I am a fan of the TV show, The Good Wife, and even more so now that the talented Alan Cumming is a regular. Cumming plays Political PR maverick, Eli Gold.

Image by dimitrij via Flickr

In last night’s episode, Gold’s ex-wife came to him seeking help for a planned run for the Senate. As he does before agreeing to represent any political candidate, Gold had the firm’s investigator do a thorough investigation on his ex-wife. Uncovering information of a one-night affair with a relative of Bin Laden, Gold advised his ex-wife not to pursue a run for office.

In the US we have seen the impact that long buried secrets can have on political campaigns. From Watergate to Weinergate we have learned that the truth is not only out there, but these days can be tweeted and bookmarked!

Secrets are not the sole worry of politicians; skeletons in the closet can haunt any business or brand. Gold’s vetting practice is more than made-for-TV drama but a necessary part of Public Relations. Full disclosure is required in order to proactively assess and plan for anything that could damage your brand or hinder your PR efforts. The PR confessional is a sacred place where you can tell all and have an advocate that will work with you to minimize your risk.

Image by Rickydavid via Flickr

In the case of PR what we don’t know can truly hurt you. Costumes that hide your identity or skeletons that fall out of the closet are not only bad for your business but affect the job a PR pro can do for you.

So this Halloween as you plan your 2012 campaigns pick a pro that you can trust and make sure that you take off the mask and deal with them honestly.

Have you ever had to deal with a scandal or potential scandal? What lessons did you learn?

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I talk to many small business owners who are not familiar with how PR can work for their business. Some believe that PR is only for large corporations or those who want media attention. Earlier this year I gave a presentation that provides an overview of PR and tips for using it in your business. As we head into the  end of 2011, now is a great time to prepare to add PR to your 2012 toolkit. (Note: If the presentation does not load on the page for you click here to view.)

Do your 2012 plans include PR? Why or why  not?

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Ivory Soap has a new ad campaign When Dirt Changes.

The ad reads: When Dirt Changes Its Formula, So Will We, Pure and Simple. The ad does a nice job of positioning a long standing brand as relevant today even in the face of so many new soap products.

The Pure and Simple tagline resonated with me. Unlike Ivory, so many of us change the foundation of what we do to keep up with the bright and shiny objects that occupy our space. What if we approached our social media tactics with a pure and simple mindset? Or our marketing? What would happen if we focused less on gadgets and numbers and more on the pure and simple formula of building relationships?

Having a pure and simple formula does not limit you to a single approach but provides you with a foundation that can be applied consistently. While there are specific marketing and social media tactics that can and should be applied, your foundation should acknowledge that the formula for developing relationships with people remains unchanged.

We can over complicate when we focus more on tactics, gadgets and tools  than on people. The pure and simple approach keeps us on track and the focus on what is truly important.

I would love to hear your thoughts. Do you think pure and simple has a place in today’s world? How do you stay on track with your efforts?

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