CASACOM’S WEEKLY WRAP-UP – OUR TOP COMMUNICATIONS STORIES

October 10, 2014

CASACOM’S WEEKLY WRAP-UP – OUR TOP COMMUNICATIONS STORIES

It’s that time of the week again; our three favourite communications and PR tips and stories are here. You can find out some common PR misconceptions, why it’s difficult to detect emotion in texts and emails and what the Ello network is. Before we let you go, the CASACOM team wishes you all a Happy Thanksgiving!

PR:

Most people have an idea of what public relations entails, whether from watching a TV show or movie or based on seeing a press conference with PR people speaking on behalf of their client. However, there are a lot of common misconceptions about PR that are outlined below. Each is discussed in more detail in the article link.

PR and advertising are identical.
PR pros distort the truth.
We’re all a bunch of drinkers.
It’s all luck.
It’s quick and easy.
PR pros prefer old-school methods.
You only have to be a people person.
It’s a 9-to-5 job.
People will see you.
It’s super glamorous.

“10 misconceptions about PR” (PR Daily)

Emailing and Texting:

Many of us have probably had difficulty at some point figuring out what type of emotion someone is trying to convey in an email or text. Are they upset, being sarcastic or friendly? Researchers have gotten a better understanding of why we suffer so many digital communication breakdowns; the short answer is because we’re selfish. The article examines some examples of how messages can be misinterpreted. The main lesson from this is to create some more face or phone time, forming more positive impressions and reducing email awkwardness.

“Why It’s So Hard To Detect Emotion In Emails And Texts” (Fast Company)

Social Media Marketing:

In a recent Harvard Business Review blog post, Alexandra Samuel, Vice-President of Social Media at Vision Critical (a market research technology provider) writes that businesses need to take Ello (ad-free social network created by a small group of artists and designers) and its manifesto as a wake-up call to reevaluate the way they use social networks to reach customers. However, Samuel says companies really have to pay attention to the growing public discomfort when it comes to advertiser dominance and algorithm-driven user experiences.

Companies have a chance to now rethink their own use of social media and in doing so can seize this opportunity to create a new relationship with their customers. You can read more of Samuel’s blog post in the link below and learn what companies can do to engage with their customers in a different way.

“Ello Is a Wake-Up Call for Social Media Marketing” (Harvard Business Review)

Thought of the day:

“It always seems impossible until it’s done.” – Nelson Mandela