The Public Relations Blog

3 ways your company can rise above the fray and maintain a positive image

According to the Knight Foundation, public trust in the media is at an all-time low. In a recent survey conducted with Gallup, the group dedicated to supporting quality journalism and engaging communities found some shocking facts. One surprising finding was that participants ranked newspaper and television news lowest, next to Congress, among major institutions they trust.

3 ways to bring your media relations efforts back to life with help from PR

Over the years, the business community has reported that many tools and concepts are “dead.” From press releases to polling, people are quick to declare the premature end of something that no longer seems to be working for them. One such device that has suffered this fate is the media kit. Is it really dead – or perhaps just misunderstood and misused?

4 tips to be sure you’re measuring your social media efforts correctly

Just because everyone is doing something wrong doesn’t make it right. This is especially true when it comes to measuring social media efforts for your company. With these tips, you can learn the correct way to measure and get the most out of your social media.

Ah, Twitter. It’s a repository for political musings, humorous quips and celebrity news. It provides a platform for solace and unity in times of tragedy as well as mean-spirited comments directed at enemies. While we forget most tweets moments after we read them, others, for some reason, are indelible, and people still share them even years later. Find out what makes an unforgettable tweet and how your company can take advantage of this knowledge to boost your visibility and profits.

Don’t let a lack of understanding cause you to miss out on the benefits of public relations for your company

Much of what people know about PR they base on misconceptions and the mistaken belief that PR is just a bunch of spin. When you separate myth from reality, you understand the actual value of PR and what it can do for your company.

Myths can be persistent, persuasive and potent. Breaking them down takes time. However, your company doesn’t have time. You must increase your market share and get a jump on the competition today. Getting rid of negative stereotypes and myths about PR will help you quickly move forward by taking advantage of all it has to offer.

3 important requirements that you must meet to have a Wiki page

In the effort to promote your company and build your brand, it’s vital to use every tool at your disposal. You may have noticed that many companies are achieving online success and recognition from Wikipedia, and you may wonder why your company isn’t listed. Perhaps more importantly, should it be?

Not too long ago, Wikipedia had a questionable reputation and often contained many factual errors. The reliability and trustworthiness of the site has improved significantly. Now, Wikipedia for business has become an effective part of marketing, branding and converting customers. However, getting your company listed on the site isn’t as easy as you might think. With help from a quality PR firm, you can learn how to take advantage of this site and use it as part of your overall outreach strategy.

Be the company that journalists want on their team to gain positive news coverage

You want to increase media coverage for your company, yet you’re afraid or reluctant to share specific details, such as sales, revenue, contract value, client names, costs, etc. Your fear is understandable, as you have to worry about maintaining an edge over your competitors and keeping control of your information. The media experts at Axia Public Relations have some sage advice for dealing with this conundrum: Get over it.

In every relationship, there has to be give and take, and media relations is no exception. If you want your company to receive great media coverage, you have to share. Cooperating with journalists is crucial for the success of your brand.

Recently, one of our clients made an impromptu business trip to do a news interview. Our client was the top expert on the subject of the interview, and this was an opportunity for him to be the spokesperson for a major news story. The interview went well, however, the reporter ultimately decided not to use it in the piece. This was quite a bummer – and a reminder that the news business is fickle and you shouldn’t take things personally when dealing with journalists.

A successful media interview provides a huge boost to your company’s reputation and brand. It’s a way to get your name in front of your target audience as a thought-leader in your field. You’re adding value to consumers’ lives without trying to sell your product. With so much at stake, it’s quite a letdown when things don’t go as expected or your interview gets dropped. Instead of vowing to never do another interview, learn why interviews sometimes get cut, how to handle it and why it may be an advantage in disguise.

It seems some companies never learn. They continue to create situations that become public relations disasters. No company is perfect, and we all goof up from time to time. The trick is to learn from your mistakes. Even better, learn from the mistakes of others to avoid making them in the first place. This year’s list of avoidable PR goofs, in no particular order, should be enough to keep your company out of trouble for a long time.

Why the distinctions matter to your company and bottom line

In some companies, public relations and marketing share the same space, with their goals and functions used interchangeably. At other companies, they’re separate, with different reporting structures and a constant battle for budget dollars between the two. Some organizations have one function reporting to the other. How does your company handle these disciplines and, more importantly, are you using them correctly?

This was just one of the topics at the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism’s highly anticipated 2017 Global Communications Study. How we structure and utilize PR and marketing is a major issue facing the PR industry and one your company must tackle to ensure you’re getting the maximum benefit and profitability.