The Public Relations Blog

Whether it’s the TV remote or your computer mouse, our society now runs on a “give it to me now or I’ll click you” model of communication. What is PR? Sometimes it's the power of a click.

With similar companies selling similar products at similar prices to similar target audiences, there is only one critical element that differentiates one company from another — and that’s great customer service. Defining great service and implementing a service philosophy can be as lengthy as “War and Peace” or as short as one word, like “Wow.”

Here’s how one simple marketing mistake unraveled into a 30-day public relations and sales nightmare for Starbucks, all because of one simple e-mail blunder:

• Unfortunately, there is no University of Great Service, so where does one go to learn about great service, and how it should be implemented?
• Take a trip to Nordstrom, purchase something and ask them to ship it to China! Or, visit The Palm or Morton’s or any other fine-dining restaurant and experience the royalty-like service that makes you feel as if you’re the only guest who counts in the restaurant.
• In order to give great service, one must experience it first.
• How would your customers grade your establishment on service?

Great PR: Seven Ways to “Own” Your Customers — No Matter What Size Your Business

Have you ever wondered how often you need to update social media – your company's Facebook page, for example – or when is the best time to tweet or post a link on Twitter?

What "Public Relations Agency of Record" Means for Your Business:

Although no formal definition exists of what an agency of record (AOR) agreement consists of, understanding and considering the various types of client/agency relationships that can fall under the term may have the potential to drastically alter the outcome of any PR campaign. In general, a public relations agency of record enters into an exclusive relationship with a client, which means the agency will refrain from doing business with competitors. In return, the client awards the agency exclusive rights to perform all activities related to PR and communications. This last “requirement,” however, may be adjusted to allow for the inclusion of other PR firms with the understanding that the AOR retains the lion’s share of work. More of a “preferred agency” than an AOR, this circumstance can sometimes arise due to the increasing influence of new digital/social channels, where one agency may not be capable of effectively performing in one or more of these new emerging practices.

PR Tip:

Each January, we here at Axia Public Relations suggest a theme on which to focus your business activities for the coming months. This year’s theme is “the year to risk.”

If you're a journalist, there's at least one thing worse than an empty