Fri, 02/18/2011 - 16:01 — myrnag

 

 (P-O-P-S) People respond to humor and a smile so your tone in syndicated articles publicity is sometimes as important as the information offered. Just back from Martha’s Vineyard and the truth is the only sign I remember on the Island which is a marketer’s haven was at South Beach: “Ten days and counting since the last known shark attack.” They were just kidding, but everybody stopped to read the post and query further. The idea of lightening up when you are trying to run a business is not always easy to enact. Still, according to Myrna Greenhut, president of Points of Persuasion Syndicate, this approach has a lot of positive implications.
Considering that today’s consumer willingly tells companies what he wants and likes, and expects companies to respond to his input, listening has become a key step in your public relations strategy. But learning to bounce not break when responding to criticism is the next step—and exhibiting humor and charm in that instance is not just refreshing—but usually viral.
When someone made Twitter fun of British Petroleum’s lack of response to the Gulf oil spill, they got the immediate attention that BP should have had they handled the crisis correctly. Old Spice’s Mustafa egotistically engaging with his audience on a one on one response rocked the Internet, the television and traditional media too, increased sales, not to mention stimulating a Hollywood career for the man behind the character. One review of the Reebok sneaker that promises to tone your butt I thought was brilliant, noteworthy and perhaps even better than the commercial it described. Still, the majority of female voices on the Internet thought the whole campaign somewhat offensive. If I could find that original review, I’d throw it out for your opinion. But that is not the point.
You can give good advice and respond to your customer with a smile and an open mind. You can be human, admit mistakes and still be revered for your hard work and easy spirit. You do not have to operate like a flake blowing all criticism aside and marching on when everyone is calling you out for your ideas. 
As a Hubspot blog post (Jan. 14, 2010) suggested: “…People read blogs for resources and insights, but no one will hate having fun while doing some serious learning.” Four out of their ten best-read posts in 2009 were humor slanted.
Like any standup, sometimes you win and sometimes the response falls flat. But being yourself is infinitely more appealing in the long run, so do not lose your sense of humor over a single blip.