The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson

No business or individual is immune to online attacks. If you want to be visible and a leader, it’s bound to happen. Groups of unsatisfied customers taking to Facebook to build a community to rise against you--warranted or not. What you need is an action plan so you can quickly respond to these online attacks professionally and appropriately. But unfortunately, too many business owners and leaders either respond defensively or don’t know enough about how social media works to protect themselves. On this week’s episode of the Confident Communications Podcast, I’m sharing with you: How to find groups that are targeting you online, and why you shouldn’t chime with a response in inside those groups Why you should never go into hiding when you’re being attacked online How to get your own message out there Where to respond to online attacks so you’re seen and heard This is also the topic of this month’s Confident Leader Network training. If you’re not already a member, find out how to join here and get monthly training modules, a live "Ask the Expert" call and access to the online course, "Calm the Critics: How to Protect Your Organization from the Newest Line of Attack - Online Activists."  Heard on the episode:  Episode 25: Why Major League Baseball Hits a Homerun Marketing to Fans Des Moines Register editorial on Carson King Want More Behind the Breakdown? Follow The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson on Substack for early access to podcast episodes, private member chats, weekly live sessions, and monthly workshops that go deeper than the mic. It is the inside hub for communicators who want real strategy, clear judgment, and a little side-eye where it counts.Follow Molly on Substack Subscribe to Molly's Weekly Newsletter  Need a Keynote Speaker? Drawing from real-world PR battles, Molly delivers the same engaging stories and hard-won crisis insights from the podcast to your live audience. Click here to book Molly for your next meeting. Follow & Connect with Molly:https://www.youtube.com/mollymcphersonhttps://mollymcpherson.substack.com/https://www.tiktok.com/@mollybmcphersonhttps://www.instagram.com/molly.mcpherson/...

Sorry, but here we go again.  Poor judgment turns up online, and someone now needs to apologize.  School photos of a high-profile politician wearing blackface surface online before an election and the masses call for a resignation.   A cast member on a popular television program is hired, then quickly fired for comments made on a podcast. Why do some people survive the PR crisis while others perish? The answer is in the apology.  Today on the Confident Communications Podcast, we’re going to look at the art of saying “I’m sorry” in the digital age, and what timing and framing have as much to do with the apology as the words themselves. Social media has changed everything, and the public apology is no exception.  Mentioned In This Episode Justin Trudeau EXCLUSIVE: Video shows Trudeau in blackface in 3rd instance of racist makeup (Global News)  Watch Sen. Al Franken's Talking Points & Apologies in Interview About Sexual Harassment Allegations (Video) Governor Ralph Northam Apologies for Racist Yearbook Photo Megyn Kelly Apologizes For Blackface Comments: ‘I was Wrong, And I Am Sorry’ | Megyn Kelly TODAY Why Sen. Al Franken’s Last-Ditch Television Interview Did Not Save His Job (Article: LinkedIn/MollyMcPhersWant More Behind the Breakdown? Follow The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson on Substack for early access to podcast episodes, private member chats, weekly live sessions, and monthly workshops that go deeper than the mic. It is the inside hub for communicators who want real strategy, clear judgment, and a little side-eye where it counts.Follow Molly on Substack Subscribe to Molly's Weekly Newsletter  Need a Keynote Speaker? Drawing from real-world PR battles, Molly delivers the same engaging stories and hard-won crisis insights from the podcast to your live audience. Click here to book Molly for your next meeting. Follow & Connect with Molly:https://www.youtube.com/mollymcphersonhttps://mollymcpherson.substack.com/https://www.tiktok.com/@mollybmcphersonhttps://www.instagram.com/molly.mcpherson/...

Leaders in business juggle communication challenges from all angles--their teams, the media and even their families. On the plus side, if we’re open and communicating, we’re able to choose the message that others hear. Unfortunately, that’s not always what happens in the real world.As this week’s guest, Scott Harvey, tells us, too many people aren’t good at actively listening. And in some cases for organizations, they don’t always communicate openly with the press -- much to their detriment.In this week’s episode of the Confident Communications Podcast, Scott shares tips on how to be a better listener and how to make sure your message is front and center (even if asked a question you don’t want to answer).In a departure from our typical episodes, I also asked Scott to talk about social media from our children’s perspectives. As parents, we want to make sure our kids are safe online and he shares some great tips for doing just that--so you can go back to being a leader at home and beyond.About Scott HarveyAfter 20 years in law enforcement and over ten years owning his own company, Scott has learned a lot about what makes people successful. From supervising officers as their Sargent to teaching thousands of D.A.R.E classes, and speaking professionally to over 100,000 people, Scott has honed his ability to teach these leadership skills to others. He is one of the most in-demand youth speakers in Kentucky, and does over 70 shows each year passing on what he has learned.About Molly Molly McPherson, M.S., APR, combines her knowledge of current communication practices with years of news and PR experience to help people become modern-age communicators in their industry and help to build crisis-proof businesses. From her work in the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the cruise line industry in Washington, D.C., Molly develops the right plans and messaging for clients to protect and build their reputations. Molly founded the Confident Leader Network and frequently speaks on crisis communications, public relations and social media.Listen + subscribe on Stitcher or Apple Podcasts.© Molly McPherson 2019Want More Behind the Breakdown? Follow The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson on Substack for early access to podcast episodes, private member chats, weekly live sessions, and monthly workshops that go deeper than the mic. It is the inside hub for communicators who want real strategy, clear judgment, and a little side-eye where it counts.Follow Molly on Substack Subscribe to Molly's Weekly Newsletter  Need a Keynote Speaker? Drawing from real-world PR battles, Molly delivers the same engaging stories and hard-won crisis insights from the podcast to your live audience. Click here to book Molly for your next meeting. Follow & Connect with Molly:https://www.youtube.com/mollymcphersonhttps://mollymcpherson.substack.com/https://www.tiktok.com/@mollybmcphersonhttps://www.instagram.com/molly.mcpherson/...

What were you doing 18 years ago this week, on September 11, 2001? If you’re like most people in my talks and workshops, you know exactly where you were, what you were doing and what you thought about first when you heard about the first plane crashing into the World Trade Center. But have you thought about how the way you find and react to the news has changed since that day? Today, we wouldn’t run to television stations to find the latest on breaking news; we’d grab our cell phones or laptops. Not only that, but the public now has a bigger voice in how news is disseminated--good or bad. Today on the Confident Communications Podcast, I’m sharing my own thoughts and reactions to the attacks. And I’m sharing why if you’re not changing with the times in your own reactions to big stories, you’re going to be left behind as a leader.   Mentioned In This Episode Live coverage of the Today Show - 9/11/01 (fast-forward to 1:46:30 for coverage) TECC 197: How to Confidently Communicate In-Person and Online for Engineers with Molly McPherson Episode 37: The JFK Jr. Plane Crash Stay Relevant in the 21st Century If you want to stay relevant in how you get and respond to breaking stories--both in your organization and out--be sure to download my Top 5 Rookie Mistakes guide.     About Molly Molly McPherson, M.S., APR, combines her knowledge of current communication practices with years of news and PR experience to help peopleWant More Behind the Breakdown? Follow The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson on Substack for early access to podcast episodes, private member chats, weekly live sessions, and monthly workshops that go deeper than the mic. It is the inside hub for communicators who want real strategy, clear judgment, and a little side-eye where it counts.Follow Molly on Substack Subscribe to Molly's Weekly Newsletter  Need a Keynote Speaker? Drawing from real-world PR battles, Molly delivers the same engaging stories and hard-won crisis insights from the podcast to your live audience. Click here to book Molly for your next meeting. Follow & Connect with Molly:https://www.youtube.com/mollymcphersonhttps://mollymcpherson.substack.com/https://www.tiktok.com/@mollybmcphersonhttps://www.instagram.com/molly.mcpherson/...

LinkedIn is for Leaders Facebook is a bit too young and social for business leaders, but with 252 million people logging in each month, LinkedIn is the place to be. If you know how to use it.  In this week’s episode of the Confident Communication Podcast, how to get started on LinkedIn and how to make sure your profile is working for you. It’s a professional social platform that can help you network with others in your industry, raise your visibility, share thought leadership and even help you take the next step in your career. Mentioned In This Episode Blush House Media About Molly Molly McPherson, M.S., APR, combines her knowledge of current communication practices with years of news and PR experience to help people become modern-age communicators in their industry and help to build crisis-proof businesses. From her work in the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the cruise line industry in Washington, D.C., Molly develops the right plans and messaging for clients to protect and build their reputations.   Listen + subscribe on Stitcher or Apple Podcasts.   © Molly McPherson 2019Want More Behind the Breakdown? Follow The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson on Substack for early access to podcast episodes, private member chats, weekly live sessions, and monthly workshops that go deeper than the mic. It is the inside hub for communicators who want real strategy, clear judgment, and a little side-eye where it counts.Follow Molly on Substack Subscribe to Molly's Weekly Newsletter  Need a Keynote Speaker? Drawing from real-world PR battles, Molly delivers the same engaging stories and hard-won crisis insights from the podcast to your live audience. Click here to book Molly for your next meeting. Follow & Connect with Molly:https://www.youtube.com/mollymcphersonhttps://mollymcpherson.substack.com/https://www.tiktok.com/@mollybmcphersonhttps://www.instagram.com/molly.mcpherson/...

Leaders want to be heard, but often leaving that message up to the news media bring stress and unease. In his new book, Gary Schneeberger hopes to reduce the acrimony toward news reporters and teach the secrets to being in control of the interview. We talk about this and more in this week’s episode of the Confident Communications Podcast. In the digital age, the news cycle has gone from 24 hours to 24 seconds (thank you, Twitter) and it’s bound to change even more as we move forward. We no longer rely on reporters to get our message out, but rather have more tools than ever to make an impact. Gary and I discuss how to get past news bias, why President Trump is a master communicator and why he gets to make up his own PR rules. It’s an interesting conversation and one that any leader today needs to listen in on. Mentioned in This Episode Bite the Dog: Build a PR Strategy to Make News That Matters About Gary Schneeberger Gary Schneeberger’s three decades in journalism and public relations fuel his passion for, and success in, strategic marketing and communications. As founder and president of ROAR, Schneeberger draws on his executive and executional experience in entertainment, ministry and media to help individuals and organizations engage audiences with the boldness and creative clarity that ensures they are heard.    He has advised Hollywood studios, television networks, global ministries and publishing houses, as well as counseled and created communications platforms for some of the biggest names in movies and TV and the most influential leaders in the faith community. Schneeberger also spent more than 15 years as an award-winning reporter and editor for daily newspapers across the country, including the Los Angeles Times.   About Molly Molly McPherson, M.S., APR, combines her knowleWant More Behind the Breakdown? Follow The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson on Substack for early access to podcast episodes, private member chats, weekly live sessions, and monthly workshops that go deeper than the mic. It is the inside hub for communicators who want real strategy, clear judgment, and a little side-eye where it counts.Follow Molly on Substack Subscribe to Molly's Weekly Newsletter  Need a Keynote Speaker? Drawing from real-world PR battles, Molly delivers the same engaging stories and hard-won crisis insights from the podcast to your live audience. Click here to book Molly for your next meeting. Follow & Connect with Molly:https://www.youtube.com/mollymcphersonhttps://mollymcpherson.substack.com/https://www.tiktok.com/@mollybmcphersonhttps://www.instagram.com/molly.mcpherson/...

Podcasts have become one of my favorite innovations in the 20th century. They’re easy to listen to on the go and offer both valuable information and entertainment. The downside? We have so many to choose from these days, it’s hard to know what to tune into. As a self-professed podcast junkie, I wanted to share with you some of my own favorite podcasts right now (aside from my own, of course!). Here’s my list, by category, so you can dive in and start enjoying some of your own. Business Podcasts So Money Social Media Marketing Smart Passive Income Online Marketing Made Easy Born to Write The Ops Authority Pop Culture Podcasts Serial Death, Sex and Money The Moth Mobituaries In the Limelight Crime Podcasts Criminal 48 Hours In the Dark Crime Junkies Scandal PodcaWant More Behind the Breakdown? Follow The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson on Substack for early access to podcast episodes, private member chats, weekly live sessions, and monthly workshops that go deeper than the mic. It is the inside hub for communicators who want real strategy, clear judgment, and a little side-eye where it counts.Follow Molly on Substack Subscribe to Molly's Weekly Newsletter  Need a Keynote Speaker? Drawing from real-world PR battles, Molly delivers the same engaging stories and hard-won crisis insights from the podcast to your live audience. Click here to book Molly for your next meeting. Follow & Connect with Molly:https://www.youtube.com/mollymcphersonhttps://mollymcpherson.substack.com/https://www.tiktok.com/@mollybmcphersonhttps://www.instagram.com/molly.mcpherson/...

We hear about authenticity all the time, but what does it mean and how can you use it as a leader? Actions speak louder than words and as a leader, you have people who look to you for information and guidance. Good leaders are authentic in their communication--what they say, how they say it and what they do. But that doesn’t mean that everyone likes them. In fact, often their authenticity repels others--and that can be a good thing when you’re trying to find the right team members or gain visibility for your business. On this week’s episode of the Confident Communications Podcast, I’m talking about authenticity in leadership and how to use your communication style to be more authentic in everything you do. Because the more authentic you are, the more people will trust you. And that trust is what will elevate you as a leader. Mentioned In This Episode Real World on MTV Time 100: The Most Influential People of 2019 Episode 2: How to Get a Handle on Filler Words in Your Vocabulary Episode 30: How to Nail Your Next Media Interview with Brad Phillips   Quotes for Social: Nonverbal communication speaks louder than the actual words you're speaking. Authentic people don’t change who they are to suit certain people About Molly Molly McPherson, M.S., APR, combines her knowledge of current communication practices with years of news and PR experience to help people become modern-age communicators in their industry and help to buWant More Behind the Breakdown? Follow The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson on Substack for early access to podcast episodes, private member chats, weekly live sessions, and monthly workshops that go deeper than the mic. It is the inside hub for communicators who want real strategy, clear judgment, and a little side-eye where it counts.Follow Molly on Substack Subscribe to Molly's Weekly Newsletter  Need a Keynote Speaker? Drawing from real-world PR battles, Molly delivers the same engaging stories and hard-won crisis insights from the podcast to your live audience. Click here to book Molly for your next meeting. Follow & Connect with Molly:https://www.youtube.com/mollymcphersonhttps://mollymcpherson.substack.com/https://www.tiktok.com/@mollybmcphersonhttps://www.instagram.com/molly.mcpherson/...

Communicating effectively and being authentic are two components in building not just fans (of you and your business) but superfans. And in today’s online world, securing the marketing real estate you need to attract the right people can be tricky. This week on the Confident Communications Podcast, I'm speaking with Pat Flynn, entrepreneur and host of the Smart Passive Income Podcast. He shares how he took the experience of getting laid off from his dream job and turned it into a business, which then morphed into where he is today. As a superfan of Pat myself, I’ll be the first to tell you that he is the real deal. I stumbled on his podcast by chance, started following him and quickly signed up for his podcast mastermind. If you want to learn the inner workers of the online entrepreneurial world, Pat’s your guy and his podcast and YouTube Channel are your guides.  In this episode, we talk about what differentiates a superfan from an average joe fan, where to focus your time and money to generate those superfans and how to encourage people who just “find” you to continue to follow you. And then, what do you do next? Mentioned in this episode:  Will It Fly?: How to Test Your Next Business Idea So You Don't Waste Your Time and Money by Pat Flynn Work with Coach Azul | Azul Terronnez Superfans: The Easy Way to Stand Out, Grow Your Tribe, and Build a Successful Business by Pat Flynn  1000 True Fans: Use Kevin Kelly's Simple Idea to Earn A Living Doing What You Love by Kevin Kelly   About Pat FlynnWant More Behind the Breakdown? Follow The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson on Substack for early access to podcast episodes, private member chats, weekly live sessions, and monthly workshops that go deeper than the mic. It is the inside hub for communicators who want real strategy, clear judgment, and a little side-eye where it counts.Follow Molly on Substack Subscribe to Molly's Weekly Newsletter  Need a Keynote Speaker? Drawing from real-world PR battles, Molly delivers the same engaging stories and hard-won crisis insights from the podcast to your live audience. Click here to book Molly for your next meeting. Follow & Connect with Molly:https://www.youtube.com/mollymcphersonhttps://mollymcpherson.substack.com/https://www.tiktok.com/@mollybmcphersonhttps://www.instagram.com/molly.mcpherson/...

Back in the day, press releases were typed up then mailed or faxed out to news organizations. Today, thankfully, we can toss the snail mail and fax machines and email them out. But because of the changes in technology, communications professionals need to change their methods if they want their news releases to get picked up by the media and published. How do you get the attention of the media outlets? That’s exactly what I cover on today’s episode of the Confident Communications Podcast. I’m giving you tips and tricks to get noticed while also maintaining the professionalism of your organization. As a bonus, you can also download my digital press release guide to keep handy. Grab it below. ">   About Molly Molly McPherson, M.S., APR, combines her knowledge of current communication practices with years of news and PR experience to help people become modern-age communicators in their industry and help to build crisis-proof businesses. From her work in the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the cruise line industry in Washington, D.C., Molly develops the right plans and messaging for clients to protect and build their reputations. Molly founded Confident Communications executive learning program and frequently speaks on crisis communications, public relations and social media.   © Molly McPherson 2019Want More Behind the Breakdown? Follow The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson on Substack for early access to podcast episodes, private member chats, weekly live sessions, and monthly workshops that go deeper than the mic. It is the inside hub for communicators who want real strategy, clear judgment, and a little side-eye where it counts.Follow Molly on Substack Subscribe to Molly's Weekly Newsletter  Need a Keynote Speaker? Drawing from real-world PR battles, Molly delivers the same engaging stories and hard-won crisis insights from the podcast to your live audience. Click here to book Molly for your next meeting. Follow & Connect with Molly:https://www.youtube.com/mollymcphersonhttps://mollymcpherson.substack.com/https://www.tiktok.com/@mollybmcphersonhttps://www.instagram.com/molly.mcpherson/...