Blog and bantering
How to write the history of your business or organisation
People are our stories.
When they depart from our workplaces, communities and eventually their mortal bodies – their stories go with them.
In New Zealand, August is family history month and at Chatterbox PR we decided to look at business and organisation history.
Listening at PRINZ conference 2019
Listening doesn’t come easy to a chatterbox, but it is a skill we strive to improve.
At the PRINZ conference 2019 the prevailing theme was changing mindsets, and rather than focusing on our target audiences’ mindsets – the message was more about reviewing our own mindsets.
What do we all continue to think, say and perpetuate because we don’t really listen to others?
Bring back the face-to-face sales rep
Could it be the heartbeat of social media is fluttering and its lifespan for business communication looks threatened, particularly in Western countries?
The overlooked function of face-to-face sales calls that fell victim to digital marketing, online sales and social media campaigns, could be in for a resurgence.
Our primal need for real contact with real living beings, may be the solution to increase sales and long-term business growth. I can hear the protests now.
Top tips to work with contractors
Getting someone who is not on the company payroll to complete special projects or work in specialist areas can be a win-win for both parties.
You can gain expertise from someone for a short-term or make someone part of your long-term team when you don’t need an employee.
You must know your employment law though and ensure the contractor relationship is genuine and legal.
How to spot fake news
Chatterbox PR has noted a huge increase in the number of fake news stories globally in recent years.
Many people associate fake news with politics and the words have become synonymous with Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign.
But misinformation and fake news can harm a business or organisation too.
Is your idea newsworthy?
There’s a lot of stuff in the world.
Actually, there is too much stuff.
You need to ensure your stuff is legendary cool stuff, so you don’t just spend lots of money and resources trying to stand out from all the other similar stuff.
A great idea could be a lemon or a grand slam success and only the courageous will be prepared to take that risk.
Emily Miazga has the gritty resilience it takes to win the Coast to Coast endurance race three times and she has heaped that determination into a new product, Em’s Power Cookies – Hemp Protein Cookie.
Café conversations
When you have something to discuss that will potentially damage the reputation of your company – do not have that conversation in a café.
Not negotiable.
Recently, a discussion involving a significant brand was broadcast loud and clear to café customers, including me.
While we sipped our caffeine charges the words – employee exploitation, immigration and inappropriate use of old stock were tossed about for all to hear.
Really? Did they think no one else was in the house?
Growth takes more than water
Without exception water is the essential element required to ensure everything biological can survive but to really thrive a few more things need to be added.
Our hardy mānuka will survive when thrown into the harshest conditions and it will positively bloom when given a little more than torrential rain.
Business is much the same.
What does a PR agency do today?
When Chatterbox PR started out people asked me, “What do you do?”
My stock reply was, “Anything for money” but I’ve learnt that my sense of humour frequently baffles people and I didn’t really share my own story.
Now, I say, “We are reputation managers and consider every factor that influences what people think about our clients.”
Be the mānuka, own your reputation
What people think about your business can be as beautiful as a pristine piece of native bush one day and as destructive as a mudslide the next.
Take Aotearoa’s humble mānuka.
Throughout the last few centuries this little beauty has had its reputation re-written several times and it has gone from tāonga to trash, and back to tāonga.