Blog Archives

Keys to Successful Engagement

10/29/2015

Our messages compete with a cacophony of noise in pursuit of ever decreasing attention spans.
Here are a few keys to engagement to help break through the clutter and truly connect.

Be interested.
            - listen, really listen
            - keep an open mind

Be interesting.
            - add value
            - give them something to talk about
Be yourself.
            - authenticity is everything
            - people do business with people
Be kind.
            - kindness is attractive, criticism is ugly
            - respect differences
Be responsive.
            - don’t put people on hold
            - acknowledge others even if you can’t respond right now
Be responsible.
            - own your word
            - manage expectations
Be informed.
            - be a connoisseur of curiosity
            - know the facts behind the story
Be consistent.
            - keep your word
            - repeat your words

Communicating without a plan is risky business.
Learn more about building relationships, creating conversations and sharing your story at www.1bluecube.com.

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outside the box marketing solutions

10/28/2015

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Outside the box is more than a cliché or clever tagline.
It’s literally a way of thinking about your business.

Business as usual has given way to disruption being the new normal.

From mass media to mass customization we’ve turned into content connoisseurs with little time to waste. Attention is the coveted prize and the competition is fierce.

Every message is met with ad blockers, spam filters and diminishing attention spans.

To succeed in business you need to literally get outside the boxes that hold us captive to convention.

            • outside the declining viewership and diluted channels of TV
            • outside the tune of endless radio stations
            • outside the virtual reality of computer connections
            • outside the confines of your cubicle
            • outside the best practices of your profession
            • outside the safety of your comfort zone

Business is personal. We do business with, work for and support people who share our vision and values. There is a renewed emphasis on personal relationships, word-of-mouth referrals and grass-roots community building.

Too often, companies are caught up in the illusion of online connections and don’t see the opportunity just outside their door. One of the best ways to build relationships is by connecting over the passion for a cause.

Companies that are involved in their communities realize:
            • Increased market share
                         - 82 % of consumers are more likely to purchase a product from a company that
demonstrates results of CSR initiatives*
            • Higher employee satisfaction and retention
                        - 77% of employees think it’s important for companies to provide opportunities
to become involved in causes **
            • Enhanced image in the community
                        - 86 % of Americans are more likely to trust a company that communicates the
results or impact of its CSR efforts ***
            • A better place to live, work and do business
                        - A company is only as healthy as the community in which it does business
            • Receive more press coverage
                        - companies receive more press for what they do in the community than what they
                          do as a company

Beyond writing a check and paying lip service to support a cause or local nonprofit, community engagement is a strategic business decision that needs to complement a company’s mission, vision and strategic goals.

The bottom line is business shows it pays to be good.

Source: * 2012 Cone Corporate Social Return Trend Tracker
            ** 2010 Cone Cause Evolution Study
            *** 2012 Cone Corporate Social Return Trend Tracker

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30 Ways to brand your story

10/19/2015

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Let me share a little secret about your Brand . . . you don’t own it.

Your Brand is not your logo, your tagline or what you say it is.
Your brand is a perception in your customers’ mind.

Don’t worry, though, because you can help shape your customer's perception
through the stories you share.

Stories can be told across many mediums and take many forms.

Here's a list of 30 ways to brand your story.

Bio
Testimonials
Community Engagement
Social Media
Blog Posts
Media Relations
Crisis Communication
News Releases
Web Site
Word-of-Mouth
Customer Service
Videos
Tagline
Photos
Articles
TV appearances
Podcasts
Radio Interviews
Classes
Reviews
Awards
Memberships
Speeches
Certifications
Milestones
Partnerships
Endorsements
Book
Sponsorships
Networking

Please feel free to add additional ways to brand your story by commenting below.

I can show you how to excavate, craft and strategically share the stories hidden inside your organization that will help you attract customers, employees, volunteers and donors while capturing the media’s attention.

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What's your story?

10/13/2015

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Our lives are made up of seemingly serendipitous collisions of people, places and passions.

However, there are moments in everyone’s life when your heart takes a picture. Something touches your soul and is stored in your memory to be fully developed and seen when you need it most.

By developing the pictures and connecting the pieces we weave together our story.

Everyone has a story.
Everyone has a story that someone in the world needs to hear.

Whether etched on cave wall, imprinted in our minds or inked with pen on paper, storytellers pass down history from generation to generation.

Legacies lie in the lives touched by the stories passed down from generation to generation.

In business today, public relations professionals are charged with excavating, crafting and sharing the stories behind companies and nonprofits - how they were created, their founding principles, practices for success and their mission and vision for the future.

These stories are the blueprint for building a foundation of trust that shape a brand.

Stories describe how people wove their passion, vision and values into their organization. It’s what endears us to them.

To paraphrase the wisdom of Maya Angelou:
People don’t remember what you did or what you said,
but they remember how you made them feel.

Stories that make us feel are the connecting points that create an endearing brand.

What’s your story?

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Keys to Successful Engagement

outside the box marketing solutions

30 Ways to brand your story

What's your story?

Archives
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Categories

Public relations • Branding • communication strategy • community engagement • stories

Keys to Successful Engagement

outside the box marketing solutions

30 Ways to brand your story

What's your story?

Archives -

Categories

​Public relations • Branding • communication strategy • community engagement • stories

Archives
-

Public relations • Branding • communication strategy • community engagement • stories