The recent passing of Leslie Nielsen has me thinking about comedy and its place in PR.
When you work with a client year after year, the message can get stale. Part of the challenge is coming up with new and engaging ways to say the same thing over and over. The cool part is that on one hand, you have different platforms to distribute your message (thanks social media!), and on the other hand, you have the way in which you say it.
So in a world full of boring press releases, lengthy quotes, stats and the 24-hour news cycle, how do you get someone’s attention?
Consider making your audience laugh.
A good example: I follow a handful of news outlets on Twitter, and while my eyes gloss over as I scan through most of them, the only one I enjoy and share with friends … the AJC. Why? Its tweeters (names still undisclosed) are funny and smart. They make me laugh and I appreciate the tasteful sense of humor they apply to everyday news.
So maybe it’s time to spruce things up and add some levity to your message. Next time an idea makes you laugh in a brainstorm, use it! I bet your audience will think it’s funny too.
Blog Post Epilogue:
In tribute to Mr. Nielsen, and the fact that I used my Thanksgiving vacation to spray WD-40 on every hinge, lock and moving part in my house, two quotes from Spy Hard:
Dick Steele, Agent WD-40: Operator, get me Washington.
Operator: George?
Dick Steele, Agent WD-40: D.C.
Veronique Ukrinsky, Agent 3.14: Have a nice flight, and I wish you adieux.
Dick Steele, Agent WD-40: Thank you, but I am quite satisfied with the do I have.
As design director at Cookerly, Tim serves as the creative lead in the development of branding campaigns, print collateral and digital media for clients across a broad range of industries, including consumer, professional services, healthcare and technology.
As a senior vice president at Cookerly, Mike Rieman is a strategic communications leader specializing in media relations and reputation management. With a proven track record of securing high-profile placements in top-tier outlets such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, CNN and USA Today, he excels at crafting compelling narratives that resonate across print, broadcast and digital platforms.
Mike Touhill is vice president at Cookerly Public Relations, where he helps lead traditional, social and digital media programs for B2B and B2C clients in packaging, telecommunications and technology, among other industries. As a communication leader, he develops and executes public relations strategy, provides proactive and reactive counsel to C-level executives and secures earned media coverage for client initiatives and product.
Andrew Agan is a vice president at Cookerly Public Relations, overseeing the agency’s internship program and leading media relations, content strategy and social media initiatives. He provides counsel and executes campaigns for clients across various sectors, including finance, healthcare, hospitality, technology, automotive and many others. Andrew excels at crafting compelling stories and building media relationships, resulting in clients being featured in notable outlets such as CNBC, Associated Press, Business Insider, Fox Business, HBO, Inc. Magazine, Sirius XM, The Wall Street Journal and USA Today, among others.
As vice president of Cookerly, Sheryl Sellaway uses her extensive corporate communications background to lead consumer PR efforts, deliver strategy for marketing programs and share expertise about community initiatives.
I know! AJC's tweeters rock!