Common Sense PR

April 9th, 2008

Quick Tip: Shake Things Up

We spend way too much time in our comfort zone, dealing with issues that make us feel safe, using methods that have worked well in the past.
There’s nothing wrong with duplicating past successes, but that isn’t where you want to spend your whole career.

Be aware of opportunities to take small (or large) chances, and […]

By Eric Eggertson -- 2 comments

March 15th, 2008

Quick Tip: The Walrus Is Paul

Outward-facing communication shouldn’t use jargon and inside jokes, but internally, the sky’s the limit.
 
For communication with and among employees, the use of nicknames, jargon and inside jokes is part of what bonds people together. Forcing the language to fit a preconceived notion of Strunk & White clarity can make work seem too much like work.
Relax […]

By Eric Eggertson -- 3 comments

February 22nd, 2008

Quick Tip: Be Yourself in Business and Life

This is the big one that makes you sit up at 2 a.m. on your 42nd birthday and realize you have to quit your job.
Despite all the self-help books that suggest you can be anything you want to be, you need to figure out what makes you tick, and act accordingly.

If you’re not a […]

By Eric Eggertson -- 1 comment

February 15th, 2008

Quick Tip: Talk to Real People and Act on What They Say

It’s easy to focus on the opinions of experts and executives.
But unless the end users of your product or service are primarily experts and executives, you need to break out of the Circle of Authority.

No one can tell you what’s right and what’s wrong like the people who actually use the services.
Surveys and focus […]

By Eric Eggertson -- 0 comments

February 8th, 2008

Quick Tip: Get Ahead of the Issue

This is nothing new for anyone who’s spent any time in public relations, or watched a week’s worth of political analysis.
But it’s important. If you know an issue is going to get hot, look for ways to take an active stance.

Don’t wait for someone to expose a problem. Take the first steps to resolve […]

By Eric Eggertson -- 6 comments

January 30th, 2008

Quick Tip: Create a Success Management Plan

You can’t go to a communicators’ conference without bumping into a session on Crisis Communications Management. But how many people offer to help you prepare for a runaway success?
When  you do your scenario planning, include the possibility that you might wildly exceed all expectations.
 
Can your website withstand 30,000 extra visits in a morning? Can you […]

By Eric Eggertson -- 0 comments

January 19th, 2008

Best Business Advice Continues to Roll In

A few more words of wisdom from readers.

Yuri Aksyonov, of the PRWeb blog (Russian language):

Don’t try to be an “expert”.  Asking “stupid” questions is not a shame.  The shame is when you can’t understand what you’ve been told after discussion is finished.

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Ren Garcia, of Accounting Solver blog:

I find an Adidas slogan: IMPOSSIBLE IS NOTHING particulary […]

By Eric Eggertson -- 1 comment

January 16th, 2008

Best Business Advice - Short and Sweet

I asked for people’s advice, and it’s starting to flow in.
Here, via Twitter, are the first three four pithy bits of advice.
Paul Young, of the Young PR blog:

Friends first.  Work second.

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Jason Falls, of the Social Media Explorer blog:

Don’t be intimidated. You’re smarter than most people, you just don’t know it yet.
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Kevin Dugan of Strategic Public […]

By Eric Eggertson -- 3 comments

January 16th, 2008

Quick Tip: (Insert your Best Business Advice Here)

(Update)  Advice from Common Sense PR readers:

Larry Yatkowsky of the Yatter Matters blog:

Got cell phone.  Great. Why forward it to your office so that they (the office) can call you back to tell you have a message?  Just answer and make the customer feel like you care enough to take their call personally.

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Megan, of the […]

By Eric Eggertson -- 11 comments