The Public Relations Blog

1. OpenAI unveils new chat
2. PR blunder: Starbucks blames customers 
3. Bumble blunders with anti-celibacy ad
4. Social media updates to watch
5. 60-second close: Reaching peaks and avoiding PR pitfalls

Harnessing the psychology of social validation.

Social proof refers to the psychological phenomenon where people look to the behavior and actions of others to help guide their own behavior and attitudes.

In public relations, building social proof can be key to driving interest, establishing credibility, and prompting action from target audiences. When it comes to influencing public perception and attitudes, social proof is one of the most potent tools available. 

There are 10 elements of news and newsworthiness, but two outshine the rest.

When it comes to determining whether a story is considered newsworthy, there are many factors journalists and editors evaluate. However, at the core, many argue that newsworthiness ultimately comes down to just two key elements: geography/proximity and subject matter relevance.

A step-by-step guide to amplify your earned media coverage to reach a wider audience.

Securing a story in a priority outlet or being featured on TV is a huge win, but many business leaders make the mistake of thinking publication is the final step, when really there are several steps after earning media coverage to see the highest return on investment.

The press release will need a compelling narrative to secure valuable press attention.

You did it — your hard work has paid off and your company won a prestigious award! This recognition is an accomplishment worth celebrating, and with some strategic planning you can use the company’s achievement to generate significant buzz and boost reputation. The press release is a powerful tool to achieve this.

Follow these seven tips to craft a compelling press release that will make news outlets excited to cover your achievement. 

Use these strategies to slice, dice, and personalize your company’s media segments.

Pitching journalists can seem chance-oriented, like throwing spaghetti against a wall to see what sticks. To boost your opportunity for success, you need an organized system for keeping track of media contacts and targeting pitches. The key is to segment your lists into smaller groups with shared interests. Here are smart ways to slice and dice your lists for better pitching results.

Here are the key takeaways, tips, and trends from analyzing media pitches to improve your company’s outreach.

An extensive analysis of over 14 million pitches sent to journalists over the past year reveals several noteworthy trends and best practices that PR professionals should know. By understanding when and how reporters prefer to be pitched, you can refine your own media outreach strategy for greater success. 

Industry professionals should stop using these two words interchangeably.

A “communications strategy” or a “communication strategy.”  Your company’s “corporate communications department” or “corporate communication department.” 

It’s all the same, isn’t it? Not exactly.

Editor’s note: This article was produced using automated technology and then edited and verified for accuracy by a member of Axia Public Relations’ editorial team. 

As technology continues to evolve, PR agencies should look for ways to stay ahead of the curve. Artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly popular and accessible, and we’ve seen industries adopt and adapt to the new technology — and public relations is no exception.

AI can assist PR agencies in several ways, from improving media monitoring to creating more targeted campaigns. Let’s explore six ways PR agencies can start using AI to streamline tasks and optimize best practices.

Consider these best practices and industry examples to weave newsjacking into your PR strategy.

If you caught our blog post about newsjacking and how it can increase your visibility and boost sales, you might have been left wondering exactly how to get started putting this tactic into practice. We’re back with more on how you can find the right stories for newsjacking and examples of how to execute this in the media.

Here are a few angles to begin identifying newsjacking opportunities.