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September 30, 2011 at 1:42 PM by Cone Communications

A recent Advertising Age article examined freakonomics – the law of unintended consequences – in marketing. The verdict: choice may not be all it’s cracked up to be. This isn’t a new claim but certainly one that’s worth re-examining, as today, consumers are faced with a host of products and services accompanied by varied promises. Logic suggests successful brands should focus on the promise that consumers expect from them – the promise that’s core to their business and that defines the product/service in the eyes of the target audiences – rather than get distracted by trying to be all things to all people. Innovation is crucial, of course, but the best innovation is often a natural extension of an organization’s “sweet spot.”

 

The value of focus – be it in product development or marketing strategy – is one that can easily be applied to PR campaigns. Something can’t mean everything to everybody at the risk of disengaging many. It’s important for PR professionals to work with clients to develop campaigns that resonate with a product/service’s target audience and avoid marketing to the masses. To ensure a campaign doesn’t evolve outside itself and stays on the straight and narrow, here’s some food for thought:

 

Josh Holloway (center) working with Cone client Nature Valley

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Stay true to the brand. For a consumer-facing launch, it’s crucial to identify a spokesperson who aligns with the brand DNA in order to provide natural and needed credibility. A strong example is a recent program we executed for our Nature Valley client with actor Josh Holloway. Known to the public as the rugged "Sawyer" from “Lost,” Holloway is an outdoor aficionado in his own right, which allowed him to share real-life stories with media and stress getting outside and visiting our national parks with our core audience – active consumers.

 

Less is more. When developing campaign messaging, it’s natural to want to fit in as many points as possible. But for an initiative to be effective, the true message points should be minimal. Three strong points for the overall program will provide clear and actionable messages that stick and provide just enough information to tell a story. Additionally, the more concentrated the core messages, the easier it is to ensure that copy is consistent across an integrated campaign that may involve POP, advertising, digital and social.

 

Concentrate on the core. Is your client marketing to a specific demographic? Make sure the media outlets you’re prioritizing align with the overarching marketing strategy. Coverage in the Wall Street Journal, for example, is great, but a post on a popular mom blog may be considered just as much of a “win” depending on the target audience and desired outcome. Sometimes, the best placement isn’t splashy but one that drives in-store results.

 

Engage strategically. Want to let Facebook fans in a specific geographic area know that a new product is hitting shelves? Leverage regionalized posts to target specific markets and track applicable consumer feedback in real time. Utilize Facebook Insights to see which PR efforts are driving social media traffic and engagement. When it comes to social media, every brand has a role to play, but it’s how it’s done that counts.

 

Communicate results. The benefit of a focused campaign? Tangible results that can be benchmarked en route to the finish. Select a few key media placements and ask your client to match up the dates with sales data. Many eCommerce companies use tracking tools like Google Analytics to directly correlate PR results and sales, and it’s time to bring more measurement into the CPG PR realm.

 

--Jessica Anselmi, Senior Account Executive

Tags: roi bestpractices clients PR branding strategy planning

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February 18, 2011 at 10:50 AM by Cone Communications

Leveraging a celebrity’s name and likeness to help promote a brand, new product launch or cause campaign continues to be a popular marketing trend. But, as USA Today pointed out, social media are giving smaller companies the opportunity to play in the “celebrity endorsement” arena, for smaller costs, while still reaching a vast audience of potential customers.

 

 

One such company is Purina ONE (client), which recently launched beyOnd, a new all-natural dog and cat food. To help generate awareness for the brand and the documentaries it ran to raise money for animal shelters, the brand partnered with animal-lover and active social media participant, Audrina Patridge. She leveraged her Twitter and Facebook followings by posting messages about the documentaries and new products. Not only did this reach her 1.36 million fans, but other celebrities re-tweeted the message, reaching even more potential consumers.

 

Another example of successfully using celebrities in social media is through virtual press conferences or events. Many smaller brands are taking what could have been an expensive, live event and hosting it from a studio, virtually. This way, consumers can interact with the host, who is often a celebrity, expert or panel of both, even if they aren’t in the same room. During these virtual events, consumers and media can interact with the hosts in real time, which often results in social media chatter.

 

For all companies, big or small, celebrities continue to help brands tell their stories, and if the celebrity is a natural and organic fit for the brand, the results can be priceless.

 

--Jennifer Newberg, Senior Account Supervisor


Tags: clients celebrity bestpractices socialmedia event

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September 3, 2010 at 10:00 AM by Cone Communications

Confidence in traditional media in the U.S. is down, if the results of a recent Gallup poll are to be believed. Americans continue to express near record-low confidence in newspapers and television news – with no more than 25 percent of Americans saying they have a "great deal" or "quite a lot" of confidence in either.

This is a highly compelling – and frankly, somewhat dire – reminder that to create provocative, influential and successful PR programs for our clients, we have to be sure to include many different channels of engagement to get our messages to our intended audience.

 

 

We all understand the power of social media, with massive numbers of people engaging in networks from Facebook and Twitter, to Groupon, Foursquare and countless others. Building programs that can live within these networks is critical for a brand’s success and offer marketers the opportunity to get straight to the intended consumer, bypassing the need to engage traditional media to tell our story for us.

Similarly, event and experiential marketing activity is a great way to bring the brand directly to the consumer. Think about the lines of people eagerly awaiting a scoop of free Ben and Jerry’s (client) ice cream on Free Cone Day or the rush to grab free samples of 100-calorie snack packs after exiting the morning subway train.

But, we can’t ignore traditional media outlets, altogether – lest we drive those confidence numbers even lower. We all know a well-placed article in The New York Times or Huffington Post reaches millions, and the third-party credibility of a well-respected editor telling our story doesn’t hurt, either. Yet, this is exactly what makes Gallup’s recent revelations so troubling. How should this change our approach to media relations?

It comes down to doing our jobs better. We have to help editors tell our story in the most transparent, clear and honest manner we can. This means challenging our clients to give us more than marketing group-approved key messages and really getting into the meat of what makes our brands work, so that we can be fair, balanced and truthful brand advocates. It also means doing our own due diligence in following competitive brands so we can present our editors with a 360° view of our story. It means more work for us, a better pitch for our editors and a better story for their readers.

Can PR pros impact the shift of people’s confidence in traditional news media? I think we can. As brand consultants and strategists, we are in a unique position to help our clients tell better stories. And this is through accuracy, fairness and taking a few risks. I challenge us all to think about the consumer next time we write a pitch. We can impact the quality of what is reported, and we owe it to our clients, and ourselves, to do so.

--Lisen Syp, Senior Account Supervisor

Tags: research media socialmedia mediarelations clients

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August 20, 2010 at 11:32 AM by Cone Communications

Media relations is a powerful communications vehicle. Through reporting, journalists can help improve lives, expose corruption, create laughter and deliver breaking news. I enjoy working with journalists on stories that educate and engage consumers about our clients’ latest endeavors. But lately, I’ve been in the uncomfortable position of educating media about their inaccurate reporting of açaí (ah-sigh-ee).

 

The dark purple berry, harvested in the Amazon, has been the subject of weight-loss scams, lawsuits, inaccurate environmental sustainability claims and false health reports. Media and consumers seem fascinated and perhaps overwhelmed by information about açaí. Type the word açaí into Google and an infinite number of links will appear. Yet, many journalists and consumers remain unclear about its real benefits. Why?

• The U.S. doesn’t have labeling standards for açaí. Many companies do not disclose how much açaí vs. other fruit make up their product blends.
• Even if a product label reads “açaí juice” in big bold letters or is listed as the first ingredient in the nutrition panel, it does not mean açaí juice is the main ingredient or that the juice has not been filtered or watered down with the pulp removed (which contains many of the nutrients).
  

This confusion will begin to clear when Sambazon (client), the global leader in açaí, launches a new consumer awareness campaign: Real Deal Açaí.The campaign will expose the lack of transparency in labeling açaí products, urging consumers to learn about types and amounts of açaí in products and asking companies to be transparent about what their products actually contain. The campaign will include an informational hang tag, a webpage and a nutrition spokesperson.

 

If you find yourself having to educate media about your clients’ products or services, it might be a good idea to follow Sambazon’s example and create an awareness campaign. If media don’t understand your product, chances are your consumer audience probably won’t either.

--Maureen O’Connell, Senior Account Supervisor

Tags: food health campaigns clients mediarelations

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May 27, 2010 at 1:25 PM by Cone Communications

When the average marriage only lasts eight years, Cone is lucky to celebrate 20 with a truly remarkable company. J. Barbour & Sons, Ltd., known worldwide for manufacturing fine British country outerwear, joined the Cone family of clients in 1990, and two decades later, the relationship is stronger than ever. This month, we surprised our client with a champagne toast. We shared many happy memories and best wishes for another 20 years together.

 

 

 

Tags: partnership clients cone

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December 17, 2009 at 9:05 AM by Research & Insights

Brands would be wise to redirect some of their ad spend this holiday season – if the results of the latest Retail Advertising and Marketing Association research mean anything. According to the survey, a mere 17 percent of consumers said their favorite holiday TV commercial motivated them to shop at that retailer. This bleak statistic must be leaving retailers quaking in their boots because, despite expectations that holiday sales in 2009 will beat those of 2008, consumers are sure to be more selective with their money.

 

When it comes to deciding where to shop, TV commercials just don’t have the oomph they used to. To get customers through the door, the answer isn’t a 30-second spot…it’s money-saving coupons. Nearly half of respondents said coupons were the top media influencer when it came to deciding which retailers to shop. Meaning, a consumer may forego his favorite store if it means saving a little cash.

 

And it’s not just TV commercials losing out to coupons. Retailers saw a 15 percent decline in visits to their Web sites during Black Friday 2009 versus 2008, but searches for “printable coupons” jumped 50 percent. Few retailers seem to be getting the hint, however, as most are in a stand-off with thrifty customers waiting until the last minute to get the best deals.

 

 

JCPenney is one company on top of the trend. It began offering mobile coupons, which let cashiers scan coupons on customers’ mobile phones, back in September. American Greetings is getting on board, too, as it just upgraded its iPhone app to offer coupons, and Gap and Banana Republic are testing mobile coupons at outlet and factory stores in certain markets. The moves should pay off, too. A Deloitte study (client) showed 20 percent of consumers plan to use their mobile phones to assist in holiday shopping.

 

With only eight shopping days left until Christmas, perhaps now we’ll start to see retailers put a little more marketing muscle – mobile or otherwise – behind stretching customers’ wallets.

Tags: economy research clients mobile coupons

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November 19, 2009 at 12:10 PM by Marc Berliner

The following originally appeared in Cone’s inConetext quarterly newsletter. To read current or past issues, visit our Web site.

 

 

It’s the age-old question for retailers: "How can we break through the clutter and get noticed in a positive way during the busy holiday season?" That was the challenge presented to us more than two years ago by Game Crazy, a national specialty games retailer. To differentiate the brand from other video game retailers and expand its reach beyond "hard-core" gamers, we developed a video game-themed holiday survey that played off a major gift-giver concern – purchasing gifts kids won’t enjoy. We leveraged the increasing interest in video games among "casual gamers" to create a campaign that educated consumers and set up Game Crazy as the brand that would help make them gift-giving heroes during the holidays.

Now in its third year, campaign results continue to grow. USA Today has written about the program three years in a row, and each year dozens of local-market TV segments feature store and district managers talking about the survey and offering purchasing tips for holiday shoppers. The campaign is also covered by video game and retail writers from major-market dailies and blogs. Game Crazy has several large competitors with deep pockets, but the seasonal campaign ensures Game Crazy’s voice is heard during the holidays thanks to proprietary, branded information and practical advice that appeals to media and consumers.”

-- Marc Berliner, Director

Tags: research branding mediarelations clients

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November 13, 2009 at 12:28 PM by Research & Insights

With a predicted decrease in holiday spending this season, brands are reaching into their marketing coffers and pulling out social media strategies to help boost sales and maybe even beat the grim prognostications. It might just pay off, too. According to our client Deloitte's 24^th Annual Holiday Survey, nearly 20 percent of respondents plan to use social media sites to aid in their holiday shopping, largely to find sales, discounts and coupons or to research gift ideas.

But, what’s good for the goose may not be so great for the gander, or in this case, the über-luxury brands. The lifestyles of the rich and famous leave plenty of room for new media – our research shows new media users with the highest HHI are 10 percent more likely than the average population to use these sites and tools – but it's not necessarily in luxury brands’ best interests to develop social media strategies that overemphasize traditional sites, such as Facebook, MySpace or Twitter. The popularity of new media stems from its democratic, community-building traits that bring once-exclusive content to the masses. Something luxury brands, counseled to return to their elitist, indulgent roots, don’t want to see happen to their products.

 

 

Brands would do well to remember that when marketing the most luxurious of products and services, the same rules apply whether using on- or offline channels. Remain high-touch, and remain exclusive. Affluent new media users are 20 percent less likely to expect retail brands to use new media to solicit product or service feedback. They want to keep those relationships high-touch and interpersonal. Whereas the average user finds new media an ideal platform to voice opinions once difficult to express in a meaningful way, affluent consumerslikely expect a more direct, face-to-face, line of communication with their favorite brands. Also, whatever experiences luxury brands do create online, they should stillfoster a senseof indulgent exclusivity. Reserve them for only the most preferred customers to enjoy, and make sure they can share the content, but only among peers.

Although popular social media sites may not be the best channels for affluents, it doesn’t mean they still can’t be effective branding tools for luxury goods – among a different audience. Luxury brands need to maintain a certain cachet to hold on to their brand status, and a large Facebook or Twitter following from aspirational fans, perhaps future consumers, can bolster their posh positioning. But keep in mind, affluents and aspirationals are two very different audiences. Learn to play to the strengths of both, and social media have the potential to be very generous this holiday season.

Tags: research clients newmedia bestpractices socialmedia branding

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November 9, 2009 at 12:23 PM by Research & Insights

What’s one of the best tools in the PR toolkit? The anniversary.

 

It’s not just an opportunity for happy couples to enjoy a nice dinner. It can also be an opportunity for your brand. In PR, we’re continuously challenged with developing new ways to keep brands fresh and front-of-mind for our consumers. Enter the anniversary. A well-planned anniversary campaign can provide a newsworthy chance to make some noise and maybe garner a few new customers.

 

Even if it isn’t the happiest of occasions, celebrating an anniversary can be a good means of introducing a brand to a whole new group of consumers. Just look at The Beatles. On the 40^th anniversary of the band’s breakup, MTV Network released Beatles Rock Band, a new edition of the popular Rock Band video game franchise. And this isn’t targeted toward Boomers who grew up listening to the band’s music – although they probably bought it anyway. It’s targeted at their kids, born long after we lost John Lennon. Sales of Beatles Rock Band could turn into increased sales of The Beatles music.

 

But, what if you don’t have a new product to launch? No worries. Anniversaries can also serve as reminders of how integral your brand is to daily life. Jockey International*, the venerable underwear manufacturer, recently celebrated the 75^th anniversary of its Jockey Brief, which it invented in 1934. The brief dramatically changed the landscape for the men's underwear category and continues to be one of the most dominant styles of underwear today. Whether you’re a boxers or briefs man, you can all thank Jockey for taking underwear from full-body union suits to something comfortable to wear under clothes.

 

 

And sometimes, you just need to celebrate to say "thank you." To demonstrate its ongoing commitment to the breast cancer cause, earlier this year, Yoplait* hosted a free Sheryl Crow concert to commemorate 10 years of its Save Lids to Save Lives program. In 2008, consumer lid collection enabled Yoplaitto donate$1.5 million to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. To keep the momentum and donations going, it held a concertas a thank-you to breast cancer supporters everywhere, reminding them to continue to fight for a cure.

 

Remember, it’s not enough to just celebrate a milestone. For consumers to pay attention, you need to leverage an anniversary by providing context for a greater story. For The Beatles it was introducing a new way to interact with the band’s music, for Jockey it was reminding people not to take their undergarments for granted and Yoplait took the opportunity to illustrate and further its impact on a worthy cause.

What story will your brand tell?

 

*Cone client


Tags: campaigns PR strategy clients

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October 19, 2009 at 1:44 PM by Cone Communications

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and every year shelves turn pink to remind us that one-in-eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer within her lifetime. Even though there are still no cures for this disease, there’s a lot we can do to help further the cause.

 

Raising awareness about early detection is key to conquering breast cancer. What is so important for women to understand is that when breast cancer is caught early (stage 0-1), the five-year relative survival rate is 98 percent. Different campaigns emerge every year encouraging women and men to take control of their breast health through early detection. Our client Yoplait’s Know Your Girls is one that truly captures our attention. It speaks to young women, who don’t know about breast cancer or think it’s not an issue for them. Unfortunately, statistics reveal that thousands of young women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in the next year. Know Your Girls is a way to make young women aware they can, and do, get breast cancer and provide tools to help them educate themselves and their friends.

This fun, female-focused campaign asks young women to pledge to get to know their bodies by getting to know their "girls,"or breasts.For every pledge received by October 31, 2009, Yoplait will donate 10 cents to Susan G. Komen for the Cure, up to $100,000. Money will go to breast cancer research specifically related to young women. The campaign is all Facebook-based – and it has almost 40,000 fans, proving that young women do care about breast cancer and are committed to doing something about it.

Knowing the appeal celebrities have among young women, Yoplait also worked with Audrina Patridge, from MTV’s “The Hills,” to promote the campaign with a one-of-a-kind Know Your Girls T-shirt. Audrina’s photo has appeared on TMZ.con, Perezhilton.com and OK! Magazine Online, helping spread the word about the importance of early detection.

If you do one thing this October, make sure you get to know your “girls.” Not all breasts are the same – you need to know what is normal for you.

-- Irma Koopersmith, Senior Account Supervisor

Tags: campaigns Facebook nonprofit celebrity cause clients

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September 25, 2009 at 1:35 PM by Research & Insights

Your weekly glimpse into the world of new media

 

Mobile: Starbucks launches an iPhone app and outmaneuvers Dunkin’ by letting you actually pay for coffee with your phone. Mobile barcodes may be the next big marketing trend, as other retailers continue to experiment with them.

 

 

Experiential: To promote its Black Pepper Jack and Smoking Cheddar BBQ flavors, Doritos is brining back the Hotel 626 online fright fest – this time as Asylum 626 – to resurrect the retired flavors from the dead.

 

Social: Fast-casual TGI Friday’s new spokesperson is a lot more likeable than the chain expected. Its new Facebook campaign resulted in 500,000 friends in only six days.

 

Research: A new report from the e-Tailing Group finds five out of 10 social media tools have been adopted by more than 50 percent of brands and retailers.

 

Misstep: Google Gmail users were without access to their contacts while the search giant’s email platform suffered another outage.

 

 

Our favorite: The Starbucks iPhone app. Some day we’ll be able to run the whole world from our phones.

Tags: Facebook newmedia clients campaigns digitaldownload trend

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September 16, 2009 at 12:14 PM by Cone Communications

 

Over the past 11 years our Yoplait client has donated more than $22 million to the breast cancer cause through programs such as Save Lids to Save Lives, and today launched a targeted campaign designed to raise awareness for Gen Y women. Many people are unaware that young women are also affected by breast cancer. Five percent of diagnoses in the United States occur in women under age 40. The new initiative is called Know Your Girls, aimed at encouraging these women to understand what is “normal” for their own breasts, or their “girls,” and recognize important changes.

 

By visiting Facebook.com/YoplaitPledge, young women can pledge to take an active role in their breast health. Take the pledge yourself or simply help spread the word by encouraging your friends and family to sign up. For every pledge received by October 31, 2009, Yoplait will donate 10 cents to Susan G. Komen for the Cure, up to $100,000. Money raised through Know Your Girls will help fund a new research study led by breast cancer survivor and researcher, Dr. Kristi Egland.

Tags: socialmedia nonprofit cause clients

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August 17, 2009 at 9:32 AM by Cone Communications

Does your dog have a better life than you? You buy him the latest designer duds and be-jeweled collars, you take him to the doggie day spa for some R & R, you sign him up for professional massages so he can work out all his stress. Puh-lease!

 

At a time when the Paris Hiltons of the world are toting their pooches around in Louis Vuitton handbags, Cone client ALPO® brand dog food is saying, “Get real!” It’s time to let dogs be dogs. This back-to-basics trend is building momentum as the economic realities of 2009 have many people calling for an end to gaudy displays of excess and a return to traditional, common sense values – even when it comes to our dogs.

 

 

According to an ALPO survey, pet parents are taking a simpler – and wallet-friendlier – approach to life with man’s best friend. When asked when their dog is happiest, 62 percent of owners say it is greeting them when they come home, being taken for a walk or a run (52%), receiving treats (48%), napping on the couch (32%) or chewing a bone (30%).

 

To celebrate the simple pleasures of just being a dog, ALPO is launching the ALPO Real Dogs Tell It Like It Is Contest. The national contest is searching for real dogs to share their stories about their favorite real dog behaviors, such as rolling in the mud, drooling for dinner or chasing a ball. Up to 20 winning “pawthors” will have their stories published in a first-of-its-kind “how-to” manual to help dogs be dogs.

 

Whether it's shopping at discount retailers, cooking more meals at home or letting dogs be dogs, consumers are simplifying their lives in an effort to focus on basic necessities. ALPO is leading the trend in the pet care industry allowing consumers to extend the back-to-basics mentality to their four-legged friends.

Tags: research newmedia clients contest trend

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August 3, 2009 at 10:50 AM by Research & Insights

Nearly half of all American dog owners say they cannot live without their dogs on a daily basis, according to a new Beneful survey. That means a daily pooch pick-me-up is more important than their morning cup of coffee (35%), television (35%), their car (26%), their cell phone (23%) or even best friends (15%)!

To honor this powerful relationship between dog owners and their best friends, our client, Beneful, launched WagWorld.com, an online destination where dog lovers can find and share new dog-friendly places to visit with their dogs, write reviews, upload pictures and pass along posts to friends and family.

 

The site allows canine crazies to filter searches by places to eat, places to play or places to sleep. And, all suggestions are rated by WagWorld users on a five-paw scale. WagWorld comes at a good time as branded Web sites and the opinions of others online have become the second most-trusted sources of advertising. In fact, WagWorld may soon be known as Yelp! for dogs.

In celebration of the launch, Beneful is also searching for the Top 10 Most Dog-Friendly Cities in America. Visit WagWorld.com between July 27 and September 27 to add reviews, post photos or upload stories about living life with your dog in your city. The cities with the most buzz will make the top 10 list to be announced this October.

Tags: promotion newmedia socialmedia clients

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July 28, 2009 at 4:55 PM by Cone Communications

June was a great month for our clients in the media. We saw the most nominations for the Clip of the Month Award ever. Ten great placements faced off. Congratulations to Andrea List for securing coverage of The Cone Nonprofit Power Brand 100 in The New York Times.

 

 

Honorable mentions go to:

 

Amelia Ott for iVillage’s coverage of Jockey International

Amelia Ott & Erin Zwaska for Good Housekeeping’s coverage of Jockey International

Erin Zwaska for the Los Angeles Times’ “The Dish Rag” blog’s coverage of Jockey International

Farrell Klein for “Today’s” coverage of Chicco

Jennifer George for “Entertainment Tonight’s” coverage of Nestlé Pure Life

Maureen O’Connell for USA Today’s coverage of L’Oreal

Jessica Pieciul for Food Network “Unwrapped’s” coverage of Ian’s Natural Foods

Jodi Housman for The Wall Street Journal’s coverage of Lemelson-MIT

Lindsay Harrington for “CBS Early Show’s” coverage of Deloitte

Lisen Syp for “The Ellen Degeneres Show’s” coverage of Chicco

Tags: nonprofitpowerbrand100 mediarelations awards clients

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July 24, 2009 at 10:25 AM by Cone Communications

On Monday, as my team and I were finalizing pitching assignments for our mommy blogger media list, we came across this post from Momdot.com advocating mommy bloggers join in a “PR Blackout Challenge” for one week in August.

 

On her blog, MomDot founder Trisha posted:

“With the allure of giveaways, reviews, and blog trips, Mom Bloggers have turned from what they love the most, their family, into working directly as public relations for their captive audience. It boils down to knowing your worth and then standing up for it…We want to see your blog naked, raw, and back to basics. Talk about your kids, your marriage, your college, your hopes, your dreams, your house and whatever you can come up with for one week.”

As PR professionals working with a juvenile products client, my team spends a good amount of time identifying mommy blogs and fostering respectful, involved and professional relationships with these bloggers. We love our mommy bloggers, and we hope they love us, too. Yes, we offer gear because we hope it will be positively reviewed, and yes, we hope it will be used in reader giveaways and as contest prizes. We do this not because mommy bloggers have a “captive audience” but because we believe in word of mouth, and we know that moms are each other’s allies, whether next door or via the World Wide Web.

The whole point of blogging is the sharing of information, whether it be the amount of dirty diapers your husband (didn’t) change, the “surprise” redecoration your twins did with a set of permanent markers and your new white couch or, drum roll, the amazing new lightweight stroller that saved the day on a recent trip to the zoo or the hook-on high chair that allowed mom and dad to sit in a white-clothed restaurant and enjoy a real meal that didn’t come in a Styrofoam box.

I understand that mommy bloggers likely get hundreds of spam-type emails from marketers (and PR folks) every week, offering coupons and links to giveaways, with the sole strategy of online saturation/domination. But, mommies…that’s not me or my team.
So, my own plea to my mommy blogger friends: don’t participate in the PR blackout —participate in a brown-out. Delete the spam emails and canned requests for free publicity, and maybe throw away your calendar of deadlines. Your real PR partners will operate on your schedule, because we know you. We’re friends.

--Lisen Syp, Account Supervisor

Tags: blogs clients moms

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July 13, 2009 at 3:27 PM by Cone Communications

You’ve seen the recent media hype around healthy eating, reaching as far as the White House lawn. From locavore Michelle Obama’s latest harvest and the sustainable farming craze, to restaurant calorie-count mandates, nutrition navigation in grocery stores and healthy eating in schools, nutrition trends are top-of-mind for everybody. And, there is no lack of media interest in health-related products, expert advice and educational tools to satiate an overweight America hungry for change.

 

Because consumers have been flooded with information and tools to make positive lifestyle changes, products making health and nutrition claims are under increased scrutiny and held to stricter standards by watchdog groups, public officials and the media. Any misstep in messaging could spur questions around authenticity and harm your brand image. So how do PR professionals leverage this healthy trend in an authentic and impactful way?

Here are some keys to success in health- and nutrition-related media outreach:

• Partner with a credible third-party spokesperson in the field of health and/or nutrition. If you’re considering a celebrity, be sure you look closely at products they have endorsed in the past to be sure there is no conflict of interest. For maximum impact and credibility, choose a spokesperson with scientific- and/or nutrition-related credentials who can easily answer tough health questions and bridge back to your product. (Oh, and message train, message train, message train!)
  
• Distinguish your fans from your critics, both in the media and within the industry. Before pitching reporters or influencers, research the articles they’ve recently written and determine if they have a positive or negative slant on either your product or brand, or on similar health claims or products. Unwittingly pitching a critic can result in negative publicity, so choose your battles carefully.
  
• Determine what differentiates your brand from your competitors. Make differentiating factors key highlights in your external messaging so you can shine where others fall short. When pitching reporters, pay close attention to how they position your competition and see where you can offer a better solution. (Be careful of your positioning though, nobody likes a mud-slinger!)
  
• Back your product claims with clear scientific data (published studies are preferred). There are many controversial products and services on the market that tout a health benefit but have been attacked in the media for lack of scientific evidence to support their claims. Avoid this fate by substantiating health claims with credible scientific evidence that proves the efficacy of your product. In addition, leverage new research and studies being published by your organization or by reputable stakeholders when pitching to add weight to your product’s claims.
  
• Remember, it’s all in the delivery. When it comes to nutrition, journalists aren’t focused on pedaling your product, but are looking for viable tips and tools that will truly help their readers live a healthier lifestyle. If your product doesn’t have them sold from the start, offer a less commercial approach through expert interviews or healthy eating tips, which lend support to your product and health message, but packages it in a more palatable way.
  
• Be as transparent as possible, and always be proactive. It is much easier to get in front of an issue relating to your brand and proactively present the facts than to react to harmful media coverage that misrepresents your brand. Perception is reality and this is particularly true in the healthy eating space.

-- Jordan Salvatoriello, Account Supervisor

Tags: clients health PR wellness nutrition food bestpractices

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July 2, 2009 at 2:11 PM by Cone Communications

Lin-Manuel Miranda’s success with "In the Heights," Salma Hayek’s involvement in the production of "Ugly Betty" and now the potential confirmation of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the U.S. Supreme Court are just a few examples of how Hispanics are establishing a presence and amplifying their voice in the U.S.

Over the years, businesses, marketers and politicians have started paying more attention to the growing Hispanic market, recognizing its influence and power within the marketplace and society:

• In 2003, Hispanics became the largest minority, and by 2050 Hispanics will comprise about 30 percent of the U.S. population.
• According to The Selig Center for Economic Growth’s The Multicultural Economy, Hispanics accounted for 8.9 percent of all U.S. buying power in 2008, up from only 5 percent in 1990.

Increasingly, companies are leveraging the power of the largest minority in the U.S. by successfully reaching out to this group. General Mills, one of the world's leading food companies, places great emphasis on the importance of understanding its audiences and has managed to effectively connect with Hispanics through its Yoplait brand.

 

Yoplait’s understanding of the Hispanic market drove it to establish a relationship this past year with Adamari López – celebrity, international telenovela actress and breast cancer survivor – for its "Save Lids to Save Lives" Hispanic program. This relationship has allowed Yoplait to create a personal connection with Hispanics through someone this group trusts and with which they identify.

It is clear that translating a general market campaign doesn’t cut it anymore if the hope is to establish a connection and brand respect. We need to understand this group’s culture, the language and what resonates with them in order to earn their support.

-- Irma Freije Koopersmith, Senior Account Supervisor

Tags: marketing celebrity cause clients Hispanics

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June 26, 2009 at 10:25 AM by Cone Communications

Looking for a fun weekend activity?

 

Join the Lemelson-MIT Program for its third annual EurekaFest, and help celebrate the inventive spirit! A few weeks ago, Chrissy Redmond discussed how the Lemelson-MIT Program was re-branding science, transforming it into a cool experience for the world’s future technological innovators. Now, you have a chance to see that in action.

 

 

EurekaFest is a multi-day celebration designed to empower a legacy of inventors through activities that inspire youth, honor role models and encourage creativity and problem solving. Today, at MIT’s Stata Center, you can observe a nationwide high school invention showcase and see renowned inventors present on the MIT campus.

 

Saturday, I'll be at Boston's Museum of Science to cheer on more than 200 high school students in an all-day wind-powered design challenge; their families will also have the opportunity to participate in hands-on learning activities.

 

All events are free and open to the public, so come join me!

 

-- Julie Staadecker, Account Executive

Tags: cone clients branding event

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June 8, 2009 at 10:10 AM by Cone Communications

This week, The Publicity Club of New England honored more than 150 public relations and communications professionals for their achievements at the 40^th annual Bell Ringer Awards. The Bell Ringer Awards recognize excellence in communications and public relations work in every field and industry, and across all media—print, broadcast and online. More than 400 of New England's top PR professionals gathered at Boston’s Westin Waterfront Hotel to celebrate the accomplishments we have made over the past year.

 

Whether helping immigrants reach a better life through Western Union's efforts OR inviting the world to meet “Cliff” the triceratops residing at the Museum of Science, the night was filled with one impressive campaign after another. As I sat at the event hearing about all of the amazing work from companies throughout New England, I felt inspired at the collective impact that we truly have had.

It’s important to remember that we as PR practitioners truly have the ability to influence the way people and businesses think and act. In fact, at a recent Pub Club panel comprised of eight lifestyle editors from throughout the Greater Boston Area, it was confirmed that 75 percent of their story ideas and content come directly from our community.

Congratulations to all entrants and winners, and thank you for continuing to inspire and push us to continue the amazing work and reach new heights in the communications and public relations field!

-- Hilary Blowers, Account Supervisor

Tags: clients cone awards PR

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June 3, 2009 at 1:47 PM by Cone Communications

We’ve always set the highest standards for our performance and take pride in delivering exceptional work. The greatest honor we can receive is when our clients are satisfied with a job well done. But, we can’t help but be flattered when our peers recognize our hard work, too. Cone has enjoyed many successful awards seasons, and this year is no different. Whether for inspiring cause branding work or attention-grabbing marketing and PR, our work, and ultimately that of our clients, has brought us much recognition.

 

The season started off on a high note at the PR News CSR Awards, where Western Union was honored for its work in stakeholder engagement with its Our World, Our Family program, which it partnered with Cone to create. Western Union continues to garner a lot of praise for its work with migrants across the world, including an award from the Center Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy, who presented it with its Excellence Award in Corporate Philanthropy, a very prestigious honor in international corporate philanthropy.

 

 

Cone had an even bigger showing at the Cause Marketing Forum Awards with Timberland receiving the evening’s highest honor, a Cause Marketing Golden Halo, for its commitment to making a difference in its communities. Cone then swept the Best Health Campaign category with The American Heart Association’s (AHA) Start! program winning the Golden Halo and Jiffy Lube International taking a Silver Halo for its Maintenance Partners for Life.

 

The awards kept coming during the Publicity Club of New England Bell Ringer Awards ceremony as Western Union won the Bell Ringer for best community relations campaign, the AHA won for its Start! Heart Walk special event and Jockey International grabbed a Bell Ringer for best television news placement. Not to be outdone, ALPO, Ben & Jerry’s and T-Mobile USA each earned Merits.

 

A much-deserved congratulations goes out to all!

Tags: clients marketing awards PR cause

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June 1, 2009 at 1:18 PM by Research & Insights

Recently, we shared our excitement for Starbucks’ latest social media campaign. The coffee giant asked its consumers to photograph Starbucks’ outdoor advertisements and upload the Twitpic to their Twitter feeds using the campaign’s hashtag.

 

 

This was all well and good until anti-Starbucks activists “hijacked” the campaign and uploaded their own Twitpics. Instead of pictures of the Starbucks’ advertising, the activists’ pictures featured homemade banners protesting the chain’s stance on union representation for its employees.

 

The lesson for Starbucks, or any company embarking on a new media campaign, is to recognize that when it comes to new media, you don’t really control the conversation or the outcome. If you understand and accept this, you can prepare yourself for negative dialogue. And, you may even learn something that can turn into a positive.

Tags: clients newmedia socialmedia

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May 22, 2009 at 12:47 PM by Cone Communications

It’s been said that in a down economy, the need to innovate is more important than ever. But, how do we engage the next generation of innovators and empower them to follow their passion in science and technology? How do we “re-brand” and transform education into a “cool” experience – particularly in science, math and technology, the foundation of innovation and invention?

 

Science education is evolving from science fairs and test tubes bubbling with chemicals to real-world problem solving with a greater purpose. Teens are increasingly inspired by the sentiment of improving society through invention and discovery.

 

There are a number of organizations dedicated to supporting this new outlook and re-branding science through engagement with teens. One such organization is the Lemelson-MIT Program, focused on changing the perception of science and invention and the old stereotypes of the mad scientist, encouraging kids to explore their interests in these areas and make science fun.

Through Cone’s work with the Lemelson-MIT Program, we’re witnessing a promising perception shift first-hand. This year’s annual Invention Index survey found that only five percent of teens described scientists as “nerdy.” More than half described men and women in the sciences as “intelligent.” Further, we found that teens are driven by altruism and a desire to improve society and our environment. Yet, they still need the encouragement of mentors and role models in related fields to further instill change—that’s where the Lemelson-MIT Program strives to make a difference.

 

As Laura Vanderkam of Scientific American explains, "If people don’t think of scientists as working alone, locked in their tower, but as eco-heroes saving the planet, that’s a lot more exciting."

 

-- Chrissy Redmond, Account Supervisor

 

Witness the inspiring next generation of innovators in action next month at Eureka Fest.

Tags: nonprofit branding clients

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May 19, 2009 at 2:05 PM by Research & Insights

No stranger to social media marketing—think revolutionary customer service/social media site My Starbucks Idea, launched in 2008—Starbucks is rolling out a new campaign that taps into the surging popularity of Twitter. Aimed at Gen Y coffee drinkers, the outdoor advertisements challenge consumers to be the first to snap and post a picture of the ads to Twitter using the campaign hashtag.

 

 

The particular genius behind this campaign, or any social media campaign done right, is that rather than attempt to draw consumers into a Starbucks store before interacting with them, the coffee chain is making an effort to interact with Gen Y consumers where they already are—on Twitter. And, the timing couldn’t be better. With close to 60 percent of social media users feeling a stronger connection to and better served by companies when they can interact with them via social media, according to Cone’s 2008 Business in Social Media Study, meeting consumers on their own turf and tapping into what they are already doing can foster a more effective brand relationship than talking at them through traditional advertising. The idea behind social media is to take risks by relinquishing control of the brand message, and in so doing, forge a deeper, more dialogue-based relationship with customers.

 

By the way, Twitter isn’t the only social media tool Starbucks is tapping. Part of this latest campaign is a series of YouTube interviews with coffee experts and a contest for employees to submit headlines for future Starbucks ads. Past social media efforts include My Starbucks Idea and Shared Planet, the full online version of its Global Responsibility Report, which infuses social media and interactive elements into the Web site.*

 

We look forward to hearing the results of Starbucks’ latest social media endeavors.

 

*Cone provided the strategy for the Starbucks Global Responsibility Report and consulted on the Web site development.

Tags: clients socialmedia

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