I have been a member of AAA (the American Automobile Association) since 1997. To my knowledge, I have used there services maybe three times over those 17 years. This past weekend I attempted to use their service for what will be the last time of a relationship that is about to end in an ugly divorce.

Long before Sheldon Cooper showed up, geeks, freaks and nerds were viewed by the general population as curious outsiders; think James Dean in Rebel Without a Cause or Marlon Brando in On the Waterfront. Back in the 50s and 60s, they were troubled tough guys who didn't quite fit in.  Today they are intellectual weaklings who don't quite fit in.

This past week I had the privilege of speaking with UNCW students on a panel of local media contacts and other public relations professionals - and boy did we have a packed house!! The panel session - Media Relations: It's Complicated - aimed to encourage discussion about the relationship between media and public relations professionals, which is often depicted as negative.

In the spirit of the holiday, I wanted to offer my Top [Pick Your Own #] list of things that are really scaring me this Halloween. 1.  I just learned that Molly Ringwald is 44 years old and singing jazz music in local clubs...

As a marketing agency that works in the building space, we have attended a number of Greenbuild tradeshows – but none that have had the hype and vigor of this year’s set in The Big Easy. While selecting New Orleans as the venue at the end of hurricane season might have been a little nerve wracking for HanleyWood, it has proven to be a fun show experience.

According to a recent Edelman study, "brands that are able to meet these three need states (rational, emotional and societal) can expect a greater inclination on the part of consumers to recommend and share brand content, defend a brand, and purchase from the brand." Yeah, that's why McDonald's has been one of the world's most valuable brands for the past 30 years. Unhealthy, low quality, cheap, fast food...

I'm a sucker for the outdoors. Photos of any beach, mountain, forest, trail, whatever, always make me want to double-double tap on Instagram (really, they should allow you to double-like something for extra emphasis...). I was scrolling through my Instagram feed the other day - through all the food, puppies, coffee concoctions, etc.

When introducing your brand to media, securing desk side media meetings can be extremely helpful for building relationships. Meeting media face-to-face not only allows you to capture the media’s direct attention, but also puts a face to your name to help make a more personal connection with contacts you plan to communicate with on an ongoing basis.

Three Signs the Great Marketing Apocalypse has begun...  1.  Your agency is offering you marketing "packages" to choose from, like a frozen birthday cake from Dairy Queen that can be personalized with the name of your choice. 2.  Your marketing proposals look more like the menu from Prosperity Dumpling than a viable business document.

Whether you distributed a news release through email or though a news release distribution service like PR Newswire or Business Wire, it's a guarantee that not all the media you want to target have read your news release. Some media are receiving hundreds and hundreds of emails a day.