THE CLIMBER  

As co-founder and managing partner of Peppercomm, Steve Cody is responsible for overall agency direction and management, new business development, new product development and agency marketing. Since co-founding the agency in 1995, he has been instrumental in Peppercomm's rise from a two-person start-up to its current position as one of the nation's best-known mid-sized strategic communications firms. He is the author of What's Keeping Your Customers Up at Night? and also writes at the award-winning blog, RepManBlog.com@RepManCody


A Lesson in Crisis Communication From Beyonce

Need to manage a public relations crisis? Take a page from Beyonce, who put her critics to shame.  Read story

5 Customers You Should Fire

In 18 years of running my own business, I've found it's important to know when to turn the tables and fire a client. Here are those five times.  Read story

Office Dream Day: Rocket Fuel for Your Brain

Ditch the brainstorming meetings. Forget the annual off-site. Let me introduce you to Dream Day, my office's creative time for collectively scheming ways to ...  Read story

5 Tips for Rocking Your PR Around the Holidays

While your competitors are slowing down for the holiday season, here's why to ramp up your public relations--and five pro strategies for doing so.  Read story

How I Got My Office to Lose Weight

Let's face it: A healthy company is a productive company. And mine needed a boost. Here's how I created a friendly competition to get everyone thinking about...  Read story

5 Tips for Winning a Debate

You might not be on a national stage like Mitt Romney and President Obama, but you can take some cues from the pros. Here's how to win even the most casual d...  Read story

Write a Better Blog: 5 Tricks From a Veteran

No, a blog alone won't bring you new business. But it will give you a way to take part in the discussions that matter most to you--and your industry.  Read story

5 Things to Do While Everyone Else Is on Vacation

The world seems to slow down a little in August. But forget conventional wisdom: Use the dog days to your advantage.  Read story

5 PR Lessons From the Chick-fil-A Crisis

Embattled Chick-fil-A president Dan Cathy ignited controversy recently by opposing gay marriage. Here's what went wrong--and how you can avoid a PR disaster.  Read story

Turn Your Hobby Into Company Profits

I've practiced improv comedy and climbed ice formations. But I never thought that one of my hobbies would translate into a significant new revenue stream for...  Read story

My 'First Day' at Work

You've heard of job-swapping with, say, your receptionist. Been there, done that. I went through my company's employee training and learned even more.  Read story

Getting to the 'Ahhh' Moment With Customers

What's better than data to a marketer? Getting a true emotional response from your audience. Here are the questions you need to ask first.  Read story

Be Cool in Crisis: Lessons From the Secret Service Scandal

How a management team prepares for and manages a crisis is what sets a great business apart from a mediocre one. Here are a few steps key to PR success in th...  Read story

Confident? You Might be Making This Huge Mistake

A climber must make sure his strengths and weaknesses are perfectly aligned with the summit he's scaling. That's also true in business, which I learned the h...  Read story

Stop "Keeping Up With the Joneses"

When you hear a success story, it might seem natural to emulate it. But who wants to be a lemming? Stop copying and start innovating.  Read story

5 Signs You're Out of Touch With Your Audience

Are you relevant? (Are you sure?) Here are the top warning signs you may be alienating your customers.  Read story

Don't Be Like Goldman Sachs: 5 Ways

Regardless of what industry you're in, how can you make sure your company culture doesn't grow toxic over time?  Read story

5 Business Tips From the Campaign Trail

It's not all Super PACs and mudslinging. In fact, every business executive can learn valuable lessons from inside the Beltway and on the campaign trail.  Read story

7 Ways to Romance Your Clients

Forget the long-stemmed roses and tickets to Broadway plays. I've found smarter ways to woo my company's best clients.  Read story

Score Your First Big Account

To grow, your business needs to reel in the big fish. Here's how I transformed my tiny business into one of the best-known PR firms in the United States.  Read story

You Don't Know Jack About Public Relations

Think you're great at getting the word about your business out there to the world? Think again. Here's what you're getting wrong.  Read story

You Should Be on the Cover of a Magazine

Says who? Steve Cody shatters the illusions of countless CEOs by sharing some of the harsh realities of media relations.  Read story

What Does Your Company Look Like From the Outside?

Do you know how a client, prospect, potential hire, or member of the media really experiences your company? You need to find out now.  Read story

Swap Jobs With Your Receptionist

So, do yourself, and your business, a favor: Abandon the corner office and slip into the shoes of your receptionist for a day.  Read story

Do You Keep a Boomerang in Your Arsenal?

Treat your former employees well, and you can reap the rewards, including a profound difference in your company's culture.  Read story

Laughing All the Way to the Bank

Performing stand-up comedy made me a better presenter, and a better leader. But would it work for my team?  Read story

Why Nobody is Talking About Your Company

You're probably making these five classic public-relations mistakes. Here's how to stop sucking at publicizing your company.  Read story