Social media time-bombs can explode on hard-won reputations
So you think social media is cool? Think again. I realised over the past month that this is a place that can help you make…
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Dear Brand Marketer: Can you get a client to buy out Strand Book Stall?
As news broke of the imminent shut-down of Strand Book Stall, the iconic bookstore of India’s financial capital, there was the usual mix of nostalgia…
PNB scam shows reputation management for political entities is a tough minefield
As the PNB fraud hit home last week in India and caused political ripples and shrill exchanges between the BJP on who caused the Rs…
Influencer worship is as bad as influencer bashing: Details matter
A blog post on the role of social media“influencers” in marketing by Elinor Cohen is apparently, in the words of senior journalist Vir Sanghvi taking…
If dynasties can be bad, how can pedigrees be good?
Last week, I received a press release from a PR firm I quite respect, but its content raised an eyebrow. Here is what it said:…
Lesson from Parle: Long-term, 360-degree reputation is a wonderful thing
I have been admiring the new set of funny video commercials from Parle Products, in which the message conveyed is not about the well-known brands…
Schmooze & schmaltz – not the best way to grow in Public Relations
My thought process was set off this week after I read Amith Prabhu’s column on how and why Adfactors PR won the Tata Group’s PR…
Wisdom in brief: short form excels in the age of spam
Midnight Masala, in my family folklore, does not refer to the risqué, hip-gyrating song shows that used to feature in late night television but a…
Owners & CEOs make great brand ambassadors, but they are double-edged swords
It is quite amusing to watch Tamil TV channels these days. Not one or two, but several companies/brands have chosen to bring on the CEO/owner…
Fortis, Max, Ryan and IndiGo show how vulnerable institutional brands can be
You could call 2017 as an annus horribilis — a horrible year — for Fortis and Max, two of India’s premier healthcare brands that have…