The Public Relations Blog

Why you need both for successful PR campaigns

As a public relations professional, do you know the difference between strategies and tactics? Just like how many people incorrectly interchange the terms goals and objectives, they also confuse strategies and tactics. Everyone should understand and recognize the distinction between these important business terms.

Time is money, and a smart media strategy from PR will help you make the most of it

OK, you have 10 seconds to tell us all about your company, what is new and why we should care. Go.

In today’s always-connected, blink-and-you’ll-miss-something world, this 10-second window represents the new reality for selling your product. It’s also the new normal for attracting media attention. With help from public relations, you can learn to use your time wisely.

A common-sense guide on PR’s best ways to pitch news media via email

Getting your story ideas in front of journalists may seem like the equivalent of trying to open a safe with only one number of the combination. You’ve heard that most journalists prefer to be pitched via email, but your messages still don’t resonate. Maybe you’re doing it all wrong.

10 elements of a successful plan to help you reach your goals

According to well-known time management author Alan Lakein, “Planning is bringing the future into the present so that you can do something about it now.” You can apply this concept to many endeavors, including writing a PR plan. But how do you write a PR plan? More importantly, how do you write an effective and successful PR plan?

A crisis can happen to any business and the results can be devastating. Even something seemingly insignificant, like an off-the-cuff remark by a CEO or other top executive, can snowball into a major public relations nightmare. When it happens to your company, what can you do?

Here is a checklist your business can use to ensure you handle the problem in the most effective way.

Use a PR firm to manage social media the right way

You know you should make social media a bigger part of your customer engagement and outreach strategy, but you don’t believe you have the resources or manpower to handle it effectively. As a result, you might be considering hiring an intern to handle your company’s social media. After all, younger people are technologically savvy and always on social media anyway, right? Unfortunately, this decision would be a disservice to both your company and your bottom line.

Learn why both are important to your company’s image and bottom line

Your company’s reputation precedes you in every meeting, event and interaction with the public. It’s what consumers use to decide whether they can trust you and your product and if they should spend money with you.

You may think that a good reputation just happens; that if you are well behaved and don’t actively seek to do harm, people will notice. But this is not the case. It’s vital to manage your reputation – and do so ethically.

What are the pros and cons of this often misunderstood media relations tool?

Psst! I’ve got a dynamite story to tell and I’m only giving it to you. In return for being the first to hear it, I’m hoping you will make it a big deal and help me attract the attention of many people in my target audience because I think you are just the right media outlet to handle it. Okay?

This is the premise behind pitching exclusives to the media.

Fill up that trophy case with help from PR

You attend all those dinners and ceremonies only to watch other companies walk away with prestigious awards. Of course, your company and staff are doing great things, but how do you get recognized for them?

Getting an award for your company, whether inside or outside your industry, is a great way to increase visibility and improve your reputation. Use public relations tools and tactics to get more awards for your business.

4 ways your company can profit from winning an award

Has your company hired a number of new employees? Do you contribute to philanthropic endeavors? Do you have a great CEO or believe your company is a great place to work? It may be time to submit your company for an award.

Benefits

Many companies shy away from the idea of entering into award competitions because they think it’s too self-promotional and they worry the entry might be too time-consuming. The benefits of entering and winning an award largely outweigh any reasons not to.