Seamus Phan - inspire+inform

No one is an expert, but experience counts

admin — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 10:58:55 +0000

Recently, a social media practitioner mentioned that no one is really an expert in social media. True, except that gray or white hair does matter in any industry, especially in marketing and branding. I read a great story of Mr Michael Zone, 90 years young, who graduated with a high school diploma on December 8, [...]

Front-page news and PR counsel

admin — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 06:13:05 +0000

How often have you heard clients banging on the table wanting front-page news or prominent mention? What are the best ways of communicating good counsel to them? One of the disconnects that some clients and PR counselors has to be just what public relations is. To some clients, PR is simply a cheaper way of [...]

Fans, Friends, or What?

admin — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 05:31:22 +0000

In the rush to adopt social networks today, we hear of client companies pressing for more “fans” or “friends” to their social network communities. But what are “fans” and “friends” really, in the context of branding and marketing? What do these mean in real life? The phenomenon of social networks in this age is very [...]

Right fit for retail sales?

admin — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 09:51:00 +0000

Working in a retail outlet is never easy, especially in the harsh economic climate we experience today. And yet, having an exemplary service attitude is mandatory for the survival of not only the retail outlet, but the career of the retail salesperson as well. In the course of the same day, I have experienced two [...]

Public Relations? No, much more!

admin — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 15:25:08 +0000

One of the largest PR firms renamed to make clear that it manages much more than Public Relations, and includes digital communications. That is necessary and wise. When we started in the mid 1990s, we recognized then that communications for clients cannot be restricted to merely media relations, but needed quality internal communications as well. [...]

Learning + Laboring = Life

admin — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 14:09:26 +0000

I was watching cable TV just now. The Taiwanese cable TV channels are always entertaining, and most of all, enlightening. The program was on the issue of career challenges, especially in the case of unemployment. (1) One of the guests on the TV show was a former gas delivery person who lost his home and [...]

Our 3-Step Journeys in Life

admin — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 14:14:18 +0000

What is the simplest way to describe how we live our lives? Is there a general pattern that many people follow? Yes there is. There is a 3-step process to how each of us walk our journeys in life. American poet Robert Frost once said, “In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned [...]

Social media tools for different uses

admin — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 14:17:32 +0000

How are you using Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, WordPress, and so on? Do you use all the tools to show the same content, albeit packaged in different ways? Or would you rather exploit the benefits and strengths of each social media to the maximum? Let’s assume you have a self-hosted WordPress website, that has lots of [...]

Have a communications fire drill?

admin — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 09:48:49 +0000

All too often, we see companies reacting (sometimes badly) to crises with last minute communication plans and panicky spokespersons. Since no company can predict or prevent potential crises, what needs to be done? When we talk about crisis communications, we must first understand that there should be a program in place within the company, that [...]

Do you get design? Or go cheap?

admin — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 07:36:52 +0000

Let’s face it, the best brands in the world, such as the iconic Apple, Nike, Starbucks, Sony, and so on, have iconic designs that are not smashed together randomly nor done cheaply. Their designs are culminated from serious commitment (that also means financial commitment) to human factors, elegance, and simplicity. One of my favorite magazines, [...]