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Social Media and Publicity Power

If leveraging the power of Twitter and Facebook seems like a necessary evil – and your customers seem to view it that way, as well — you’re not alone. Since social media seems to be working for some, though, what are the keys to using it effectively, business-wise? Can a medium known for light, fluffy and personal be turned into a vehicle for pitching bona fide services and products?

Dressed Up for the Tonys, and Still a Long Ways to Go

Why did 2013 Tony Award winner Andrea Martin, barely ten seconds into her thank-yous, make a point to say, “Carmen Marc Valvo gave me this dress — nobody else would. I just want to thank him.” Would you believe because Tony-nominated actresses – among the classiest performers anywhere, making them high-profile models for, well, class — don’t typically attract the kind of public attention that gown designers crave?

Ten Brands Predicted to Be Extinct by 2014

Every year, 24/7 Wall St., an online financial news and opinion site, IDs 10 brands that are predicted to disappear in the United States before the end of the next calendar year. The predictions have come to pass with about as great regularity as those that haven’t…yet. That said, here are the 10 brands that 24/7 Wall St. believes will be gone by the end of 2014.

All’s Fair in Love and Chocolate?

The concept of labeling products as fairly traded – where fair prices are paid for all ingredients, especially to suppliers in developing countries — would seem to be a concept that would have everyone on board? After all, don’t we, as Americans, want to do what we can to help struggling nations maximize their natural resources so as to enjoy a better life? Isn’t that the American way?

What’s Good for the Gander Might Work for the Goose

Certain men’s products prove suitable for women’s use, according to the good folks at InStyle magazine. And the stylistas don’t mean pills that could send women to the ER after 4 hours of a chronic condition, much less combing through some Just for (Old) Men where the gray’s beginning to show. These are bona fide cross uses. And some of them open up a whole world of creative possibilities.

Packaged-Goods Offers Your Phone Can’t Refuse

The Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) industry tries very hard to let you know just how necessary its products are to your life. These days, though, golden-glow, soft-focus TV spots about the wonders of laundry detergent aren’t going to keep you captivated. Appealing to the one object that commands your undivided attention might, however. Which is exactly where the CPG industry is planning a massive advertising assault. On your mobile device.

Microsoft Banks on Xbox One as More than Just a Game System

With the recent announcement concerning its latest gaming machine, Xbox One, Microsoft seems to be after one thing and one thing only: To become the major go-to device in your home when it comes to playing games and taking in entertainment. With sales of video games experiencing some softness, though, is Microsoft’s bet on consoles a wise investment? Or a desperate attempt to control market share?

Are Fashion Stars Overhyped and Overexposed?

In an age where fashions change quicker than spoiled-rotten athletes re-framing their ill-worded tweets, media exposure is a tricky game of guessing just how much nitroglycerin to use to get noticed. But not so much as to cause a deadly explosion. What’s the point of being a fashion star – like, say, Joseph Altuzarra — if no one knows who you are?

Authenticity Gap

Midwest PR and marketing agency FleishmanHillard decided to find out the difference between what consumers expect from companies and what they actually experience. The resulting study, entitled “Mind the Gap”, looked at 20 different industry categories in the U.S., Germany and China. Do consumers care if a company comes across as authentic and genuine? Does sincerity always carry the day?

What’s Next (Issue) for Magazine Advertising?

Magazine publishers keep scrambling to find the right combination of digital/print/video content that promises to keep readers engaged. And, more importantly, advertisers paying big bucks. What are magazine publishers pushing these days? What’s merely a gimmick and what looks to stick around? Is digital magazine publishing on a course to drive away print forever?