Month: May 2009
links for 2009-05-22
remarkable companies – who makes your list?
Seth Godin is inviting people to contribute 200 words about a company they see as being remarkable for the updated version of Purple Cow. You can’t work for or with any company you put forward and entries need to be in by midnight EST on 24th may so you haven’t got long now!
I just had a go.
My purple cow is Howies, you might know it. Whether it gets in or not, I think they are a remarkable bunch.
Howies clothing is a truly remarkable organisation. It makes and sells clothes. But it provides brainfood.
Howies partners with charities, views its business through truly sustainable eyes and makes the most beautiful brochures I have ever seen. The reason it can do this is because it understands its customers. It also understands they care about the future of surfing, the battle for clean beaches, the world’s coolest skate parks, sustainable organisations, ethical supply chains….you get the picture.
Howies is one of the few organisations that manages to completely personalise its company by making every employee “the brand”. So they photograph the stories for the catalogue. They write the blog. They hold charity debates in their local stores. Howies features its product by showcasing it in a world its customers care about. But it does this from the roots of the company, not just out of the marketing department. And although it shouldn’t be, that is still pretty remarkable.
Which company is remarkable enough to make it onto your list?
junior PRs: why it is time to speak up
No matter how much work you do behind the scenes, as a junior PR consultant, a client will never know who you are or why they are paying for your time unless you take an active role in meetings. Getting started with this can be tough for many people, especially when there is a large team of more senior folks in the room.
Here are my tips:
- Agree a role with your manager before you go in
- Own a bit of the agenda to run through / update on
- Keep something special to tell the client – a hit you got, an opportunity you secured or a new industry thing they might be interested in
- Ask questions….think of something before you go in
- Check their news daily – you won’t learn and feel confident offering an opinion if you don’t read
- Look at the headlines before every meeting – any customer or competitor been written about that day?
- Check the stock price, it’ll help you know what their focus is before the meeting
- Introduce yourself and explain your role on the account
- Listen in to as many calls as you can – good way of learning before you speak
- Listen in to media briefings – helps you know the ropes before you host them yourself
- Remember the client is paying for your time, always think about demonstrating value to them by making a contribution
Anything I missed?
This is cross posted with my employer’s blog
I am freelance 