Flack

Flack is a Substack focused on innovative communication strategies for startups and brands in the digital age. It covers adapting traditional PR, crisis management, leveraging social media virality, and engaging with media effectively. It emphasizes authenticity, strategic messaging, and audience engagement to build strong communities and brand loyalty.

Communication Strategies Public Relations Crisis Management Social Media and Virality Media Engagement Brand and Community Building

The hottest Substack posts of Flack

And their main takeaways

The 5 ingredients of a great fundraising announcement

648 implied HN points • 23 Aug 23

A successful fundraising announcement includes objectives, audience, message, execution, and validation.
Focus your announcement message on accomplishments, plans, and what matters to employees and customers.
When executing a fundraising announcement, share the message authentically, handle leaks intelligently, and seek validation from others.

Welcome to Flack

2574 implied HN points • 31 Jul 22

Effective communication is crucial for startups
Traditional PR methods may not be effective in today's world
Adapting and experimenting with communication strategies is important

How to go viral: Barbie’s billion dollar meme machine

628 implied HN points • 09 Aug 23

💼 Business Marketing Audience engagement Competition

Barbie's viral success was driven by memes, not traditional marketing.
Creating meme-worthy content involves embracing absurdity, evoking emotions, and sparking debate.
Involve your audience in your content by allowing self-expression, connecting with their opinions, style, or experiences, and forming a tribe.

Did bad PR sink CNN's CEO?

746 implied HN points • 09 Jun 23

💼 Business PR Crisis Management Media Coverage Communication Strategies Leadership

Bad press can accelerate the downfall of a company or CEO if the foundation is already unstable.
A negative media narrative can be more damaging than simply sharing new information.
Internal criticism, vivid details, media obsession, big names, and puns can amplify the impact of bad press.

"Please just take the checkmark away!" How Twitter devalued a status symbol

805 implied HN points • 06 Apr 23

💼 Business Marketing Branding Communication Strategy Product Development

Twitter Blue faced backlash for being seen as inferior
Positioning a product as a luxury item requires strategic messaging
Marketing a mass-market product needs a different approach than luxury goods

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Flack's crisis communications playbook

746 implied HN points • 14 Mar 23

💼 Business Communications Crisis Management Leadership Team Building Public Relations

Have a crisis communications plan in place before you need it
Establish clear roles and responsibilities for key executives ahead of time
Prioritize people, accuracy, transparency, speed, and focus in crisis communications

Build your fanbase using the K-pop method

1277 implied HN points • 29 Sep 22

Build a fanbase by removing barriers to entry and making it inclusive for everyone.
Spotlight individuals within the group to help fans connect on a personal level.
Connect fandom to community and identity, creating a sense of belonging and shared loyalty.

Press so bad it's good

1238 implied HN points • 10 Aug 22

Hit pieces can backfire and work to your advantage by strengthening your brand and community
Horseshoe theory of media coverage: good press is good, bad press is bad, extremes converge
When facing a hit piece, address it internally with humor, activate third-party supporters, and fight on your turf

Comms Foundation #1: Strategy

982 implied HN points • 23 Aug 22

Having a clear strategy is crucial for effective communications.
Make sure your communications always serve a business purpose to create value.
Craft a strategy based on 'ends, ways, and means' to achieve your goals effectively.

Talking to reporters: on the record vs. off the record vs. on background

589 implied HN points • 22 Nov 22

Always clarify ground rules before speaking with reporters.
On the record means your words can be quoted and attributed to you.
Off the record means what you share cannot be used by the reporter, but there are risks.

FTX's 7-part media playbook, and what it can teach other founders

530 implied HN points • 30 Nov 22

Ditch corporate speak, tell an interesting story with personality
Don't use money to compromise reporters, build influence ethically
Stay on the offense with constant content, shape your brand authentically