Posts by Andy Larsen

Like many sports fans, I consider the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament the top sporting event…{more}

Advocacy advertising has long been a staple of the crisis communicator’s playbook, and — as BP’s ubiquitous “Gulf of Mexico Response” TV spots attest — it is still widely used. In recent years, however, paid crisis messaging has increasingly found its way into a new form of media — Google search. In the past few…

I’ve pretty much given up explaining my job to people at cocktail parties, weddings and bar mitzvahs.  However, every now and then I get drawn into a conversation that begs for a more detailed response than “I’m in marketing.”  Typically, the doctor/lawyer/cable installer I’m talking to has only the vaguest idea of what an agency…

by Andy Larsen
It’s March Madness, baby, and television ratings for the upset-filled NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament have been (to paraphrase Dick Vitale) super…{more}

by Andy Larsen
While there’s been a ton of debate about Royal Caribbean’s cruise ships resuming visits to Haiti… {more}

“Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated”— Mark Twain Like Mark Twain, direct mail may have been written off a bit prematurely. In fact, given the growing pervasiveness of spam filters, direct mail is probably poised for a comeback. At the very least, it offers marketers a nice complement to e-mail direct marketing. In…

by Andy Larsen
This morning, the NFL announced a ban on players striking a pose similar to the pirate on the…{more}

by Andy Larsen
With all apologies to Twitter, I firmly believe the best way to connect with a journalist is to meet ‘em in person. Unfortunately, that’s easier said than done because most journalists are…{more}

“Ghostblogging” is a red-hot topic in social media circles, with many experts railing indignantly against it. As someone who has been ghostwriting client speeches, soundbites and quotes for nearly two decades, I’ve followed this conversation with great interest…and, admittedly, some amusement. The argument against ghostwriting revolves around authenticity and transparency. Blogs, it is felt, should…

Ever wonder why announcements from some companies always seem to grab news coverage, while others get overlooked?  Obviously, it could be related to the significance of their announcements, but chances are it may also have something to do with the way those announcements were made. While Web 2.0 technology has given corporate communicators more tools…