American Funds: Call Me
Like a lot of people in my business, I have Bloomberg TV and CNBC on all day in my office. I like the ads almost as much as I like the stories. The ads interest me because I can see, or think I can see, the marketing strategy behind it. At the moment, American Funds,
Investor Relations and Public Relations: Uneasy Bedfellows
The words investor and public relations roll off the tongue with such ease that it seems yet another confirmation the disciplines share a cozy symbiosis. They don’t. The notion that increased media exposure leads to increased investment rings false for issuers primarily focused on gaining institutional investors. The reason for this is simple. For equities,
Your Investor Relations Media Plan Made Easy
If you are a public company and trying to decide what media you should be focusing on, then the answer is actually very simple: Dow Jones, Reuters and Bloomberg. That’s it. Other earned media exposure, wherever, is not useless in support of an investor relations program, but it represents a very inefficient way to make progress.
CEOs Who Made Me Scratch My Head
In October, two CEOs made me scratch my head. One in a questioning fashion, the other in an admiring fashion. I admired Frank Bisignano CEO of First Data Corporation (FDC) for striding onto CNBC’s stage perched atop the New York Stock Exchange moments after his company went public. OMG, every lawyer in the deal was probably
What Is The Value of Media Exposure? Millions
Almost every prospective client I’ve talked to over the last 30 years has asked, ‘What is the value of media exposure?’ My answer: Millions. Few prospects take my answer seriously even though they should. However, the current U.S. presidential race offers an unusual degree of insight into the value of media exposure. Here’s the nib
What Wealth Advisors Should Say To Clients Now
With a dip of more than 11% in the S&P 500 since July 20 and continued volatility, what can advisors say to jittery clients? For long term investors, nothing applies a calming salve better than a discussion about dividends. Remember, during almost any 10-year period, approximately 40% of the total return from the SPY came
Bezos: Call Me
Were it I was head of media relations at amazon.com when the New York Times revealed some less than civilized employment practices there. Finally a media relations challenge that, in my view, will fill the pages of communications and crisis management text books for generations to come. Unknown at this point: Will these case studies
What does Jack Dorsey see?
At this point, I’m not sure. Not to say that Mr. Dorsey will not earn his place in the pantheon of Silicon Valley legends. He will. What I’m less sure about is his understanding of the capital markets. So after taking Twitter public, is he going to take mobile payments company Square, public too? My
FANG Today, Toothless Tomorrow?
FANG stands for Facebook, Amazon, Netflix and Google. The term, emblazoned on the front page of yesterday’s edition of USA TODAY, was popularized by CNBC’s Jim Cramer. Some think the FANG clan is unstoppable, and looking at the trajectory of technology and commerce at this moment, it’s hard to see the dominance of these companies