The November installment of the Hobson & Holtz Report includes reports on these stories:

* A spoof airline fooled a lot of people. Experts say it had some good ideas.

* A look at some technological behaviors adopted during the pandemic but that are likely to outlast it.

* Twitter is the source of some remarkable PR pitch fails.

* Digital-only financial services startups are turning to influencers to help build their brands.

* Retailers and other brands are pressuring employees to become TikTok influencers for them.

* What happened when humans stopped managing social media content? (It wasn’t pretty.)

* Dan York’s Tech Report explores Twitter “Fleets,” Google search results and “page experience,” and Google’s new webinars and its partnership with PRX.

Our FIR recording sessions are now being streamed live, because why not? We already stream it in order to capture a backup recording on YouTube; we’ve just been making these restricted streams. We have decided to make them public so you can watch and comment. Our next recording is Saturday, December 19 at noon ET. You’ll see our pre-recording conversation as well as seeing how the sausage gets made. Watch here.

We are hosting an FIR Communicators Coffee Break on Zoom each Thursday during the stay-at-home period at 1 p.m. ET (though not on Thanksgiving Day in the U.S.). For credentials, contact Shel or Neville directly or request the credentials in our Facebook group or send an email to [email protected]. Spread the word to your communications community.

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. Neville’s link blog, Outbox, is available, as well.

Links from This Month’s Episode

* Minimizing email overload for remote teams

* The spoof airline that could actually predict the future of travel

* New technological behaviors will outlast the pandemic

* The Workplace is Dead. Long Live the Workplace.

* 10 embarrassing PR fails that show how not to pitch

* The “Fin-influencer” boom: Why Instagram and TikTok are the new battlegrounds for digital banks

* Retailers are pushing their employees to become TikTok influencers

* What happened when humans stopped managing social media content

* Coronavirus: Facebook accused of forcing staff back to offices

Links from Dan York’s Report

* Fleets: a new way to join the conversation

* Timing for bringing page experience to Google Search

*

#490: Deb Beroset and Mitchell Levy on Thought Leader Life Credibility Episode

Make your brand stand out by discerning your core essence. This episode features #ThoughtLeader and #Expert Deb Beroset (https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborahberoset/), an award-winning journalist, neurotransformational coach, PR executive, and branding consultant.

An intuitive coach and dynamic presenter, she has got a penchant in galvanizing businesses and brands by tapping their inner desires and essences.

If you are following all the rules but clients are not coming the way you expect them to come, then you should reach out to Deb Beroset via https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborahberoset/ and https://www.itstimeformoxie.com/.

Here are some of the AHA messages from this episode:

* If you are a #business owner and are frustrated and tired of blending in and want to stand out, then you should reach out to Deb Beroset. https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborahberoset/

* I bring out the core essence of #brands and get them expressed through their distinct personalities and vibe. I execute creative work that can make you stand out. https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborahberoset/

* I was once hired by Hallmark to head up their internal think tank… And I learned all about innovation, creativity and expressing something. #PR #branding https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborahberoset/

* I use my pixie dust magic in compelling #customers to be enthralled with your personality and make them fall in love with your innate essence. https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborahberoset/

* I get killer to-die-for testimonials from happy clients… and I can’t pay for that kind of credibility. #brandpromotion https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborahberoset/

To view the video interview click here.

#491: Pam Hurley and Mitchell Levy on Thought Leader Life Credibility Episode

 

Improving professional writing skills. This episode features #ThoughtLeader and #Expert Pam Hurley (https://www.linkedin.com/in/hurleywrite/). She is the founder and the president of Hurley Write, Inc.

Pam and her team develop and teach customized writing workshops for a wide variety of professionals in small and large organizations. Pam is also an award-winning lecturer and has published various articles related to writing in many different journals and trade publications.

If your team needs to improve their writing skills, , contact the Hurley Write team at https://www.linkedin.com/in/hurleywrite/ or www.hurleywrite.com.

Here are a couple of AHA messages from this episode:

* Professionals who needs assistance in their #Writing should reach out to Hurley Write, Inc. https://www.linkedin.com/in/hurleywrite/ @HurleyWrite

* We ensure that our classes, whether onsite, virtual, or online, meets your team’s needs and expectations. https://www.linkedin.com/in/hurleywrite/ @HurleyWrite

* We have the flexibility to design writing courses that meet your team’s needs. And all of our experienced trainers have backgrounds in writing and are great trainers, too!

#490: Deb Beroset and Mitchell Levy on Thought Leader Life Credibility Episode

Make your brand stand out by discerning your core essence. This episode features #ThoughtLeader and #Expert Deb Beroset (https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborahberoset/), an award-winning journalist, neurotransformational coach, PR executive, and branding consultant.

An intuitive coach and dynamic presenter, she has got a penchant in galvanizing businesses and brands by tapping their inner desires and essences.

If you are following all the rules but clients are not coming the way you expect them to come, then you should reach out to Deb Beroset via https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborahberoset/ and https://www.itstimeformoxie.com/.

Here are some of the AHA messages from this episode:

* If you are a #business owner and are frustrated and tired of blending in and want to stand out, then you should reach out to Deb Beroset. https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborahberoset/

* I bring out the core essence of #brands and get them expressed through their distinct personalities and vibe. I execute creative work that can make you stand out. https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborahberoset/

* I was once hired by Hallmark to head up their internal think tank… And I learned all about innovation, creativity and expressing something. #PR #branding https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborahberoset/

* I use my pixie dust magic in compelling #customers to be enthralled with your personality and make them fall in love with your innate essence. https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborahberoset/

* I get killer to-die-for testimonials from happy clients… and I can’t pay for that kind of credibility. #brandpromotion https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborahberoset/

To view the video interview click here.

#491: Pam Hurley and Mitchell Levy on Thought Leader Life Credibility Episode

 

Improving professional writing skills. This episode features #ThoughtLeader and #Expert Pam Hurley (https://www.linkedin.com/in/hurleywrite/). She is the founder and the president of Hurley Write, Inc.

Pam and her team develop and teach customized writing workshops for a wide variety of professionals in small and large organizations. Pam is also an award-winning lecturer and has published various articles related to writing in many different journals and trade publications.

If your team needs to improve their writing skills, , contact the Hurley Write team at https://www.linkedin.com/in/hurleywrite/ or www.hurleywrite.com.

Here are a couple of AHA messages from this episode:

* Professionals who needs assistance in their #Writing should reach out to Hurley Write, Inc. https://www.linkedin.com/in/hurleywrite/ @HurleyWrite

* We ensure that our classes, whether onsite, virtual, or online, meets your team’s needs and expectations. https://www.linkedin.com/in/hurleywrite/ @HurleyWrite

* We have the flexibility to design writing courses that meet your team’s needs. And all of our experienced trainers have backgrounds in writing and are great trainers, too!

As we close out a year marked by upheaval, experts predict more disruption ahead―including an uptick in mergers and acquisitions (M&A). For our 50th (!) EE Voice podcast, we welcome Louis de Schorlemer of Corporate Diplomat, an agency dedicated to managing M&A, diverstitures or reorganizations. Louis is an international leader in managing M&A communications. He brings a valuable perspective on the importance of centering people in the processes around these transactions.

Louis discusses the sensitive nature of M&A activities, such as when a cash-rich business buys a struggling company, and he doesn’t look away from the discomfort but instead guides clients on how to communicate through it in a mindful way.  He lays out strategies for analytical mapping and putting people in the right mindset. And he asks challenging questions about transparency and preparedness―and shares the “Four Ps” he’s found to be instrumental for success.

If you’ve never supported M&A before — and even if you have — Louis offers a masterclass on communications strategy and execution. Listen in, and let us know what you think.

As we close out a year marked by upheaval, experts predict more disruption ahead―including an uptick in mergers and acquisitions (M&A). For our 50th (!) EE Voice podcast, we welcome Louis de Schorlemer of Corporate Diplomat, an agency dedicated to managing M&A, diverstitures or reorganizations. Louis is an international leader in managing M&A communications. He brings a valuable perspective on the importance of centering people in the processes around these transactions.

Louis discusses the sensitive nature of M&A activities, such as when a cash-rich business buys a struggling company, and he doesn’t look away from the discomfort but instead guides clients on how to communicate through it in a mindful way.  He lays out strategies for analytical mapping and putting people in the right mindset. And he asks challenging questions about transparency and preparedness―and shares the “Four Ps” he’s found to be instrumental for success.

If you’ve never supported M&A before — and even if you have — Louis offers a masterclass on communications strategy and execution. Listen in, and let us know what you think.

Last week, we started a longer conversation about planning. It doesn’t matter if it’s business planning, marketing and communications planning, or planning for yourself, now is the time to begin to think about next year. As we go back into lockdown in Chicago and other parts of the country, I know how challenging it is to think about tomorrow, let alone next year, but let’s give it a shot.

We’ll go back to the business-type planning next week, but this week, I’d like to focus on you. After all, if you don’t care for you (and I say this as much for myself as anyone), you can’t take care of your internal or external clients and team. This week, it’s all about you!

We talk a lot about professional development around these parts—both on the podcast and on the blog. Spin Sucks is, after all, a professional development site for marketers and communicators. We are big about continual learning and stretching our brains. One way to do that is to learn, evolve, and advance…together continually.

At the same time, it’s incredibly difficult for us to invest in ourselves. We’re accustomed to being behind the scenes. We work tirelessly for others and put ourselves on the backburner. Of course, this is the fastest way to both burnout and irrelevance.

And yet, we all do it. I”m as guilty as anyone. It’s not good!

But with a little thinking, two weeks’ time, and a notebook, you can be well on your way to professional development that helps you reach your goals.

Resources Included In the Episode

* One-page Template for Communications Planning

* Bullet Journal

* A Little Life

* Spin Sucks Community

Last week, we started a longer conversation about planning. It doesn’t matter if it’s business planning, marketing and communications planning, or planning for yourself, now is the time to begin to think about next year. As we go back into lockdown in Chicago and other parts of the country, I know how challenging it is to think about tomorrow, let alone next year, but let’s give it a shot.

We’ll go back to the business-type planning next week, but this week, I’d like to focus on you. After all, if you don’t care for you (and I say this as much for myself as anyone), you can’t take care of your internal or external clients and team. This week, it’s all about you!

We talk a lot about professional development around these parts—both on the podcast and on the blog. Spin Sucks is, after all, a professional development site for marketers and communicators. We are big about continual learning and stretching our brains. One way to do that is to learn, evolve, and advance…together continually.

At the same time, it’s incredibly difficult for us to invest in ourselves. We’re accustomed to being behind the scenes. We work tirelessly for others and put ourselves on the backburner. Of course, this is the fastest way to both burnout and irrelevance.

And yet, we all do it. I”m as guilty as anyone. It’s not good!

But with a little thinking, two weeks’ time, and a notebook, you can be well on your way to professional development that helps you reach your goals.

Resources Included In the Episode

* One-page Template for Communications Planning

* Bullet Journal

* A Little Life

* Spin Sucks Community

#486: Joseph Ruiz and Mitchell Levy on Thought Leader Life Credibility Episode

Creativity through connections with people. This episode features #ThoughtLeader and #Expert Joseph Ruiz (https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephruizjr/) The owner and president of Strategic Marketing Solutions. He is also an instructor at Virginia Commonwealth University, a certified LEGO Serious Play Facilitator and speaker.

Joseph helps business owners and professionals solve problems. He shows businesses how to understand their ideal client and attract more of them. He also helps you to structure your marketing efforts in a way your entire employee base can utilize so that you will not worry about running the day to day.

If you recognize that your people are not being as creative as they should be, consider reaching out to Joseph Ruiz by visiting his LinkedIn profile at https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephruizjr/

Here are a couple of AHA messages from this episode:

* Leaders who recognize that there are people in their team who lacks #Creativity should reach out to Joseph Ruiz. https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephruizjr/ @SMSJOE

* Leaders usually have one of three different issues. It doesn’t have one answer. It’s complex, ambiguous, struggling with innovation or they need a new business model. #creativity https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephruizjr/ @SMSJOE

* My experience in terms of really dealing with a lot of different wicked problems across a lot of different industries gives me credibility to help leaders with their #Creativity. https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephruizjr/ @SMSJOE

* Putting together the different #Connections, talking to people, understanding, probing and accessing is a lot of fun. https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephruizjr/ @SMSJOE

* Most people don’t even know what problem they’re solving. They actually define their problem as a solution, not the real problem. #Creativity https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephruizjr @SMSJOE

To view the video interview click here.

#487: Anna Mandell and Mitchell Levy on Thought Leader Life Credibility Episode

Maximize your profit through leveraging your mental resilience. This episode features #ThoughtLeader and #Expert Anna Mandell (https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaemandell), a mental resilience and passive income generation coach who supports C-suite level executives, business owners, managers, and $6 figure earners to gain leverage and efficiency  in dealing with disempowering circumstances as well as boosting the performance, streamlining and diversifying their passive income portfolios whilst freeing up their time.

Anna Mandell helps individuals, executives and companies who fall into a debt or unfortunate circumstance. She has the ability to inspire people to be proactive and empowered regardless of the situations that they are facing.

If you need financial advice, you can reach out to Anna E. Mandell through https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaemandell.

Here are several AHA messages from this episode:

* I help individuals and enterprises in dealing with disempowering circumstances as well as increasing the performance and diversifying their passive income portfolios while freeing up their time.

#486: Joseph Ruiz and Mitchell Levy on Thought Leader Life Credibility Episode

Creativity through connections with people. This episode features #ThoughtLeader and #Expert Joseph Ruiz (https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephruizjr/) The owner and president of Strategic Marketing Solutions. He is also an instructor at Virginia Commonwealth University, a certified LEGO Serious Play Facilitator and speaker.

Joseph helps business owners and professionals solve problems. He shows businesses how to understand their ideal client and attract more of them. He also helps you to structure your marketing efforts in a way your entire employee base can utilize so that you will not worry about running the day to day.

If you recognize that your people are not being as creative as they should be, consider reaching out to Joseph Ruiz by visiting his LinkedIn profile at https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephruizjr/

Here are a couple of AHA messages from this episode:

* Leaders who recognize that there are people in their team who lacks #Creativity should reach out to Joseph Ruiz. https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephruizjr/ @SMSJOE

* Leaders usually have one of three different issues. It doesn’t have one answer. It’s complex, ambiguous, struggling with innovation or they need a new business model. #creativity https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephruizjr/ @SMSJOE

* My experience in terms of really dealing with a lot of different wicked problems across a lot of different industries gives me credibility to help leaders with their #Creativity. https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephruizjr/ @SMSJOE

* Putting together the different #Connections, talking to people, understanding, probing and accessing is a lot of fun. https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephruizjr/ @SMSJOE

* Most people don’t even know what problem they’re solving. They actually define their problem as a solution, not the real problem. #Creativity https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephruizjr @SMSJOE

To view the video interview click here.

#487: Anna Mandell and Mitchell Levy on Thought Leader Life Credibility Episode

Maximize your profit through leveraging your mental resilience. This episode features #ThoughtLeader and #Expert Anna Mandell (https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaemandell), a mental resilience and passive income generation coach who supports C-suite level executives, business owners, managers, and $6 figure earners to gain leverage and efficiency  in dealing with disempowering circumstances as well as boosting the performance, streamlining and diversifying their passive income portfolios whilst freeing up their time.

Anna Mandell helps individuals, executives and companies who fall into a debt or unfortunate circumstance. She has the ability to inspire people to be proactive and empowered regardless of the situations that they are facing.

If you need financial advice, you can reach out to Anna E. Mandell through https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaemandell.

Here are several AHA messages from this episode:

* I help individuals and enterprises in dealing with disempowering circumstances as well as increasing the performance and diversifying their passive income portfolios while freeing up their time.

#482: Jack Malcolm and Mitchell Levy on Thought Leader Life Credibility Episode

Accomplish success in business and life by expressing your full potential and communicating with others. This episode features #ThoughtLeader and #Expert Jack Malcolm (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackmalcolm/), Owner, Falcon Performance Group, Inc., and author.

Jack is passionate about helping others express their full potential. He believes that people’s accomplishment in business and life depends upon their ability to communicate with others – be it in explaining and selling ideas and concepts, influencing decisions, and inspiring others to action. As the founder of Falcon Performance Group in 1996, he was able to combine his complex-sale expertise and extensive financial background to design and implement complete sales process improvement initiatives at top national and international corporations.

It’s important for humans to be heard, and if you’re struggling with that, you should consider reaching out to Jack Malcolm by visiting his profile at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackmalcolm/ or going to his website at http://jackmalcolm.com/.

Here are a couple of AHA messages from this episode:

* People who want to be heard should reach out to Jack Malcolm. https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackmalcolm/

* Several years ago, I taught a presentation’s class in Europe, and one of the students came up to me afterwards and said “You know, in the end, we all want to matter,” and that was something that really sunk into me. https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackmalcolm/

* I’ve worked with smart people but they’ve got ton of information, knowledge, and even wisdom inside them that don’t come out well. I help them express their full potential. https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackmalcolm/

* I help people to speak persuasively and credibly. I help them speak so they add value to others. https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackmalcolm/

* Most of the work that I do is with training courses where corporations hire me to train either their salesforce, or even engineering team, to communicate better internally. I also do a lot of one-on-one coaching sessions. https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackmalcolm/

To view the video interview click here.

 

#483: Marika Flatt and Mitchell Levy on Thought Leader Life Credibility Episode

Break through the noise and build a fanbase that goes beyond your book with PR by the Book. This episode features #ThoughtLeader and #Expert Marika Flatt (https://www.linkedin.com/in/marikaflatt/), Co-Owner, PR by the Book and Travel Editor of Texas Lifestyle.  She’s committed to helping authors cross the threshold from author to influencer.

Marika was hired as a “baby book publicist” in 1997 after graduating cum laude from Texas A&M University with a degree in Communications. She launched PR by the Book in 2002 with her husband Doug to capitalize on her innate love for media and books. Being a “connector” by nature, she is passionate about connecting with people on various platforms. She was the former president of Women Communicators of Austin, and she’s also an Expert for Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA).

If you’ve got a book, either coming up or you’re writing now, and you’re in the state of overwhelm,