Latest News from Brad Brenner

Fixing Your B2B Website

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 11:30:00 EST

As a PR pro, I am often asked to review and comment on existing websites. In many cases, a company has just plunked down thousands of dollars on a website makeover only to find the results disappointing (at best). No wonder. Websites are often designed and created by HTML or PHP experts, not marketing pros. The [...]

Top 10 List (ok 3) of Lessons From David Letterman

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 15:39:34 EDT

WE ALL KNOW that David Letterman can be a funny guy. We are now learning that he can be quit a savvy PR professional as well. The talk show host’s handling of his recent “sex scandal” is truly one for the lesson books. We know that this kind of “news” can wreck careers. We are seeing that [...]

The Art of Rule Breaking

Tue, 08 Sep 2009 13:45:00 EDT

I LIKE BREAKING the rules. If done right, it can get you valuable attention, make you stand out and even give you a huge competitive edge. It can, of course, also get you into trouble. With that in mind, I’ve always been drawn to that age-old edict “You must know the rules before you can break them.” I first heard this pearl of wisdom as it relates to music theory. The rule says you must play “X” but you can break the rule and play “Y” instead… if you understand how and why it works.

Medical Recruiting In the Digital Age

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 18:05:00 EDT

IN MY last post, I wrote about the premature sounding of the death knell for public relations. I'll go a step further and say that, the need for adept public relations skills is actually growing and is more critical today than ever before. In fact, the use of strategic PR has begun to dominate areas that [...]

PR Is Dead...Long Live PR

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 16:45:00 EDT

“Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated” - a quote attributed to Mark Twain but apropos for today’s PR industry. I’ve seen several pieces of late, written by journalists and bloggers who appear rushed to sound the death knell over public relations. “New media and Web 2.0 changed the game,” they say, “and make public relations obsolete.”

VIDEO MARKETING

Mon, 11 May 2009 15:25:37 EDT

I WAS READING a new post on one of my favorite blogs and I had to laugh at the synergy between the subject matter and some of my own recent thinking. It all has to do with the rising use of video as a marketing tool. The author, Dean Rodgers over at KoiFish Communications, points out [...]

4 TIPS FOR SUCCESSFUL PR ON A SHOESTRING BUDGET

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 19:55:39 EDT

YOU’VE HEARD it over and over again– economic downturns are THE BEST time to invest in marketing. Vendors are charging less for services, publications and broadcast media are slashing advertising rates and most importantly, public relations is more effective than ever. That’s because during downturns, your competition (who isn’t as smart as you) is most likely [...]

ADVERTISING VS PUBLIC RELATIONS

Thu, 02 Apr 2009 19:51:14 EDT

PAST POSTS on this blog have addressed some of the dramatic changes that are currently turning traditional marketing strategies on their head. The press release is no longer solely for the press; published articles are oftentimes less valuable than those posted online; targeting lots of small audiences (bloggers) may ultimately yield BIGGER results than targeting one [...]

A HOLIDAY GIFT

Tue, 23 Dec 2008 18:49:57 EST

WELL, IT’S NOW day 5 of the great Portland “Arctic Blast” as they are calling it on the news. Portlanders aren’t used to much snow so even a little bit keeps everyone out of their cars and next to the fireplace. Sounds cozy, doesn’t it? Really not a bad way to head into the Xmas season. So with the [...]

RETHINKING THE PRESS RELEASE

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 18:48:35 EST

WHAT I’M ABOUT to say is heresy – at least to some. I’ve already been admonished by several PR practitioners who refuse to consider the possibility of change. It appears that nothing is as sacred to these “old schoolers” as the rules governing press releases. There was a time when a press release functioned as [...]

THE NEW SMELL OF PR

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 18:47:01 EST

AFTER 25 YEARS of practicing PR, old biases are hard to ignore. Earlier this week I was heading in to a 2009 planning meeting for a client in the medical technology industry. As I parked my car in front of their offices, I did a quick survey to make sure I had everything I needed - laptop with [...]

SPLASHCAST LOOKS TO BRENNER ASSOCIATES

Sat, 15 Mar 2008 13:24:14 EDT

Company’s New Social Marketing Tool Is Breakthrough For Advertisers Looking To Reach Users Of MySpaceOther Social Networking Sites BRENNER ASSOCIATES Public Relations today announced the addition of SplashCast™ to its list of clientele. Pioneers in the field of social marketing, SplashCast is quickly gaining industry recognition for its on-going success in helping big name brands effectively [...]