By Carl Carter, APR Your mama was right. That time she told you to be kind, it was good advice. When she said your words would come back to haunt you, she was right about that too. Words matter. In the last couple of days, we’ve seen hasty words, bullying words and obscene insults backfire […]
Two lessons from the Alabama governor’s disastrous press conference
Conventional PR wisdom says you answer charges when attacked. And when you’re a public figure in trouble, you hold a press conference and get all the bad news out so that the story doesn’t drag on. Alabama Governor Robert Bentley showed us yesterday why conventional wisdom is sometimes wrong. The governor, who was in hot […]
Media getting your story wrong? Four things you’re doing wrong.
By Carl Carter, APR, AMM When folks hear what I do for a living, they nearly always complain that they’ve been mistreated by the media But when it happens to you, it’s usually your own fault. Here are four common common complaints, and they’re all things you can avoid. They wrote about the least important […]
Plagiarize your way to success
After being immersed in this digital world for many years I’ve determined that plagiarism is a legitimate career path. Even some of the top “gurus” have built their brands by stealing crap. Nobody seems to notice or care. Enough evidence has accumulated to declare that this a viable way to succeed. Sometimes I have to […]
Nobody wins a fight: The relationship comes first
This article was originally published in Auctioneer Magazine, April 2014. Used by permission of the National Auctioneers Association. By Carl Carter, APR Let’s talk about “that seller.” The one who nitpicks everything you do and micromanages the marketing campaign for his upcoming auction. Or “that bidder.” The one who shows up without meeting the requirements to […]
Maybe you don’t need to do ‘something big.’ Maybe you need to do several things better.
Originally published in Auctioneer Magazine March 2014. Used by permission. By Carl Carter, APR You got stung. You lost a big deal you would have sworn was in the bag. Or you’ve watched in frustration as a competitor has racked up a series of big auctions while your own pipeline seems clogged. You have to […]
Avoid the ‘Good Times Trap’ by getting out of your comfort zone now
This column was published in Auctioneer Magazine. Used by permission. By Carl Carter, APR Once in a while – if you work hard and have a little luck – magic happens. You get into a profitable market niche early. You establish the right contacts, hold a string of great auctions, and gain a reputation as […]
Don’t be uniquely, beautifully ordinary! Tell us what you’re actually selling
Note: This is adapted for more general audiences from an article originally written for Auctioneer Magazine. Here’s the published version, which is more targeted to auctioneers. By Carl Carter, APR One of the quickest ways to get me in a foul mood is to hand me a copywriting assignment and tell me to “add the […]
Advertising wisely starts with the right questions
I’ve been obsessed for years with understanding how we consume types of media – what’s going on in people’s lives, environment, and heads when they read, watch or listen to the things we write, produce, record, create, publish and whatnot. How do our eyes move when we the page of a book, newspaper or magazine? […]
How to get the media to cover your next auction
This ran in Auctioneer Magazine, September 2013. Used by permission. PDF of article as it appeared. By Carl Carter, APR Good news coverage about your upcoming auction can give your business a welcome boost. But it usually doesn’t just happen by itself. Here are a few things you can do to encourage media coverage without […]
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