There are so many amusing and memorable moments in my career. It makes me smile to think of them. This is not a stuffy blog expounding on my “wins” although there are some in here. It’s an informal look back at some of the fun things I encountered throughout the years as well as some of the people who made a good impression on me. [ Read More ]
PR for Robotics Companies
I am fascinated by the robotics and drone space and have been working with companies developing great things in this industry for many years. Most of my work with them includes broader marketing communications as well as PR. As noted in my earlier blog on this topic, it all began in the spring of 2016 when I started working with the bright and talented team at WiBotics to get the word out about their wireless power for the robotics industry. That led to working with the smart team at Aerovel, makers of the Flexrotor long-range robotic aircraft (a high-end drone). Both became long-term clients, and we were able to accomplish a lot together for their respective companies. [ Read More ]
Maximize the ROI of Media Coverage
As you think about the allocation of your marketing budget, consider the immense ROI (return-on-investment) of a piece earned media coverage. I have been helping companies, including major global corporations, businesses headquartered abroad and countless U.S.-based companies of all sizes, earn great media coverage for more than 30 years. The ROI is tough to beat. [ Read More ]
SpaceX Wants Us to Become an Interplanetary Species
Over the weekend, I watched all five episodes of “Countdown: Inspiration4 Mission to Space” on Netflix. If you haven’t heard by now, it is a series on the recent SpaceX “Inspiration4” spaceflight which carried four non-astronaut civilians and no one else. I enjoyed the series mainly for the insights it gave me, however varnished, of SpaceX. It was also great to see 27-year-old women in high roles within the company including leading training of the civilians, mission communications with the capsule and quality control immediately prior to the flight. [ Read More ]
Why Marketing is Like Sailboat Racing
Sailboat racing is all about continuously optimizing. So is marketing. In sailboat racing, you don’t just point the sailboat in the direction of the finish line and hope for the best. You keep checking the wind, the currents, the other boats on the course. Sometimes you tack to better catch the wind. You adjust the sails accordingly, and frequently, while on the course. At times you even pull out a different sail depending on the wind and its direction. [ Read More ]
Confessions of a New Vegetarian
Almost a year and a half ago, I stopped eating cows, pigs and chickens. There I said it. It is not socially correct to use those terms instead of beef, pork and, well, chicken, but that is what I spent the entire previous part of my life eating. I can’t be self-righteous about my new change because I ate a hefty amount of those animals in my past. Probably several hundreds of animals if one were counting. [ Read More ]
OurPlanet365 a Year After Launching
About this time last year, I launched my new company OurPlanet365, which helps companies define and build their environmental sustainability platforms. The timing was perfect. But then the pandemic began building steam and every company was in survival mode, including many beloved Seattle companies such as Alaska Airlines, Boeing, Holland America Line, Expedia, Nordstrom and Starbucks. OurPlanet365 and the parent company By the Sea Communications LLC, which I own, were no exceptions. [ Read More ]
What Mahomes Said to Brady
Tough loss for Patrick Mahomes in the Super Bowl yesterday. It must have felt wretched especially since most people were expecting him and his team to win. As a spectator, from the safety of my home, I felt sympathy for him and also knew he has plenty of time to accomplish many more great things in his beloved football career. [ Read More ]
Reputation and Its Fragility
I recently listened to part of The New York Times Dealbook Summit, a live virtual event, hosted by the popular Andrew Ross Sorkin. One particular session titled “The Race for a Vaccine” included Bill Gates, Albert Bourla, chairman and CEO of Pfizer, and Professor Heidi Larson, director of the Vaccine Confidence Project. It was a great session, and something Bourla stated about company brands is worth repeating. [ Read More ]
What’s it Like to Fly Now?
You ask, “What’s it like to fly now?” I recently escaped the wildfire-smoke-filled air of Seattle to fly cross country to find out. Since travel is one of my practice areas, I wanted to experience air travel during the pandemic firsthand. I used airline miles, stayed with good friends and brought my laptop so I could work from there. [ Read More ]