The Public Relations Blog

Micro-influencers are more influential and more affordable, study finds.

Many businesses are quick to seek out brand influencers for their social media sites, thinking this is the best way to engage followers and grow interest in their products. But how effective are social media influencers? According to a new survey by Visual Objects, not very.

What gender-neutral communications look like

An integral part of public relations is respect: respect for your customers, your audience, and the community you serve. One of the simplest ways to show your respect is to use someone’s correct pronouns. Misgendering an individual not only shows your lack of interest, but it can deeply hurt the person you are referring to. 

So with that in mind, what does pronoun use look like in public relations?

The top two rules for correct article usage

When writing content for your company, you want to make sure all nine parts of speech are correct. The nine parts of speech are nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, pronouns, articles, prepositions, conjunctions, and interjections. Grammar errors as simple as using the wrong part of speech in a sentence make your company look unprofessional. Show you care about the content you publish by making sure even the smallest, most seemingly inconsequential parts of speech are used correctly. If your company’s writing is not of high-quality and prioritized, then buyers will infer the quality of your products and services is not a priority either.

Speaking of, what part of speech is commonly written incorrectly in public relations writing? Articles. Know the difference between “a,” “an,” and “the” with these two simple rules.

Know the different types of style guides news media outlets use

Your company just accomplished a major milestone, donated to charity, or expanded its footprint. Congratulations! Now you want to send a news/press release to get the news media’s attention you’ve earned. Before you do that, you’ll first want to make sure your news release is written in the media outlet’s preferred style. Otherwise, the newsroom may not use it.

And what is copy editing style, and how do you find out what the media outlets use?

Knowing inverted pyramid and the five Ws/H will set you up for success.

The first few sentences of your story are everything. They state the facts, set the mood, and grab your reader’s attention. When written correctly, they capture the heart and soul of your story and convince your reader why what you’re saying matters. When written incorrectly, the reader may leave your page, click on a new site, or possibly lose interest in your company’s work altogether. 

So what are these first few sentences, and how do you write them effectively?

From photography to sidebars, having multiple entry points only strengthens your story.

Telling an incredible story is only the first step to getting your audience interested. There are so many other factors that grab a reader’s attention and keep him or her engaged. These are called entry points because they are all elements that draw your audience in to learn more. Without these elements, your audience will leave the story just as quickly as they entered it, and your story will not have a lasting impact.

Tips and tricks to writing an eye-catching headline

Even in Pulitzer prize-winning articles, the story’s content is the last thing read. Headlines are almost always the first thing that catches a reader’s eye. They are the hook, the reason a reader chooses to dive into a story rather than keep scrolling. This makes headlines possibly the most important — yet undervalued — aspect of any story.

When your company writes PR materials, blog posts, or articles submitted for publication, you should explore what makes an effective headline. 

Although only a few words, correct quote attribution gives your story more clarity and credibility

So much of PR relies on effective communication, including quoting your executives, citing experts in the field, and crafting news releases. Getting the right quote is only half the battle. Once you know what you want to include, you need to make sure the attribution is correct. Without proper attribution, you can lose your audience’s trust.

Quote attribution can be tricky as each quote scenario adheres to unique rules. At Axia Public Relations, we follow the “Associated Press Stylebook’s” quote attribution policies. Be sure to check your own organization’s copy editing stylebook on quote attribution as some organizations have different guidelines. 

When it comes to media relations and corporate communications, PR pros should follow AP Style

Anytime you communicate with a client or customer, you make an impression on behalf of your company. You want to represent professionalism and quality of content, and your written communications are simple ways to do that.

Spelling and grammar mistakes make your company look unprofessional, sloppy, and uninterested. If you don’t ensure all your written communications are error-free, it looks like your company didn’t put forth the time and effort to produce its very best work. Clear, consistent copy editing improves your company’s corporate communications.