Rob Biesenbach 
Fear of standing out. Of looking different. Of being laughed at. That, I believe, is the source of most of the bland, uninspired websites and videos and other tactics we see. Several years ago I was working with a small law firm. The newer, younger attorneys wanted to step up the firm’s marketing efforts — … Read more
Madonna gave an acceptance speech at the Golden Globes the other night in which she used the word “my” six times in just a minute and thirty-nine seconds. * My writers. My co-producer. My leading lady. My film. My, my, my … I was taught by a very proper Southern Lady (the mother of a … Read more
What a small mess they’ve made of the Martin Luther King memorial. And all for the want of a good writer. If you haven’t been following the controversy, they botched the main inscription on the front of the statue — so badly, in fact, that Maya Angelou said it made King sound like “an arrogant … Read more
I tell you, the kids these days. They’ve got an entitlement mentality. They don’t believe they should have to pay their dues. They think if they’ve done something once they’ve learned it and shouldn’t have to do it again. They get bored too easily. They’re impatient and feel they shouldn’t have to wait in line … Read more
For years, “PR executive” has been listed high among the most stressful occupations — Number 2, in fact. Yes, I know — take that, neurosurgeons and air traffic controllers! This year, somehow, it dropped all the way down to Number 7, behind soldiers, firefighter, cops and, um, event planners. (One of those things is not … Read more
One indicator that you’ve come upon a subject that you’re passionate about is that in all the thinking and analyzing and dissecting, you constantly come up with new ways to talk about it. I’m doing a couple of PR industry speeches in the coming months, and this is what I hit on the other day: … Read more
You hear it all the time in speeches, announcements, Facebook posts and every awards presentation that’s ever occurred: “I’d like to thank …” “I’d like to introduce …” “I’d like to congratulate …” Practically everyone does it, which is reason enough to be suspicious of the phrase and want to purge it from our usage. … Read more
There may be no place like home for the holidays, but these gatherings can be precarious affairs. It seems even the most innocuous remark comes loaded with extra freight — a lifetime of built-up resentments and slights. “Nice haircut! I love your hair short!” “I know, I know — you’ve always hated my long hair!” “How’s … Read more
Now that’s how to use a prop! I’ve lamented the fact before that so many executives (including chief executives and presidents) fail to make good use of physical props to illustrate their points. They’re concerned that it’s somehow cheesy or beneath them. But I love props, whether it’s a pie chart or a scale model … Read more
Conventional wisdom would tell you that doing a radio interview in the actual studio would be a more comfortable, natural experience than conducting it over the phone. But that’s just another proof point for how conventional wisdom gets its name. As I found this weekend, being face-to-face with the host is not that big of … Read more