These 11 Brand Names That Couldn't Survive

When starting a business, creating the name of the brand is one of the most important parts; without a good brand name. the brand can suffer and have poor marketing and public relations. The problem is that sometimes things happen that can alter the perception of a brand's name, things that have nothing to do with the actual business.

For example, the Isis candy company. The candy company has nothing to do with the group in the Middle East but when people hear "ISIS", they think of the terror group and their acts of violence, not delicious chocolate.

Not every brand has to ditch a name when they find themselves in a situation like this, there are other routes. After all, a company's branding- personality, recognition, etc.- all rest on the brand's name. It is a large step and an arduous one! As soon as you get a new brand name, you are essentially starting from square one. However, sometimes that is the only solution, such as with Isis candy, who now operates under Libeert.

Here are 11 brand names that had unfortunate situations like this:

1. Isis Chocolates. Yes, we just mentioned them but we will go into more detail. The company actually had a great name until 2013, they went by Italo Suisse. It was in 2013 when they changed their name to Isis. Too bad the execs at the company didn't know about the terror group or they wouldn't have chosen that name, according to their marketing manager. The terror group has been around for a long time but it wasn't until the summer of 2014 until the US began hearing about them, as that was when they started mass-releases of their videos. They chose Libeert since that's the last name of the owners. Good move. 
2. Ayds diet candy. There was once a candy company called Ayds. That's right, it sounded just like the disease- AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome). Even when AIDS had a mass awareness in 1981, the candy company didn't think the names would conflict. Well, in 1987, they realized they were wrong. The CEO and his team created a new name for the brand, "Diet Ayds". The new name was as bad as the old one. The brand flopped and disappeared from the world. This brand could've used some serious franchise PR. 
3. United Stationers. This was a recent change, just a month ago. United Stationers decided to change their name, the one they had since 1922, to Essendant. They believed that "stationers" sounded too much like stationary, which gave an antiquated feel, according to CEO Cody Phipps. 
4. Nokia. Nokia, the once preferred famous brand of cell phones. The phones notorious for strength (at least the ones from the 90s and 00s). And then the smartphone happened. Nokia was slow to adapt and they had to partner with Microsoft to make it happen. Microsoft bought Nokia in 2014, released the Lumia without the "Nokia" name on the phone, and the rest is recent history. 
5. Sci Fi. The Sci Fi channel changed its name to SyFy. The way it sounds is exactly the same, so this name change technically worked. This name change happened so the channel could broaden its offerings and it could be copyrighted. 
6. Hot Mama. This popular clothing brand was doing very well, however, due to its name (and branding), people thought they sold maternity clothes. They changed it to Evereve. 
7. YMCA. The famous gym brand changed their name from YMCA to The Y. Very few Americans knew what the letters stood for and it drove people crazy. The solution was simple, don't use them. The new logo and name were an easy acceptance for Americans since so many people called it "The Y" for years, anyway. 
8. Philip Morris. The largest tobacco company in the world, Philip Morris, knew that they had to change their name due to its closeness to Marlboro and other cigarette brands, which drew heat. They changed their name to Altria. 
9. AIG Chartis. The company at the center of the economic fallout of 2008, which was bailed out for $85 billion. Had changed their name to AIG Chartis in 2009. However, after ranking as the most hated brand every year between 2009 and 2013, they went back to AIG. 
10. ValuJet. You might know them by the name AirTran. When a ValuJet plane crashed in the Florida Everglades in 1996, there was some serious anger that came at the airline; they were known for low-priced airfare but many believed it was due to shoddy planes and maintenance. The brand was bought out by Southwest in 2010 and is no longer operating under AirTran name. 
11. Malaysia Airlines. You could say 2014 was not a good year for the airline, since it lost two planes within five months. One is still not found over a year later. While this brand has not done anything yet, a major rebranding is in the works, which could include a name change. 

Many of these brands changed their names due to a crisis, which can happen to any company. If your brand encounters a sticky situation, make sure to contact a crisis communications agency, such as a franchise PR firm. 

PR Lessons We Learn from Santa Claus

In the spirit of the holidays, we thought it'd be fun to look at the lessons we can learn from Santa when it comes to franchise public relations.

Make a list and check it… twice. What if Santa gave a bag of coal to someone who was actually on the "Nice List"? That would be really embarrassing and create a PR crisis for Santa. In the world of PR, we have to build lists all the time and can seem tedious. When building a list of contacts or tasks to get done, such as work to be done for a client, then make sure to check it over to make sure t
hat everything is correct.

Plan, prep, execute. Santa prepares for his delivery run each and every year by building toys and planning things the previous eleven months. In franchise PR, we do not always have eleven months to prepare for something. Sometimes, we do not even have eleven hours. Or minutes. However, if we have a basic plan of action for something, say crisis communications, then we should be able to deliver quickly.

Share information. Santa shares lots of things such as presents, the fame (those elves are the real heroes), and his likeness (Santa doesn't sue for others using his likeness.) In public relations, in terms of social media, it is great to share images, logos, posts, news, info, and other goodness with those that are willing to listen to us. You want to protect your brand image but you also want to share the love.

Get a big rep. Get both a big reputation (for good) as well as a big franchise PR agency. Santa is one of the most recognizable people in the whole world, everyone who sees him knows his name. Santa has had his image used by some bad people and businesses for their own gain, yet we all still love Santa.

Show people that you care. Santa is known for his generosity and spreading holiday cheer. As PR professionals, we are in a great position to spread some cheer as well; when we successfully get a client in front of the media for something great, it makes them happy. We can also have clients do some good philanthropy, as well as ourselves.

Do you want a franchise PR firm that can get you as popular as Santa? Then contact All Points PR, a Chicago PR agency with experience in many industries and the results to back it up. See how we can help your business gain success!

5 Examples of Great Crisis Communications

A crisis can happen at any moment and can make things very difficult for a business or person. You never know when they are going to happen. Consequently, it's important to always be prepared for what might happen. When you have the plan in place, it's important to put the plan into action as soon as possible.

Here, we have a list of 5 great examples of companies having disaster plans ready to go, demonstrating their plan for crisis communications. 

1. The first example is from Southwest Airlines when they had the plane land nose first at LaGuardia Airport in New York. When the plane landed, the airline was immediately on social media updating people on the situation and keeping their calm. They gave statements about what was going on. The airline's example of franchise public relations was commended by many people who gave thanks to the airline for their open communication and quick timing. 
2. The second is from the Red Cross. Social media has been known to be the cure (or at least a help) to a PR crisis, however, it has also been known to be the cause. Back in 2011, the American Red Cross had a goof on their twitter when an employee tweeted about "getting slizzerd" from the organization's twitter. The company responded with speed and assurance to their followers by saying that they'd deleted the tweet and had "taken the keys." The person at fault then responded later with a tweet from her personal twitter about how she didn't know how to use Hootsuite and was confused if she was posting to her twitter or RC's. 
3. The Hitler kettle from JC Penny. A couple years ago, JC Penny had ads featuring a kettle they recently debuted but there was a problem; in the ad, the kettle looked like Adolf Hitler. JC Penny realized that they had a situation that could turn into a really bad situation if they didn't handle it with grace. They responded to tweets about how it was unintentional and what possible redesigns they could do. 

So now we have seen some examples of great crisis communications and how it's important to have those plans in place and utilize them. Also, we see that sometimes, to help the situation, some humor helps the crisis. If you want a franchise PR agency to help you with any PR issues, then contact All Points PR. 

Why Should I Get A Franchise Public Relations Team?

What is the point of getting a franchise public relations team for your company? Well, there are a lot of reasons, my friend. See, a public relations franchise team can do a lot to protect your business and give you direction about what to do next in order to grow. Let's explore the reasons your company should buddy up with a PR firm.

The first reason your company should team up with a franchise PR firm is because the PR firm can protect your company. When things happen and there is a hoopla about the outcome, your company will need somebody who knows how to handle the media and the angry mob of consumers outside your door. Having a PR firm by your side who can handle crisis communication is going to do a lot of good in the long run. The media will want answers and with the help your PR team, you will be able to give the right answers.

The second reason your company should hire a franchise PR team is because they will get your name out there. The people at the public relations firm will work night and day trying to get your name in front of the media; this gets your company's name in the newspaper, magazines, radio, and television. Yeah, your company could be doing a segment on the news stations in your area and, if awesome enough, perhaps national media. This will greatly increase potential business opportunities since more results when they promise to get your in front of the eyes of your publics, or, people you want to be your customer.
people will know your business exists; let's be honest, a lot of times, the reason a business struggles is because they are unknown to many (as long as they do indeed have a good product/service). A PR firm can get

The third reason your company should dire a franchise PR firm is because they will give your direction on what to do next. This is an ambiguous statement so I'll explain further; the PR team can help you decide what would be a good way to promote your company. This is more marketing related than PR but a good PR firm will either know this knowledge or at least have marketing people working there to give their input.

Still not sure why your company should hire a PR firm to help your business? Do some research and you will see. If you have any questions, contact All Points PR, a full-service Chicago franchise PR firm .

What is Franchise Public Relations? Let Me Tell You!

What is public relations? Well, there is a saying that says if you ask ten different people what public relations is, you will get ten different answers. The truth is, a lot of people do not know the definition of franchise public relations and even a few people in the public relations world do not know. It is seen as such a vague industry that it is hard to understand what franchise industry PR exactly is.

So what is franchise PR? Well, a basic definition of PR is, "The ability and duty to shape and maintain the image of a company or person (so they appear favorably in the eyes of the public.)" The part within the parentheses is more of an unwritten part; PR does not mean sweeping things under the rug and telling lies in order for a client to appear well in front of publics, or the client's target market, or anything unethical; what public relations is intended to do is help a company or person maintain an image they want. Helping someone or something maintain an image means to get their good news out to the world, get their name in front of people, and to limit damage that can be caused by bad publicity. But I will say it again, an ethical public relations practitioner does not lie or fabricate information for the sake of their client's image.

So how did franchise public relations come to life? It all started back in the early 20th century when mass media was coming around. At the time, "muckraking" was a popular form of journalism; muckraking was when journalists would dig up information about companies or people and then publish it in their stories. It got especially bad when muckraking journalists began fabricating some of the information for their stories. However, the vast majority of the stories were true but still dangerous for the success of the companies that were exposed. Consequently, Ivy Lee, a well renowned journalist and pioneer PRP, wrote a press release defending his targeted clients and helped protect their images. Once the public relations bug caught on, more and more people joined the industry and companies were getting the defenses that they so dreadfully needed.

Public relations practitioners began getting so good at what they did that people starting calling them "spin doctors" because of how well they could spin bad publicity into something good or at least justifiable.

In today's franchise PR firms, PRPs do so much more than just write press releases for newspapers and magazines; they are required to understand the needs and desires of their client's and their client's target markets. Why do they have to know those things? Because the knowledge of those things helps the PRP do the best work for their client. Public relations requires that PRPs form relationships with their client's target markets and do things for the client that please the markets. PR stunts are often the result of this duty. As you know, PR stunts incorporate some marketing concepts so PRPs now have to have at least a bit of a grasp of marketing. PRPs also have to be salesmen; they have to be able to sell their stories to the media and get the media to broadcast information regarding their client. Franchise industry PR firms also need to be able to be a counselor for when there is a crisis that needs to be taken care of.

As a Chicago franchise PR firm and Chicago crisis communications agency, All Points PR has a lot of knowledge in this field and as a full-service PR firm, loves helping those who need the defense of a PR team.

Getting Into Franchise PR? Here's How to Be Great

Franchise public relations is an industry that requires people to be on top of their game; when people get into PR, some think that it is just about writing some press releases and having some marketing knowledge. Well, while those things are important facets of public relations, they are not everything one needs to know in order to be great at their franchise PR firm.

There are several things one can know to do to be good as a public relations professional, if not a great one.

1. Absorb information from things you read and see. Try to observe the scenery around you and read books and guides about the industry. Perhaps even watch and study those in the industry who are well respected for their franchise PR duties. If you soak up that information and try to implement it, you will learn the great skills of PR in no time. Those who do not get good at public relations are the people who do not try; if you try and want to learn, then you will have no choice but to learn. 
2. Remain current. Few things are more embarrassing than someone who is not on top of the events going on in the world. Would you want to talk to a public relations professional who doesn't know what is happening in the news? No, you would laugh at them. Stay on top of what is going in the world; read newspapers, magazines, watch the news, etc. If something is talking about what is going on in the world, as long as you know it is credible, read it and take in that information. The media wants to talk to someone who is an expert at stuff, by staying current you will be that expert. 
3. Be able to multitask or watch out for being drained of energy from not knowing how to prioritize and manage work. At this Chicago franchise public relations firm, we know that the ability to multitask and manage is one of the few things that helps you keep your head on straight; PR is not a business that is predictable or formulaic, it is anything but. Know when to do what and how to do it. 
4. Know how to write. As an employee in a franchise industry PR firm, you have to know how to write. It's as simple as that. If you cannot write a press release or how to write engaging material, people won't want to read your pitches because they will laugh at you. it sounds harsh but it's a reality. The media wants to be engaged when you email them, show them your releases, and when they come to you for information. You wouldn't try to become a NASCAR driver if you didn't know how to drive, would you? Well, maybe, but you wouldn't be able to win any races. 
5. Be composed. This one kind of plays off of the point in number three. Being able to keep calm and composed during a crisis is the only way you can sanely get things done. If there is a crisis with a client, they will turn to you to handle the situation; if you are freaking out as much or more than they are, then they won't want to use you. Also, PR is a stressful business, no doubt about it; you have to be able to keep a level head and keep going. A stressed PRP is a bad PRP. 
6. Get up after being knocked down. You will make mistakes as a PRP, it is bound to happen. The key to recovering from mistakes is to learn from what you did and make sure that you do not copy that mistake next time you get in a similar scenario. 

Now, go out there and be the best franchise PR professional you can be. Learn, do, and plan. As a Chicago franchise PR firm, we know all about the public relations world and love helping people with PR needs. 

Why Is Social Media Important?

Franchise PR has evolved over the years and become more digital and because of this, it has seen a lot of changes. One of the changes in the public relations has been the addition of social media. Social media is a powerful, powerful tool for companies to use because it enables companies to give news in real time and engage with consumers.

The ability to give news in real time and directly engage with consumers means giving companies a face, a personal image that people can see; it gives a whole new level to branding and public relations.

The reason being able to tell news in real time is because it reduces the likelihood of people making up their own stories in the time it takes between news breaking and for the story to be published. Since newspapers cannot rewind time and reprint that morning's paper, they have to run the story the next morning; while electronic newspapers have reduced this publication time, social media can still be and often is still faster. With the ability to type up a tweet, Facebook post, Instagram post all within a few seconds, no more 10 seconds, it is very easy to get news out there. Franchise Public Relations depends on quick response times and having accurate news. Perhaps the biggest principle in public relations is being quick to respond to news, good or bad, especially bad.

Social media has improved quick response times exponentially. For example, after an airline had a plane have a nose-landing at a runway at La Guardia airport, the airline immediately tweeted about the incident and let people know. Without social media, breaking the news of the plane's nose-landing would have taken longer.

Another reason social media has helped franchise public relations firms and companies in general is the ability to engage with consumers. With social media, consumers can voice themselves and let companies know about their complaints, praises, inquiries, etc and have them go directly to the company, who can then respond. Consumers can have conversations with companies. For public relations, the same idea applies; specifically, PR firms can have interaction with fellow PR firms and the media and get news out faster and accurately.

What is Public Relations?

What is public relations? Many people have this question and it is difficult to answer for those who do not know. Many people think that public relations is the same as marketing and advertising; while they are similar in theory, they are different practices entirely. It is said that PR is something you do not pay for while marketing is something you have to pay for. Also, advertising and marketing seek to control the conversation and message while PR communicates and builds relationships with target markets, or publics, and opinion leaders of the public.

Of course, to answer the question, "What is PR?" We have to dive deeper and explain what public relations  practitioners can do and not do. What franchise industry PR can do is to help build and maintain a good image for a company and/or person. One thing the PR firm must do for this is to build credibility for the client. The reason the firm must build credibility for the client is because it helps with the client's persuasion and builds trust and power behind the client's words.

 A second task of a PRP for a client is manage the client's reputation; this means to build and maintain. If a client wants to appear generous, then the franchise PR agency will create PR opportunities or capitalize on good moments. People sometimes think that PR stunts are negative but this is not true, when a PR firm does a PR stunt, it can be for pure promotion of an event, etc and not to cover up or create anything bad. The negative connotation of PR stunts typically comes from the PR stunts that are done for celebrities. But back to the main point that franchise public relations firms do use and create moments for reputations is often good.

 A third task of a PRP is to inform public opinion and create understanding. When publics, or consumers, don't understand something a company is doing, it is up to the franchise PR firm to resolute the questions and issues.

 A fourth task of a PRP is to create unity among people. For example, a PRP at a company is supposed to create loyalty, a whole-hearted volunteer effort, etc. They are supposed to create that sense of "togetherness" for a company so they will perform better. A common misconception of public relations is that it is supposed to cover up mistakes and faux pas of companies; this is not true at all, at least not for PR firms that believe in ethics. Ethical PRPs know that you do not sweep anything under the rug but rather you acknowledge the error. resolve it, and move on. Ignoring an issue or covering it up is a huge mistake and creates a bad reputation, worse than the original error. 

Hopefully this blog helped you understand what public relations is and now you can sleep peacefully knowing what it is and how it's different than advertising and marketing.

Getting the Most Out of Your Franchise Public Relations SEO

Using SEO article marketing is a brave and smart way to get your name out there, especially in the <a href=http://www.allpointspr.com> franchise PR </a> realm where everyone feels like they are the next Walter Cronkite as they spread their opinions about the news all over social media.

There are a few things that you can do to increase the likelihood of generating links and boosting your ratings on search engines.

The first thing is to use specific keywords. Keywords are the things that people type into search engines to find something. For example, if you want good local Chinese restaurants, you may search "good local chinese restaurants." Use Google Analytics to search for the best and latest keywords that are related to your business. The thing about keywords is that they often work for a while and then one day, nothing. What were once fantastic keywords that were generating lots of links and clicks are now getting nothing or maybe only a quarter of the results they were a month ago. The reason is because people may not always search for something with the same language; also, search engines will switch things up and so you have to see what keywords they like and don't like.

The best way to incorporate keywords into something is to incorporate keywords into your articles and blogs that you post online. When you search for something, search engines scan everything on the internet for those specific words and the things that contain the most are the links that are higher up than others. Once you find your keywords, sprinkle them into your web articles and blogs. You can easily tie them into a sentence so it's not awkwardly posted into your writing. For example, if your keyword was "Chicagoland prime steakhouse" then you could say, "The best place to find a 'chicagoland prime steakhouse' is on Wabash in downtown Chicago" instead of "If you like meat 'chicagoland prime steakhouse' then you should go down to Wabash in downtown Chicago." The second sentence was kind of awkward, huh? While that is utilizing keywords, it's not pretty.

To be more specific with utilizing keywords in your writings, in addition to posting them in your text body, try using them in titles and even your social media posts. These small additions are little things that can really add to your rankings without a whole bunch of added effort. As a <a href=http://www.allpointspr.com> franchise PR firm </a> it's important for you to have high rankings since this will position you as a leader in the PR world.

How Franchisors Should Respond To Online Criticism

As a Chicago franchise PR firm, we know that no company enjoys having to defend their image and maintain a positive reputation.  We also know that is can become quite difficult to regain a positive image.  All Points PR, a Chicago crisis communication agency has crafted a multitude of techniques for marketing and public relations efforts to help franchises build a better reputation.  

Being experts in public relations franchise efforts, we make it  point to correct the dirty laundry that is exposed to the public.  We guide our clients in the right direction in their choice of words, actions or whatever means necessary to gain positive support from customers, shareholders, employees, franchisees, and other prospective franchisees. 

Thanks to social media and the online community in general, our PR firm has come up with strategic franchise PR consulting that utilizes our social media consultants to garner progressive attention.  We understand that social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter can attract a lot of attention fast, and not it a good way.  The use of hashtags has given the public the ability to form unions for or against a purpose, organization, company or event.  It is the job of our franchise public relations agency to mediate that activity and help give a franchise a voice when their actions have been muted or masked by the public. 

Regardless of the situation, we can tell all franchises that the way to react to online feedback is to never react with threats or anger.  Rather than continue with the negative light, our Chicago PR firm would guide you into taking the steps to correct any shortcomings, addressing errors, and acknowledging the situation on a whole.  We strongly advise that any franchise that is not sure how to handle a situation seek advice from our PR firm to ensure that the existing negativity does not continue to grow. 

We want all franchise companies to understand that not everyone can be perfect regardless of their business.  However, they should not fear online criticism either.  As long as the franchise is working to improve their ways or system, the public will see that and share that with the rest of the world.  And if you recognize that your franchise is not getting the attention it deserves, you should seek out All Points PR for a public relations campaign to help your company get back on two feet.

It’s important that your franchise exceeds general expectations or that it can disprove any negative judgments of the line of franchises on a whole.  Our franchise public relations agency can assure you that we can guide your franchise to be a step above the competition while also maintaining a realistic image both online and offline.  If you have any questions on how to help your franchise prosper, contact our PR agency today. 

Social Media Alone Does Not Sell A Franchise

Our Chicago PR firm knows that companies are looking for franchise public relations experts.  For years now, many franchises have become experts at utilizing social media to increase sales while many others are steering clear for the fear of the unknown of social media.  Many companies think that social media is just a trend and that it is too late to invest in, but this is not true.

Part of our public relations services is to have our social media consultants advise your franchise on the best options to generate business and talk of your franchise.  Although we will admit social media WILL NOT sell your franchise, it will definitely do more help than harm with some guidance in franchise PR from All Points Public Relations. 

As professionals in the PR industry, our PR agency will tell you that utilizing social media for your franchise is just as important as all the other variables in the marketing mix.  It is highly suggested that your franchise maintains a budget and runs a well-planned social strategy t appeal to larger publics.  When using social media for franchises, it should be used as a call-to-action marketing took that will promote your brand and position your franchise amongst other franchises.  By doing these things, you will not only create brand loyalty, but you will enhance the loyalty of franchise. 

There is absolutely no reason why you should not utilize social media for franchises unless you are not in touch with someone who can properly manage it or you do not have a budget to manage a campaign.  Social media is a catalyst for sharing good news about your franchise or the community.  For example, news stories that are secured via public relations efforts can live longer lives by leveraging and utilizing different social media pages.  Not only that, but our social media consultants are experts in using social media for franchises to offset any bad or negative consumer experiences. 

There is no doubt that social media can help sell your franchise, but it will in no way be what sells your franchise. Social media is an important part of enhancing franchise recruitment efforts but in no way will be the secret weapon to building the brand alone.

If your brand is seeking franchise social media experts and looking to improve sales processes, contact All Points Public Relations today.  All Points Public Relations, a Chicago-based PR firm focused on working with franchise companies, is experienced in planning, executing and driving powerful results with strategic social media tactics.

Tips For a Successful PR Career

As a Chicago PR Firm, we know it took us a lot to get us where we are today at All Points Public Relations.  Now that the spring semester has ended for most colleges and there are lots of graduates seeking professional careers in public relations, we have some tips for you.  Although we wish we had received some of these tips years ago at the start of our careers, a lot of the advice we have to give is learned through experience.

Know Current News:

One of the most important aspects of being a strong public relations specialist or agent is to stay current on news whether your read it online or through the newspaper.  When it comes to crisis communications, it is crucial you stay on top of the news to be a better advocate for a cause.  It’s best to stay on top of happenings in your industry because it will help you do business better.  Curiosity and knowledge is what makes for a strong PR agency.

Write Well:

The importance of learning how to write, and write well is more critical than you realize.  Believe it or not, short messages, paragraphs, etc. help to better convey a point than to be long winded.  Our social media consultants are experts in writing messages for social media sites to spark interest in our following.  You need to learn to catch a reader’s attention in the first sentence, if you don’t, you’ve lost their interest and they’ve already scrolled on.  Not to mention, you need to learn how to write grammatically and publicly correct to preserve a good reputation.  

Provide Solutions:

Our Chicago public relations franchise handles clients with dilemmas who need them solved frequently.  It is important to stay open-minded and learn how to change behavior and perception of others towards or about your client.  If you can be a person who can come up with solutions to a problem you will be well respected and a go-to agent.

Define Strategies, Objectives, and Tactics:

Part of our public relations services include clearly defining a plan for our client.  This means we define objectives, strategies, and tactics for a public relations campaign.  An objective for your PR campaign is to establish what needs to be accomplished, which should typically relate to your business goals.  Strategies are how you plan to accomplish the objective.  Lastly, tactics are the actions you actually take to complete the objective/goal. 

Learn From Mistakes and Own Up To Them:

We know that you don’t know everything, because we don’t know everything either.  However, you need to know your depth and expand in certain horizons.  Typically, we learn we need to know more when we make a mistake.  The best thing you can do is learn from your mistakes and learn what to do to make it better the next time around.  Always figure out ways to improve your PR strategies.

It’s All About Details:

There seems to be nothing that seems to irk an audience more than someone who doesn’t know what they are talking about or shares inaccurate information.Take your time if you need it, don’t be sloppy.  Re-read your work, double check your points and numbers, and make sure you know the answers to the questions of people playing devil’s advocate.

 

We hope the advice from our Chicago Public Relations Franchise will come in handy to any career-seeking graduates.  If you have any questions about our tips or have any advice as to what tips we should include in the future, please comment or visit our website!

How to Create Shareable Social Media Content

As a Chicago Public Relations Company, we know how important it is for our clients to create social media content that is interesting and shareable.  In today’s society, there is an abundance of information being spit out for people to read, but it’s important that our clients figure out their niche to stand out.  It’s not so much the quantity of the content that is being share as much as the quality.  However, a good combination of both is strongly advised by our social media consultants.

Here are our tips on ways to make your content shareable with social media for franchises. 

Be Heartfelt:

When it comes to what content is shared most on social media platforms, our PR firm strongly suggests you post content that hits the heart.  We think you should make your posts personable so that your fans and followers know that you care about them and what may be going on in the world.   Some of the largest trends on Facebook involve sharing a photo where an individual is holding a sign asking for one million like or shares for a specific cause like raising money for a non-profit or children holding a sign asking for “likes” to convince their parents they should get a new family pet. 

Act and React Quickly:

When something tragic happens or a dramatic event has occurred, it is crucial to take action and react to the event.  For instance, when the bombing in Boston happened, the public wants to know the all the details.  Being the first company or person to create truthful and informative content can go viral fast.  

Teach Your Audience What They Need:

Our Chicago PR firm knows not everyone is attracted to all new products that come out.  It’s important that you teach your fans in social media posts why they need your product or service.  In order to do this, you really need to tap into the personality and wants of your customers.  Once you know who they are and what they want, teach them why they need your product above the competition.

Think Like Your Audience:

We know that our clients think an idea, product, or post may be great, but as an experienced public relations firm, we know not everything is what it’s chalked up to be.  Walk a mile in their shoes, create emotional content worth connecting with. 

Be Funny:

People remember funny facts or funny moments.  Our PR agency knows that not all topics are humorous, but if there is something funny or relate-able worth sharing, chances are people will share your content. 

Stay Professional:

Our Chicago Crisis Communication Agency encourages our clients to remain professional and reminds them that they are socially responsible for the things they post.  It is important to remember that you cannot always post what you believe is funny or heartfelt because oftentimes, those things can be equally offensive.  Remember, when you post content on Facebook, everyone is watching.  Don’t find yourself in an embarrassing situation or in a crisis in need of our social media consultants.

These six tips should help your create social media content that is shareable and appropriate.  But don’t forget, it’s equally important to produce quantities of content as it is to produce content of great quality.

If you have any questions about creating great social media content, please feel free to contact us or comment!

The Importance of Avoiding Social Blunders

The Importance of Avoiding Social Blunders

As a Chicago FranchisePublic Relations Agency, we understand that social media can be a double-edged sword.  In a matter of second, your 140-character tween could have your brand ‘trending’ for better or worse. Since the beginning of social media, several companies have fallen victim to the all too familiar rogue tweets and communication blunders.  This often times happens by accident because company or organization social media accounts are linked to personal accounts and the administrator forgets to switch usernames before posting.

For example, Cynthia Soledad, the head of KitchenAid, made a large Twitter error after the presidential election in November 2012.  She tweeted her negative thoughts towards the election referencing President Obama’s deceased grandmother from the KitchenAid Twitter instead of her own.  The company quickly deleted the offensive message and issued a public apology, but the tweet went viral in seconds and was retweeted numerous times.  This mistake required a strong Chicago crisis communication agency like All Points Public Relations to help render the blunder.

While many people may be shaking their head and wondering how something like that could happen, it actually happens quite frequently in Chicago social media and elsewhere.  Our PR agency has come up with a few tips for you to consider in for you franchise public relations agency to prevent any social media mishaps in your PR campaign. 

Think before you tweet: It is important to remember you are protecting and building an image.  Social media pages should mirror the company's brand. Keep your franchisesocial media professional, and if it sounds like something you wouldn't tell your mother it is probably not the best status to post.

Always log out: Blunders often happen because an employee thought they were posting on a personal page.  Once the mistake was realized, the post had already gone viral. General rule of thumb, always log out and your company won’t be in need of our Chicago crisis communication agency.

The world is watching:  Knowing your audience is key and with social media, your audience is the world.  You need to be up on current events and remain empathetic/neutral to sensitive issues.

No posting after hours: There is a saying that nothing good will happen after 2am.  Well, in social media, nothing good will happen after 10pm for any PR campaign.  Your online persona could be tarnished by a regrettable 'retweet,' a sarcastic joke or an unflattering photo.  It's best to save the social media updates for working hours and working hours only.

People do make mistakes: Nobody is perfect and mistakes will be made.  If in need, you can depend on All Points Public Relations as your Chicago crisis communications agency.