Publicity Stunt Inc Making It Happen in the UK

After a weeklong trip to Europe, the Publicity Stunt Inc offices are now open and back in business!

While there, we met with a number of movers-and-shakers in London, including Michael “Mykey” Rayon of Rayon-Inc, the owners of Instant Melodies music studio, two lovely reporters from Wink Ball, the UK’s #1 video news website, and last but certainly not least, the lovely young ladies of The Boxettes.

Miko Franklin and Lena Andoh of Publicity Stunt Inc in London

What a great time we had and now we are back in action! Stay tuned for posts featuring our new friends from the UK.

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Nene’s Twitter Meltdown a PR No No–Aftermath of ‘Real Housewives of Atlanta’

If you’re like most of urban America, then you likely tuned in to Real Housewives of Atlanta, well, at least the folks at Publicity Stunt Inc did (myself and vice president Shelly Andoh) did. And what a riot.

Just a few months ago, Greg, husband to reality show phenom, Nene Leakes, learned that hard way that nothing is off the record. (If you missed the full audio to that, click here.) Well, this episode, it was his wife who learned a valuable public relations lesson.

Last night, she showed her you-know-what and Twitter was abuzz with criticisms of her actions and, ultimately, supporting our semi-argument against celebrities with Twitter accounts. (If you missed that, click here.)

Leakes had a mini Twitter breakdown, firing off a number of tweets, including: “Yall some trading @sses! Everybody has a limit!” and “I never wanted 2 get on the bus or go 2 Florida wit these hating chicks! Believe that.”

Real Housewives of Atlanta Star, Nene Leakes, fires off a series of tweets after less than flattering comments about last night's episode

Man down, celebrity in distress! 

Before the advent of Twitter, fans would have never known that Nene was this upset by her television show appearance and she likely never would have responded so irrationally. Her comments, which were clearly direct responses to the tweets of fans,  were obviously not well thought out and may ultimately cause her to lose many fans.

A well thought out social media/pr strategy would have Nene providing a blanket response (if Twitter was a must-use tool) and then offering interviews or releasing a video statement to internet blogs. In these interviews, she would not be extremely defensive, but rather extremely kind and mild-mannered like the Nene Leakes that we so often see on Bravo TV’s Watch What Happens. This persona would offset the horrible display of character that was shown for all the world to see last night. 

What do you think? Did Nene overreact? Will this harm her public image?

Related Articles

• Is NeNe Leakes Leaving “Real Housewives Of Atlanta”? (hellobeautiful.com)
• Real Housewives of Atlanta husband learns that “nothing is off the record” – Full audio included (publicitystuntinc.wordpress.com)
• The Real Housewives of Atlanta Recap: Mayhem in Miami! (thehollywoodgossip.com)

Are celebrities TOO accessible with social media?

Image via CrunchBase

Visit a gossip blog any day of the week and you are bound to come across a story about a celebrity attacking a non-celebrity or fellow celebrity via America’s favorite microblogging site, Twitter. Back in the day, there was an air of mystique surrounding celebrities. But these days, with Twitter, Facebook and other access-granted social tools, the curtains have come down.

This new approach to communicating with celebrities begs the question: Are celebrities too accessible?

Of course, as a publicist, I am all for establishing a positive with the public by almost any means necessary. And with Twitter and other social media tools, this is easier now than ever. But it’s also easier to sever those relationships with just one wrong tweet.

Not only is it easy to damage these relationships with a tweet gone wrong, but again, with that air of mystique no longer there, are fans losing respect for celebrities? It’s human nature to place celebrities on pedestals because of their seemingly unattainable nature, but if we know every move a celebrity makes–from when he/she wakes up to what they eat for breakfast to how a spouse made them mad and more–are we bound to lose our fascination for them? These days anyone can be a so-called celebrity and if everyone is a celebrity, then no one is really a celebrity. Get it?

What do you think? Should celebrities lay off the tweets or should they keep ’em coming?

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Wedding Reporters: Working on a story about 2011 stationery trends?

Working on a story about 2011 wedding stationery trends? If so, contact Publicity Stunt Inc for an interview opportunity with Seleana Luckett, stationery adviser for some of Chicago’s hottest weddings and proprietor of Lovie’s Letter Paper Co.

Contact: Miko Franklin at 773.980.6404 or m.franklin@publicitystuntinc.com

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Neiman Marcus taking fashion shows to a new level

If you thought 1.1.11 was special only because of the date, then you must not have heard about the launch of Neiman Marcus‘s virtual fashion showcase, which officially hit the Internet yesterday.

 

For five days, the upscale retailer’s website will be home to the Neiman Marcus Fashion Week 2011 Spring Preview. Site visitors will be able to shop directly from the runway with new designers hitting the runway every hour from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.

 

Talk about publicity. A virtual fashion show on this scale has never been pulled off before and is sure to generate tons of free publicity and add favorably to the store’s bottom line.

 

 

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How Social Media Saved “The Game”

It’s been more than two years since devoted fans have been blessed with a new episode of “The Game,” a popular television series, created by Mara Brock Akil and produced by Kelsey Grammer. But after years of suspense, fans will get what they’ve been hoping for on today, Jan. 11, 2011.

 

Ladies and Gentlemen: “The Game” is back.

 

It’s not uncommon for a television show to be taken of the air, but it is very rare for a show to come back. So what was different about “The Game?” Their relationship with the public.

 

Via Facebook, YouTube, the CW’s message board and other social media tools that allowed the cast and crew to communicate directly with their fan base, “The Game” pleaded for support with their “Change the Game” campaign. And they got it.

 

Check out the infamous viral video that helped bring the cast of “The Game” back to the air tonight.

NFL Player Peyton Manning Shows the Value of PR

Image via Wikipedia

In 2011, are you still questioning the value that public relations can bring to your personal brand? If so, just ask football player Peyton Manning of the Indianapolis Colts.

 

According to a study release by The Nielsen Company, Manning leads the NFL for endorsement impact with the highest N-score.  The N-Score rates the brand impact of professional athletes and sports personalities to enable advertisers to make strong marketing decisions on commercial endorsements. 

 

It layman’s terms it means that he is highly likely to be courted and paid a pretty penny for endorsement deals by advertisers because of his great consumer appeal compared to other NFL players.

 

His public appeal is likely high because of his stellar record on the field and his positive perception by the public, a.k.a. public relations, which he continues to enhance with news about himself, including recent stories on his charitable works through his non-profit, the Peyback Foundation.

 

Manning’s leading N-score of 262 is followed by New Orleans Saints’ Drew Brees (166) and New England Patriots’ Tom Brady (131). Curious about Michael Vick’s score after his “comeback?” Just 16. Looks like his publicist still has more work to do.

 

Public relations=image. Image=dollar signs.

 

And that is why public relations matters. Do you follow now?

News Release: Lovie’s Letter Paper Co. Offers Wedding Invitation Etiquette, Launches Line of Wedding Invitations, Customized Stationery

News Release

 Lovie’s Letter Paper Co. Offers Wedding Invitation Etiquette, Launches Line of Wedding Invitations, Customized Stationery

CHICAGO, Jan. 4, 2011: For brides-to-be seeking a personal touch for that special day, Lovie’s Letter Paper Co. has introduced a full line of customized wedding invitations. Lovie’s Letter Paper Co. founder, Seleana Luckett, having assisted countless brides with their wedding stationery needs, established the line after recognizing the near extinction of unique, one-of-a-kind wedding invitations.

According to the Bridal Association of America, American brides spend an average of $3.89 per guest for wedding invitations and related stationery. Lovie’s Letter Paper Co. wedding products are fit for wedding budgets of all sizes, ranging from $1.89 to $4.69 per piece.

Wedding planning is a stressful, but joyous event. As 2011 brides begin to put the final touches on their special day, Lovie’s Letter Paper Co. offers a number of tips to assist brides in selecting the best invitation options:

• Set the tone: Wedding invitations, typically mailed six to eight weeks prior, lay the foundation for the event. Color(s), font and wording should complement the wedding’s overall theme.
• Let your personality shine through: Customized wedding invitations and favors are the perfect way to add a personal touch. Companies like Lovie’s Letter Paper Co. offer invitation and complimentary stationery consultations, so that your selections accurately reflect your personality.
• Less isn’t more: While less is more usually works in all other areas of life, when it comes to the big day, do go overboard with wedding invitations. Order at least 25 additional invitations for those last minute invites. And don’t forget a few keepsake invitations for your scrapbook.
• Proof positive: An often overlooked area of wedding invitations do’s and don’ts is proofreading. Do make sure that all language is error-free. And be sure to provide proper spellings of guest names and addresses.

Lovie’s Letter Paper Co. also provides a complete wedding invitation etiquette guide online at www.loviesletterpaperco.com/blog. 

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About Lovie’s Letter Paper Co.

Lovie’s Letter Paper Co. is a wedding and stationery design studio, offering standard and personalized options. The company, founded in 2010 by Seleana Luckett, features several lines of budget friendly and ultra premium stationery products. With more than five years in the industry, Luckett has assisted hundreds of brides in choosing the best stationery for their wedding needs. For more information, visit LoviesLetterPaperCo.com, follow us on Twitter @LoviesLetter or become a Facebook fan. 

About Publicity Stunt Inc

Publicity Stunt Inc is a Chicago-based public relations, marketing and digital strategy firm. Founded in 2008, the agency caters to the unique needs of “creative” clients, including performing artists, visual artists, authors, songwriters, fashion designers and entrepreneurs. For more information, visit PublicityStuntInc.com, follow us on Twitter @PublicityStunt or become a Facebook fan. 

Chicago Artist Spotlight: T’izm Sound Productions, Chicago’s only urban recording label

Despite many challenges, Chicago’s entertainment community remains vibrant and artists remain hopeful. FyreMouff, a bilingual spoken word artist, is one of those artists. FyreMouff, along with her boyfriend, DJ Jazznosis, have remained resilient and confident that the local arts and entertainment scene will flourish. Together, the two founded T’izm Sound Productions, which they’ve billed as Chicago’s “first and only urban recording label.”

During a recent interview with FyreMouff and DJ Jazznosis, I learned more about how they view Chicago’s music industry and even gathered a few pearls of wisdom for aspiring artists.

Publicity Stunt Inc: From what I’ve read, your company was started to provide a means for local artists to establish careers. What challenges do you often find that Chicago artists must overcome?