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A PR Act to Remember – Cirque du Soleil Media Relations

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Blogworld Expo Updates (#bwe10)

Last week I attended Blogworld Expo 2010 in Las Vegas and although my intent was to gain knowledge and insight into the latest practical utilities for social media, I also was there to observe public relations applications.  I saw some interesting PR practices and integration at this conference and will blog about them in further posts, but today I would like to highlight one of the best. It came from Cirque du Soleil’s Social Media Manager Jessica Berlin (@jessberlin.)

Jessica posted the following information on the Blogworld blog prior to the start of the show.

It’s almost here, my favorite time of year in Las Vegas – BlogWorld! Personally and professionally, BlogWorld has been a wonderful event and I know this year will be even better. For the past two years I’ve loved showing off our Cirque du Soleil shows to attendees, we have seven shows in Las Vegas now! So again this year I would like to invite bloggers to attend one of our shows in exchange for writing a review. Whether you’re experiencing Cirque for the first time or the tenth time, your Vegas trip is not complete without hitting one of our incredible shows.

To see the complete sign up registration process, click here.

So I took her up on it. I had a couple hours free most nights before the late night parties and I have always loved Cirque’s events, so it was a win-win for me.  I went to two shows while in town, KA at MGM (I went as a guest of another blogger) and Viva Elvis at Aria.Awe-inspiring

Yes, the shows were magnificent, entertaining, memorable, show-stopping but, so was this promotion.  I wanted to go on the record pointing out the brilliance behind this astute “freebie.“  Blogging kudos to Jessica for recognizing the power of bloggers.  For a mere price of ticket, Jessica received press attention for her shows.  Jessica is one of the few media relations executives who understands that in this day and age bloggers are media members. Each has a distinct audience of followers (readers) and she knew the value that bloggers provide in increased awareness.

Story-telling at its BestNow, I don’t know Cirque’s social policy outside of the convention, but, Jessica understood that this conference is the only one in the world like it. Conference attendees are comprised of the top bloggers and podcasters in the world who each are dedicated enough to pay the pricey fee to attend Blogworld. This just wasn’t any conference, but the conference with the top mommy, non-profit, military, medical and tech bloggers.  This was very smart – congratulations again Jessica.

Also, I would be remiss to point out that with this practice reviews keep remaining fresh on shows that are pretty much evergreen.  Reviews normally only hit when a show is launched and after that, it’s pretty quiet in the media blogosphere.  But, by offering free media passes throughout the year, these reviews will keep the show fresh even though they have been in the running for years.

And if that wasn’t enough. Jessica made the whole registration process easy and unobtrusive.  We didn’t have to fill out lengthy forms or send several messages. She jumped on the comments immediately and gave us thorough instructions. It was painless.

A beautiful social media strategy which got this blogger to review two events and spread the good news about these two shows.

Well done Cirque du Soleil – even your social media is a class act.

Bing vs Google 9/11 Standoff – Bing Wins

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Google is known for its special logo designs representing major events and holidays. These logo transformations are humorous, thoughtful, unique, eye catching, interesting, entertaining and enjoyable. They are also surprising for you never know when they will feature one on their main search page.

Bing on the other hand features a unique, eye-grabbing photo each day on its main search page. I am sure great thought goes into the selection of these amazing photos. I love these photos.  They’re beautiful.

So, with today being the ninth anniversary of September 11 – I was surprised to notice how Google remembered this tragedy.  They only added the 9/11 remembrance ribbon. This low-key design was classy and did say that they recognized the event of the day.  But, I really felt that they could have done more.

Google went for an understated approach for 9/11

On the other hand, Bing’s image certainly pays a greater homage to the day and its photo revokes great emotion.

Bing choose an appropriate emotional image to honor those fallen on this day.

Bing wins in my vote. Which approach do you like best?

My prayers continue to go out to survivors and families and friends who lost loved ones due to this horrific, evil catastrophe.

I will always remember.

Cindy

A Secret PR Tip

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Are secrets ever harmless?

I’ll going to let you in on a little secret. Secrets are a dangerous tool in your public relations tool chest any way that you look at them. When your client is keeping a secret from you – that’s deadly and when you use them in your strategy – that’s never a good thing. So my advice to all you budding publicists and those more advanced is to never go that route ever if you have the choice. For secrets, always have a way of rearing their ugly head.

And there are several examples to point toward regarding this “bad” practice. The primary example….Former President Richard M. Nixon. Did he or his cabinet ever think that they would be implicated in the Watergate break-in? And for more modern examples…how about Tiger Woods and Jesse James. Do you think that their “playing” the field with other women besides their wives would ever get them into trouble? Tiger even had a team surrounding him to keep things quiet – or for that matter secret.

This secret caused an impeachment. Heck, even the secret of "Deep Throat" was exposed.

Or corporately….Toyota. Did they think that they could forever sit on not warning some of their customers about the acceleration problem?

And on more personal grounds, how many people do you know that have had a secret in their family and it get uncovered. These secrets may have been not exposed during that person’s lifetime…but sooner or later they eventually did-a secret love child, a secret way of life, etc.

Here’s my best advice regarding secrets in communication matters.

  • 1) When something is exposed, whether its true or not about your client – ask your client point blank if there is anything that they should tell you about the situation. Get all the truth you can out of the person in the strictest confidence.
  • 2) After that, talk to the lawyers involved on your side and ask them if there is a secret that you need to know about…get all the facts you can.
  • 3) If there is a secret and you know it – work to position your client in the best way in the comments that you will craft surrounding the situation. But, you will have to start to expose the truth.
  • 4) When exposing the truth, make sure that you address only facts and keep it short. Say the least that you can. Have you noticed how short all of Tiger Woods’ press conferences are?
  • 5) And be sure to get in front of the story.
  • 6) And always work in conjunction with the lawyers on the case.

The Los Angeles Dodgers Owners Frank and Jamie McCourt are telling all their secrets in an ugly divorce.

Did you think that the McCourt’s (LA Dodgers owners) dirty laundry would ever be exposed? Well it is, thanks to an ugly divorce. Did Mark McGwire ever think that he had to expose that he used steroids? He came clean last January.  And now even criminals don’t stand a chance due to the incredible DNA process which identifies them more quickly than before.  So you see — Secrets are never a safe practice.

The saying the truth will set you free is always true. Work toward truth in all that you do, for lies and secrets, will eventually be uncovered. And they are no fun when it happens on your watch.

I’d love to hear your thoughts regarding secrets in the PR practice. Whisper them here in your comments.

Best,

Cindy