FIR Podcast Network

Have you ever wondered how many mobile apps there are in both the Google Play and Apple app stores combined?

It’s probably not something you think about on a regular basis but the number is staggering.

It’s over 2.5 million.

There’s no way you could ever weed through all of those apps to find ones that work best for you without wasting an exorbitant amount of time.

There are apps for everything imaginable.

So, the last thing you want is another one to download, right?

But before you log off, hear me out.

There many apps available that can make your life easier, help you get more done, become happier, and connect with more people.

You Can’t Win ‘Em All

Not every mobile app is right for you and just because all of your friends are raving about one that’s made their life easier doesn’t necessarily mean it’s going to work for you.

This is why you need to set certain criteria when you’re searching for a new app.

So how do you decide which apps get the honor of hanging out on your phone?

In this episode of the Spin Sucks podcast, we talk about all the apps and how to decide which ones are for you.

The Spin Sucks Podcast

In this episode of the podcast, we talk about:

* Determining if a new app solves a problem for you

* Figuring out whether an app integrates easily

* Whether or not an app is intuitive and easy to use

* Whittling down your favorite apps

* Setting the criteria on whether or not a new app is for you

Your Favorite Mobile Apps

I’m always looking for new mobile apps I can add to my phone, but they have to make the cut based on my criteria.

Are there certain apps you can’t live without?

Are there ones you thought were great at first but promptly fizzled out?

Let’s hear about all of your favorite and not-so-favorite mobile apps. The comments belong to you.

Summer vacation is over – and it’s time to fire up the Inside PR podcast.

One of the most frequent questions that Gini and Chip receive from agency clients is “how do I prepare for the recession?”

In this two-part episode, they explore the question of whether/when we should expect an economic downturn and what agencies can do to prepare themselves for it. As important, they also discuss how to help their team prepares for any challenges that lie ahead.

Last week’s first part examined the economic outlook, including signs that Chip and Gini are seeing in their work, along with some relevant industry research.

This week, the co-hosts tackle what agencies can do to better prepare their business and their team members for what lies ahead.

RESOURCES

* Recession Outlook (Promethean Research)

* Whether or not a downturn is coming, the time to prepare is now (HR Daily Advisor)

[read the transcript]

Gain incredible freedom from work and greater profits by optimizing your business systems. This episode features #ThoughtLeader and #Expert Josh Fonger (http://aha.pub/JoshFonger), founder and business performance architect of Work the System (WTS) Enterprises, business consultant, coach and speaker.

Josh helps entrepreneurs to design, optimize and implement business systems in order to help them grow their businesses, gain freedom from too much work and increase their profits. He understands the need to organize and systematize a business for it to run smoothly. He also guides his clients to develop their own business systems so that they will fully understand the functions and that the systems will be customized according to individual needs. Josh is passionate about helping entrepreneurs to scale their business in a way that positively impacts their customers, employees, family and themselves.

To learn more about Josh, go to http://aha.pub/JoshFonger. To get in touch with him, visit https://www.workthesystem.com/tll/.

Here are a few AHA messages from this episode:

* The pain point of many entrepreneurs is that they get stuck in time because they have too much on their plate and they lack the time to finish their tasks. #OptimizeBusinessSystems https://www.workthesystem.com/ @wts_josh

* Business systems are helpful tools for entrepreneurs to manage their work and reach their goals without consuming too much of their time. They should consider working with an expert to help them optimize their #BusinessSystems. http://aha.pub/JoshFonger

* Are you working with an expert who is well-versed in optimizing #BusinessSystems? Having in-depth knowledge and an understanding of business processes can give a person the credibility to help entrepreneurs optimize their business functions. http://aha.pub/JoshFonger

* Having an optimized #BusinessSystem can help entrepreneurs to efficiently use their time without getting stressed and overworked. Do you have a well-crafted business system to support your business functions? https://www.workthesystem.com/ @wts_josh

* Designing and implementing #BusinessSystems with numerous businesses can give someone the credibility to help entrepreneurs grow their businesses. Are you getting help from someone who knows their craft well? #OptimizeBusinessSystems http://aha.pub/JoshFonger

To learn more about thought leadership and how it can help you be successful, subscribe to the channel: http://youtube.com/user/thoughtleaderlife.

When Blue Engine Message & Media and JDA Frontline merged in 2018, the firms decided they would rebrand under a new name to better capture the essence of the sum as greater than the parts. In this episode, Trevor Francis discusses the opportunities and challenges that the merger has presented.

In particular, Trevor talks about how the team settled on Seven Letter as the new name for the business, how the integration process has been going, and the unique aspects of bringing together two agencies with differing partisan leanings.

QUOTES

* Chip: “How many four letter words were there before you got to seven?”

* Trevor: Rebrands are “a lot more complicated today than it was even a decade ago. You’re not only thinking about what your brand says about who you are and what you do, but you’re also thinking about the extensions of that brand on social handles and URLs. “

* Trevor: “Every single person in our firm participated in this process.”

* Trevor: “Business relationships are marriages, and I think as you enter into the kinds of agreements that Blue Engine and JDA did, you have to make sure that there is a common culture and a common purpose.”

RESOURCES

* Seven Letter

* Trevor Francis on LinkedIn

ABOUT TREVOR FRANCIS

Trevor Francis has more than two decades of experience working at the intersection of politics, government and public relations.

At Seven Letter, Trevor specializes in corporate reputation and issue management, and is responsible for a number of issue, advocacy and cause campaigns aimed at shaping public perception and influencing government decision-making. Previously, Trevor served as President of JDA Frontline, which merged with Blue Engine Message & Media in 2018 to form Seven Letter. (more)

[read the transcript]

The October episode of “The Hobson and Holtz Report” features Shel and Neville discussing these topics:

* PG&E’s power outages featured poorly planned communication

* Iraqis are translating the internet into Arabic

* The limits of storytelling for marketing

* What the judges thought when an AI-authored essay was submitted to a competition

* Imposters are becoming a real problem in the influencer marketing world

* Twenty percent of workers accepted a job offer, then ghosted the employer on their first day

* Sadness and disgust may be emotions you want to incorporate into your marketing

* Dan York reports on new podcasting features Amazon has added to its Alexa ecosystem, cool new features in WordPress 5.3, and the availability of your online services in a PG&E-like power shutdown

Special thanks to Jay Moonah for the opening and closing music.

You can find the stories from which Shel’s FIR content is selected at Shel’s Link Blog.

The next episode of For Immediate Release will be posted on Monday, November 18.

Links from This Week’s Episode

* Spread the word: the Iraqis translating the internet into Arabic

* Stories Can Be Powerful Persuasive Tools. But It’s Important to Understand When They Can Backfire.

* The Economist’s essay contest featured an AI submission. Here’s what the judges thought.

* Brands Beware: Influencer Impostors Want Your Free Stuff

* Virtual ambassadors cloud already murky legal picture for influencer marketing

* 1 in 5 workers accepted a job offer and ‘ghosted’ on their first day — here’s why

* Sadness and disgust among emotions that drive brand value, says biometric study

Links from Dan York’s Report

* Everything Amazon announced at its Alexa event

* WordPress 5.3 Development Cycle

* What’s Coming in WordPress 5.3 (Features and Screenshots)

* How Are Paywalled News Outlets Preparing to Serve Residents in California’s Mega-Power Shutoffs?

Interview with Augusto Valverde about creating content for distribution via TV and via Airlines.

Augusto is a producer, writer, director and TV host, including an ongoing hosting role at NBC. His production company created Global Child, the first world travel show that uses social media and experiences to share life lessons.

Global Child launched to over 300 million passengers in 2017 on major airlines and recently on Amazon Prime worldwide in addition to global network distribution.

He graduated Suma Cum Laude with a degree in Theology from Grand Canyon University and has a feature film writing certificate from UCLA extension.

Hosts: Leif Pettersen of Leif Pettersen PR and Chris Christensen of BloggerBridge.com and AmateurTraveler.com.

Grow your network by using lead generation strategies and tools effectively. This episode features #ThoughtLeader and #Expert Mike O’Neil (http://aha.pub/MikeONeil), CEO at Integrated Alliances, social media influencer and advisor, LinkedIn trainer and consultant, speaker and author. He has been named as one of the “Top 50 Social Media Influencers” in Forbes twice. He pioneered an innovative LinkedIn lead generation technique called “LinkedIn Campaigns.”

Mike conducts lead generation training seminars, keynote presentations and consultations for businessmen and salesmen in order for them to connect with people effectively and grow their networks. He coaches his clients and creates lead generation strategies. Mike is dedicated to helping his clients with LinkedIn strategy and “on the ground” techniques that deliver quick results.

To learn more about Mike, go to http://aha.pub/MikeONeil. To get in touch with him, visit https://www.navigatinglinkedin.com/.

Here are a few AHA messages from this episode:

* The pain point of many business and sales people is that they tend to waste a lot of time because they don’t know the right tools to use to find and connect with the right people. #LeadGeneration https://www.navigatinglinkedin.com/ @LinkedInTrainer

* #LeadGeneration strategies can help business and sales people to acquire potential customers. They should consider working with an expert to help them connect with the right people. http://aha.pub/MikeONeil

* Are you working with an expert who knows how to use #LeadGeneration tools effectively? Knowledge about lead generation tools can give a person the expertise to help business and sales people improve their network. http://aha.pub/MikeONeil

* Using LinkedIn effectively can help business and sales people increase and improve their network. How do you use LinkedIn to connect with the right people? https://www.navigatinglinkedin.com/ @LinkedInTrainer

* Doing #LeadGeneration can give someone the credibility to help business and sales people improve their networks and improve their businesses. Are you getting help from someone who knows how to find and connect with people? http://aha.pub/MikeONeil

To learn more about thought leadership and how it can help you be successful, subscribe to the channel: http://youtube.com/user/thoughtleaderlife.

 

Effectively deal with transition through a change management strategy. This credibility episode features #ThoughtLeader and #Expert, Rita Burgett-Martell (http://aha.pub/RitaBurgettMartell), an international executive coach and an organizational change management consultant with Strategic Transformations Consulting, Inc. She is the author of “Change Ready” and “Defining Moments.”

Rita helps individuals and companies to deal with overwhelming changes in their lives and businesses. She helps them to understand the need for change and to let go of the past, embracing the future with confidence. Rita is passionate about developing and executing change management strategies in order to help her clients deal with these challenges.

To learn more about Rita and to get in touch with her, go to http://aha.pub/RitaBurgettMartell.

Here are a few AHA messages from this credibility episode:

* The pain point of most individuals and companies is that they don’t know how to handle change well. They become overwhelmed with worries and they are unable to make good choices. #Transition #ChangeManagement http://aha.pub/RitaBurgettMartell

* One of the greatest challenges that individuals and companies face is keeping up with the changes around them. How do you deal with this challenge? #ChangeManagement http://aha.pub/RitaBurgettMartell

* Change is not something individuals and companies should fear. It can be an opportunity they should embrace in order to start anew and improve. #Transition http://aha.pub/RitaBurgettMartell

* #ChangeManagement requires a clear mind and the ability to make good choices so that individuals and companies can undergo a smooth #TransitionProcess. Consider finding an expert who has both qualities. http://aha.pub/RitaBurgettMartell

* Understanding the need to let go of the past and face the future with confidence can help individuals and companies deal with the #TransitionProcess. Are you brave enough to step up? http://aha.pub/RitaBurgettMartell

To learn more about Thought Leadership and how it can help you be successful, subscribe to the channel: http://youtube.com/user/thoughtleaderlife.

Do all roads lead to email?

They should.

Or could if you do things correctly.

I’m not your boss so I can’t really force you to do everything I say.

But I am the boss of this podcast, so I’m going to use this episode to talk about how we like when our paid media makes that leap into our owned media, and from there into email marketing.

We do it, so we recommend it for you too.

This episode will tell you exactly how to do just that.

Why Email Marketing Alone isn’t Enough

No matter how much we plan, we can’t control all the outcomes, all the time.

Even with our best planning we’ll happen to catch someone at a bad time or even just on a bad day.

That can lead to them deleting your emails without a second thought.

It’s totally normal and not at all personal but… it still sucks.

That’s why you can’t solely depend on email marketing alone.

How the PESO Model Plays In

That’s one of the reasons we love the PESO model.

It doesn’t depend on one aspect of media alone. When you integrate the four media types, you have influencer engagement, partnerships, and incentive programs that extend beyond your internal walls.

The PESO model also brings all of our communications together. I feel like a broken record, but let me say it again: Public relations is not media relations. Media relations is not public relations.

Are all the elements of the PESO model different? Yes. They all have unique functions.

But when they come together they complement each other and create a cohesive strategy.

Where does email marketing fit? Why should we plan how a topic idea will move from one type of media to another?

Let’s look at each step in more detail.

Turning Your Paid Media Into Owned Media

Let’s start with your paid media.

Paid media doesn’t refer to big, fancy commercials and highly creative print ads.

Nope, paid media for a PR program is social media advertising, sponsored content, and email marketing.

Paid media covers everything from sponsored tweets and Facebook posts, content syndication and distribution, to sponsored content in other media, as well as lead generation email campaigns.

The easiest way to think about it is if you’re paying for content to reach certain audiences, you have a paid media program.

In order for a paid media program to work effectively, you have to be willing to fork over loads of cash, right?

Wrong.

There are so many options now that you can execute a paid media program for about the same price as a latte from Starbucks.

Facebook is the least expensive, but it’s also the most effective so it’s totally worth delving into and creating some ads that work for your organization.

Where to Start to Make the Move to Owned Media

Your owned media is the content you create and own. Think – blog, website, landing pages, keynote, white papers.

You’re in charge of the messaging and you control how the story is told.

The key here is turning your paid media into owned media.

All aspects of the PESO model coincide and work together.

For example, if an organization uses Facebook ads to start promoting a product (paid media) and eventually the target audience has a few standouts who absolutely love the product.

They begin to promote the product on their personal pages, which inevitably brings more customers to your brand.

From there this group of loyal customers continues to grow and they zealously promote your product to anyone who will listen.

These outspoken proponents of your business become an external salesforce of sorts, who sometimes aren’t incentivized with anything more than a little recognition

In this podcast we dig into what you can do with email marketing and h...