 I have said it before and I will say it again: everything is public relations.
Everything you say, even to an obscure, tiny media outlet, is going to be scrutinized. Everything you do, even if it is after an event, will be noticed and watched. Chick-Fil-A and the NFL have learned this the hard way. Chick-Fil-A's COO Tim Tassopoulos recently made this comment—what some might consider pretty bland and obscure—to a relatively unknown media outlet: “As we go into new markets, we need to be clear about who we are.” That comment is now a punchline about a company that most people thought they knew pretty well. Instead of making things "clear," they muddied their own smooth-sailing waters. Time will tell if their boats start sinking. Likewise, the NFL—a corporation, first and foremost—can't seem to get its employees in line. Apparently, the thing we all should have learned in Kindergarten--how to be a good sport—has been lost on this generation of adult men. Their employees are showing everyone what sore losers look like at the end of their most-watched, prime-time games. So how do you put the Genie back in the bottle when you face PR nightmares of this magnitude? It's called Crisis PR. Yes, it's a thing. There are firms that deal with this every day, and I'm sure they are getting the big bucks right now as they roll out a strategy to get back into the good graces of chicken sandwich lovers everywhere who just want to watch a great game. But here's a secret no crisis publicist will tell you. It is easier to leave the Genie in the bottle. It was actually Moses who first showed us the best crisis prevention plan ever developed by a CEO. The Ten Commandments aren't just necessary elements for the Judeo-Christian faith, they are really good PR ideas. Don't be deceitful. Don't wish for or take something someone else has. Don't try to kill anyone. Just those three commandments alone would have kept both Chick-Fil-A and the NFL out of trouble.
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 “If the circus is coming to town and you paint a sign saying 'Circus Coming to the Fairground Saturday,' that’s advertising/marketing.
If you put the sign on the back of an elephant and walk it into town, that's promotion. If the elephant walks through the mayor’s flower bed, that’s publicity. And if you get the mayor to laugh about it, that’s public relations." -- Reader's Digest, “Promoting Issues and Ideas” by M. Booth and Associates, Inc. We live in a culture that craves attention. Social media has made a whole lot of people who know practically nothing, suddenly regard themselves as experts. And shows like "The X Factor" and "America's Got Talent" offer anyone with any sort of entertainment value the opportunity to become famous. But what good is fame if you have no end goal in mind? What good is a platform on which to speak if you have nothing to say? I decided long ago that I wasn't interested in just getting my clients media attention. Anyone with a list, a phone, and a little gumption can do that. What I wanted our little company to do was build solid, long-lasting careers, or more specifically for faith-based clients, ministries. In today's media-saturated world, press comes and goes instantaneously. We used to refer to a "window" when we released information during a news cycle. But today, news cycles are measured in minutes and hours instead of days or weeks which means that window is now a teeny-tiny hole in the door. So the need for understanding the difference between public relations and publicity is crucial to anyone who has long-term goals. Gaining media attention is great, but extremely short-lived. Building a name, a brand, a mission, a goal, or a relationship with an audience takes much more than a magazine article or a viral Tweet. It takes time, effort, patience, and above all, a laser-like focus on a predetermined and purposeful goal. God says in Isaiah 46:10 that He had the end in mind in the beginning. Billions of followers and the best-selling book of all time were the results. Not a bad public relations strategy if you think about it. -- Gina Adams  "You are unique, and if that is not fulfilled then something has been lost."
— Martha Graham One of the first things I ask a potential client is "What are your onlys?" After they stammer for a second, I explain: "What makes you unique to everyone else? What do you offer that no one else offers? Answer that question, and our PR campaign begins." Some people know the answer immediately. Others do not. Part of a publicist's job is to find those "ONLYs." In the theme park world, their ticket sales are based on having the fastest, the tallest, or the longest ride. Notice the -est. Your "only" might be an 'est. I recently did a short campaign for an insurance group and asked them that question. They immediately answered it, yet they had never TOLD anyone about it. Most companies, artists, authors, and ministries have some "onlys" they can talk about. And if by chance they don't have any, they can always create some. Christians who have gifts to share sometimes feel at odds with what they deem as bragging or "tooting their own horn." But if you have an effective ministry, if your product or service fills a need, if you have something to contribute to the betterment of society, is it really the Christian thing to do to keep it a secret? 14 "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.-- Matthew 5 Whether you are a singer, author or corporation, if you live by Christian principles, you should be more than willing to tell others about the gifts bestowed on you from God. Discover your ONLYs and embrace them as part of your identity. God gave them to you for one simple reason -- to share them. Now, go hire a publicist -- and tell everybody.  "To avoid criticism, say nothing, do nothing, be nothing." -- Aristotle When I first started my career in public relations, there was a critic at a popular music magazine whose name was Bob. Bob was admired -- and feared -- for his sarcastic wit and brutal honesty. So I always thought twice before I sent a review copy of an album to Bob. The last project I sent him, he ripped it apart with the use of only four words. And I had to admit, his four-word review made me laugh out loud. Though Bob was never ugly in his comments, he was always honest. And, unlike many critics, he knew what he was talking about. Bob retired many years ago, but many "Bobs" have emerged to try to take his place. In fact, everyone who has a social media account of some kind fancies themselves a critic in today's world. If social media has taught us anything it is that critics are among us -- in spades. And unlike Bob, they can be hateful and downright mean. That's not being a critic, that's just being a jerk. When you release the new book or music project you have slaved over and made your baby, prepare yourself for the "Bobs." They troll the internet looking for people and projects they can slam and rail against. They live for it. It makes them happy to be cruel. It is the the most vile part of the social media phenomenon. These same people probably would be too afraid to ask for ice in a restaurant, but they feel empowered to "anonymously" tear into someone else or belittle their work. But don't be deterred. Share your music, your book, your film with the world. Though the "Bobs" can be loud, the people who will appreciate your work are still out there. We were recently filming a music video on a busy street when we began apologizing profusely to two ladies who had to dodge our cameras. One lady turned and said sternly, "Don't ever apologize for art." Right. Not even when the "Bobs" of the world call it trash. Keep creating. -- Gina Adams I'm giving away a family secret now. My husband is a Bigfoot fan. Yes, that's right. He believes in Sasquatch. Ask him and he'll prattle on about a moment in the woods in rural Kentucky as a child. Big noises, Trees falling. Very dramatic. So you can imagine his delight when the Animal Planet put the series "Finding Bigfoot" on the air. My husband got his popcorn ready every Sunday night to finally see this elusive, Ninja-like creature that has alluded men for decades. But a funny thing happened. Each week he watched and each week they didn't find it. Again. And again. And again. Last night was the last straw for my husband as they announced the series' season finale. "If they don't find something next week," my husband exclaimed, "I'm writing Animal Planet and telling them to take the show off the air. This show is making me NOT believe." I don't want to second guess Animal Planet or the BFRO folks (Bigfoot Field Research Organization), but I'm assuming this is not the reaction they were going for from viewers. I get the sense that they wanted the opposite effect. Surely they hoped that people on the fence or over the fence on the Sasquatch theory (i.e. hubby) would get involved with the BFRO, buy their stuff, Like their Facebook page, get the t-shirt, hat, yada, yada. But it seems, instead, they are making believers into non-believers. Bummer. So what does any of this have to do with PR? Well, this is a good example of a bad PR move. Someone at the network didn't think this through. I mean, at some point, just make something up for Pity's Sake so these poor Sasquatch folk can keep thinking that giant ape-like men are alive and well. What we have here is a case of not having the end goal in mind. Every public relations campaign should start at the end. Everything in the middle should lead to the same end. Otherwise, your good intentions will lead your PR efforts down the wrong path-- to that place of eternal sweat where all good intentions lead. And apparently, there is no Bigfoot there either.  "If I was given eight hours to chop down a tree. I would spend seven hours sharpening my ax." - Abraham Lincoln
There are parts of a PR campaign that should remain silent. Those “quiet” moments of no TV cameras pointed at the client, no radio interviews on the calendar, and no articles in magazines can seem pointless to anxious clients who want to see fast results. But as Honest Abe reminds us, preparation is often the most important part of the process. Those “silent” days and weeks at the beginning of a publicity campaign are when a PR consultant should be getting a client ready to face the media. It may involve everything from getting social media in place to having multi-media components produced to updating a website to working through interview preparations. Many clients want to hit the ground running – and they can – because they walk into a publicity campaign with all elements already in place. But most do not. And the preparation phase (or lack thereof) will make or break the entire campaign itself. You only get one chance to make that first impression. Make sure the ax is sharp.  There's a word floating around the publishing and recording industries of late—platform. What industry execs want to know before they sign a new artist or author is do they have a platform? Do they have a built-in audience? What most would-be artists and authors miss is the subtle but obvious question really being asked by the big companies -- can you sell your own CD or book without us? Think about the ludicrousness of that for a moment. Because if the answer is yes, then why do you need them? Books and music will never be the same again thanks to iTunes and Kindles. Technology has over-taken both industries to the point that once-needed go-betweens (i.e. publishers, record labels) are scrambling to figure out their place in this new world of downloads and instantly-accessible libraries. William Young thought he needed a publisher and sent his manuscript, THE SHACK, to several of them. They all turned him away. Undaunted, he self-published his book anyway. At nearly four million copies sold, I'm fairly certain Mr. Young is glad he doesn't have a publisher. Which brings us back to platform. Can you create your own? You betcha. What are your strengths? If you're a singer, can you also speak? If you're a writer, have you started a blog regarding your book's subject? Think outside the scope of the talents you have and explore ways you can create opportunities to touch people with your message. In our social network universe, the consumer is more accessible than ever and a platform is even more attainable. With a little ingenuity, some guidance from a quality public relations professional and some blood, sweat and tears, you can have a best-seller on Amazon and discover the benefits of owning 100% of your work and reaping 100% of the profit.  One of the least destructive trends on social media right now is the mannequin challenge, where groups of people take a photo of people stopping...freezing in place...and becoming silent. Oh, that we would decide as a global community to do that exact same thing on all our social media networks for a while. Stop. And shut up. Social media management is part of my job. I have to deal with it daily. But some days --- especially since this election cycle began ----I loathe it. Social media has amplified what societies have been doing for ages -- the dehumanization of people. Because we can "anonymously" offer our opinions about every single thing in society without a personal confrontation, we feel obligated to do so -- in the most unloving and degrading ways imaginable. As a result, anger -- the easiest of emotions for us to feel -- is rising to the forefront in our society, exposing the age old sin of pride in each of us. Anger is easy because it our first line of defense to keep us from feeling fear, hurt, grief or any of the other emotions with which we are truly wrestling. Our dialogue is no longer respectful, and we actually show admiration for the crassest among us as we cheer them on to shame and humiliate people with whom we disagree. The dehumanization continues with our culture's addiction to video games where we kill as many virtual people as possible --and on computer screens and soon-to-be robot companions where people have virtual sex -- and with the growing sex slave industry becoming ever more prevalent in our own backyards. Though not a new thing, dehumanizing our fellow man is becoming almost a game of sorts, rather than something we recognize or acknowledge as deeply sinful and ugly. As we sling mud back and forth, we are dehumanizing the very people God loves; the people for which He suffered and died. We need a Savior, not a President. God help us all. -- Gina Adams  The entertainment field is highly competitive and very volatile. Even more so, when your focus is ministry. When you sing or write for God, the audience narrows, the pond gets smaller and the competing fish are plentiful. In nearly three decades of promoting countless Christian music projects, books, events, films and the like, I have only seen one -- one instance-- when it was possible to label someone's success "overnight." Most authors, speakers, bands and singers slog it out, day after day, year after year, sometimes decade after decade and then "suddenly" find success. But even when it arrives, it comes in waves -- in seasons -- it crests, ebbs and flows. Success -- on any high level-- is fleeting at best. It is a marathon, not a sprint.
So why on earth would anyone try to have a career in gospel music? Or write a Christian book? Or speak on Christian topics? Most missionaries will tell you that you don't go to the jungle unless you are called to do so. God has placed on each of us a calling. As the Apostle Paul describes, we can't all be hands; some of us are feet. Some of us are eyes; some are ear lobes. The body has many parts, he explains. But none of us are the Head. Of the people I have worked with over the years, very few survive long-term. But the ones that do last beyond a decade or so all share the same motivation. They are not looking to be famous. They are not looking to be stars. They are not shooting for stratospheric heights. They simply keep doing what they feel they are called by God to do. Whether in feast or in famine, they trudge on. Paul said it best in Philippians 4: "I’ve learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I’m just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I’ve found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am." (MSG) When people call me and tell me about their new project or, more specifically, the calling they believe they have on their lives -- I have learned over the years not to judge. You cannot imagine the ideas people come up with to spread the Gospel. But who am I to assess what someone's calling is? I can only decide if it is something I can help promote. But far be it from me to determine someone's calling. That is a God thing. Not a publicist thing.  I saw on a job site recently where Cracker Barrel corporate was looking for a Communications Specialist. This was shortly before they really needed one. Badly. After the duck feathers flew, I imagined if I had been the one sitting in that Communications Specialist seat when my boss came in to announce they were going to stop carrying Duck Dynasty merchandise. My reply would have been simple; "Are you crazy? Don't you know your own audience?" I probably would have been fired or demoted at that point. But I would have been right. And it would have saved Cracker Barrel from eating a lot of raw, uncooked crow. Whatever powers that be at Cracker Barrel had better run down to the Clue Shop and make a purchase. Having eaten at Cracker Barrel myself more times than I can count, a simple look around the room tells me who their audience is. So if I, as a lowly consumer, can figure that out, how could they have missed something as vital as that?
Every artist, every author, every person who is offering a product to the marketplace needs to answer one question before they ever begin to form a public persona: Who is my audience? Once that question is answered, you can begin to hone in on a message that will appeal to that particular targeted consumer base. So many times I have been in meetings with people who say something like "I want my audience to be the whole world." I've been known at that juncture to draw a large circle on a piece of paper, point to it and say, "That is quite a large market. Are you sure you have the budget for this?" Sometimes that directs them back to reality. Sometimes it doesn't. The reality, according to the Apostle Paul in 1st Corinthians 12, is that we are not all called for the same purpose. We have unique gifts and talents that place us precisely where God wants us in the grand scheme of things. We must surrender ourselves to the fact that we cannot individually become the body of Christ. We can and must, however, be the necessary left eye or the right leg or the big toe that makes up the body. Then, we can make a difference to the audience that we have been assigned to reach. By understanding who we are speaking to -- with our books, music, films, etc. -- we become that necessary link that makes the entire body work correctly. And time has shown that when that happens, Christ is indeed glorified to the whole world. So draw a big circle on that piece of paper and then locate your teeny, tiny dot. That's where you begin. |
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