What is a Content Ladder? A content ladder is our way of thinking about building expertise around a topic or content theme.  We use them formally and informally with a lot of our clients to take advantage of the repetitive nature of social media and to increase the shelf life of certain types of content. […]

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Why You Need ‘Everybody Writes’

  • Fran Stephenson
  • July 7, 2015
  • 2 min read

I’ve been having lunch with Ann Handley several times a week for the last two months.  Well, it feels like I’ve been having lunch with her.  I’ve been reading her new-ish book Everybody Writes during my lunch hours.  But now, I’m done with her.  It was a sad day when I finished the last page […]

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Is Improv the Latest PR Trend?

  • Fran Stephenson
  • January 14, 2015
  • 3 min read

Communications professionals are geared to be planners.  We do research, create plans, make road maps, all in the name of being thorough.  Certainly our timelines are more condensed than they’ve ever been before.  But what if we should be doing the opposite of planning? The nature of today’s communication environment makes planning more difficult, maybe […]

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Are You Hiding From Your Customers?

  • Fran Stephenson
  • March 9, 2014
  • 2 min read

While social media has enabled widespread conversations between brands and their customers, for some organizations, it’s also an opportunity to hide behind social channels.  These organizations are still struggling with how to manage the 24/7 nature of online customer service.  Here are some signs that you may be hiding from your customers: You never have […]

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Note-Taking is Good for Your Strategy

  • Fran Stephenson
  • February 13, 2014
  • 3 min read

Nearly everyone I know takes notes in some form or fashion. Most of us were programmed to do it as students, when we faithfully tried to hang on every word the teacher said in case it showed up on a test somewhere.  If you want to make sure you are counseling your clients in their […]

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Television Interviews STILL Require Preparation

  • Fran Stephenson
  • January 9, 2014
  • 3 min read

Sure, I took time off during the holiday season.  Entertained friends, enjoyed time with family, read a little and yes, I watched TV. Around the holidays, television viewers are treated to the full force of the personalities who, with great professionalism and familiarity, anchor our news shows – national and local. But something also happens […]

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How PR Pros Can Use ‘The Invisible Sale’

  • Fran Stephenson
  • November 27, 2013
  • 4 min read

Book image This week I read a new book called The Invisible Sale by Tom Martin, founder of Converse Digital and a longtime advertising agency professional. I first heard Tom speak earlier this year at the Solo PR Pro Summit in Atlanta, in which he talked about Painless Prospecting.  That presentation became part of his […]

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Break the Measurement Logjam

  • Fran Stephenson
  • October 31, 2013
  • 2 min read

In September, I spoke to the Public Information Officers who work for the Veterans Administration.  These professionals are challenged in several ways with systems and methods for which they have little control.  Yet, they are deeply committed to demonstrating success to their leadership. While we talked about trends in measurement and industry best practices, it […]

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Marketing Plans: Dust Collector or Useful Tools?

  • Fran Stephenson
  • September 30, 2013
  • 4 min read

Last week, I facilitated a session by the same name at the Texas Travel Industry Summit in Corpus Christi.  It was a “shirtsleeves” session designed to help travel professionals talk about their successes and challenges and draw from the collective group to find solutions or ideas they could take back to their organizations. Our panel […]

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Consider the Source

  • Fran Stephenson
  • July 25, 2012
  • 3 min read

A disturbing media trend emerging the past few years really came to light for me last week while scanning the morning news programs: media interviewing other media. I’ve noticed it on two occasions: celebrity news and breaking news.  Here are two scenarios. Scenario 1: Celebrity News Celebrity A is divorcing Celebrity B. The news coverage […]

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