Partnering With Your PR Agency from AHA Creative on Vimeo.
AHA Flip Cam Friday.
In today’s video, Ruth talks about what an organization can do to make their relationship with a PR agency work well.
Partnering With Your PR Agency
Balance Is Important
Balance Is Important from AHA Creative on Vimeo.
In today’s video, Ruth talks about the importance of having balance in your communications initiatives. (And TRIES to balance a large bowl of water on her head…)
We are speaking to Flip about the editing glitches we’re experiencing with their software.
Dog Food Can Taste Great!
Dog Food Can Taste Great! from AHA Creative on Vimeo.
In today’s video, Ruth talks about the importance of looking at your communications efforts from a different angle. She attends a dog food dinner – for people – and shows just how important it is to look at things from a different angle.
Coffee Shop Newsroom
There is a very interesting article on Poynter Online that talks about the trend for journalists to set up in coffee shops throughout the communities that they cover. It is worth a read.
As anyone who knows me or reads this blog, knows we believe in the value of the online communication. It’s a reality in the world of communications and the public has embraced it. It is a big part of how your story gets told these days. However, we also believe strongly in connecting in “real life” too. It’s easy to hide behind your computer screen and pull information and facts and have what feels like full conversations online. The fact is, face-to-face is equally – and in many cases – more important. In my opinion, human connection will never be replaced by technology, now matter how quick, how interactive, and how three-dimensional.
Our Vancouver PR agency recently came onboard with a new client that has a big community spread over two large physical locations. While we have done extensive research online in our planning for this client, we have also taken the time and gone to both locations to spend time and get a feel for the culture and community. I have sat in the coffee shops and chatted with people, walked through the halls, and sat in on meetings and sessions to learn what makes the people that support this organization tick, what inspires them, frustrates them, and engages them. For our work with AHA clients, it’s always a blend of online and “real world.”
PR and the Chilean miners
Now that the 33 Chilean miners are above ground and safe and sound, it is interesting to look back at their ordeal and review how it was handled and what that might mean for the miners in the future. Movie deals? Book deals?
I have to admit, I was obsessed with this story. And, from the sounds of it, so was a great deal of the world. I think that the reason for this is that there was ongoing, honest communication being put out about what was going on and there was a realistic hope of a happy ending.
The fact that the world was kept up-to-date on what was happening underground with the miners, with their families and with the rescue effort was incredible. We were allowed into the story and that made us feel connected. I think the Chilean government and the people working on the rescue did an exceptional job of providing information and because of that, they earned worldwide support. Not a small thing when you are in the spotlight like they were.
Sunglass maker, Oakley, stepped in and provided sunglasses for the men. Now, I have read some criticism about why Oakley did this; but, in fact, they were approached by a journalist covering the story. They responded and said yes, of course, they would provide sunglasses to help protect the eyes of the men. And to their credit, they wrote one blog post about it and that seems to be it. They didn’t try to maximize coverage of their role; they just did something good and that was that. Of course, as each miner came out of the ground, their brand was front and centre and was connected to the success of the rescue. They received an estimated $41 million in television coverage. But, they handled their contribution with class and style and if it benefits them, good for them.
There is a great article in the Jamaica Observer about leadership lessons from the mines that focuses on the communications efforts. It’s one of the best pieces I have read on this topic and worth a read.