Take It Face To Face

So, it is my last day with FaceTime. It is a bittersweet day because as great as it has been working here and as sad as I am to leave, I am also excited to graduate and start the next chapter of my life.

I have learned a great deal about marketing and public relations while working here, and would like to take a minute and share that with all of you. It was nerve wracking calling journalists and pitching them ideas, but after the 20th time it wasn’t so bad. I enjoyed writing blogs, sharing my thoughts and inspiring people to question and think about my topics. Yes, press releases and media lists are not the most glamorous tasks, but they are important and I was happy to learn and contribute wherever I was needed.

I learned the ropes of how a marketing and PR firm function and formed great relationships with co-workers. It is nice working somewhere that is both task and relationship oriented, where the people work hard and still find time to chat about their lives.

FaceTime is a great place to work, filled with great people, who are smart and kind. I hope that wherever my life takes me, I end up in an environment similar to this one.

How are all of your work environments? Are there things you would change, or things that you wouldn’t want to do without?

Somewhere along the way, I must’ve missed something. Britney Spears…Isn’t she that chick who had a bunch of hits back in the 90s? I’m pretty sure I remember her having a shotgun wedding or two, flashing countless photographers, getting slapped with child neglect accusations and losing any shred of dignity she might have ever possessed.

So what on Earth is she doing performing at the Verizon Center tonight? And even worse, why are half of the people I know going?

I understand that celebrities are people too. They make mistakes, and they hire PR people to tidy up after them. But I wish someone would explain to me this secret formula the public seems to use for which fallen stars they will and won’t forgive.

Just think about it. A few off the cuff examples whose logic simply eludes me:

Michael Phelps: You probably know what I think of him. I don’t believe he has the tiniest shred of remorse. Forgiving him twice in a row for nearly identical indiscretions? Wrong answer.

Mariah Carey: She’s second only to the Beatles with Billboard number one hits. That’s more than Elvis. One mental breakdown and it’s kind of like she never existed. Do you think she could sell out the Verizon Center today? I’m no expert on the matter, but I tend to doubt it.

Rihanna: Five number one hits in less than three years. Her boyfriend, rapper Chris Brown, beats her senseless and according to survey of teenage girls, nearly 50% believe Rihanna is to blame. I realize teenage girls are not the greatest indicator of the general public, but universally Rihanna’s reputation seems to be tanking because of her perceived role in the incident, and her decision to stay in the relationship.

When it comes to lost reputations, Michael Jackson is one of the only disgraced celebrities that I think the public has responded to appropriately. After years of unnatural transformative surgeries and numerous allegations of child molestation, the former pop king is an incontrovertible pariah, the quintessence of a reputation gone horribly south.

But back to Britney Spears, the princess of the hour. Reputation-wise, she really needs to join Michael in the dog house. The fact that some think she has talent is just not a good enough excuse. Michael had talent too. Lots more of it. His greatest hits cd is in my car as we speak.

My point: talent only goes so far when it comes to trumping craziness. Britney Spears didn’t exactly write those songs. Whoever did should’ve handed them to someone else, because Britney stopped deserving your money and your attention when she shaved her head and started assaulting the paparazzi with umbrellas.

So why do you think Britney’s still around? What’s her secret? Tell us your thoughts.

For those of you who have been following my posts on FaceTime’s site, you’ll probably have noticed the trend. Aspiring food critic that I am, if I can find a way to talk about the food industry, I will. (Exhibit A, Exhibit B, Exhibit C, Exhibit D). Because it bears only minor relevance to my actual job, I imagine that pretty soon I’ll be banned from the subject altogether.

But even if it had come to that already, there’s no way I could nor would ever bypass the opportunity I’ve just been presented.  This time there’s an incentive wrapped up in it, beyond simply telling you fine people my opinion (not that I don’t enjoy that too).

Check this out: Dairy Queen announced on Wednesday, via its blog, a number of interesting things. In addition to filling in consumers in on the details of their new value menu, they made bloggers (and that means me!) a pretty sweet offer.

The first 250 bloggers to write a public post entailing “what sweet deal you’d make with [DQ] to try [their] Sweet Deals for free” will get a $5 gift certificate to Dairy Queen. Now, in my never ending quest for free food, this is a pretty exciting thing. The cherry on top of it all (Ah! Sorry. I try to stop the puns but they just keep coming) is that the author of the best and most creative blog post earns weekly free food for a year. Wow, I suddenly wish that I was better at thinking under pressure.

Now here I am typing away furiously, with the knowledge that two days have elapsed since this information went public and I probably have an icecream cone’s chance in…whatever that this quota hasn’t been fulfilled yet.

What brought me to this link in the first place was actually a poll on PR Week’s website asking visitors whether they thought that this campaign was brilliant or simply shameless. Good question.

By virtue of the fact that I’m participating, I think you have my answer. The cost-effectiveness of this idea in comparison with its potential reach? So worthwhile.

In the ever-growing good/evil dichotomy of restaurants presented in my posts, Dairy Queen goes, without question, on the side with Denny’s, Z-Burger and other generally awesome venues when it comes to their marketing successes. And in truth, they’re not exactly buying my accolades here, just assurance that I’ll mention them at all.

So here’s where honesty sets in: I can’t remember the last time I ate at a Dairy Queen. Must’ve been more than a decade. I must also admit that I find it kind of bizarre that the place serves hamburgers and fries. I think they should probably go back and have a long, hard look at their mission statement. But that’s a discussion for another time.

Back to the issue at hand: What sweet deal would I, Abby Horowitz, make with Dairy Queen to try their Sweet Deals for free? Would I shave my head? Mmm. No. Would I tattoo my person? Absolutely not. Name my first two children Dairy and Queen? Maybe.

Think, think, think.

Got it.

For the opportunity to try Dairy Queen’s Sweet Deals for free, I would drop all the important things I’m doing at work; I would, by doing so, put my job on the line (this is an exaggeration, but go with it for dramatic effect); I would risk eliciting a frosty, disproving stare from my boss (also not terribly likely, but still possible); Simultaneously, I would write Dairy Queen a blog post. It doesn’t sound like much, I know, but my future children sure appreciate it.

Earlier this month, I wrote a blog post discussing the merit of free food giveaways at restaurants. At the time, I concluded that these promotions, though initially costly for the venue, are ultimately beneficial because of the positive publicity they invite.

Though I still agree with this statement, I’d like to issue an addendum. A word to the restaurateur considering this sort of campaign: if you say you’re going to give something away, you actually have to do it.

Spotlight on Quiznos, whose reputation (in the eyes of at least six people I know) has just gone completely down the drain.

Earlier this week, the nationwide sub franchise began the Million Sub Giveaway, a campaign that is deceptive both in name and concept. Those interested in the deal were asked to sign up through Quiznos website, and soon after received a personalized coupon by email.

The trouble started when it came time for redeeming these coupons. During my visit, the woman behind the counter informed us, with no further explanation, that her location would not be accepting the coupons. All five people waiting in line (most of who had been planning on spending money) promptly left the store.

One holdout location would be a minor frustration, surely, but this was only the tip of the iceberg. A pair of my friends, eager to redeem their coupons, visited two more locations in Washington, DC only to be turned away yet again.

One store expressed the sentiment that they would no longer make good on their promise of a free sub because felt they had given away too many. Yes. 1,000,000 is a lot. Wasn’t that kind of the idea?

The fine print on the coupon, to be expected, states that it is, “valid only at participating locations.” Well fine, what might those locations be? When IHOP gave away a free short stack this week, its website clearly indicated the small number of locations nationwide at which the offer did not apply.

Remembering this, I scoured the Quiznos website for some indicator. None. I sent an email inquiry. No response.

Today, the counter on Quiznos website proudly reads, “WE’VE REACHED 1 MILLION!” If by 1 million, they’re referring to 1 million useless coupons, then yes, I suppose they have. I would be interested to see figures on how many coupons were actually redeemed, but I’m sure I never will.

It pains me to think of all the good publicity Quiznos received by virtue of this deception. But at the same time, I’m sure public opinion will align more with the company’s actions than with its words. My friend Lindsay summed up the impact of this campaign rather well when she said, “I was completely indifferent to [Quiznos] before, but now I actively hate them.”

Were you able to redeem your coupon? Anyone? Anyone at all? Do you think Quiznos’ public image was improved or damaged by this campaign?

Earlier this week, when a British tabloid released a photograph taken late last year of Michael Phelps smoking marijuana, his reputation instantly went up in *ahem* smoke. Or did it?

Here we have a 14 time Olympic gold medalist and cultural icon in the midst of a substance abuse scandal, and not even his first. In 2004, a 19-year-old Phelps was arrested for driving under the influence and vowed that this offense was uncharacteristic and would not happen again. He saved some serious face after the DUI by speaking to kids about the dangers of drugs and alcohol.

And the response this time around was much the same. Phelps’ representatives have declared that the swimmer, “feels bad he let anyone down,” and that, “he intends to work hard to regain everyone’s trust.”

Would Americans really give him a third chance? One online poll indicated that 54% of participants no longer view Phelps as a positive role model for kids, and 52% of respondents believe this scandal tarnishes his legacy. On that same vein, following the release of the photograph, Kellogg announced it would not renew Phelps’ endorsement.

Despite what seems pretty bleak on the surface, other signs indicate the possibility that Phelps could pull off a comeback of Britney Spears proportions. After all, Speedo, Visa, Omega and nearly all of Phelps’ other sponsors have vowed to stand behind him.

To Phelps’ credit (or his PR rep’s anyway), he hasn’t tried to deny it. And that, if anything, might be his saving grace. Can he rally in spite of it all, or is he doomed to the same fate as Michael and OJ?

How did the photo change your opinion of Michael Phelps? Tell us your thoughts.