FIR Podcast Network
647 episodes - English - Latest episode: 2 days ago - ★★★ - 3 ratingsFor Immediate Release: Podcasts for Communicators
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Episodes
ALP 227: Building trust and letting your team shine
April 29, 2024 13:00 - 19 minutes - 16.2 MBChip and Gini discuss the importance of agency owners letting go of micromanaging, trusting their team, and focusing on building a scalable business. Continue Reading → The post ALP 227: Building trust and letting your team shine appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.
FIR #403: Does Marketing Need a Separate Ethics Standard for AI?
April 29, 2024 09:00 - 1 hour - 34 MBThe author of an AI-focused newsletter suggests that companies need to establish discrete ethics policies for using Artificial Intelligence (AI). With all the codes of ethics out there designed to address anything and everything, is this really necessary? Neville and Shel don't see eye to eye in April's monthly long-form FIR episode. Also in episode 403, there's a new beauty pageant -- just for AI-generated women. While critics pile on with their disdain for this idea, the Dove brand is comi...
Circle of Fellows #103: IS IT WORTH THE TIME AND EFFORT TO GET A PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION CERTIFICATION?
April 28, 2024 22:32 - 1 hour - 24.7 MBFour distinguished IABC Fellows discussed the myriad benefits of earning the Communication Management Professional (CMP) or Strategic Communication Management Professional (SCMP) certification offered through the Global Communication Certification Council (GCCC). The panel shed light on how becoming a CMP or SCMP not only elevates your credibility but also significantly enhances your strategic communication skills. Whether you’re looking to advance in your career, expand your network, or sta...
EPISODE #77: IN YOUR CORNER – MASTERING MANAGING UP
April 25, 2024 20:28 - 13 minutes - 15.5 MBLet’s debunk a myth today: managing up isn't about sucking up. In our second installment of “In Your Corner,” our career coaching segment, Sharon and I dive deep into what it really means to "manage up" and why it's a critical skill for communicators. Managing up effectively is about making your indispensability known—creating a symbiotic relationship that helps support your career as well as enhances your team's success. We discuss: How understanding and aligning with your boss’s expectat...
FIR #402: Your Favorite Social Network Just Shut Down. Now What?
April 24, 2024 18:07 - 24 minutes - 10.5 MBIt has been five years since Google Plus closed down. While it never amassed the number of users of some of its rivals, many called it home and were cast adrift after its demise, unable to find an alternative that offered the same features and vibe. One Goole Plus user lamented the loss and reflected on the lessons learned from her attempts to find a new social network to call home. In this short midweek episode, Neville and Shel discuss the fragmented nature of social networks and how the f...
FIR #401: The Battle Between PIOs and Journalists
April 18, 2024 22:47 - 18 minutes - 8.17 MBWhile public corporations employ (or contract with agencies that provide) media relations professionals, government agencies are likelier to have Public Information Officers (PIOs). Agencies, however, are not the only entities with PIOs, who differ from media relations practitioners by virtue of their engagement with multiple external stakeholder audiences, not just media. PIOs have plied their craft for NGOs, educational institutions, civic organizations, religious institutions, and even so...
FIR #400: Love Them Or Hate Them, Press Releases Can Still Deliver Value
April 12, 2024 16:31 - 5 MBIn a LinkedIn post, Techcrunch Sr. Enterprise Editor Frederic Lardinois lamented the ineffectiveness of an event-related press release he received. To date, 42 comments have agreed, many coneming the utter uselessness of press releases and the incompetence of those who produce them. Neville and Shel understand their frustration based on the poor quality of most press releases but defend the practice, when done right, for various reasons in this short midweek episode. Continue Reading → The ...
Love Them Or Hate Them, Press Releases Can Still Deliver Value
April 12, 2024 16:31 - 19 minutes - 9.02 MBIn a LinkedIn post, Techcrunch Sr. Enterprise Editor Frederic Lardinois lamented the ineffectiveness of an event-related press release he received. To date, 42 comments have agreed, many coneming the utter uselessness of press releases and the incompetence of those who produce them. Neville and Shel understand their frustration based on the poor quality of most press releases but defend the practice, when done right, for various reasons in this short midweek episode. Continue Reading → The ...
FIR #399: No More Cookies For You
April 10, 2024 17:21 - 19 minutes - 8.67 MBGoogle is ending third-party tracking cookies on Chrome, the last of the major browsers to take this privacy-enhancing action. Without these cookies, advertisers could see as much as a 70-percent decline in revenue from online ads. What are the alternatives? Neville and Shel break it all down in this short midweek episode. Continue Reading → The post FIR #399: No More Cookies For You appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.
ALP 226: Should your agency sell itself as a fractional CxO to clients?
April 08, 2024 13:00 - 21 minutes - 17.7 MBChip and Gini discuss the intricacies of fractional leadership roles within clients. Continue Reading → The post ALP 226: Should your agency sell itself as a fractional CxO to clients? appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.
Is It Worth the Time and Effort to Get a Professional Communication Certification?
April 04, 2024 18:37This month, join four distinguished IABC Fellows for a conversation about the myriad benefits of earning the Communication Management Professional (CMP) or Strategic Communication Management Professional (SCMP) certification offered through the Global Communication Certification Council (GCCC). The panel will shed light on how becoming a CMP or SCMP not only elevates your credibility but also significantly enhances your strategic communication skills. Whether you're looking to advance in you...
FIR #398: The AI Version of Your (or Anybody’s) Voice
April 03, 2024 15:35 - 19 minutes - 8.88 MBArtificial intelligence (AI) is making significant strides in various domains, and voice technology is no exception. OpenAI, a prominent player in the AI industry, has recently announced Voice Engine, a groundbreaking development in AI text-to-voice technology that will create natural-sounding voices based on a 15-second clip of your (or anybody's) voice. OpenAI claims Voice Engine will deliver unparalleled realism and naturalness in computer-generated speech, surpassing the capabilities of ...
FIR #397: Some Thought Leadership on Thought Leadership
March 29, 2024 16:24 - 22 minutes - 9.78 MB"Thought leadership" is a term that gets bandied about a lot. (A Google search for the term produced over 100 million results.) You have to question whether everything labeled thought leadership actually is, suggesting the quality of thought leadership leaves something to be desired. In fact, a recent study from Edelman and LinkedIn finds doubts about the quality of thought leadership but also reveals that when it's done right, it can be huge dividends for organizations, from building trust ...
FIR #396: Will AI End Google’s Search Dominance?
March 27, 2024 15:55 - 22 minutes - 9.84 MBAI-powered tools like Perplexity are replacing Google as the go-to search resource for a growing number of people. Even AI tools that are not focused on searching the web, like Microsoft's Copilot and Claude's pro version, provide links to resources in their results. Is it enough to dethrone Google, which has held sway over search for decades? Some say yes, while others question whether AI is best for the variety of different uses to which people put Google. Neville and Shel are not in compl...
CWC 98: Storytelling and a helpfulness mindset for agency owners (featuring Kristian Alomá)
March 27, 2024 13:00 - 31 minutes - 25.6 MBIn this episode, Kristian shares insights about his agency, Threadline, and the art of crafting a narrative that is relevant, meaningful, and inspiring to the audience. Continue Reading → The post CWC 98: Storytelling and a helpfulness mindset for agency owners (featuring Kristian Alomá) appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.
ALP 225: Accepting equity as payment for agency services
March 25, 2024 13:00 - 17 minutes - 14.9 MBIn this episode, Chip and Gini discuss the potential pitfalls of receiving equity as payment for service. Continue Reading → The post ALP 225: Accepting equity as payment for agency services appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.
FIR #395: Extra! Extra! Read All About It! (In Print!)
March 25, 2024 09:00 - 1 hour - 33.7 MBWe have expectations from our use of social media, but in two recent studies, there is evidence that the outcomes we expect aren't necessarily what we get. Also in this episode, we look at Gini Dietrich's latest update to her PESO model for using various media channels in integrated communication efforts, the schoolkids who are bringing back print (along with advertisers, marketers, and others), insights from the 2024 Ragan Communications Benchmark Report, the kerfuffle that ensued when Merr...
Circle of Fellows #102: Research, Plan, and Manage Your Communication Career
March 23, 2024 21:22 - 1 hour - 24.7 MBMaintain a flexible approach to professional growth by joining IABC Fellows as they explore key topics essential for communication professionals at any career stage. Delve into important areas like the IABC Global Standard, Career Self-Assessment, and the IABC Proficiency Matrix. Learn from experts about negotiating salary, bonuses, and job titles when considering a new role, collaborating with recruiters, and effectively showcasing your skills in interviews and resumes. Discover strategies ...
FIR #394: Marketers, Boards, and AI
March 20, 2024 15:44 - 21 minutes - 9.31 MBCompanies whose boards include a member with marketing experience deliver higher investor returns than those whose boards lack marketing expertise. That higher return increases among companies losing market share. Does Artificial Intelligence (AI) threaten the path to board membership by dramatically reducing the number of marketers? OpenAI CEO Sam Altman thinks 95 percent of the work marketers do could become AI tasks. (Of course, the number of boards that take advantage of that marketing e...
ALP 224: Get over your fear of hiring employees
March 18, 2024 13:00 - 23 minutes - 19 MBIn this episode, Chip and Gini discuss the fear of hiring employees, the implications of using contractors, the financial considerations, and the benefits of having employees. Continue Reading → The post ALP 224: Get over your fear of hiring employees appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.
FIR #393: Will Jinfluencers Eclipse Traditional Journalism?
March 15, 2024 16:06 - 15 minutes - 7.01 MBA new type of influencer, known as "Jinfluencers," is emerging in the media landscape. These influencers, who combine the roles of journalists and influencers, are gaining attention and challenging traditional media outlets. The media landscape has become fragmented, catering to niche interests and creating opportunities for trusted sources with loyal audiences. However, concerns have been raised about whether influencers can uphold journalistic standards. Neville and Shel explore the pros a...
CWC 97: Agency salary and compensation trends in 2024 (featuring Nicholas Petroski)
March 13, 2024 13:00 - 27 minutes - 22.1 MBIn this episode, Chip and Nick discuss digital agency salaries and the findings of a recent research report on the topic. Continue Reading → The post CWC 97: Agency salary and compensation trends in 2024 (featuring Nicholas Petroski) appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.
FIR #392: Going Below the Surface into Dark Social Media
March 12, 2024 23:05 - 16 minutes - 7.98 MBUnsavory and nefarious things happen on the Dark Web. But the Dark Web and Dark Social Media are not exclusively a place for ne'er-do-wells, criminals, and extremists. Dark Social includes messaging apps, private discussion groups on popular public forums, and even email. An increasing share of conversations about brands is taking place on the Dark Web, according to new research. How can communicators monitor it and influence the conversation in their favor? Neville and Shel dive into the De...
ALP 223: Handling frustration as an agency owner
March 11, 2024 13:00 - 19 minutes - 16.3 MBIn this episode, Chip and Gini discuss the challenges and frustrations of owning an agency, emphasizing the importance of seeking accountability and support, and reflecting on one’s own role in addressing issues. Continue Reading → The post ALP 223: Handling frustration as an agency owner appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.
FIR #391: Match Group Swipes Right on AI-Generated Press Release
March 08, 2024 17:12 - 19 minutes - 8.91 MBMatch Group wanted the world to know it had secured 1,000 business licenses from OpenAI. In a press release, the company claimed that giving employees access to the full suite of ChatGPT tools has not only improved productivity but also altered the culture. The company disclosed in the press release that it was written by ChatGPT and edited by the company's communication professionals. Opinions about the propriety of using AI to craft press releases run the gamut. Neville and Shel consider t...
FIR Interview: William Beutler on PR and Wikipedia
March 07, 2024 16:20 - 36 minutes - 50.8 MBGoogle searches link to Wikipedia more than any other website. It is the largest and most-read reference work in history. It is consistently ranked as one of the 10 most popular websites in the world, and as of 2024 is the fifth most visited website on the net. Wikipedia is also one of the richest sources of information for AI training models. With all those eyes on Wikipedia, it's no surprise that PR professionals want relevant entries to reflect their priorities and messages. Yet Wikipedia...
FIR #390: The Fall and Rise of NFTs
March 06, 2024 17:14 - 15 minutes - 7.25 MBBased on the plunge in the value of NFTs last year and the evaporation of business on NFT exchanges, it would be easy to think these tokens were just a passing fad, like Pet Rocks and Beanie Babies, especially given the resounding death knell produced by media. But NFTs never left, with companies like Starbucks and Nike continuing to invest in them, fashion companies continuing to use them, and artists continuing to offer their work via NFTs. The prices are rebounding, too -- even among the ...
Get Tips on Researching, Planning, and Managing Your Communication Career
March 04, 2024 18:40Maintain a flexible approach to professional growth by joining IABC Fellows as they explore key topics essential for communication professionals at any career stage. Delve into important areas like the IABC Global Standard, Career Self-Assessment, and the IABC Proficiency Matrix. Learn from experts about negotiating salary, bonuses, and job titles when considering a new role, collaborating with recruiters, and effectively showcasing your skills in interviews and resumes. Discover strategies ...
ALP 222: How to handle extended payment term requests from agency clients
March 04, 2024 14:00 - 23 minutes - 19 MBIn this episode, Chip and Gini discuss the importance of setting clear expectations from the start and being proactive in following up on overdue invoices. Continue Reading → The post ALP 222: How to handle extended payment term requests from agency clients appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.
FIR #389: Bloated C-Suites (and Some Alternatives)
March 01, 2024 19:11 - 15 minutes - 7.07 MBThe list of CXO titles is proliferating. The addition of chief culture officers, chief AI officers, chief data officers, chief wellness officers, chief diversity officers, chief learning officers, chief experience officers...the list goes on...has increased the size of C-suites across industries. There is strong evidence that larger executive teams can be less efficient than smaller ones. They result in increased complexity and bureaucracy, communication and coordination challenges, reduced ...
FIR #388: Watch Me Get Fired
February 26, 2024 09:00 - 1 hour - 37.1 MBGenZers are recording their firings and layoffs, and the videos are going viral on TikTok and elsewhere. This is shining a harsh spotlight on organizations' approach to letting people go, and it's not pretty. What's worse is how some companies plot to avoid being subjects of these videos. Also, in this episode: Bluesky has taken its first big steps into the fediverse as two protocols battle it out for supremacy in the 21st century of the VHS-Betamax wars, but there may be alternatives in pl...
FIR #387: Sentiment Analysis, Risk Mitigation, or Big Brother Surveillance?
February 21, 2024 18:48 - 16 minutes - 7.58 MBA long list of A-list companies from across the spectrum of industries have embraced Artificial Intelligence in a way that is raising eyebrows: monitoring employee emails and posts to messaging and collaboration services like Slack and Microsoft Teams. Privacy experts are raising red flags over the trend. When CNBC reached out to these companies about how they're using it, only two replied, suggesting the others would rather avoid public attention on disciplinary actions taken as a result of...
EPISODE #76: POPPULO WEBINAR REPLAY – UNLOCKING 2024 IC TRENDS
February 21, 2024 17:08 - 48 minutes - 55.1 MBLet's face it: The world of internal communications is anything but boring. If you're anything like us, the thrill of navigating through ever-changing landscapes -- like hybrid work, AI and channel management, to name a few -- is what gets you up in the morning. That's why we're diving into the big picture of what's shaking up our field and the cool trends that are shaping our work in 2024. In this episode, we’ll replay a Poppulo webinar, “Employee Trends for 2024,” featuring insights from ...
ALP 221: Avoiding time-wasting in your agency
February 19, 2024 14:00 - 21 minutes - 17.8 MBIn this episode, Chip and Gini discuss how to get your agency's time under control and offer advice on managing business development and project management to avoid the unnecessary and focus on real value creation. Continue Reading → The post ALP 221: Avoiding time-wasting in your agency appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.
Circle of Fellows #101: More IABC Fellows Share Their Best Insights and Advice
February 16, 2024 17:26 - 1 hour - 26.6 MBIn the 100th episode of “Circle of Fellows,” Brad Whitworth and Shel Holtz presented short video and narrative contributions from many Fellows of the International Association of Business Communicators, each of whom will present their best advice, most meaningful insight, useful observation, significant memory, or whatever they felt like sharing. The program of short Fellows contributions wraps up in episode 101 with more ideas, suggestions, recommendations, and guidance for communicators fr...
FIR #386: Is AI Too Generic A Label?
February 14, 2024 16:02 - 16 minutes - 7.67 MBIn a LinkedIn post, internal communications thought leader Monique Zytnik wonders if there is not enough specificity in the "AI" label. "It's like trying to have a conversation about different animals and only being able to use the word animal. One person is talking about lions and tigers 🦁and the other about cute chicks 🐣 but you're only using the word animal," she writes. In this short midweek episode, Neville and Shel tackle Monique's question and explore some real-world business uses of ...
More IABC Fellows Share Their Best Advice
February 14, 2024 15:36In the 100th episode of "Circle of Fellows," Brad Whitworth and Shel Holtz presented short video and narrative contributions from many Fellows of the International Association of Business Communicators, each of whom will present their best advice, most meaningful insight, useful observation, significant memory, or whatever they felt like sharing. The program of short Fellows contributions wraps up in episode 101 with more ideas, suggestions, recommendations, and guidance for communicators fr...
FIR #365: RyanAir’s Social Media Chief Doesn’t Leave Quietly
November 15, 2023 19:06 - 16 minutes - 7.49 MBRyanAir has a reputation: For the lowest airfares in Europe, you'll get where you're going with the bare minimum of service. The airline's social media accounts -- notably TikTok -- have done a brilliant, irreverent job of setting expectations for anyone planning to fly on RyanAir, which the social media manager's skills were first-rate. When he left the company -- reportedly because of its cultural shortcomings -- he abided by the 90-day quiet period, then applied his social media skills to...
#72: Introducing “in your corner”: Imposter Syndrome
November 14, 2023 13:56 - 12 minutes - 14.7 MBIntroducing “In Your Corner” In boxing, competitors head to their stools in the fighter’s corner for one-minute respites between rounds. They try to catch their breath, have cuts tended to and receive instruction from their trainers, or “cornermen.” A good cornerman builds relationships with their competitors; they are reliable, identify any changing variables and build strategies geared toward competitors’ strengths. As an avid fan of boxing, my aim is to provide similar guidance to coach...
ALP 211: What to do when your agency needs new revenue NOW
November 13, 2023 14:00 - 24 minutes - 20.3 MBMost small agencies at some point experience the sinking feeling of losing a whale client or seeing a sudden sharp reduction in revenue. Continue Reading → The post ALP 211: What to do when your agency needs new revenue NOW appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.
FIR Interview: Radina Russell on Edelman’s “Future of Corporate Communications” Study
November 09, 2023 16:11 - 27 minutes - 38.4 MBThe latest research report out of communication agency Edelman is rich with takeaways. The 2023 Corporate Communications Study follows a 2021 edition that explored the implications of the pandemic on the role of organizational communication. The report revealed that Chief Communication Officers (CCOs) now spend nearly 20 percent of their time counseling CEOs on issues unrelated to communication. That's just one sign that the CCO's stock has risen in organizations, with 91 percent of top comm...
CWC 96: Resiliency and remote teams in an agency (featuring Xaña Winans)
November 08, 2023 14:00 - 29 minutes - 23.7 MBXana Winans says that resiliency may be her supowerpower, and that's a characteristic many agency owners needed to tap into as the pandemic upset existing business structures. Continue Reading → The post CWC 96: Resiliency and remote teams in an agency (featuring Xaña Winans) appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.
How Communicators Can Give the Gift of Communication
November 06, 2023 17:35With the holiday season upon us, it is appropriate to talk about a gift communicators can give: the gift of communication. For several years, the day before the IABC World Conference begins, communicators spend a day with local nonprofits from the host city, providing their advice and recommendations to organizations that don't have the resources to employ or contract strategic communication counsel. The practice has spread to regions and chapters and beyond. In this live stream, four Fellow...
ALP 210: Real talk about agency websites
November 06, 2023 14:00 - 26 minutes - 21.4 MBIn this episode, Chip and Gini talk about what matters — and what doesn't — when it comes to your website design and content. Continue Reading → The post ALP 210: Real talk about agency websites appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.
FIR #364: Managers’ Most Important Communication Role
November 03, 2023 02:11 - 15 minutes - 7.02 MBInternal communicators have long known how important employees' immediate supervisors are to the communication process. Based on the results of a new study, communicators need to shift their focus. Managers still need to serve as a conduit of information in both directions, but there's an even more important role they play that communicators are best suited to help them learn and apply. Shel and Neville discuss the study and its implications for internal communications professionals in this ...
ALP 209: Chaos is not a virtue for agencies
October 30, 2023 13:00 - 22 minutes - 18.4 MBChaos is the sign of a problem that needs to be solved, not an acceptable condition that leaders and their teams should adapt to. Continue Reading → The post ALP 209: Chaos is not a virtue for agencies appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.
FIR #363: Is the Israel-Hamas War a Communications No-Win Situation?
October 30, 2023 10:00 - 1 hour - 37.8 MBA review of the trove of articles about how brands have addressed the conflict in the Middle East suggests that there is no way to satisfy everybody, even for brands that opt to say nothing at all. Neville and Shel explore the peril of speaking out, even as expectations continue for companies and their CEOs to address societal issues. Also in this monthly long-form episode: The closure of Pebble (formerly T2) has implications for the entire fractured social media ecosystem A global PR body...
FIR #362: Why Did Pebble Sink?
October 27, 2023 15:53 - 24 minutes - 10.8 MBT2 rebranded as Pebble because when tossed in water, pebbles create ripples (except in the song "Ripple," in which "there is no pebble tossed, nor wind to blow"). The microblogging social network created by former Twitter staffers never created enough ripples to sustain it. In this short midweek episode, Neville and Shel lament Pebble's passing, consider the reasons it is shutting down, and ponder what it means for the post-Twitter social media landscape. Continue Reading → The post FIR #36...
FIR #361: Is There A Seat At The Table in Corporate Communication’s Future?
October 25, 2023 16:17 - 14 minutes - 6.67 MBA new study from Edelman polled hundreds of Fortune 500 Chief Communication Officers about the future of corporate communications. The results include some surprises, including the scope of the CCO's role and what they're spending their time on. The study also addresses the old canard about the communicator's quest for a "seat at the table." Neville and Shel dig into the report in this short midweek episode. Continue Reading → The post FIR #361: Is There A Seat At The Table in Corporate Com...
ALP 208: The rising salary demands of agency employees
October 23, 2023 13:00 - 22 minutes - 18.5 MBIn this episode, Chip and Gini talk about why salary expectations are on the rise and what agencies can — and should — do about it. Continue Reading → The post ALP 208: The rising salary demands of agency employees appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.