The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson

If you’re struggling with how to communicate your way through the coronavirus crisis, then this episode is for you.I’ve assembled a group of savvy professionals working in crisis and risk management, public relations, strategy & planning. You’ll hear how to provide timely and accurate information to your audience, and I share my favorite takeaway tips you can implement immediately in your communication plan.  My contributors: 1. Mary Beth West of Fletcher Marketing PR Listen to the #MsInterPReted PodcastConnect with Mary Beth on Twitter 2. Jared Meade, Founder & Principal, Rayne Strategy Group Connect with Jaren on Twitter 3. Mark Hoffman, Senior Crisis Management & Business Continuity Consultant Connect with Mark on TwitterEpisode 51: Cybersecurity Issues That Will Keep You Up at Night 4. Jo Detavernier, Principal at Detavernier Strategic Communication Connect with Jo on Twitter 5. Michelle Garrett, PR Consultant and Prolific Freelance Content Writer Connect with Michelle on Twitter 6. James Green, Director of Risk Advisory Services at SAI Global Connect with James on Twitter 7. Adam Schwartz, Founder, The Cooperative Way Connect with Adam on Twitter 8. Hinda Mitchell, President and Founder of Inspire PR Group Connect with Hinda on Twitter 9. Julia Angelen Joy, Public Relations Strategist and PresiThe media tool I use to track stories, monitor coverage, and help clients get their message in the right hands. Click here to learn more. Want More Behind the Breakdown? Follow The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson on Substack for early access to podcast episodes, exclusive member chats, weekly lives, and monthly workshops that go deeper than the mic. It's the insider’s hub for communicators who want strategy with spine—and a little side-eye where it counts.Follow Molly → @MollyMcPherson Subscribe to PR Breakdown on Substack → prbreakdown.mediaClick here to subscribe to Molly's live events. Need a Keynote Speaker? Drawing from real-world PR battles, Molly delivers the same engaging stories and hard-won crisis insights from the podcast to your live audience. Click here to book Molly for your next meeting. This podcast is supported by Muck Rack, the PR management platform I use to monitor media coverage, track journalist activity, and inform high-stakes strategy with real-time data. Click here to try Muck Rack for yourself. Follow & Connect with Molly: https://www.youtube.com/mollymcpherson ...

It can happen to anyone. You’re out of town at a conference or event, and less than 24-hours before you’re set to take the stage for a talk, your voice decides to completely give out. Without access to your kitchen or a pharmacy full of remedies, what can you do? Canceling isn’t an option, but luckily there are a few ways to get your voice back just in the nick of time. Trust me, I know from personal experience. What not to do: [7:51] 1: Shh.  [8:52] 2: Thank you, Carol Brady. [9:15] 3: Grab this tool. [9:32] 4: Choose your beverages wisely.  [10:18] 5: Don't sing us a song, Piano Man.   What to do: [11:25] 1: Get help. [11:59] 2: Seriously, shh. [12:10] 3: Take a couple of these. [12:31] 4: Drink up. [13:27] 5: Decaf. [13:55] 6: An oldie but a goodie. [14:19] 7: Get steamy. [15:04] 8: Ask your hotel for one of these. Want More Behind the Breakdown? Follow The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson on Substack for early access to podcast episodes, exclusive member chats, weekly lives, and monthly workshops that go deeper than the mic. It's the insider’s hub for communicators who want strategy with spine—and a little side-eye where it counts.Follow Molly → @MollyMcPherson Subscribe to PR Breakdown on Substack → prbreakdown.mediaClick here to subscribe to Molly's live events. Need a Keynote Speaker? Drawing from real-world PR battles, Molly delivers the same engaging stories and hard-won crisis insights from the podcast to your live audience. Click here to book Molly for your next meeting. This podcast is supported by Muck Rack, the PR management platform I use to monitor media coverage, track journalist activity, and inform high-stakes strategy with real-time data. Click here to try Muck Rack for yourself. Follow & Connect with Molly: https://www.youtube.com/mollymcpherson ...

All wonderful relationships began with a conversation.That’s why having a conversation starter handy is the gateway for a future connection with a person, whether it be for networking or in a new friendship. These are my six secrets that work like a charm for starting a conversation with anyone.[2:34] 1: The first one is my go-to. Everyone loves to be complimented on their appearance. (But it comes with an important warning.)[3:50] 2: This opener is gold. This tip works particularly well when you’re wondering what to say when you run into a speaker, podcaster, or even a celebrity. [4:42] 3: Slide in with these topics. Take a cue from what they’re wearing, and when in doubt, there’s always this tried and true topic.[6:28] 4: Questions to ask. Even if you don’t actually need the information, it's a good place to start.[7:09] 5: Ask this to sound inquisitive. It’s an assertive question, but also an effective one people can’t help but answer.[7:42] 6: Ask this, then let them take the lead.Your best bet for getting a good story out of a person.[8:44] BONUS: The outlier.Simple but effective… for most situations.Mentioned on the episode: Want to continue our conversation? Follow me on Twitter and tell me your go-to conversation starter. I’ll have a starter tweet waiting for you.© Molly McPherson 2020Want More Behind the Breakdown? Follow The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson on Substack for early access to podcast episodes, exclusive member chats, weekly lives, and monthly workshops that go deeper than the mic. It's the insider’s hub for communicators who want strategy with spine—and a little side-eye where it counts.Follow Molly → @MollyMcPherson Subscribe to PR Breakdown on Substack → prbreakdown.mediaClick here to subscribe to Molly's live events. Need a Keynote Speaker? Drawing from real-world PR battles, Molly delivers the same engaging stories and hard-won crisis insights from the podcast to your live audience. Click here to book Molly for your next meeting. This podcast is supported by Muck Rack, the PR management platform I use to monitor media coverage, track journalist activity, and inform high-stakes strategy with real-time data. Click here to try Muck Rack for yourself. Follow & Connect with Molly: https://www.youtube.com/mollymcpherson ...

Imagine planning a press conference to address a widely publicized cheating scandal and rebuild your baseball team’s reputation. You’ve got your lineup set for what should be a home run, but you end up striking out. In this podcast, I’m dissecting the Houston Astros' failed press conference. The good news is it gives us a perfect example of what not to do. You never know when scandal may arise, so here are some pointers you can add to your reputation management playbook today.  [4:44] The planning.  This is the first question an organization needs to ask itself. [9:16] The optics.  How you should appear - and not appear - on camera. [11:53] The messaging.  Follow this framework to respond to any crisis. [17:33] The opening statement.  Here’s the best way to knock your intro statement out of the park.  [18:09] The sentiment.  Why you need to get everyone aligned with the same message. [19:44] The moral.  How to prevent a strikeout at your next press conference.    Mentioned on the episode:  Head to my website and scroll to the bottom to download “Writing a Press Release for the Digital Age.”  Connect with me on Twitter.    Listen + Subscribe Stitcher or Apple Podcasts © Molly McPherson 2020  Want More Behind the Breakdown? Follow The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson on Substack for early access to podcast episodes, exclusive member chats, weekly lives, and monthly workshops that go deeper than the mic. It's the insider’s hub for communicators who want strategy with spine—and a little side-eye where it counts.Follow Molly → @MollyMcPherson Subscribe to PR Breakdown on Substack → prbreakdown.mediaClick here to subscribe to Molly's live events. Need a Keynote Speaker? Drawing from real-world PR battles, Molly delivers the same engaging stories and hard-won crisis insights from the podcast to your live audience. Click here to book Molly for your next meeting. This podcast is supported by Muck Rack, the PR management platform I use to monitor media coverage, track journalist activity, and inform high-stakes strategy with real-time data. Click here to try Muck Rack for yourself. Follow & Connect with Molly: https://www.youtube.com/mollymcpherson ...

Where do you do most of your communicating in your work and in your life? Chances are it’s mostly email and text. You’ve probably noticed that some correspondence sounds confident and some make you want to say “get to the point already.”In this episode, I’m going to cover the five words and five phrases to get rid of in your emails to make them more concise and direct. [3:41] Filler word 1. Unless this is an apology email, don’t use this word.[4:22] Filler word 2.Taking this word out makes people pay closer attention to your email. [5:08] Filler word 3. Instead of using this word, be specific.[5:40] Filler word 4. Taking it out will add confidence and conviction.[6:06] Filler word 5. It comes across as snappy and rude. [7:07] Filler phrase 1. Avoid these and choose an imperative voice instead.[7:31] Filler phrase 2. It’s a nice sentiment, but not necessary. [8:08] Filler phrase 3. The cliche of cliches of emails. Don’t do it.[8:25] Filler phrase 4. This one’s too soft. [8:38] Filler phrase 5. Instead of this, use a better option for scheduling appointments.  Mentioned on the episode: Calendly appointment scheduling softwareGet on my email list HERE. Episode 2: How to Get a Handle on Filler Words in Your Vocabulary  How to Leave a Rating and Review on Apple PodcastsWhich words and phrases are you dropping immediately? Let me know on TwitterWant More Behind the Breakdown? Follow The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson on Substack for early access to podcast episodes, exclusive member chats, weekly lives, and monthly workshops that go deeper than the mic. It's the insider’s hub for communicators who want strategy with spine—and a little side-eye where it counts.Follow Molly → @MollyMcPherson Subscribe to PR Breakdown on Substack → prbreakdown.mediaClick here to subscribe to Molly's live events. Need a Keynote Speaker? Drawing from real-world PR battles, Molly delivers the same engaging stories and hard-won crisis insights from the podcast to your live audience. Click here to book Molly for your next meeting. This podcast is supported by Muck Rack, the PR management platform I use to monitor media coverage, track journalist activity, and inform high-stakes strategy with real-time data. Click here to try Muck Rack for yourself. Follow & Connect with Molly: https://www.youtube.com/mollymcpherson ...

When is the last time you updated your passwords?If you answered never or not sure, take a listen to this episode for tips on how to protect your online identity.    Cybersecurity breaches are a real threat to many businesses big and small. But don’t be lulled into thinking it’s only happening to companies. Private citizens are not taking cyber risk seriously and it’s costing people dearly. Did you know that in 2019 the number of publicly disclosed breaches was 3800? Or that 4.1 billion records were exposed?No one is immune to the risks. Banks, Facebook, universities, and online gaming have all been victims of major hacks, and it has cost people billions of dollars.Don’t roll the dice on your online safety. Keep listening to find out how to keep your online information safe.[1:37] Tip 1: PasswordsThings like your kids' names or the street you live on are weak passwords. Find out how to make a stronger password using phrases and characters, and my top password managers for help remembering them all. [3:09] Tip 2: Operating SystemsYes it’s a hassle, and people like to wait because they can be “glitchy” at first, but I’ll explain why it’s actually a really good idea to get in the habit of updating them regularly. (Hint: Cyberattacks.)[3:49] Tip 3: Wireless networksYour network needs a password, and this is another one you should update often, just in case you have people come over who might ask for it. Find out the one word I recommend never using for network security. [4:44] Tip 4: Open WiFi networks It’s easy to hop on the free WiFi at hotels, airports, and libraries, but if the network is open without a password you don’t want to use it. Find out my other go-to solutions for WiFi while traveling that are much safer than these open and free networks. It’s definitely worth the small investment to keep your data safe. [5:18] Tip 5: Privacy settings Hackers can get into your data just by being in close proximity to you. Here’s what to check in your privacy settings to see what you could be unintentionally sharing. [5:38] Tip 6: Device wipingDo you know what will happen if you lose your device? If you have passwords and files stored in there they could end up in the wrong hands. FindWant More Behind the Breakdown? Follow The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson on Substack for early access to podcast episodes, exclusive member chats, weekly lives, and monthly workshops that go deeper than the mic. It's the insider’s hub for communicators who want strategy with spine—and a little side-eye where it counts.Follow Molly → @MollyMcPherson Subscribe to PR Breakdown on Substack → prbreakdown.mediaClick here to subscribe to Molly's live events. Need a Keynote Speaker? Drawing from real-world PR battles, Molly delivers the same engaging stories and hard-won crisis insights from the podcast to your live audience. Click here to book Molly for your next meeting. This podcast is supported by Muck Rack, the PR management platform I use to monitor media coverage, track journalist activity, and inform high-stakes strategy with real-time data. Click here to try Muck Rack for yourself. Follow & Connect with Molly: https://www.youtube.com/mollymcpherson ...

Trust me when I tell you that Generation Z matters. Especially if you’re a parent of teens, you want to figure out how their brains are working. If you own or run a business, they matter because you’re going to need to learn how to get them motivated and engaged in your product or service.Today’s guest on the podcast is the author of InstaBrain: The New Rules for Marketing to Generation Z, Sarah Weise, and she’s sharing with us everything you need to know about Generation Z.This is a must-listen interview for anyone who wants to get in the brain of the Gen Z consumer. If you want to know what motivates this generation to take action and get them in the door, then this is the episode for you. [3:47] Get to know Sarah and how she found the gold in this generation.Sarah talks about running a small research company and the work she’s done with both large and small companies. She wanted to figure out ways to marketing to Generation Z more effectively. With 51% of the world’s population under the age of twenty-five, listen here to find out what key behavior they’re not doing to find information, and what they’re turning to instead. [6:22] Key characteristics of the different generationsHere we break down all of the living generations; the Silent Generation, Boomers, Generation X, a micro-generation called the Oregon Trail Generation, Millennials, Generation Z, and Generation Alpha. Learn more about the role that high-speed internet had in shaping an entire generation.[10:07] How Millennials differ from Gen Z.Millennials are only a few years older than Gen Z, but they’re so different because they grew up with different things going on around them. Including their parents. Here Sarah explains the shift from ‘helicopter parenting’ to ‘tech parenting’. Learn more about how this shift changed what and how people are sharing information about themselves online. [17:20] Gen Z’s attention span and influence. While Millennials can juggle three screens at a time, Generation Z can juggle five. Listen here to find out the specific length of time yThe media tool I use to track stories, monitor coverage, and help clients get their message in the right hands. Click here to learn more. Want More Behind the Breakdown? Follow The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson on Substack for early access to podcast episodes, exclusive member chats, weekly lives, and monthly workshops that go deeper than the mic. It's the insider’s hub for communicators who want strategy with spine—and a little side-eye where it counts.Follow Molly → @MollyMcPherson Subscribe to PR Breakdown on Substack → prbreakdown.mediaClick here to subscribe to Molly's live events. Need a Keynote Speaker? Drawing from real-world PR battles, Molly delivers the same engaging stories and hard-won crisis insights from the podcast to your live audience. Click here to book Molly for your next meeting. This podcast is supported by Muck Rack, the PR management platform I use to monitor media coverage, track journalist activity, and inform high-stakes strategy with real-time data. Click here to try Muck Rack for yourself. Follow & Connect with Molly: https://www.youtube.com/mollymcpherson ...

If you’re like most of us, any communication you do through the written word is via the keyboard - either on your phone or at your computer. It’s no wonder that when it’s time to sit down and put pen to paper, the outcome can sometimes look more like a ransom letter than a thank you note.Handwriting doesn’t come easy to us anymore, but it’s still very important. Some benefits of writing things down by hand include helping us feel more accomplished, help inspire our work, think conceptually, and achieve our goals.In this episode, you’ll learn six simple tips to improve your handwriting. Grab a pen and get ready to take some notes.[5:35] Tip 1: It’s all in the prep.Get your hands on the right materials before writing. Listen here to find out what simple writing tools you can invest in now to start writing like a pro. They won’t break the bank, and can easily be found either at your local office supply store or Amazon. [7:22] Tip 2: Check your posture. You want to make sure your back is straight, feet are flat, legs are uncrossed, and your arm and hand are relaxed. I give you some quick fixes to try that can transform your writing in seconds. [8:08] Tip 3: Slow down.This seems common sense, but I’m definitely guilty of rushing my handwriting, too. Unless you’re forced to rush for some reason, there’s really no need to. Find out what can happen when you write too fast, and learn my simple rule to help you slow down.[9:00] Tip 4: Restrain your arm and wrist.Most people write with their fingers which means they draw the letters, but the pros actually don’t use their fingers at all - they use their entire arm. I share with you a couple of practice techniques to make your writing more fluid and attractive. [11:09] Tip 5: Create uniformity. Make your letters clear and consistent. (This is where practicing with grid paper can be very helpful.) Ascenders and descenders should be the same height, for example. Get even more clarity on uniform writing here.[12:44] Tip 6: Practice makes perfect penmanship. Pick up your pen when you’re not in a time crunch and practice. Grab that grid-line notebook or print out a couple of pages, and listen here to find out what sentence to write that lets your practice ALL the letters of the alWant More Behind the Breakdown? Follow The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson on Substack for early access to podcast episodes, exclusive member chats, weekly lives, and monthly workshops that go deeper than the mic. It's the insider’s hub for communicators who want strategy with spine—and a little side-eye where it counts.Follow Molly → @MollyMcPherson Subscribe to PR Breakdown on Substack → prbreakdown.mediaClick here to subscribe to Molly's live events. Need a Keynote Speaker? Drawing from real-world PR battles, Molly delivers the same engaging stories and hard-won crisis insights from the podcast to your live audience. Click here to book Molly for your next meeting. This podcast is supported by Muck Rack, the PR management platform I use to monitor media coverage, track journalist activity, and inform high-stakes strategy with real-time data. Click here to try Muck Rack for yourself. Follow & Connect with Molly: https://www.youtube.com/mollymcpherson ...

It’s official. Harry and Meghan have left the royal family to become financially independent. They can now "Chip and Joanna Gaines" their way into brand royalty, à la the likes of former presidential couples Barack and Michelle Obama and Bill and Hillary Clinton. And of course, the Broadcast Queen herself - Oprah. Trust me; there is a lot of money to be made off of their new role as royal brand ambassadors to themselves.In this episode - who is winning the PR battle of public opinion and why the H&M royal exit matters to you. They brought a very specific trend front and center that’s worth paying attention to.You’ll want to listen to this episode if you own or operate a business. I share some interesting generational consumer trends that are on the rise, and how to deal with change in a way that works for everyone.[1:55] The PR of it all. (#everythingisPR)Who wins the battle of public opinion? Naturally, I asked Twitter. I could guess that the younger generation was going to favor the couple while the older generation would back the Queen. Listen here to find out who won my poll and some insightful feedback from followers. [6:12] Why we shouldn’t be surprised. It’s clear they’ve been planning this for a while. From a shiny new website to working with a Hollywood level PR machine, this decision wasn’t made overnight. Find out what else the couple has had in the works over the past year to prepare that Buckingham Palace seems to have been paying very little attention to. [7:40] Reading between the lines of the official press statements.The statement from the Queen has a very personal and grateful tone, which is a stark contrast to how Buckingham Palace reacted to Princess Diana’s death. Was this new tone a lesson learned from that highly criticized reaction? Learn how you can put this lesson to use in your communication.[11:18] What Megxit means to you, the business person.In a word: Disruption. What Harry and Meghan did signaled a shift in how we have to look at our consumer. It represents the “in demand, on-demand” generation. Learn more about how this cultural shift can apply to both internal operations and demands from your customers. I’m going to help you find the balance and recognize the change, and discuss the importance of meeting someone “halfwaWant More Behind the Breakdown? Follow The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson on Substack for early access to podcast episodes, exclusive member chats, weekly lives, and monthly workshops that go deeper than the mic. It's the insider’s hub for communicators who want strategy with spine—and a little side-eye where it counts.Follow Molly → @MollyMcPherson Subscribe to PR Breakdown on Substack → prbreakdown.mediaClick here to subscribe to Molly's live events. Need a Keynote Speaker? Drawing from real-world PR battles, Molly delivers the same engaging stories and hard-won crisis insights from the podcast to your live audience. Click here to book Molly for your next meeting. This podcast is supported by Muck Rack, the PR management platform I use to monitor media coverage, track journalist activity, and inform high-stakes strategy with real-time data. Click here to try Muck Rack for yourself. Follow & Connect with Molly: https://www.youtube.com/mollymcpherson ...

This week I’m sharing my 7 deadly sins of grammar. These are some of the mistakes you might be unknowingly making in your writing that’s causing you to lose credibility - especially online.The goal of this episode is to give you more confidence in your writing. It is, after all, one of your most valuable currencies for intelligence. Proper grammar makes for good business, helps you command respect, and creates clarity in your message. The definition of grammar is the study of the way words are used to make sentences. This can be tricky because the grammar we use when we speak can be much different than the grammar we use when writing, but it’s always worth the effort.By the end of this episode, you’re going to be clear on the basics, and feel confident that you won’t fall into these very common grammar mistakes.[4:38] Who that?Find out once and for all when to use the word who and when to use the word that. [5:46] Dangling modifiers. It’s best to keep them out of your writing. This mistake happens when a descriptive phrase doesn’t apply to the noun that immediately follows it. Huh? Don’t worry, I explain exactly what that means here.[6:41] Me vs. I. Most people think they’ve got this one down until they need to use it in a sentence. It’s also extra confusing because it can sound right when it’s actually grammatically incorrect. Find out what my little trick is to get this one right.[7:49] i.e. vs e.g. Confession: I pretty much always have to Google this rule before I use it. We might think they mean the same, but they actually don’t. I have a little hack for this one too.[8:53] Do you say “care less” or “couldn’t care less?” When you break it down, one actually makes sense and one doesn’t. Find out if you’re using it correctly.[9:33] Using two prepositions back to back. This one doesn't come up a lot in grammar guides, but I see it a lot in writing. Using prepositions correctly actually makes your writing clearer and quicker, so it’s definitely worth taking the time to learn.[10:15] Quotation mark placement. This is not one of those quick mistakes, like typing too instead of to, so it’s extra annoying. And yes, I'm judgy about it. CWant More Behind the Breakdown? Follow The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson on Substack for early access to podcast episodes, exclusive member chats, weekly lives, and monthly workshops that go deeper than the mic. It's the insider’s hub for communicators who want strategy with spine—and a little side-eye where it counts.Follow Molly → @MollyMcPherson Subscribe to PR Breakdown on Substack → prbreakdown.mediaClick here to subscribe to Molly's live events. Need a Keynote Speaker? Drawing from real-world PR battles, Molly delivers the same engaging stories and hard-won crisis insights from the podcast to your live audience. Click here to book Molly for your next meeting. This podcast is supported by Muck Rack, the PR management platform I use to monitor media coverage, track journalist activity, and inform high-stakes strategy with real-time data. Click here to try Muck Rack for yourself. Follow & Connect with Molly: https://www.youtube.com/mollymcpherson ...