It’s Awards Time

The Golden Globes, Academy Awards, Screen Actors Guild… you name it and it will be awarded in the coming months.  And Marketing is now different.

The one I like to key in on, is the Cannes Lions.  Held every summer its kind of the “Academy Awards” of Marketing.  It’s the big one.  If you’re lucky to win one, you’ve covet it forever.

So now is the time to start sifting through all of your marketing activities to find those gems in all the categories.  But remember folks, you’re competing against Marketers and Agencies from across the globe.  

Take a few moments to get educated on Cannes.  I’ll provide some tips on how to bolster your entry in the coming weeks.

Scott

Marketing PR Crisis... a few thoughts.

It will happen at least once in your career.  You will have a PR crisis related to something the Marketing Dept. or Agency has done.  You’ll need to respond quickly.  I’ve always made it a policy to have pre-drafted statements ready to go in case this is needed.  It allows me and PR to really think through what main points should be covered.  This might just be a list of things you need to consider vs an actual pre-written drawer statement… but it’s better to pre-plan now, vs responding when all hell has broken loose.

Also, determine what qualifies as an issue.  Having an individual complain might not warrant any special attention.  However, if 60 Minutes is camped outside your office one morning that’s another thing.

Some areas which might bit you…

• Creative or messaging which is in poor taste.
• Advertising which slanders, is inaccurate, etc.
• Media placements on questionable programming (I’ll have a blog post on this coming up) 
• A promotional stunt gone bad
• Hacked customer data 

It’s better to be a Boy Scout and “always prepared.”

Scott