Have you heard the one about the Cobbler's children? Of course you have, because you work in PR. It goes something like this: The Cobbler works so hard every day to make shoes for customers that he (or probably she) doesn't have time to make shoes for his own children. [...]
It’s a common experience among many communications professionals: after helping an organization build its brand reputation during good times, we often see our efforts unravel the moment an economic downturn hits and senior management decides to cut spending on brand communications. It’s understandable. But it’s also a mistake, since difficult times are exactly when an organization should remain visible and emphasize its brand.
It’s no longer enough for businesses to simply buy and sell their products and services without considering the world in which they operate. Companies must voluntarily do business in an economically, socially and environmentally responsible manner to be sustainable over the long term.
I had the privilege of travelling to Spain in September to accept a prestigious PR industry award. I didn’t expect to return from this journey feeling relaxed, refreshed and full of new ideas for both my business and my life.
I’d like to tell you a story about one of my clients. Barbara Stewart, a portfolio manager at Cumberland Private Wealth Management, came to us in 2010 because she was frustrated with the multitude of articles that depicted female investors as under-confident, indecisive and disgruntled. There was a strong disconnect between what she read and what she knew to be true in her day-to-day dealings with her smart female clients throughout her career.
For many successful women, their careers are journeys that don’t always turn out the way they planned —often in a good way. If success and learning are your goals, it's your job to leverage what you learn at each stage of your journey. Here's my best advice on how to do that:
Esteemed group of female executives dedicated to the professional advancement of women across North America TORONTO, September 16, 2014 - Andrea Lekushoff, president of Broad Reach Communications, a Toronto-based public relations firm, is honoured to be appointed to the Women of Influence Advisory Board. Women of Influence is North [...]
As many of us know, middle managers are disappearing because Baby Boomers are retiring, but also because companies have fewer entry-level workers to promote to middle management roles. The Financial Post article, Filling in the middle: The dangers of disappearing middle management, describes the skills gap that’s been created by the lack of middle managers in the workplace. And it’s far from an ideal situation.
A few years ago, PR Week sat down for an interview with Hans Bender, then manager of external relations for global household care at Procter & Gamble. Bender had just completed a large study on the return on investment (ROI) of public relations.The study looked at the marketing mix for six different brands and found something interesting. The ROI for public relations averaged 275%—much higher than advertising. And PR drives the same level of sales as advertising—but at a lower cost.
Many studies reveal that people’s top fear is public speaking. Their second is death. Although I find that shocking, it’s also unfortunate. Like it or not, if you’re trying to build a name for yourself or for your business, you’ll benefit from sharing your insights and expertise in a public forum. It can help position you as an expert with your target audiences, especially if you speak in an articulate and polished way.
Competition is the nature of business. Big or small any competitor is capable of taking your customers or clients−especially in today’s global, connected market. It’s a battleground, and your goal is to win the war. With that in mind, are you focused on the strategic communications your competitors are doing right? Have you adopted a ‘me too’ approach when it comes to selecting communications channels?
Last Wednesday, Arianna Huffington delivered an inspiring speech at the Women of Influence Luncheon Series in Toronto. I had the pleasure of not only being there to hear her speak, but also of spending a few moments with her before the event. Broad Reach is a proud sponsor of Women of Influence Luncheon Series, as well as its PR agency of record.
