Avoiding A Social Media PR Crisis

My number one rule for other publicists is to align yourself with the right thinking and the right brands from the get-go. It doesn't matter how broke you are, aligning with the wrong client can harm you financially in the long-run. I say this because promotions sync with social media, which syncs with you - the brand. Poorly executed launches for clients or clients that will not listen can reflect on your social media accounts and lead to your very own social media crisis!

Before you line up your brand with anther creative team, or a client, you should understand that there are real laws in place to help protect the public from brand bending, which can also harm you and cause you a social media crisis.

For example;

• Did you know employees and clients have the right to bash their employer on social media? Yep, if it is a money issue or a conditions issue, it is legal. And the current or former employee or client can discuss wages, hours and working conditions.
• Did you know that if a public relations persons Tweets on behalf of their employer without disclosing their "employee" status, your client can be fined up to $11,000 per incident?
• Did you know it’s illegal to buy fake reviews and/or fake followers on social networks and plenty of companies have been fined upwards of $250,000 for this?

The list goes on and on........

Don't sit around and allow clients to misalign your brand causing a social media PR crisis. At the same time, don't get caught up in a client's social media game, either. If you know they are buying fake reviews, walk away from the contract. If you know they are posting issues that can cause both you and themselves harm, walk away from the contract.

Until tomorrow,

Velma Trayham

Why Being Busy Costs You Money

Recently I spoke with a woman who wanted to expand her business. We talked about her goals. Then we talked about what she had tried and what hasn’t worked. I found out she was barely making an effort to market herself online. This said, I offered her several recommendations to improve her visibility online and boost her autopilot moneymaker programs.

She  declined all of my recommendations. She cited that she was “too busy” with her current clients to implement my recommended ideas. I guess you can bring a horse to water but you can’t force it to either drink or make more of a profit!

Busy is the worst excuse for not marketing yourself. You are basically saying “No” to money. Why? If you’re busier- you can hire more help to support yourself while still making a profit.  First, it takes money to make money. I can’t understand why someone would pay for me to review their past mistakes and then make profitable recommendations for their future only to say they are “too busy” to do anything about it.  This makes no sense and is a real waste of money.

You have the ability to make more money. This said, there is NO magic wand. I can provide insight, evidence and recommendations for your business, but if you don’t want to take the time to help it grow then it won’t. You need to make the time to invest in yourself in order to see results. No one can do this for you as a business owner.

All this said, are you using the busy excuse as a way to dodge being the best version of yourself?

Are you afraid of success?

Are you afraid of having to pay more for marketing and support staff because you will be making more money?

Ask yourself these questions today and really assess the answers.

Busy isn’t a valid excuse. People with major disabilities overcome significant odds each and every day and go on to do great things. They aren’t familiar with the phrases “can’t” or “busy”. They are in a constant “can do” mindset- and you should be too- unless, that is, you’re afraid of success and busy is your crutch to staying complacent.

You can always make time for more business and money. Period!

Velma Trayham of ThinkZILLA

Rolling Out Magazine & The Secret Society Awards

Check out my interview in Rolling Out Magazine here: http://rollingout.com/business/marketing-branding/the-secret-society-and-thinkzilla-pr-host-first-annual-media-awards/#_

Bad Publicity Can Be Beneficial

There is a saying that any press is good press. This isn’t true. Most of the time bad press has real consequences on a brand or business. Sure, you get a lot of media attention during the bad circumstances, but the attention doesn’t usually equate to dollar signs. In fact, most of the time this measurable type of press hurts your bottom line!

There are exceptions to every rule, and there are times when bad press can benefit you. Caution, these occurrences are very far and few in between.  If you find yourself, or your client, on the receiving end of bad press- here are some pointers to try and ensure you come out on the other side in a positive light and a profitable one, too!

First, address the media head on. Don’t wait to credential everyone. Simply pick up the phone for everyone who calls and answer emails as soon as they hit your InBox. Make sure you keep your story straight, too. Don’t tell one reporter one story and another reporter a different story. Tell the truth and own up to any mistakes you have made.

Focus on your corrective action. How are you going to fix the issue at hand? Write a media advisory about this and place it on all your social media websites (links too).  Don’t simply apologize or offer an explanation, offer action!

Finally, don’t attack the other party if there is one involved. If someone is accusing you of something that isn’t true, attacking the other party or calling their integrity into question can backfire. Simply state they have a right to their opinion but you have a right to tell your side of the story. Then, in a positive manner, tell your side of the story.

Until Monday,

Coco the CEO

2 “Must Have” Traits for Today’s PR Leadership Needs

In the public relations business it is essential that you are able to lead a group. From leading clients through a rebranding campaign to heading up a multi-media press junket at the Academy Awards, you are expected to do it all!

This said, there are two “must have” leadership traits that make or break a public relations account rep. What are they? Being transparent and operating in real time. 

I can’t talk enough about transparency. It is crucial that you never lie, exaggerate or over promote yourself or your clients to the media. They can smell BS.  When leading a client or the press, be honest with them. Don’t over hype, don’t fudge the truth, don’t mimic someone else’s campaign.  If your client has a weak spot, address it right up front and then play up his or her other positive points. This is the definition of great leadership- knowing when to tell the truth and knowing how to not lie but play up other points.

Secondly, be on time with your media delivery. It is very hard to promote anything in advance with today’s 24/7 social media culture. You need to monitor Twitter and Instagram almost second by second. Thus, to lead, make sure you are using real time examples and headlines to pitch your clients or you will be dead in the water, as will be your company.

I hope these two simple, yet important tips, help you amplify your leadership skills.

Until tomorrow,

Coco the CEO 

JustReachOut.com is ruining PR?!

 I recently read an article in TechCrunch about the power of PR and how it is a dying industry. Is it? PR is actually bigger than ever. PR companies are popping up all over the world and tech companies are offering more and more PR services to clients who can’t afford a true PR firm. So, yes – I think businesses like JustReachOut.com are killing business for some PR firms, but not all of them.

JustReachOut.com is a supposed easy way to pitch business to reporters. Well, it can be but there is still work involved. Additionally, these pitches often don’t contain media value. So, while the website gives business owners access to clippings within the same industry, an untrained person will not have the same impact pitching the reporter vs. a true publicist.  While this trend may be fashionable now, with tech companies making DIY PR easy, it isn’t going to sustain itself.

I don’t want aspiring publicists to become discouraged in the middle of this tech meets publicity culture.  You are valued, needed and businesses will always need public relations. If you lose a client to a DIY opportunity, such as JustReachOut.com, the client didn’t have the money to sustain your services long term. It was meant to happen and you need to move on and find better clients who know it takes money to make money are who are truly interested in obtaining press.

I hope you take this information to heart on this Monday,

Coco the CEO 

Can't wait for tonight! 1st ever Go DJ Awards in Houston!

(Houston TX- June 2014) GO DJ HIP HOP | ENTERTAINMENT RED CARPET AWARD SHOW. HONORING HOUSTON’S TOP 30 IN MUSIC, ENTERTAINMENT & MEDIA.

The Largest  Go DJ Hip Hop| Entertainment Awards Show "Houston Edition" will take place in Houston,Texas, Monday July 21st 2014. This event is presented by Go DJ HI-C which is in fact the CEO of a global DJ Coalition called the Go DJ'S with over 250 Dj Members worldwide.

Fox 26 News Reporter Isiah Carey , Rapper Bun B, entertainment Attorney Carl Moore  are just a few  of the thirty business and entertainment professionals being honored at the first annual Go DJ Hip Hop Entertainment Awards.
We have a great turnout already. HBO and Comedy Central comic Ali Saddiq is the MC and the group of professionals we are honoring truly represent Houston’s spirit and energy,” Our invited guests and VIP presenters are receiving letters this week with special red carpet instructions. It is going to be a blast!”

ThinkZILLA PR Group, a Houston-based company with locations In Atlanta and Beverly Hills,California  will manage media and coordinate the event.  Not only does this bring attention to Houston’s business and entertainment talent, but it brings tourism into the city which equals tax dollars for local schools and outreach programs,” finished Trayham.

A full list of honoree’s may be requested  by emailing Velma@itsthinkzilla.com  The event starts at 6pm on Monday, July 21st of 2014, ending around 11pm. The award ceremony will take place at WAREHOUSE LIVE (Downtown Houston) 813 ST.EMANUAL ST. HOUSTON TEXAS 77003. Media credentials with red carpet access are available upon request.

Media Contact : prteam@itsthinkzilla.com or contact  Velma - 713-297-9122

Rewarding Employees – Do You Know How?

People tend to go gift card crazy when it comes to any birthday or corporate gift idea. Gift cards are alright but they are not the best way to reward or thank employees. In fact, studies show employees really like to be patted on the back and a bonus is always nice, too.

So, if you are thinking about getting a gift or a reward for an employee, skip the gift card option. Instead, you want to print up a letter of appreciation. Yes, a freebie act will be embraced by employees more then a gift card. If you want to give money, pay a bonus check versus a gift card. It is more personal and really solidifies how much you care or appreciate that employee.

Think about if you are on the receiving end. Would you want to receive an impersonal gift card to a place you may not like? Or is it better to get a letter of appreciation with a check for cash?

Until Monday,

Coco the CEO

4 Pet Peeves of Publicists

Let’s get real. You hire a publicist because you are not a publicist! So, why then do you bug your publicist? This is a major complaint of anyone within public relations field – the know it all clients.  We are often now allowed to meet our capabilities as PR professions because we are so busy taking phone calls, reading emails and reviewing edits from clients. The truth is, the most a client stays out of our way, the better promoted he or she will be!

I took a poll among my peers for tonight’s blog. So, without further delay, here are four ways to annoy your publicist. If you can refrain from committing any or all of these four ‘pet peeves’ then you will have a happier publicist and a better chance for media coverage.

1.     Put me on Oprah and do it tomorrow. LOL, OK – and can I charge you more for this order?  If you're just starting a public relations campaign, don't expect to end up on the front page of the Times--or any major news outlet--by Friday. Media campaigns take time and you need to be aware of publication cycles. Just because you think you’re newsworthy doesn’t make it so. Give your PR team 6 months to a year to build up your brand.

2.     “When am I going to get an interview?” This is a common question for those new to the PR field. Again, things take time and sometimes breaking news happens or you are interviewed and the story is cut by an editor- or even the reporter. Stop calling your publicist on a daily, hourly or second-by-second basis asking when the interviews will start rolling in or why they were cut. You will receive a PR report. It will be accurate. Your PR team wants to be resigned based on their ability, but again – you have to get off email and phone attempts to pressure them so they can be on email and the phones with the press.

3.     Demanding. Oh, most PR people hate this. Don’t demand anything from your PR team unless you want to be put at the bottom of the ‘to do’ list re: your account.  You get a lot more with honey then you do with vinegar. Demanding reports early, copies of pitch reports early, or just being demanding in general gets under the skin of many PR agents because their job is already demanding enough.

4.     Expect results in 30 days or less. Again, PR is a process. According to one of my peers, “If a PR firm promises you dramatic results at the end of the month, they're not being honest. PR is a long game where relationships and brand awareness build over time.  Public relations is a valuable tool in any company's toolbox. It's important, however, to have realistic expectations about what public relations is and what it can do for your company. And you have to work with the PR team. If you are not following their recommendations and tips, you’re hurting your own brand and setting the PR team up for failure.”

Remember these points and help your publicist out!

Until next time,

Coco the CEO

Meetings – Are You Getting Anything Accomplished?

Do you dread meetings because they are unproductive? Do you feel you have or attend meeting after meeting and there is more talk then action as a result? If so, keep reading. I am the master of hosting and attending meetings because I know how to keep the agenda moving and how to execute actionable items.

If you want to make a meeting productive then keep your eye on the final prize. How? Draw or write down verbal bubbles.  Use your cell phone to capture this process, or at least the end result, so you understand and recall the discussion and then write down your actionable plan off of the drawing or the verbal bubbles.
These picture cues do make a huge difference to recalling an actual conversation versus simply reading notes.

You also need to consider aggressively vetting everyone’s input in a meeting. Ideas a great but they don’t work 100% of the time. Vetting ideas and input saves money and embarrassment should a product or service not function properly right out of the gate. You can also use this tool to politely show an employee why something will not work opposed to simply saying ‘no’ to an idea. Ask all the questions right up front when it comes to implementing the idea- this will give you and the employees a realistic perspective as to what work has to go into even dreaming up the full process to support an idea.

Finally, keep the meeting within the scheduled time frame. If you go too long then people will tune you out. Being on time says something as to how your time is valued and how you value other people’s time.

Until tomorrow,

Coco the CEO

Obtaining Trust in Business.

Everyone these days seems to be a skeptic. With all the bad news in business promoted on national news, it is not hard to imagine why this is. I’ve learned that once you obtain the trust of your employees or clients that life becomes much easier. Trust, however, isn’t easily earned.

Below are three ways you can help promote trust between yourself and another party. I’ve tried and tested all of these steps and they do work!

1.       Eliminate the cell phone check at a meeting. No one can trust another person who isn’t present at a meeting. If you are going to lunch or a meeting with someone, leave the cell phone in the car. I’m serious. If you have someone’s attention for a whole hour without showing them there is something better on the end of your phone- you will easily gain their trust.

2.       Truly listen. This is hard for many people to do as we all want to share experiences and speak about ourselves.  Listening and then repeating what we hear to others is a cue that we are trustworthy because we are interested.  Paraphrase what you heard at any meeting back to the key people involved to ensure that you are a listener and you are willing to communicate. This practice builds trust!

3.       Close the door. Yes, close the door for every meeting you have with a person if you have an office. This shows that you are putting them first and setting the outside world apart. I even like to say “I know this meeting isn’t going to address confidential information but I like to keep my conversations private. It helps me confide in important people, like yourself, should a situation arise.”

Learning to trust and learning to be trustworthy are two different things. As a business owner, you have to be trustworthy in a world that doesn’t reflect this message. Start implementing the three tips above and you will be on your way.

Until tomorrow,

Coco the CEO 

Content Calendars 101

The key to any great social media or PR campaign is a content calendar.  Broadcast companies have one, the media uses one (editorial calendar) and most major corporate accounts use one. Are you?

When developing your calendar make sure you are aware of industry trends. For example, if you run a gym then it is your job to know when national heart health week, national spinach day (today), and other health related milestones occur. When you are aware of important industry dates, you can trend along with the topics on your own social media and blogging accounts.

You should also consider how you are writing your content. Is it ad based? It is all about self-promotion? If so, it is a mistake. Make sure you are providing real information and value- not just a pitch to gain sales.

If you follow these two simple steps when creating your content calendar I promise your ROI will go up.

Until tomorrow,

Coco the CEO 

How to Stay On Your Game!

People ask me all the time about staying on your game in business. Who has time to really go focus on networking when you have a business to run, right?! Wrong! Here are my three tips to staying on your game.

1. Try to meet one new person every single day. Yes, you never know who you are going to meet so make sure to introduce yourself to one new person at your local coffee store or in your office complex daily.

2. Spend 15 minutes each and every day doing something you hate. Why? It helps you grow your problem solving skills when faced with a challenge.

3. Share photos of your goals on social networks. Yes, your goals. Working for retirement? Share photos of places you want to retire. Working on becoming famous? Share your writing, music, etc. on these mediums. Why? Sure, the posts tell people about you but, more importantly, they work as self-affirmation and keep you on track towards these goals.

Until tomorrow,

Coco the CEO

Two ReasonsWhy You Will Fail in Business

Not all business owners are going to make it. This is a fact of life, sorry. So, what are the top two reasons business owners fail? Well, I’ve listed them below for you to consider this weekend as you’re making plans to open or continue operating your company.

#1. Relying on a concept and not a product. I can’t tell you the number of times I speak to people, especially in the PR business, who want to be famous or gain their idea notoriety. The problem with this is one of sustainability. You can only skate by on talking big for so long. Don’t rely on concepts to grow your brand. Instead, rely on real products that can be sold before your company can grow. Know where you’re at when it comes to concept vs. actual product and then start taking steps to get to the actual product or services delivered portion.

#2. Cash. Yes, cash is the number two reasons businesses fail. It isn’t a lack of cash that holds a company back, either. It is how it is spent. Don’t throw millions or even thousands of dollars into an ad campaign when you don’t have your product or services perfected. Instead, use the money to perfect the products and/or services. Strategic spending is a big problem for many new business owners.

I hope this helps you really put your company into perspective this weekend.

Until Monday,

Coco the CEO

Small Actions Yield Successful Results

Here’s an interesting story for you. I was recently consulting another business owner on growth. She asked me why things weren’t happening fast enough for her. Knowing her product, I asked her what she was doing on a daily basis to improve how she marketed the product or her overall operations.

She looked at me stunned and slightly confused. She said she was too busy to put any thought into improvements. Funny, right? She is too busy to read up on business tips, make small daily changes, or even consider room for improvement. However, she took two hours out of her day, and money out of her wallet, for me to point out the obvious to her.

You have to be just as, if not more, invested in your company and brand as you want others to be. No one is going to pay you if you don’t care or don’t have the time to care. You have to make the time. I went over some time management strategies with the woman noted above and she is making great changes, even though they are small, to her company on a daily basis.

I want you to spend the weekend deciding how you will make small changes to help grow your company. Are you able to wake up 20 minutes earlier to brain storm? How about your gym time? Can you cut it in half to work on marketing plans? Figure out a way to build in at least an extra 20 minutes per day into your schedule to create small steps that will lead to big changes and growth.

Until Monday,

Coco the CEO

Are You Poised?

Many of my blog readers are women. I have women ask me daily what the key to success is. These are professional women with great backgrounds in education. They’re experienced in a wide-array of industries. Yes, they’re asking me the key to success. Well, the key to success is, and will always be, poise. How you hold yourself sends a message to the world. That message is success. Even if you haven’t achieved an industry milestone noting success, holding yourself as if you already have will define who you are to the world and your peers.

To reflect poise there are three key things you must do as a woman.

First, don’t pretend to know it all. If you are unsure about something, say so. Stating you need to find out the answer and get back to the person later shows you are careful about what you say and do. It means a lot more to someone then pretending you know it all and ending up with egg on your face at a later date.

Second, understand you’re not going to like everyone and they’re not all going to like you. Get along anyway. A person with great poise remains positive about everything business despite personal preferences for people. Show class by staying positive and focusing on what is important, not political or personal differences.

Third, don’t use foul language. This sounds silly but it means a lot in the business world. Using the f-bomb takes away from your message and your poise. People will respect you a lot more if you select educated words to describe your frustration versus the f-bomb. Period!

Want to know more about looking successful before you gain actual success? I’m available to provide consultations. Just click any of the links on the right to contact me.

Coco the CEO

Public Relations and You!

As the owner of a branding company, I often wear the hat of publicist. Every company needs a public relations person or firm. Not every company is aware of the value of a good PR person or what it is exactly they do. A common misconception is a PR person is capable of making another brand or person famous. While we all wish this was true, it isn’t. Consider how many PR firms and PR reps exist today. Think about the clients they have. Wouldn’t everyone BE famous if this was true?!

PR agents are only as good as the clients they represent. Clients who sit back and watch, not realizing they need to be doing something, will be frustrated with any PR person they hire. Clients who are willing to copilot a PR campaign will see the benefits in having a PR agency or person on their side. I recently read a great article via Media Bistro on the top PR myths for 2014. I strongly agree with every noted in the article, which you can find here: http://www.mediabistro.com/prnewser/top-5-pr-myths-to-debunk-in-2014_b80503

Let me discuss how PR efforts can benefit you.

1. You need to have a public image and a contact for the media. Not everyone in the media is going to run your story all of the time- or even half of the time. You have to hit when media value and relevancy are on your industry. Your PR person can help with this.

2. You need to have a PR person to help you during crisis communications. Yes, there are tactics to navigate these times. Tylenol bounced back and so did Robert Downey, Jr. thanks to their PR teams’ navigation of media affairs.

3. Clipping and reel collections and media value monitoring.

4. Pitching. Press releases are great, but they don’t mean sales. In fact, an increase in profits doesn’t always happen (for the first two years anyway) when a publicist is involved. It takes time and a lot of planning, pitching and phone calls.

5. You will not have overnight success the second, or even six months, after your hire a PR firm. Know your expectations, goals and what you’re willing to put into a campaign. You have to have a product to sell to the media outside of just having a publicist. And, most importantly, you need a manager or a marketing team to work with your publicity team.

I’m available for private business consultations, including covering areas of publicity and marketing.

Please use one of the links (right) to contact me.

Until next time,

Coco the CEO