Technology has made the phone obsolete

We recently hired a contractor who did a great job writing press releases.

But he called us every step of the way to discuss the decisions he made.  

He needed so much hand-holding, we soon realized working with him took more time than doing it ourselves.

We asked him to email us more than once, but it didn’t help.

Bottom line: Even though his work was good, we couldn’t keep him.

As a result, I realized I rarely use the phone to talk to my clients anymore.  

We use email—or text if there’s a media deadline.

The technology not only is faster, but we have a record of what’s being done and what’s needed.

For more information, please visit us at Dell Richards Publicity, www.dellrichards.com    

Admitting our part made situation easier

No one wants to be wrong, yet we all make mistakes.

We’ve had what’s known as “uncontrolled clients” in the past and we’ll probably have them again.  

Once this client has talked to a reporter, they feel they have the right to make contact from then on.   

But once a PR firm is brought into the mix, reporters expect to work with the firm—unless they contact the person themselves.

A client recently told us a reporter wasn’t responding to their emails asking how to embed the reporter’s story on their website.  

Since most media is copyright, this usually isn’t allowed.

Even if it were, it’s not the reporter’s job; once the reporter does a story, their job is done.

Since it was our fault for not being more explicit about the unwritten rules, it was easier to say please let us handle the media next time—it’s what we’re here for—and what the media expect.

For more information on publicity, contact Dell Richards Publicity at www.dellrichards.com.

Why clients shouldn't deal with the media

When we pitch feature reporters, we often have back-up ideas.

If the person doesn’t like the first, we offer another.

Even though he wasn’t interested in the initial pitch, a national magazine editor recently asked for photos of a client’s work.

Since the client had been in national magazines before, he suggested sending the photographs to the editor directly and cc’ing us.

But, his subject line had no connection to the idea or to earlier releases.

The photos sequence didn’t tell a story and he took a jab at the editor—even though he was offering a much bigger opportunity and had all the power.  

Luckily, the editor didn’t see the email, but was interested enough to get back to us.   

We added info about the client, wrote a relevant subject line, put the photos into a visual story and thanked the editor for getting back to us.    

But, we learned our lesson: In future, no matter how seemingly savvy, we won’t let clients deal with reporters until we’ve snagged an article and are ready for the interview. 

For more information on public relations, please go to www.dellrichards.com.

How to help creativity and complex thinking along

Many people don’t realize the creative process uses two different brain states at once.

To pull ideas from different parts of the brain, the mind has to couple the slow-wave theta state—a dreamy, browsing pattern where related fragments  float around—with a rapid gamma state that organizes disparate information into a coherent whole. 

It may seem like ideas are generated while resting or even sleeping, but the brain actually kicks into the fast-processing gamma state for that “ah-ha” moment. 

We can encourage this creativity and complex thinking by setting up a steady beat that stabilizes theta while attracting gamma. 

If I’m stuck for a word, I walk around, think “sounds like” and let the word associations run until the one I want clicks into place.

The associations rarely sound like the word itself, but somehow the process brings the word into conscious awareness.

You also can tap or snap your fingers, make a clicking sound or pace. 

Which is why getting a drink of water can help people think of a name to go with a face that is not immediately apparent.* 

For more information, visit Dell Richards Publicity at www.dellrichards.com.

*Information on brain processing taken from neuro-science pioneer Dee Joy Coulter presentation.