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3 Myths About Brand

By Lyndon Johnson On August 17, 2017 · Add Comment · In Branding, Communications Strategy, Strategy, Toronto
I’ve been to a number of events recently where people have been talking about brand – how to create it, how to manage it and the importance of it. Not once have I actually heard an accurate description of what brand is… of the last three presentations I’ve seen on the topic one didn’t mentionContinue Reading
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There’s no such thing as ‘off the record’

By Lyndon Johnson On July 28, 2017 · Add Comment · In Media Relations, Media Relationships, Public Relations, Toronto
I made a mistake in trusting in a reporter. It won’t happen again. — Anthony Scaramucci (@Scaramucci) July 28, 2017 Anthony Scaramucci isn’t the first, and won’t be the last, to see something they told a journalist in print. What is concerning is that the Communications Director for The White House appears not to understandContinue Reading
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The Truth About Email List-Building

By Lyndon Johnson On July 8, 2017 · Add Comment · In Communications Strategy, Marketing, Strategy, Toronto
Earlier this week Scott Stratten posted on LinkedIn complaining that he was being added to email lists by people he connected with on the platform.  It’s a growing problem, not just on LinkedIn but across every social network. The problem is that the entrepreneurs are repeatedly told that list building for distributing marketing content isContinue Reading
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Measuring Marketing is Binary

By Lyndon Johnson On July 6, 2017 · Add Comment · In Marketing, Measurement, Strategy, Toronto
Marketing has become overly complex. Many of the articles I read on the topic, whether traditional – analogue – marketing or using new online platforms and digital tools, fail to explain the essence of marketing. Ask many marketing ‘professionals’ to define marketing and they’d fail to do it in a single sentence. Marketing is simpleContinue Reading
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Redesigning public relations and marketing for entrepreneurs

By Lyndon Johnson On June 6, 2017 · Add Comment · In Communications Strategy, Lean Communications Framework, Lean Communications Methodology, Marketing, Measurement, Public Relations, Publicity, Strategy, Toronto
Recently I talked with Rivers Corbett, host of the Startup Canada Podcast, about how I’m redesigning public relations and marketing for entrepreneurs. We talked about: the need for clear definitions for public relations, marketing and publicity why most entrepreneurs should focus on building key relationships rather than media coverage the challenges associated with disruptive innovationContinue Reading
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Negative Coverage Creates PR Problem for United

By Lyndon Johnson On April 11, 2017 · Add Comment · In Branding, Communications Strategy, Public Relations, Publicity, Strategy, Toronto
As a communicator it’s been fascinating watching United’s response to its “re-accommodation” of a passenger from one of its flights over the weekend.  It has created a public relations headache that it could easily have avoided. Holding Pattern As soon as the issue happened, United ground crew should have alerted the company’s senior communications executives.  InContinue Reading
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How Russia Influenced The 2016 US Elections

By Lyndon Johnson On March 29, 2017 · Add Comment · In Communications Strategy, Lean Communications Framework, Lean Communications Methodology, Marketing, Public Relations, Toronto
Over the past few months I’ve heard the question, “is there any evidence of Russia influencing the outcome of the US Presidential election?”. From what I’ve read and heard, the answer is unquestionably yes. Influence and influencers Influence, and influencers, are part of the language of the communications industry. They’re the new darlings of theContinue Reading
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Look, Squirrel. Donald Trump’s Distraction Strategy

By Lyndon Johnson On March 20, 2017 · Add Comment · In Communications Strategy, Public Relations, Publicity, Strategy, Toronto
Pure Distraction First it was an accusation that President Obama “wiretapping” Trump Tower. Then it was that Obama hadn’t wiretapped Trump Tower, per se, but had conducted surveillance. Next it was based on media reports. Then it’s that rather than use a US agency, Obama had used UK spy agency GCHQ. Today it is accusations thatContinue Reading
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A message to social media wizards, sorceresses, ninjas, concierges & jedi

By Lyndon Johnson On March 14, 2017 · Add Comment · In Toronto
Stop it. Please. You’re doing yourself and the industry a disservice – and it has to stop. A few years ago I met a social media ‘ninja’ who says he has just a year of social media experience – and admits he knows nothing about marketing or public relations. He told me he can’t believeContinue Reading
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Want to change the value public relations & marketing delivers?

By Lyndon Johnson On February 26, 2017 · Add Comment · In Communications Strategy, Lean Communications Framework, Lean Communications Methodology, Marketing, Toronto
Want to change the value public relations & marketing delivers? Measure it differently! Chances are you’re measuring the return on your investment based on awareness. You’re also likely relying on awareness to deliver commercial value. The PR industry likes it that way. The problem with using awareness to measure the value of PR is thatContinue Reading
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