ECD talking head needed
What follows are some thoughts to myself that I wrote earlier this summer after a frustrating morning of witnessing energy chit chat / gossip / double speak on the news shows. The thoughts still pertain, although after seeing the PR ad by Michigan Economic Development Corporation featuring Cobasys, I felt perhaps this will lead/inspire a breakthrough regarding sustainable energy PR. Anyway, be gentle in your
reviews, it comes from deep inside my heart but may best be said by someone more articulate in these matters.
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Have been watching the news shows and various ‘talking heads’ on energy issues and getting very frustrated. Where is solar power and wind power and all the other sustainable powers in these conversations? Where is our ‘talking head’ ??? There is a lot going on with sustainable energy. Who is speaking up for us in these ‘debates’?
The only time I recall that there has been some peek through the media keyhole as to what really is going on was courtesy of PBS [e.g., Scientific Frontiers, May 19, 2004 pbs.org Web feature, “Meet the Ovshinskys” pbs.org ]. Now and then others give it a try, but they seem to be giving old, or at best, incomplete facts, such as how many miles an [Ovonics] car battery can really do on a charge.
This is prime time for sustainable energy corporations to get their heads out of the lab and make contact with their future consumers. They need to become part of the equation. They need some professional PR, like GE, Exxon, and other big boys have. Trying to work the system is good and necessary, but most likely the biggest, fastest success will come from direct consumer wooing. They need a “shock and awe”some strategy.
To start with, they need to make known that they exist. Like the big boys, they need to do some ads, with feel good, happy, sound bites. Nothing too heavy, don’t go on and on. People are busy, tired, overwhelmed, worried. They know there is a problem. They want answers. Ovonics has answers. We need to use Madison Avenue techniques to represent, we’re here and we’re ready. GE has the lingo, “We bring good things to life.” Ovonics could be, “We bring life to good things.” or “Energy solutions for a sustainable planet,” or “Clean energy for a bright future.” Something snappy, something that brings Ovonics and “the answer” to mind immediately. Something that rings of security, of real possibilities, of brilliance.
We need to get in the conversation. We need ‘talking heads’ at all these news programs. Find them. Find ways to get them incorporated. If we can’t, we need to make a place … do infomercials … do ads in consumer, news, and women’s magazines … do ads in news papers … do Internet ads, blogs, ipod audios/videos. Sponsor and co-sponsor school activities, public good activities, sports events, Olympics .. whatever is important to our future consumers that does not conflict with our goals and ethics.
We need to get started. The race for the consumer heart has started. Ovonics and other sustainable energy entities must seize the day, or they will fade into the oblivion, again. |
