PR FunJots (a PR Blog Jots Special Edition)

Kick Butt Marketing
Canuckflack
I think it’s time for a PR Blog Jots: Fun Stuff Edition. First up, I offer this fun-yet-informative post from Colin McKay, regarding a rather creative marketing technique from a home renovation specialist looking to get his small business off the ground. The man posted a picture of his hilarious butt-kicking invention on Craigslist as a want ad searching for people with “strong butts” to test it out, pointing out at the end that aside from humorous inventions, he has more than ten years experience in home remodeling. “There you go: the key to success as a small business. In a field with many similar competitors, identify a quality that separates your services from the pack and promote that quality. Make it real for the consumer.”

Check, 1-2-3
Unspun
In a new discovery (thanks, Twitter!), the employee bloggers over at Shift Communications have offered up another post to make you chuckle and think—particularly about what you’re putting into that email or instant message before you hit the send button. In an excellent reminder, particularly for everyone in the instant digital communication era, Matt Trocchio points out that giving your emails and other messages a thorough once over before sending them into the world can do wonders in protecting your reputation. He also offers some good (and funny) resources for avoiding costly email mistakes. “Common sense says that if you wouldn’t want to see it in print, than you probably shouldn’t write it down.  However, for those out there that like to live dangerously – here is a tip.  Always double check the “to” portion of whatever you are using: email, IM, whatever.  Sometimes it is even more important than hitting spell check before an official sign off.”

How To Be a Dilbert Manager
Common Sense PR
Are you tired of happy, engaged, productive employees? (Well really, who isn’t!) Then this is the post for you. Eric Eggerston lists “9 Ways to Disengage Your Employees,” a great guide for any manager looking to “Dilbertize” their workforce. Eric recommends long, unproductive meetings, unclear business strategies, poor employee recognition guidelines and blockage of all personal communications and non-work related websites. As for social media, he recommends launching and quickly abandoning a CEO blog and podcast. (For additional entertainment, see Eric’s 99 of the Worst Things to do in Business post.) “Brainstorm to find your own company-specific demotivators. Tweak your disengagement efforts, based on measurement. Don’t let setbacks stop you. It’s important to have faith in your ability to crush morale, even if some naysayers question your goals or your tactics.”

We Get Sacks and Sacks of Letters...
Now is Gone
While I realize I may be the only one who would recognize my headline here as the David Letterman mailbag theme song, I nevertheless offer a reader mailbag from Ike Pigott over at Now is Gone. Ike addresses Web 2.0 questions from consumers, IT department workers, and even Fake-Fake Steve Jobs! He points out the difference between Web 2.0 and PR 2.0, with references to previous forms of two-way communications between companies and consumers. “In the past, companies would communicate with the public using one medium, and the clients/customers/serfs would communicate back through another. Examples: 1567 - King sends town criers to announce a new tax | Peasants respond with torches and pitchforks…2007 - Ad placed on website | Fan creates mashup of ad, links back to original.”