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Credibility (1)
- From the Shankman Files: What Happens When Your Offline Behavior Doesn’t Match Your Online Persona by: Gail Kent
  March 7, 2010, 02:29
  “It is better to be feared than loved, if you cannot be both.” – Machiavelli The blogosphere has not been so adoring of Peter Shankman over the past…
Social Media (19)
- Facebook Timeline allows everyone's personal story to unfold from birth to present day. by: Gail Kent
  January 10, 2012, 23:22
  If you're like me, you're got albums of old photos tucked away showing baby pictures, high school and college graduation, wedding pictures, the birth of…
- Free social media magazines debut (with a free downloadable book for entrepreneurs to boot)! by: Gail Kent
  November 4, 2011, 20:44
  It was only a matter of time until somebody turned social media into magazines. A company called Worldmedia has done it, and the distribution model is free…
- A scary Facebook story starring YOU ... just in time for Halloween! by: Gail Kent
  October 27, 2011, 22:30
  Just when you were getting used to the idea of Facebook having your personal information out there for the world to see comes Take This Lollipop, a hot new Web…
- Does social media work? It does if you put down the mouse! by: Gail Kent
  October 17, 2011, 21:38
  To make social media work, you have to take it to the next level. Once you've made a contact online, you've got to go offline. Make an appointment to meet for…
- How to create your own online newspaper in less than 60 seconds by: Gail Kent
  September 2, 2011, 20:41
  If you've got a Twitter or Facebook account or an RSS feed from a blog or other source, you can create a daily online newspaper/blog on any subject with a…
- Google+ offers real benefits over Facebook -- don't get left behind by: Gail Kent
  August 24, 2011, 21:40
  Google+ is Google's new social media site that has set records as the fastest growing social media network in history. It has amassed 25 million users…
- How to fix your Facebook page when you've messed up: converting your profile into a business page. by: Gail Kent
  August 23, 2011, 20:44
  Nothing says "newby" faster than using a Facebook profile page as a business page. Not only that, but it violates Facebook rules, and you run the…
- How to fix a simple Facebook mistake you are probably making that is hurting your business by: Gail Kent
  August 18, 2011, 14:53
  If you've been on Facebook very long, you know it is famous for frequent changes. In the last round of changes, Facebook redesigned profile pages,…
- Need free social media or software training? Check out Grovo. by: Gail Kent
  August 16, 2011, 23:37
  Do you ever wish there was an online place you could go to get some quick instruction on all those social media sites or an answer to a software…
- Is social media effective? Here's what chief marketing officers say. by: Gail Kent
  August 12, 2011, 13:14
  In a survey conducted by Marketing Sherpa, 62 percent of chief marketing officers say that social media is a promising tactic that will eventually produce ROI,…
- How to Turn Your Social Media Contacts Into Customers and Clients by: Gail Kent
  February 15, 2011, 00:09
  A lot of people jumped on the social media bandwagon because it was the cool new toy without having a clear strategy. It reminds me of the time about 25…
- How to Foil the Facebook Malware Grinch by: Gail Kent
  December 10, 2010, 00:17
  There's nothing like getting a virus to spoil your holiday fun, even if it's a virtual virus. So when you use social media to buzz your stories, you…
- Where to Buzz Your Story to Get the Biggest Bang for Your Buck by: Gail Kent
  August 30, 2010, 12:01
  After spending the resources to uncover and create content around your story, whether that takes the form of a blog post, video, photo spread, podcast or…
- Got Social Media Strategy? by: Gail Kent
  August 11, 2010, 19:56
  If your business not only is using social media to buzz your brand but also is employing a social media strategy, then you are in the clear majority,…
- Where are Your Manners? Stop Putting Your Logo on Your Facebook Personal Profile! by: Gail Kent
  May 9, 2010, 18:59
  How would you react if you moved into a new neighborhood and the person next door invited you over for coffee or dinner, but before you even walked through the…
- Facebook Study Shows That Fan Pages Bring Sweet Rewards by: Gail Kent
  March 10, 2010, 18:25
  When the talk turns to social media, soon somebody say they don't care to hear about what somebody ate for breakfast. The fans of Dessert Gallery, a…
- Fish Where the Fish Are – And That’s at Facebook by: Gail Kent
  February 17, 2010, 19:17
  Businesspeople constantly tell me that they don’t have time to “do” social media. I get that, believe me. But with “inbound” or attraction marketing…
- Five reasons you MUST have a picture on your social media profile – especially if you’re in business by: Gail Kent
  September 12, 2009, 19:36
  I’m amazed at the number of people who still don’t have their pictures on their Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter or other social media accounts. You…
- How to Earn Visibility for Your Business by Holding a Drawing on Twitter by: Gail Kent
  July 4, 2009, 13:01
  I’ve been on Twitter for some time, but I’m just now starting to realize the power that it has to promote a business. What I’m learning is that most of…
Crisis Communications (2)
- How to fix a "Google problem" by: Gail Kent
  February 14, 2012, 21:34
  With the Republican primary in full swing, you may have had the occasion to google Rick Santorum, and if so, you probably got quite a surprise when you…
- What Small Businesses and Non-Profits Can Learn From the Toyota, John Edwards and Tiger Woods PR Debacles: Take Two Aspirin and Call Tylenol in the Morning. by: Gail Kent
  February 5, 2010, 02:04
  It’s amazing to me when -- over and over – companies, politicians and celebrities convince themselves that they will get away with doing the wrong thing by…
Storytelling (18)
- The surprising storytelling format that is 51% more effective than text by: Gail Kent
  February 14, 2012, 21:13
  In the '50s they were the medium of superheros and the bane of parents trying to get their kids to do their homework -- the comics. Yet it turns out that…
- Saying goodbye to Steve Jobs, storyteller extraordinaire by: Gail Kent
  October 12, 2011, 00:56
  What is left to be said about the death of an icon such as Steve Jobs? The reaction to his death has been more like that of a rock star than a corporate titan.…
- How to tell stories in business to get your message across by: Gail Kent
  August 13, 2011, 16:38
  When you want to make a point to your employees or customers, tell them a story! We are hard-wired for stories -- it's how we make sense of the world. We've…
- Storytelling: Why it works for business by: Gail Kent
  August 10, 2011, 19:47
  "One death is a tragedy; one million is a statistic." -- Joseph Stalin As humans we have a deep need for stories. They help us make sense of the world,…
- Seven things Oprah's last show can teach us about storytelling by: Gail Kent
  May 30, 2011, 00:40
  Everyone who hasn't been living under a rock knows that Oprah ended her 25-year TV show last week. And as she said at the beginning of the show, there were no…
- Storytelling Makes Business Personal and Connects People to Your Brand Through Emotion by: Gail Kent
  April 29, 2011, 21:57
  Infographics are a huge trend these days. Guy Kawasaki has a terrific one on his site that explains all the great things that storytelling does for business: …
- What IS a Story? Kendall Haven Provides a Scientific Definition (Yes, Scientific) by: Gail Kent
  February 4, 2011, 00:00
  There's a wonderful series going on over at the blog, A Storied Career that you really should read. This is a terrific site -- by Kathy Hansen -- on…
- The Storytelling Secrets Oprah Uses to Have Audiences Eating From Her Hand by: Gail Kent
  January 26, 2011, 02:13
  When you've got a big secret to tell and you're the queen of daytime TV, it doesn't take a lot to get huge ratings. But Oprah didn't veer from the winning…
- Finding a Story Under an Exit Ramp: Homeless Man’s Life Changes Overnight by: Gail Kent
  January 7, 2011, 23:40
  We love redemption stories. That's why when panhandler Ted Williams, who lived under an exit ramp in Columbus, Ohio, became an overnight sensation because…
- How to Improve Your Writing by Creating Your Own Great Metaphors, Get Famous, Retire Early and Die Filthy Rich* by: Gail Kent
  December 3, 2010, 00:56
  (Continued from Part One) Great headline writers are the poets of journalism. As a former journalist, I learned to appreciate those who could turn a…
- ‘Story Marketing’ is the Secret Behind Abe’s Market: Selling Natural Goods by Showing Real People Behind the Brand by: Gail Kent
  October 13, 2010, 21:59
  The Web has made it possible for mom and pop businesses to recapture the advantages of the corner store, where everybody knew your name. The Internet has…
- How a Simple Site and a Great Story Launched a Million-Member Business by: Gail Kent
  September 30, 2010, 23:16
  Don't miss the special reader offer at the end of the post! Celest Benn was attending a child’s birthday party where she lived at the time in…
- Learn How to Tell Stories From the World’s Great Religions to Market Your Business by: Gail Kent
  September 10, 2010, 11:59
  Regardless of your religious beliefs – or even your lack thereof – stories shaped who you are today. Perhaps you learned Bible stories from your…
- Get Yourself a Story Like This by: Gail Kent
  September 2, 2010, 15:06
  Here's what I mean by telling a story. This came across my computer this morning, and to tell you the truth, I'd read it before. It had made an…
- Getting to Yes: The Fastest Way to the Head (and the Pocketbook) is Through the Heart by: Gail Kent
  September 2, 2010, 01:32
  We like to think that we're all so smart and rational. We study the facts. Do careful analysis. Construct decision trees. Build matrices that reveal the…
- Case Study: Zappos — How to Create and Tell a Unique Corporate Story by: Gail Kent
  August 19, 2010, 00:50
  Creating a successful company no longer means wearing three-piece uniforms and conforming to somebody else's idea of what business is. Today, branding is…
- Where to Find Stories in Your Business That Will Get You Media Attention by: Gail Kent
  October 29, 2009, 23:03
  (Second in a series.) When clients hire us to promote their business, they usually have the idea that we’ll be able to convince not only the local newspaper,…
- Storytelling: The Best Way to Connect With Customers and Prospects by: Gail Kent
  October 23, 2009, 00:01
  (First in a series) If you have a child (or have ever been one!) you know how mesmerized they are with stories. I remember begging my dad for a story, and he…
Sales (4)
- How Focusing on Your Customer’s Pain Helps Overcome Price Objections by: Gail Kent
  October 12, 2009, 23:25
  (Last in a series on sales.) When I was growing up in the late 60s and early 70s, my mom worked in a sock factory in North Carolina. On some days, she put…
- The Secret of All Sales and Business Success – Do This and You Don’t Have to Worry About Closing the Sale Ever Again by: Gail Kent
  October 5, 2009, 22:09
  (Second in a series on sales success.) Here’s the secret of successful businesses: Become a shrink. I don’t mean you need a sheepskin, but you must…
- Why You’re Not Selling as Much as You Would Like (Is Anyone?) by: Gail Kent
  October 3, 2009, 19:37
  (First of a series on sales) When Saturday Night Live spoofs former President Bill Clinton, they’ll frequently use one of his most famous lines, “I feel…
- Tone Up Your Small Business Sales Technique: Erica Robertson at BizFit by: Gail Kent
  May 11, 2009, 16:57
  Tone Up Your Sales Technique: Erica Robertson at April BizFit from C. Gail Kent on Vimeo. Free BizFit programs will help YOUR small business during…
Marketing (9)
- "How can I get more business?" The one thing you should do that will shock you. by: Gail Kent
  June 18, 2011, 23:09
  This may sound like a fairly basic question, but it is the bottom line in marketing. How CAN you get more business? There are many ways to answer the…
- Marketing Means Never Having to Say It’s Just Too Hard to Do by: Gail Kent
  May 2, 2010, 18:58
  Remember the old Listerine mouthwash commercial? “It’s the taste you love to hate twice a day.” There are lots of things in that love-hate…
- 23 Surefire Ways to Market Yourself as an Expert by: Gail Kent
  September 24, 2009, 01:20
  The Internet has made this the Golden Age of marketing. The Internet has made it possible for you to become recognized an expert not only in your own…
- Let’s Get Irrational for Small Business Marketing Success! by: Gail Kent
  June 1, 2009, 22:48
  In the Myers-Briggs Personality Indicator test, I score as an ENFP, and my husband is an INTJ. In others words, we’re complete opposites, proving that…
- Fat Mail is Phat: Erica Robertson Talks About Getting the Most From Direct Mail at BizFit, May 21, 2009 by: Gail Kent
  May 30, 2009, 13:38
  Fat Mail is Phat: Erica Robertson, BizFit, May 21, 2009 from C. Gail Kent on Vimeo.
- The Art of the Referral: How to Network and Get People to Pass Along Your Name by: Gail Kent
  May 29, 2009, 11:12
  The Art of the Referral: Guy Manchester at BizFit, May 21, 2009 from C. Gail Kent on Vimeo.
- Put Your Word-of-Mouth Marketing on Steroids by: Gail Kent
  May 26, 2009, 22:02
  Putting Your Word-of-Mouth Marketing on Steroids from C. Gail Kent on Vimeo.
- If You Build It, They Won’t Come -- Without Marketing by: Gail Kent
  May 16, 2009, 22:03
  You may remember the movie staring Kevin Costner, Field of Dreams, in which he builds a baseball field in the middle of a corn field because the ghosts of old…
- The Buzz Tip of the Week #4: Save Time by Repurposing Your Content by: Gail Kent
  March 30, 2009, 00:59
Blogging (6)
- Zemanta makes blogging and maintaining your Web site a snap -- for free! by: Gail Kent
  October 3, 2011, 19:02
  If you blog or maintain a Web site, you'll find that the Zemanta widget is a huge time-saver when you write your posts or articles. Zemanta is a…
- How to Get Great FREE Photos, Art, Videos and Music for Your Blog and Other Uses by: Gail Kent
  August 10, 2010, 00:05
  If you are blogging your great stories to your peeps -- and you should be -- are you using photos to liven up your posts? A great photo, cartoon or…
- Blogging is an exercise in consistency and hard work by: Gail Kent
  September 6, 2009, 17:26
  The problem with missing a few times when you would normally post on your blog is that those few times so easily turn into a few weeks. Just like exercise,…
- Great Tools and Resources for Driving Traffic to Your Blog by: Gail Kent
  June 12, 2009, 23:04
  Writing a great blog is only the beginning. You have to market it to get followers and subscribers. It’s not easy, but there are some tools that can…
- Blogging for Every Communicator: Breakout Session at Virginia Press Women Conference by: Gail Kent
  April 28, 2009, 00:06
  Blogging For Every Communicator from C. Gail Kent on Vimeo. Emily Battle, reporter with The Free Lance-Star in Fredericksburg, and Kristen King, copywriter…
- If You're in Business, You Need a Blog by: Gail Kent
  March 15, 2009, 14:05
  It's taken me long enough, but I finally started a blog. And you need to do it, too. I had a lot of excuses: I didn’t have time. I wasn’t sure I…
Public Relations (21)
- How to make irresistible story pitches that the media will love by: Gail Kent
  August 29, 2011, 17:13
  I've never had a client who didn’t believe that their business was so exciting that reporters should be clamoring to tell their story to the world.…
- Seven sites that connect you directly with journalists looking for people like you to interview by: Gail Kent
  August 22, 2011, 22:06
  Numerous Web sites are available -- some recent and some that have been around for years -- that connect journalists working on stories with sources…
- The surprising things you will -- and won't get with news releases by: Gail Kent
  August 21, 2011, 15:12
  One of the great things you can do with your stories -- at least the very best ones -- is to get media attention. Often we get inquiries about sending out…
- How to find journalists to pitch on Twitter through Muck Rack by: Gail Kent
  August 11, 2011, 20:48
  We recently discovered a cool site that has multiple useful features if you're interested in following or contacting the media for PR purposes. It's…
- While Trying to be Cool, Some Businesses Prove That There IS Such a Thing as Bad Publicity by: Gail Kent
  February 11, 2011, 02:56
  The notion that there is no such thing as bad publicity, and that just as long as the press is talking about you, it doesn't matter what they say, is just…
- How to Get the Media to Come to You by: Gail Kent
  August 16, 2010, 20:54
  To get media coverage, you not only need to have a great story, you need to make it easy for the media to find you and access your information. Having an…
- Who should talk to the media in a crisis? BP wants to know … by: Gail Kent
  August 4, 2010, 20:48
  We've all watched the horror of oil spewing into the Gulf and BP's missteps in handling the crisis. Remember the sound bite played over and over of CEO…
- Why I Love PR: A Sentimental Look at My (First) Three Decades in the Field by: Gail Kent
  March 30, 2010, 18:32
  Running is a great time to get in touch with things that you don’t ordinarily think about. Like why you do what you do for a living. Just yesterday…
- How to Successfully Develop a Media Pitch for Your Small Business Story by: Gail Kent
  December 28, 2009, 08:00
  (Third in a series) The first thing you need to know about pitching your story ideas to the media is that just because you’re interested in a topic (your…
- Get Great PR by Doing a Good Deed: It's Called the Law of Reciprocity by: Gail Kent
  May 6, 2009, 21:48
  PR happens when people say good things about you because you have done good things for others. Simple. It works on the basis of the Law of Reciprocity.…
- Low 'Calorie' Tips for Promoting Your Small Business by: Gail Kent
  May 2, 2009, 00:42
  Low Calorie Tips for Promoting Your Small Business from C. Gail Kent on Vimeo. This talk was presented on April 16 at the first BizFit "lunch and…
- The Buzz Tip of the Week #7: Get Free Publicity Leads by: Gail Kent
  April 27, 2009, 11:02
- The Buzz Tip of the Week #6 Get Your Product Reviewed on BlogFriendlyPR by: Gail Kent
  April 14, 2009, 00:07
- Build Awareness for Your Small Business While Getting or Giving Help by: Gail Kent
  April 12, 2009, 01:21
  If you want to gain some visibility for your business, and you’re willing to barter or offer something for free, there’s a great resource you might check…
- The Buzz Tip of the Week #5: Using the Concept of Lagnaippe by: Gail Kent
  April 7, 2009, 00:39
- How to Create Hot Story Pitches to Gain Scads of Media Attention by: Gail Kent
  March 28, 2009, 23:01
  (Part II of The ONE Thing You Must Do to Get Publicity for Your Small Business) If you are in a technical field or one involving highly specialized knowledge…
- The Buzz Tip of the Week #3 -- Online Publicity by: Gail Kent
  March 23, 2009, 12:29
- The One Thing You MUST Do to Gain Publicity for Your Small Business by: Gail Kent
  March 20, 2009, 13:51
  Small businesses crave publicity. Probably the number one question I’m asked as a PR practitioner is “how can I get more publicity?” Often businesses…
- In Life and in Marketing: When You Get Hungry, Don’t Eat Your Seed Peanuts by: Gail Kent
  February 19, 2009, 03:00
  When I was a little girl living in rural North Carolina, my family always had a big garden. Once my mother was planting peanuts, dropping the seed into the…
- Bad Times are Great Times for PR by: Gail Kent
  February 15, 2009, 03:00
  There are many unique opportunities to enhance your business image during an economic crisis. PR is a bargain compared to the cost of advertising. Firms…
- 25 Random Ways PR Can Help Your Small Business by: Gail Kent
  February 7, 2009, 03:00
  I’m guessing that, like me, you’ve been hit up with requests on Facebook and other social media to post your “25 Random Things About Me.” So far I’ve…
Advertising (1)
- The Buzz Tip of the Week #2 -- Facebook Advertising by: Gail Kent
  March 16, 2009, 12:25
LinkedIn (1)
- Pump up your LinkedIn profile for dramatic results by: Gail Kent
  February 14, 2012, 22:49
  If you've been neglecting your LinkedIn profile but you're ready to get it in shape, there's good reason to do so. Studies show your profile is nine times…
Speeches (2)
- How to get presidential communication tools -- for free! by: Gail Kent
  August 20, 2011, 23:21
  If you do a lot of speaking and would like to do it flawlessly, you might take a leaf from President Obama's play book and use a teleprompter. This one is…
- Do these seven things to write a great speech, says Michelle Obama’s and Hillary Clinton’s speechwriter by: Gail Kent
  April 26, 2009, 00:29
  Facts are important, but to really move an audience you should include a human story in every speech, said Megan Rooney, a speechwriter for Secretary of State…
Video (2)
- Launching a New Story With an Old Brand — Old Spice Continues to Win With Ad Spoofs by: Gail Kent
  December 17, 2010, 12:06
  Old Spice was your Daddy's aftershave until hunky Isaiah Mustafa became the Old Spice guy in the shower, reviving the 71-year-old P&G brand and increasing…
- The Buzz Tip of the Week: You'll Flip Over the Flip Video Camera! by: Gail Kent
  March 1, 2009, 03:00
Humor (1)
- Six Things the Erma Bombeck Writers Workshop Taught Me About Why You Should LOL in Your Business by: Gail Kent
  April 21, 2010, 18:41
  I had the good fortune last week to attend the largest humor-writing workshop in the country, the Erma Bombeck Writers Workshop. There was a lot said…
Risk-Taking (2)
- Going for Broke by: Gail Kent
  June 28, 2010, 19:12
  Sometimes I envy people who can plod through life, staying on a safe course their whole lives. I’ve wished that I could just watch situations play out…
- For the Birds: What I Learned From Robins About Decision-Making by: Gail Kent
  April 27, 2010, 18:44
  On Saturday I discovered a melon-sized bird’s nest hidden in the rhododendron. So that’s what those robins had been up to I had seen hanging around the…
CSR (3)
- Giving to get: Great PR, great business and great philanthropy by: Gail Kent
  May 19, 2010, 19:09
  I’m often frustrated by people who express a desire to “get some free PR” when what they mean is that they want a positive article about their business…
- Get Your Business Planted in the Front Yard of Your Customers’ Brains by: Gail Kent
  April 10, 2010, 18:36
  The cherry trees and dogwoods are blooming so brilliantly along one street in my city that I feel like a bride going down the aisle when I drive through…
- How to Buzz Your Image, Name Your Own Price for Radio Promotion, Support Public Radio and Write it Off on Your Taxes by: Gail Kent
  March 30, 2010, 19:34
  Ah, glorious spring. Flowers are blooming, the shorts are coming out of the drawers, and public radio is interrupting your favorite drive-time shows every…
Communications (1)
- How to Improve Your Stories and Communicate More Effectively With Your Customers (or Anyone) by Using Metaphors by: Gail Kent
  November 12, 2010, 02:21
  We’re all specialists today. That’s great for developing the next new thing, but terrible for the art of communication. Because we hang out in “micro-c…
Design (1)
- Five Ways You're Losing Business With Bad Design by: Gail Kent
  March 5, 2011, 14:59
  Often small businesses will rush out to their corner print shop and get the cheapest business cards and stationery printed and throw up a web page and wonder…
Ethics (1)
- Spreading negativity is NOT PR, and it is unethical by: Gail Kent
  May 17, 2011, 00:18
  Perhaps you've heard by now the report that Facebook hired the international PR firm Burson-Marsteller to spread negative stories about competitor Google.…
QR codes (1)
- QR codes communicate information quickly by: Gail Kent
  August 9, 2011, 19:14
  If you've been seeing curious square bar codes on signs or business cards lately and wondered what they are, they are "Quick Response codes" (QR codes). The…
Mobile marketing (1)
- Ready for mobile marketing? We can help! by: Gail Kent
  August 15, 2011, 17:27
  Whether you're a retailer or a professional, mobile marketing -- marketing messages delivered by mobile phone -- is a great way to stay connected…
Event planning (1)
- High-impact tools to promote your meetings for success by: Gail Kent
  August 14, 2011, 17:00
  We've been using Meetup.com to promote our own series, called Hampton Roads Buzz Builders, which help folks learn about ways to promote their businesses. If…
Writing (2)
- Use repetition to help make your point effectively in speeches or business writing by: Gail Kent
  September 30, 2011, 23:07
  In standard business writing, repetition is wordy and detracts from clear communication. But when trying to persuade, such as in a speech, sales materials or…
- Eight tips for writing a story like a famous best-selling author by: Gail Kent
  August 17, 2011, 19:29
  There are many forms of stories. Journalists call their articles stories. We call the tales we read to children or tell around the campfire stories.…
Technology (2)
- A cool pen that 007 would be proud to carry -- and will make your work life easier. by: Gail Kent
  November 1, 2011, 20:16
  A colleague recently introduced me to new technology that I'm finding extremely helpful with note taking. It's called the Echo Smartpen, and it is a pen and…
- Serious about telling your story? Create your own app. by: Gail Kent
  October 5, 2011, 21:05
  There are approximately 350,000 apps in iTunes and 65,000 in the Android marketplace, according to a recent post in Mashable. Yet as a small business, you…

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