Backstage
Focus. And Get It Done.
In 2010, a Berlin publishing house had asked me to write the contents for a new coffee table book. Sounds exciting, I answered, I’ll do it! My excitement was soon replaced by panic when the publisher informed me that the deadline for the copy was in six weeks. Six weeks! How on earth would I pull off writing an entire book in six weeks? I Decided I Could Do It Turns out I did it. I would lie if I’d tell you that it ended up being a piece of cake. But after my initial panic had worn off, the thrilling excitement found its way back...
read moreIt’s About People
We should know this. We’re humans. We’re born with an innate ability to be social and to interact on an interpersonal level. But too often we seem to forget this. We seem to forget that the human connection is what makes businesses thrive and what moves careers forward. But if you work in public relations and communications, you mustn’t forget that it’s people that you’re reaching out to. And more importantly, it is people that make up a company and shape a brand. It’s actually pretty straightforward: People...
read moreWhat PR and Communications Practitioners Can Learn from Generation Flux
I recently stumbled upon a Fast Company article about Generation Flux, pioneers of the new and chaotic frontier of business. Author Robert Safian presents members of GenFlux from different industries and their ways of surviving and thriving in times of uncertainty and chaos. It got me thinking: It’s not just the future of business that’s unpredictable. It’s also the future of communications technology, tools and apps that seems ever-evolving making it almost impossible for any communications practitioner to keep up with. So, as a PR...
read more“What’s a Communications Plan?”
A friend of mine asked me not too long ago “What’s a communications plan?” A communications plan serves as a guideline of your marketing and public relations efforts. It can be as simple and as comprehensive as you need it to be – depending on your goals. The New Year marks a great starting point for your communications plan. Map out what kind of content you’d like to create over the year and what vehicles you want to use to distribute it. Most entrepreneurs and solopreneurs can put together a plan on a simple Word document or...
read moreHow to Wow a German (or Prepare for an Avalanche of Enthusiasm from the World Domination Summit)
Wow! I am completely overwhelmed at all the totally awesome vibes that have been radiating on the Web since the World Domination Summit last weekend. Words transporting the emotions, ideas, inspiration and connection the 500 #wds attendees experienced throughout one of the most intense and mind-blowing conference the world has ever seen. Want proof? Read the utterly inspiring Dave Ursillo’s blog post on a different perspective on leadership. Discover Devon Mills’ sharing her story about how she discovered what she wanted was An...
read moreFacebook Marketing: What You Can Learn From the Best 100 Global Brands
Question: Do you really want to use Facebook to market yourself or your brand? Answer: Yes, absolutely! BUT you want to do it right in order to engage your fans most effectively. How, you might ask? Well, you can learn from the pros…in this case, the big brands. WONGDOODY’s Facebook Global Best Practices study WONGDOODY, a marketing ideas agency with offices in Seattle and Los Angeles, just published their Facebook Global Best Practices study which brings to light the Facebook activities and practices of Interbrand’s 2010...
read moreHow to Wrap Up Your Annual PR Plan in 3 Easy Steps
It’s November – the time of the year that you want to spend on wrapping up your PR plan for the new year. Big organizations and corporations usually turn to their in-house PR people or experts at external PR agencies for advice and planning. But what if you’re a small company or a freelancer that doesn’t have the funds to hire an expensive agency or a full-time specialist to beef up your communications strategy? Well, there’s no reason why you can’t put together your own public relations agenda for the new...
read moreHow a German Master Chef Conquers Los Angeles Farmers’ Markets
If you’re a regular on Los Angeles Farmers’ Markets, you might have noticed a produce stand that stands out (yes, pun intended!). Instead of the general variety of local California veggies and fruits, this stand presents an outstanding variety of freshly harvested mushrooms. Did I say mushrooms? Yes! Name anything from Chanterelle to Morels to Porcini to Black Trumpet to Shiitake – and the list goes on – and you can almost be sure that LA FungHi has it. LA FungHi offers the widest selection of mushrooms in Southern...
read moreA Valuable Lesson About Success
Germany’s Lena Meyer-Landrut jubilated when she was announced the winner of the 2010 European Song Contest. For those outside of Europe who are not familiar with the contest – the Eurovision Song Contest is one of the longest running television shows worldwide. Since 1956, each year performers from various European countries participate in the contest, and the winning song is decided in an exciting final watched by millions on TV across Europe. Lena Wins the Eurovision Song Contest with Satellite In 2010, Lena’s song...
read moreInterview with German Composer Lars Deutsch
German native Lars Deutsch has been working successfully as a music composer for film and business projects in Berlin for years. While he was working in Berlin, the Hollywood industry started noticing him. Film music as well as audio branding are Lars’ specialties. In just a few months, Lars seems to have conquered the Hollywood crowd and is busy working for top names in the business. What are Lars’ ambitions when it comes to a German composer working in Los Angeles? And does living in the Californian metropolis affect his sound?...
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