The Public Relations Blog

Classic tactics and futuristic tech fuel growth

The classic concepts still hold water when it comes to getting your name in front of the eyes and into the minds of your audiences. Wearable technology offers opportunities for connecting with your audiences on a brand new level. In order to get where you want to be, make sure you – and your strategic partners – are thinking ahead.

As millions of business’ daily routines begin, there sometimes comes a turning point – a piece of news, a call from an old friend, an unexpected email – that shifts the trajectory for the entire day. That day came in September for the Cincinnati Bengals organization, an NFL team that made the decision to do something right. Since then, the team, its fans, the nation as a whole and, most importantly, one family in particular have taken notice.

The Bengals selected Devon Still, a defensive tackle, for activation from its practice squad to the playing team several weeks ago. While he is an exemplary athlete, he was activated in an inspiring gesture supported not only by his teammates, but by the Bengals’ front office, as well. Devon Still’s 4-year-old daughter Leah is battling stage 4 cancer (neuroblastoma). Her treatments are expensive and the time she spends in the hospital is daunting. To support Still and his family, the Bengals organization released Devon Stilljerseys for retail at $100 each, and is donating all purchase proceeds, in honor of Leah,to pediatric cancer care and research at Cincinnati’s Children’s Hospital – a brilliant idea which someone inside the organization (likely an experienced PR professional) must have known would result in an uptick in positive public perceptions.

This is one story about PR and small businesses. Read How small companies do PR and what big companies can learn from them, 5 Things big companies know about PR that small businesses can learn from them, What do small businesses spend on PR, and Why small businesses struggle with PR firms for more.

Why PR firms may want to avoid startups

Let me begin by saying that I am a fan of Mark Cuban. He’s an edgy and technology-savvy entrepreneur and investor who calls it like he sees it. The outspoken owner of the Dallas Mavericks has invested in a diverse portfolio of businesses, demonstrating a vast and resourceful knowledge base. A few years ago, supported by both his participation in and the success of the popular, entrepreneurial ABC show Shark Tank, Mr. Cuban released an interview about his “12 Rules for Startups.” These rules have surfaced on social media several times over the years due to increasing interest in entrepreneurism. As an entrepreneur and investor myself, I support many of the common-sense rules he shares – all except one which states that “startups should not hire PR firms.” 

If you’re not seeing measurable results, you might need a new PR agency

If you had an employee who started turning in shoddy work, didn’t communicate well and caused you to lose trust in his abilities, you would fire him. So, why would you accept such behavior from your PR agency?

By Jason Mudd, APR

Were you aware that last week was Measurement Week?

For most people outside the public relations profession, the term “measurement week” likely conjures visions of a kitchen gadget, ruler or possibly even the results of a weight loss challenge. However, for those in the biz, the International Association for Measurement and Evaluation of Communication’s Measurement Week provides our industry with a unique opportunity to pause and reflect on how public relations and related budgets have affected and can impact future business operations.

Don’t let your PR campaign fail before it begins

All in all, there is no quick, magic formula for determining a timeline for PR campaigns. Everything depends on your company, your goals and objectives and the scope of each component of the project. A PR campaign can last from a couple of months to a year or more.

Use PR to help you avoid common writing mistakes and get media attention

What do you think when you read a resume rife with errors? It’s probably unlikely that the candidate will be offered the position. If it’s really bad, you may even stop reading it altogether, regardless of the listed experience.

That’s the same feeling journalists experience when they receive poorly written documents from you. 

You have created a press/news release. It has been edited several times and vetted through all the proper channels. Now what?

Crafting a press releaseor pitch is only half the battle when it comes to attracting media attention and achieving positive news coverage. Where you send a press release is often more important than what you send. Use PR to help you make the right decision for maximum effect.

 Writing a press release is a sensitive issue. Public relations departments play a key role in the process and want to say something on press release content. The subject matter should sound professional and intelligent, and any information about the business partners should maintain their image. Writing a press release is not child’s play, nor is it a one-day task; it can take dozens of drafts to come out with a good press release. When you want to issue a press release from your company to the world, who should write it?

By Wendy Bulawa Agudelo

The blood-spattered Kent State University sweatshirt on sale from Urban Outfitters this week caught the nation’s attention. A seemingly simple, one-off product created a stir so large that it fueled widespread outrage across social media platforms (see the #urbanoutfitters trending topic) and the public all but demanded a complete boycott of the company. Urban Outfitters now sits amid a crisis, working around the clock to mitigate this situation while effectively responding to the onslaught of media attention – negative though it may be – that the popular clothing company is now receiving.