the AP Stylebook. I thought it was dumb to write “Web site,” but I did it anyway, feeling like I was in the minority. In fact, publications such as Time and Sports Illustrated used “website” instead.

Then the folks behind the AP Stylebook finally relented in 2010 and changed it to “website.” This week, they announced they were converting “e-mail” to “email.”

This reminds me of the late 1990s when the Oxford-English Dictionary added the word “trekker” to describe “Star Trek” fans, even though for years they were known as “trekkies.” Why just make up a new word? In the case of the AP, why force people to write “Web site” and “e-mail” when everyone had previously used “website” and “email”????

The Oxford-English Dictionary eventually dropped “trekker” and added “trekkies.” And now we see the AP Stylebook coming to its senses. Next time, just get it correct the first time.

Restaurant marketing continues to evolve

Posted on by Brian Lee

PopeyesAnyone who works or has worked in the restaurant industry knows that it’s tough and that you need to be proactive on the marketing front to have a chance at success. As the New York Times reported recently, quick-service restaurants (QSR) like Popeye’s and Dairy Queen have new campaigns that may help to stem sales losses caused by an increase in gasoline prices.

If anything, I would think that this is time for this category of restaurant to shine. When the economy made a turn for the worse a few years ago, upscale restaurants saw the biggest decline, and as a result they had to make modifications, such as adding prix-fixe menus. Thus, QSRs need to continue trumpeting value …

… and health.  Yep, that’s right. As reported by AdAge, QSRs are using buzzwords such as “fresh” and “natural” to appeal to the (more-)health-conscious diners. I agree with the article that trying to market to everybody could be a detriment to the restaurant chain’s core offerings. That’s why finding the right balance–though difficult–will be key.