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Archive for the ‘Basic Public Relations’ Category

Keeping it Positive

Friday, July 30th, 2010

We recently had the good fortune to attend a scholarship luncheon where we met scholarship recipients and their parents. It was interesting to hear the stories of how parents raised these achievers, and what the students’ future plans were.  We made some striking observations.

The students were all unique individuals and it was clear by meeting all of them that you really can’t judge books by their covers.  You might see them around town but you might never guess that one is going to an Ivy League university, or that one comes from a single-parent home, or that one has never traveled away from Hawai`i.  All the same, these kids were ambitious and focused.  Their parents were all very supportive of their children and had obviously provided them with guidance over the years. The thing that struck us though was that the students and parents alike had an unfailing positive attitude.  They had big, clear dreams, they felt great about the future, they believed that what was ahead would be fun and good, and though many of them had struggled one way or another in the past, they learned from those challenges and used the lessons to fortify themselves.  None of them were daunted in any way.  And none of them had anything that you and I don’t have, except maybe the right attitude.

In these times, when we’re facing economic challenges, environmental disasters, war, and day-to-day personal trials, the positive attitude displayed by the scholarship recipients and their families is something that can only help matters. Likewise, when you consider your business dealings and how you think and speak about your business, do so in a way that displays your optimism. That kind of positive energy is very attractive to consumers and the public in general. It’s also contagious, and we could all use a shot of optimism now. So dissipate any negative thoughts of fear and loathing and replace them with the bright side.  You will become a business magnet. Or magnate as the case may be.

PR Starts with You

Tuesday, July 6th, 2010

Many think that successful public relations (PR) efforts are solely the result of ingenious strategy and perfectly timed implementation. While that’s partially true, your outward appearance has a considerable effect on PR. We all have bad days when we’re running late, and once we finally get to work, realize that we forgot some documents at home, or even worse, didn’t brush our teeth! But one bad day can create a nearly permanent bad image of your company.

You know the basics of presenting yourself well: have good hygiene, dress appropriately, and be neat. Here are a few “advanced” tips to making stunning impressions: (more…)

2010 AP Stylebook Includes Social Media Guidelines

Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010

The 2010 AP Stylebook is out and encompasses, for the first time, six pages on social media guidelines. Here’s a great post by Mallory Jean Tenore for the Poynter Institute about these new additions:

New AP Stylebook Responds to Users’ Questions about Social Media Terms

What to Say in Uncomfortable Situations

Wednesday, April 28th, 2010

Sometimes in difficult situations, we don’t know what to say. We just don’t have the right words.  Thoughtful verbal discretion is an art, for sure, but it’s something we can all learn with some good examples and practice. So, as part of an ongoing series, we’re going to give you a scenario along with our recommended script.  One of these days, when you find yourself in an awkward situation, you just might be able to hearken back to one of these scripts and use the right words that will help smooth out the situation. After all, that’s the basis of public relations: having good relationships no matter what the scenario.  So here goes. (more…)

Make it Easy for Customers to Contact You

Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010

contact infoMany times when we’re prompted by an ad, article, or email to contact a business, we are unable to find adequate contact information for that company. That’s so frustrating, especially when we want to patron that business! In this busy world, people are so used to getting information quickly that they do not want to take the time or added effort to look up a phone number or manually enter in all the information to get the driving directions to a location.  Helping customers contact or get to you fast and easy is critical to making a sale and creating a favorable feeling about your company. Here are a few tips to assist customers in contacting you with ease: (more…)

Public Relations Cares

Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010

According to “Nuts! Southwest Airlines’ Crazy Recipe for Business and Personal Success,” “In 1989, when the San Francisco Bay area experienced a terrible earthquake, Gary Holloway, then a Southwest employee in Phoenix, thought of a way to help the victims.  He called an ABC television affiliate in Phoenix and asked newscasters to tell viewers to take blankets, clothes, and canned food to the Southwest terminal at Sky Harbor Airport…The outpouring from Phoenix and other Southwest cities was so strong that, when it was all over, Southwest Airlines had flown in more supplies to relieve the victims than anyone else, including the American Red Cross!” (more…)

Is it Time to Update Your Website?

Friday, January 15th, 2010

wwwBy Michelle Harrington
This post is brought to you by
Emagine Web Marketing, an associate of Fujita & Miura Public Relations. Emagine Web Marketing is a development and marketing company that helps small businesses expand their reach and increase sales online through innovative and effective web marketing and optimization strategies.

Growth is an ever-present, integral part of a successful business. Like a well-tended garden, the growth of your business will remain vital and able to withstand the ever-changing landscape in market and economy. Your website is no different – the success of your website relies on the quality of attention and maintenance you put into it. (more…)

Connect the Dots

Tuesday, December 29th, 2009

blk_dots_white1_400x372We’ve just completed a round of holidays and most of us have spent a good amount of time with friends, family, and co-workers in the process of celebrating.  Though holiday get-togethers can sometimes be stressful, it’s important to recognize how very important they are.  “Psychology Today” recently reported that “In surveys to determine the factors that contribute most to human happiness, respondents consistently rate connection to friends and family-love, intimacy, social affiliation-above wealth or fame, even above physical health…Loneliness isn’t about being alone; it’s about not feeling connected.” (more…)

4 Ways Kaua`i Businesses Can Thrive

Tuesday, December 1st, 2009

mt apple brand logoThis post is brought to you by guest columnist Ryan Esaki.  Esaki is a Kaua`i entrepreneur, one of the co-founders of the mega-popular ukulele website, ukuleleunderground.com as well as a small independent record label, Town Hero Records LLC. He is also a web strategies consultant.  For more information about Ryan Esaki, go to ryanesaki.com. (more…)

Top 3 Free PR Tips in Today’s Economy

Friday, October 30th, 2009

Self-Storage-for-Business1We’ve found that while many are calling this a “challenging economy,” many businesses are making the best of the times.  So, if we all can put ourselves in the mindset that challenges are opportunities waiting to be unearthed, then here are three free PR tips for maximizing the times. (more…)