The Words from Steve Jobs that Drive Kellee Johnson as an Entrepreneur
I got the idea to start an integrated communications firm in 2005, the same year the late Steve Jobs gave a commencement speech at Stanford. It was called: “Stay hungry, stay foolish.” I still follow these words today. ‘Hunger’ to me is staying curious enough every day to define the WHY. ‘Staying foolish’ to me is not being afraid to take risks that may result in mistakes. I had to work hard once I decided to go out on my own and build a team of experts. These words were my daily inspiration. Hear more on Entrepreneur.com about how the Ballast Group team applies the ‘why’ people will care to...
Read MoreThe Ballast Group celebrates 10 years of storytelling
The Ballast Group is an integrated communications and branding firm that helps develop and tell your stories to your most important audiences in the channels that matter. Watch the founder’s message: Today, storytelling goes beyond earned media (aka stories told by journalists and producers). Our approach to thought leadership content helps shape the best stories, identify third parties to articulate them with you and gets the lead-generation results that you seek. We believe in integrated initiatives for generating demand, increasing awareness and focusing your brand in the right direction....
Read MoreKeep the conversation going
In celebration of Treacy Marketing Group’s 25th anniversary, I wrote this blog post on great story telling strategies that stand the test of time. It’s a new way of life for public relations practitioners, and it is fast-paced. One-way communication was then; two-way, 24/7 dialogue is now. Today, conversation is happening between stakeholders, not at them. What haven’t changed are the most crucial components of any public relations initiative: planning, building a narrative, and telling a compelling story. Five traditional values of great public relations stand the test of time: Know...
Read MorePR Pro as Biz Pro
I strongly believe that a good PR pro is also a business person – understanding it, developing it and quantifying it. Whether you are with an agency or a business, or you are novice or seasoned, good PR pros know their role leaps beyond selling the company story and into credibly selling the company’s products and services with its customers. This post will help connect these dots for why we as PR leaders work hard building relationships and drawing attention to CEOs, companies and industries. No matter the kind of business, when practicing PR, the bottom line always matters....
Read MoreTraditional or Social…What Blend are You?
Today it is very common to hear PR discussed in terms of “traditional” or “social.” There is a big distinction. Yet both tools fit into the PR mix for gaining exposure, for lead generation and for client story telling to various stakeholders. Simplified, I would distinguish traditional PR or media relations from social PR, or word-of-mouth marketing. With social media debuting 10+ years ago and now a serious component of an integrated communications mix, both initiatives play important roles for our clients. Breaking news and news tips are increasingly first being...
Read MoreCustomer-centric PR: letting others tell your story
If you are not using third party, customer-centric PR, there is a high likelihood that your brand’s full potential is not being reached. Whether you run a PR agency, a nonprofit, a small-mid-size business, a 10-person marketing department, or a larger corporation, the size of your brand potential might just depend on the PR philosophy that you apply. How many third parties do you foster to help shape your brand or – big ghast – to collectively become your largest public voice? We call this philosophy customer-centric, or third party PR. Brand advocates can be at work on...
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