The 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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
read moreProfessor Punts: Another Quarter, Internship Intelligence and Life with Social Media
The summer sailing season winds down in September as the crisp air signals for me the beginning of another fall quarter teaching principles of PR at DePaul University. No sooner can we blink than the first frost brings with it final exams during Thanksgiving week. Time flies. In teaching, there is never a dull moment – especially with 28 engaging, smart 20-somethings eager to find out if PR is for them. During 10 weeks and 20 lectures we wove PR conversations into current events. There were four Presidential debates, Apple’s...
read moreWhat is your catalyst?
After spending eight years in the medical technology start-up world, six years in Corporate America’s pharma and consumer products sectors, and two years consulting, I founded the Ballast Group, an integrated communication strategies firm. I believed finally I had enough experience in many areas of industry and business that potential clients could gain insights from them. But I didn’t always have the guts to take such an entrepreneurial risk. My sailing partner and coach, a commercial real estate entrepreneur, was my catalyst. On...
read moreFire a prospect before hiring a client
Fire a prospect before hiring a client Recently I had an experience where I chose to pass on a prospect to avoid a nightmare client. This experience made me stop and think hard before going with my gut. Some would say that I passed up potential business. When a relationship is right, you sense it from the get go. The perspectives and education of both parties in their respective fields is clearly understood on both ends. The same goals are understood and shared; there is mutual respect, curiosity and the perspective education by both parties...
read moreVisiting Vietnam
“Traveling the country, delicacies always near” – eating our way from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi – a New Year’s adventure http://www.chicagotribune.com/travel/ct-trav-0325-food-vietnam-20120324,0,6406379.story
read moreStaying healthy on the road – http://www.robbreportcollection.com/Lasting-Impressions-0412
“Tracking Down Great Garden Fare” – my secret weapon for staying healthy on the road, at the office and when life gets challenging. http://www.robbreportcollection.com/Lasting-Impressions-0412
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