Mike’s Points

They say (whoever “they” is) that it’s more cost effective to retain current loyal customers than it is to generate new loyal customers.

Along that same line of thinking, is it best to start with the right brand positioning and try to promote it or rebrand — that is recreate — yourself?

It seems as if Brian Connolly and the others behind the famous?/infamous? Strumpette blog are trying to rebrand the blog.

If you’ve perused the PR-type blogs you’ve undoubtedly come across the strumpette blog. Early on (still now?) it has a reputation for lashing out against some bloggers and companies involved in social media. And, it often labeled those posts as “satire.” (Search for yourself. I’m not providing links here. I’ve done that enough.)

But, of late, has strumpette been turning over a kinder, more civil and credible leaf?

Former PRWeek Editor and now author Phil Hall with his regular Friday “gospel” posts?

And, with at least one, seemingly nice comment?

The above couple examples and other actions by strumpette has me giving a second thought about strumpette. But, is it too late? Can we really trust the seemingly honorable, or at least civil intentions of strumpette?

If I correctly read the vibes from strumpette and if those vibes are sincere, I wish BC/AC luck in their efforts. However . . . if strumpette really is serious about rebranding itself, shouldn’t it have gone down that road from the start? If it’s really trying to rehabilitate its image, wouldn’t it have been easier without the tone of the early posts?

Or, would strumpette had obtained its level of self-proclaimed high traffic volume and notoriety without the posts during the first year of its existence?

Not sure I know the answer to any of the above. My best attempt at answering is this: Be true to who you are or what you want to be, whether a company, individual or blog. If you want to rebrand yourself, it’s much harder to successfully accomplish that task when you have to re-educate your audience.

There’s definitely something to be said about how first impressions stay with you.

– Mike

No, not Edelman! (Geesh, just about every blogger you read who posts about a new job post says he/she is joining Edelman. Not me, I’m moving on to some place better.  )

I’ll make this short and sweet: Officially effective today, I’ve joined Hanson Inc. as a messaging strategist. Essentially, it’ll involve less traditional PR and media relations than I’ve been doing, and more social media/blogger type work; more diverse writing than what I’ve regularly done in the past; and more strategic input into clients’ direction, working with clients and/or their traditional agencies.

Hanson is like many of the firms who are involved in social media: low profile, but doing excellent work. The kind of excellent work that you don’t read about.

It’s a fantastic opportunity, and comes at the perfect time in my family’s life. (For background, see my more personal, parenting-focused blog.)

I’ll be eternally grateful for the opportunities I had during my 12+ years at LMG, and wish everyone there only the best.

Okay, now that I’ve stroked my ego by blogging about me, go on about your regular blog reading.

– Mike