The Public Relations Blog

With today’s ever-changing landscape of technology, the shuttering of brick-and-mortar businesses and media outlets popping up or leaving the industry, many believe that print media is dead and, along with it, public relations. However, PR is far from dead.

For more information why you shouldn't hire an advertising firm to do PR, see The size of a PR department in an advertising firm

Don’t make the same mistake many companies make when it comes to PR.

One mistake that companies often make when hiring a public relations firm is hiring an ad agency that dabbles in PR. While this may seem like the best of both worlds, it’s far from it. Often, ad agencies that say they do PR end up recommending mostly advertising programs (at an additional cost) while you’re still paying a PR retainer. This can end up costing you more money than a PR campaign. Don’t fall prey to hiring an ad agency masquerading as PR professionals. It’s mistake #2 of the 15 mistakes companies make when hiring a PR firm.

Your all-in-one guide to understanding the role of public relations

Everyone is familiar with the term public relations. Most people can give their own interpretation of what it means. The Public Relations Society of America defines PR as a strategic communication process that builds mutually beneficial relationships between organizations and their publics.

3 ways to market your company’s speaker

Speaking engagements are a terrific way to increase your company’s visibility and enhance your reputation. Perhaps your company’s speaker is captivating and delivers presentations that are engaging and informative. When your speaker can get in front of an audience, you know the results will be positive for your company. However, your speaking engagements are few and far between, leaving you wondering: What is the best way to promote my company’s speaker?

How to maximize your partnerships with bloggers

Bloggers are the moving force of marketing. They spread the word about your brand and increase your traffic and leads. Long-term partnerships with bloggers will help you grow your business. How do you work with bloggers? What are the steps for success?

3 reasons why a public relations firm is your best choice

If you’re only focusing internally on social media posts and not studying outside trends in your industry, you’re missing out. Media monitoring is essential to your company’s positive image, and your news releases should be timely and applicable. If you’re considering an outside company for your media monitoring needs, think carefully before you make your choice.

There are many media intelligence companies that provide media monitoring and social media monitoring to help companies grow and build their brands. These companies use media intelligence to inform strategy, connect with your audience and measure success. These are all necessary tools, however, many of these companies are limited when it comes to helping your company succeed. A public relations firm is all-encompassing and puts your entire company’s needs at the forefront.

3 ways to increase your positive feedback

This past weekend, my husband and I purchased a new car after spending most of the summer visiting various dealerships and test-driving more than a dozen cars. After finalizing the paperwork, our salesman asked us to write a review on Yelp about our experience. Giddy from that new-car smell, my first inclination was, “Sure! I’ll write one.” He then added a request for a five-star review. Were we happy about our car-buying experience? Absolutely. Was this sales team and dealership top-notch? Certainly. Did I appreciate the aggressive solicitation of a five-star review on Yelp? Most definitely not.

Most companies recognize the connection between customer reviews and SEO rankings, which has resulted in many requesting reviews rather than allowing them to populate organically. So how can your company earn customer feedback that savvy review platforms (and complex algorithms) will perceive as genuine rather than solicited?

How to grow your brand successfully on Instagram

Instagram is one of the top social media platforms. It’s no surprise that it’s so popular; people like sharing photos. Most companies use Instagram to improve their brand awareness and generate likes and engagement that often leads to business growth.

Promoting your company on Instagram is rewarding and a lot of fun. However, there are some pitfalls. Here are seven major mistakes you should avoid on Instagram.

Overcome hiring a PR firm mistake #1

Hiring a public relations firm is an exciting time for most companies. However, sometimes, people get so enthusiastic about their product/service and story that they jump in headfirst without being fully prepared. In fact, Axia Public Relations considers hiring a PR firm too soon mistake #1 from our list of 15 mistakes companies make when hiring a PR firm.

Here are three situations where your company is hiring a PR firm too soon:

How to become a writer that readers will trust

Being a contributing editor is a highly rewarding way to build a journalism career and promote yourself as a thought-leader. This role has many benefits: It can help you to grow as a writer, connect you with many interesting and talented people in your niche and provide inspiration from other writers.

It takes work and determination to become a successful contributing editor – a source of information and knowledge in your niche that readers will trust and return to.

Focus on these three steps to become the best contributing editor in your industry.