Stories by Cindy Villafranca

We’re human and make mistakes. How we recover from them is important. In this series about lessons PR pros learned early in their careers, Cindy Villafranca of Southwest Airlines discusses how she grew after making an embarrassing mistake.

It seems inevitable that prices for raw materials, labor and other fees will rise as the pandemic recedes. Consumers usually bear the pain of such price increases. Companies can either hide the fact that consumer/customer prices will rise or discuss it openly. There are a few ways communicators can try to ease the pain in these unpleasant situations.

Traditional social listening no longer is enough, brands and companies are discovering. Operating on the fringes of the web, factions spread false narratives that can lead to mainstream activity, such as boycotts. Without early knowledge of such activities’ origins, communicators and companies may miss the chance to respond promptly.

The conventional hiring process is, well, conventional. Want ads, resumes, LinkedIn, recruiting and search firms. In PR, a field where creativity is highly valued, the traditional hiring route may not always find the best candidates. Companies that take an off-beat recruiting approach likely will find highly creative candidates.

B2B marketers are missing opportunities to connect with individual prospects when they ignore or downplay LinkedIn. Here are 4 easy tips that can help marketers ease the platform’s intimidation factor and increase your chances of success.

How many crises might have been averted just by asking a few more questions and offering a couple of clarifying points? The author provides some key lessons.

Recent attacks have become bolder and more sophisticated and include invasions of government agencies, healthcare providers, schools and organizations of all types and sizes, including the likes of Twitter and Microsoft and the National Basketball Association. But while most attacks are against large, well-known brands, small business also is a big target for bad actors. The ransomware attack on one of the United States’ largest fuel pipelines is an all-too-frequent reminder that more needs doing. Now.

In today’s polarized climate, companies and CEOs take a risk when they speak out on political and social issues. On the other hand, remaining silent can be just as dangerous. Here are several tactics PR pros can employ as they help companies navigate these difficult situations.

The market’s volatility makes it more important to have PR in at the earliest stages of products and campaigns. When a misstep can result in a public backlash, getting PR’s input at the outset of product development and message creation is tantamount to having an insurance policy.

Misinformation and misrepresentation are partly responsible for the rise of hate and violence against Asian Americans. During Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, communicators can help bring awareness to stories and struggles of a community that continues to be a target of hate.