We've reached the point in summer when the accumulation of heat and humidity slows the reflexes and thought processes. This is when stories about shark attacks dominate news cycles. Calculated, outrageous statements by politicians running for national office barely raise an eyebrow.
As professional communicators know, it always takes a lot to cut through. In midsummer, it seems, unless you've got a video of a great white shark chomping on a surfer's leg, you're better off waiting until just after Labor Day to launch a campaign or pitch journalists.
You may not have that privilege, though. If you're on the clock, your job is to get coverage for your organization, attract new customers to your brand or donors to your nonprofit, protect and enhance corporate reputation—despite the season and capacity of living creatures to assimilate anything new in consistent 91 degree heat.
So, how to cut through with your brand messages when sluggishness reigns? A few suggestions:
1. Use yourself as a test case. Unless you live in San Francisco, where it's currently a foggy 61 degrees (and my old hometown and destination on Aug. 5-6 for PR News' Google Boot Camp and Big 4 Social Media Conference), you're either dragging your knuckles on the melting sidewalks outside or shivering inside as your sweat freezes from the blast of office air conditioning. What kind of content—aside from anything NSFW—is catching your eye on social, in your email inbox, on any kind of screen or printed material? This being summer, it's likely that anything to do with vacations, time off, food, cold beverages and socializing with friends are the best lures. Try to find ways to connect your communications and business goals with where people's desires are, if not their physical selves.
2. Find an excuse to use pictures of animals. I can't tell you how many speakers at PR News conferences have closed their presentations by saying "and if all else fails try this," and then shown a shot of a cute puppy, kitten or marmot. They're only half-joking. Pictures of animals will always cut through. It's no accident that Cecil the lion has shoved aside Donald Trump as the number one news story here at the end of July. Someone in your organization has a new kitten or puppy. Now is the time to put that critter to work.
3. Follow my example and make sure you include "shark" in any headline and "shark attacks" in any opening paragraph.
—Steve Goldstein, @SGoldsteinAI