Stakeholder and customer expectations have changed drastically in recent times, putting much pressure on businesses and brands to actively engage and communicate. It is now an expectation from stakeholders that businesses must operate with more accountability to the planet and people, besides making profits. This is not just true of regulators and investors, but also… Continue reading Sustainability and ESG: Enablers Of The Purpose-Driven Narrative
Early in my career, I once bought a $600 espresso machine thinking this and great snacks were the keys to employee retention and satisfaction. As a more seasoned leader, I cringe that I ever thought something so foolish. The truth is that in all areas of our lives, we are searching for greater happiness and… Continue reading Meaning and Purpose Fuel Attraction to Public Relations Jobs
The Covid-19 pandemic has undoubtedly left devastating effects on healthcare systems, businesses, and economies around the world. Many families lost their livelihoods and for some, even their loved ones. While the pandemic continues to hit many countries, it has also created an opportunity. This crisis has reaffirmed the importance for organisations and businesses to prioritise… Continue reading Leadership & Communication: Purpose Begins at Home
“Between saying and doing there is the sea,” says a well-known proverb. This quote can be applied to today’s brands as they are called to cross this sea and take their Corporate Social Responsibility strategy to a new level by developing brand activism strategies that mark the transition from storytelling to storydoing. What is brand… Continue reading From Brand Purpose to Brand Activism: Time to Act
The Covid-19 pandemic has undoubtedly disrupted the marketplace and accelerated the move towards digitization, which is now embraced even by traditional “brick and mortar” industries. Digital transformation is certainly the first imperative for businesses and brands to reimagine themselves for the new marketplace in this Covid-19 era. In fact, businesses, big or small (including mom… Continue reading Being Purpose Driven: The New Imperative to Reinventing Businesses Post Covid-19
The Covid-19 pandemic has undoubtedly disrupted the marketplace and accelerated the move towards digitization, which is now embraced even by traditional “brick and mortar” industries. Digital transformation is certainly the first imperative for businesses and brands to reimagine themselves for the new marketplace in this Covid-19 era. In fact, businesses, big or small (including mom… Continue reading Being Purpose Driven: The New Imperative to Reinventing Businesses Post Covid-19
In a world increasingly aware of The urgent need for environmental preservation and social responsibility, businesses and organizations are stepping up to implement pioneering initiatives that go beyond profit-making. Embracing Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles, these innovative projects are driving sustainable change and shaping a more conscientious future for industries worldwide. Let us explore… Continue reading The ESG Revolutionaries: Meet Five Innovators Building a Better Sustainable Future
Independent PR agencies usually seek membership in a regional or global PR network primarily because they want to expand their reach and do more business. And while PRGN members share several millions of dollars’ worth of business every year, it’s important to highlight that such business deals or referrals do not happen from one day… Continue reading The Value of a Global PR Network
Following a mixed year in 2023 marked by business challenges, geopolitical escalation and giant leaps in technology developments, 2024 will bring a spillover of all of these effects as well as fundamental questions on business and communications that companies, brands, and agency owners will have to work together to find new answers for. Technology is… Continue reading 2024 PR Predictions: Technology and Global Trends Pose Tough Questions for Comms Pros
While the vast landscape of social media provides a multitude of opportunities for your business to connect with its audience, publishing content without a clear strategy won’t capture the attention of the ones who truly matter to your business. Successfully leveraging social media to reach B2B decision-makers begins with identifying where they are most active… Continue reading How to Best Leverage Social Media to Reach B2B Decision-Makers
In the world of public relations and communications, having a seat at the table is essential, but who occupies that seat is equally critical. The active involvement of executive leaders and their understanding of the role of communication can significantly impact an organization’s brand reputation and success. By embracing storytelling, empowering executives, and implementing consistent… Continue reading Leadership Buy-In is Essential for PR and Communications Success
C-suite executives play a pivotal role in shaping an organization’s vision and strategy, and they rely on skilled communicators – such as their PR professionals or the chief communications officer – to translate their vision into impactful messaging to the organization and its stakeholders. This involves a careful balance of positioning the issues correctly, and… Continue reading Translating C-Suite Vision into Impactful Messaging
As 32nd President of the Public Relations Global Network, Andy See is also the first Asian president of one of the world’s largest networks of independent PR and communications agencies. A native of Malaysia and founder and principal partner of Perspective Strategies in Kuala Lumpur, Andy started his one-year service at PRGN’s Member Meeting and… Continue reading President Andy See: a Good to Great Story for Comms and PRGN Ahead
Until a few years ago, it was unthinkable for a brand to join and support a cause on purpose, because brands were expected to maintain neutrality and objectivity. It was a big No-No for brands to have an “opinion” on things like humans do, and corporate communications was restricted to announcements and figures on the… Continue reading What Brands Should Consider Before Joining Social Issues
We have seen so much change in recent years. The world has rapidly shifted towards digital, and Industry 4.0 is sweeping across value chains of most if not all economic sectors. The age of PR (or Public Relations) 4.0 has arrived together with the massive shift to digital and social. PR4.0 is more than just… Continue reading PR4.0 Has Arrived – Are You Ready For It?
For thousands of years, humankind has chronicled stories to learn from and teach others, and it is through the recounting of these stories that lessons have been passed down for generations. As a species, we have progressed greatly from those early days and technology has made way for more detailed representations of these lessons. While… Continue reading Storytelling: Four Tips to Succeed in 2023
The marketing AI revolution is in the early stages. In order to avoid getting left behind, communications professionals need to be aware of the artificial intelligence (AI) technologies that are available to them, determine which ones can have the greatest impact on their business and start putting them to use. What is marketing artificial intelligence?… Continue reading Revolutionizing PR and Marketing: How Artificial Intelligence is Changing the Game
Ethics and transparency, AI and innovations, ESG agenda and constant crisis mode – these are some of the key trends that will shape 2023 for brands and communicators, say PRGN’s leading global communications experts in our annual collection of PR predictions. As the end of the year approaches, PRGN is asking every December its member… Continue reading PR Predictions 2023: Tougher Markets, More Strategic Roles and New Opportunities Await Communicators
Hosting your own podcast — or pitching your leader as a guest on other podcasts — can be a very smart business decision. Podcasting accomplishes three important things. First, it heightens your visibility, allowing you to position both your leader and your organization as authoritative experts in your field. It’s also a great way… Continue reading What Your CEO Needs to Know About Podcasting
SINGAPORE/LONDON/NEW YORK – The Public Relations Global Network Executive Committee announced today the appointment of Joanne Chan, President and Founder of LBS Communications based in Hong Kong. Chan will replace Andy See Teong Leng of Perspective Strategies in Malaysia as the Asia-Pacific Regional Vice President of PRGN, one of the largest global networks of independent… Continue reading Joanne Chan Named Asia-Pacific Regional Vice President of The Public Relations Global Network
For the first time in three decades of bi-annual member meetings behind closed doors, the Public Relations Global Network is opening parts of its upcoming member agency conference in Singapore to external guests who can follow online the discussion of keynote speakers and PRGN experts on Oct. 12, 2022. Dubbed the “PRGN Asia Summit”, the… Continue reading Global Stagflation and Economic Recovery, Greenwashing vs. Sustainability, and Doing “Better Things” on the Agenda of PRGN Asia Summit
In 2019, I wrote a piece for Forbes called “Don’t Go Dark in a Downturn.” In the article, I shared how to leverage marketing and PR during enduring times, such as a recession. Luckily, the advice still held true for 2020 and beyond. Brands need marketing momentum to get through economic downturns – but it… Continue reading How to Pitch PR to C-Suite Leadership
It is without a doubt that businesses and brands need to reinvent and reimagine for the future marketplace. Today, the purpose agenda dominates discussions in boardrooms. Importantly, the ability to communicate our corporate purpose well is very rewarding as it helps build trust and solidify relationships with investors, customers, employees and other key stakeholders. In… Continue reading The Key to Building Winning Brands Today and Tomorrow
Over the past few years, companies have been ramping up their efforts to create a more sustainable planet. This includes everything from reducing waste at manufacturing plants, finding innovative ways to cut back on plastic use, and even devoting time to giving back to the community. In today’s market, many consumers go out of their… Continue reading Five Key Takeaways From Top Brands’ ESG Reports
The strongest PR tip I have to offer is neither glamorous nor original – but it has stood the test of time. Become a regular consumer of news. Make it a practice to read at least one daily newspaper every day. Regularly listen to news on the radio. I am an ardent fan of NPR. Watch… Continue reading An Overlooked and Undervalued PR Tip
One of the primary problems with ESG reporting is trust. Because there are no universal standards by which companies report their sustainability efforts, investors and stakeholders must rely on the word of the reporting company to a significant degree. New blockchain technologies, however, bring an added level of transparency, verifiable evidence, and therefore credibility, to… Continue reading Using Blockchain for ESG to Build Trust
What a year! After 2020 wiped out all the plans people, companies, organizations and governments had made for that year, 2021 continued to surprise us in both good and bad ways. Worldwide rollout of vaccination; bullish stock markets; tourists in space, former presidents sentenced for jail or banned from social media platforms; return of inflation;… Continue reading PR Predictions for 2022 from The Best Comms Pros around The Globe
Virtual meetings are now an indispensable companion. They have helped and are continuing to help many navigate through life in a pandemic. In March alone last year, there were more than 200 million daily meeting participants on Zoom, both free and paid. In this era of advanced technology, coupled with the onslaught of Covid-19, the… Continue reading Reduce Carbon Footprint in Your Daily Operations
Choosing the right NGO for a brand’s meaningful social project is a very important step – the first of many. The hard work continues by building and developing a long-term and sustainable relationship. For a deeper dive into the matter – and to get an authentic glimpse of the NGOs’ perspective – we have interviewed… Continue reading Companies-NGOs-PR Agencies – Creating the Perfect Alliance for Impactful Collaboration
We can’t save everybody. We can’t find solutions for all the world’s problems as we don’t have unlimited resources. But it is our responsibility – as a company or as a brand – to do our best and have a positive social impact, now and in the future, in perfect alignment with our purpose. And… Continue reading Five Plus One Tips To Connect a Brand with the Right NGOs
General Your personal data (e.g. title, name, house address, e-mail address, phone number, bank details, credit card number) are processed by us only in accordance with the provisions of German data privacy laws. The following provisions describe the type, scope and purpose of collecting, processing and utilizing personal data. This data privacy policy applies only… Continue reading legal
Several years ago, an automobile insurance company came to our Miami PR Firm asking if we can market a bilingual literacy program for them. We were ecstatic! We had been trying to explain to several of our corporate clients the value of investing in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), also known as Cause Related Marketing. And… Continue reading Cause Related Marketing: Who Is It For And Why Should Your Company Invest In It?
From its origin as a trendy new way to promote a brand, content marketing has grown into a versatile and easily customizable strategy to reach a highly targeted audience. Businesses and organizations across all industries now utilize content marketing to build brand awareness, thought leadership and lead generation. However, it takes more than publishing a… Continue reading Content Marketing at its Best
Over the last year, many companies have asked themselves: are we doing enough to address social justice issues that affect our customers and employees? And is it wise for brands to publicly take a stance on such issues? Leaders are understandably hesitant to step out of their comfort zone and court any kind of controversy.… Continue reading Why Your Company Should Get Involved in Social Justice Issues
At its core, PR is all about reputation management with stakeholders. People and brands rightly expect PR professionals to help them connect with important stakeholders, build meaningful relationships and effectively communicate the right messages to them. However, many make the mistake that PR can help them solve a real leadership and business problem especially when… Continue reading The Best PR Can’t Replace Real Leadership
Over the past 15 months, the global pandemic has challenged mankind in so many ways, from our very existence to the way we do business, and thankfully, the worst part appears to be behind us. As life goes on, so is the need to communicate, promote, salvage, interact, advise, contain, create – connections, ideas, plans,… Continue reading What Should PR Firms Be Prepared For In the Post-Covid Era?
You can’t swing a unicorn these days without bumping into a SPAC conversation (sorry, bad Silicon Valley joke). In days of yore (pre-COVID), the technology PR world would hum with conversations about IPOs, vesting schedules and year-long plans for going public. Like everything else, things are different today. Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t… Continue reading SPAC Attack – What They Are, Why You Should Care and How Communications Plays a Role
Sustainability is becoming more and more important: People are aware of global challenges like climate change, pollution and social inequality, and they discuss them and ask for solutions. It is clear that companies have a major impact on social and ecological issues, so the pressure on them to operate sustainably is increasing accordingly. Not only… Continue reading Six Reasons Why Sustainability Matters for all Companies – and Two Common Mistakes They Should Avoid
Let this sink in for a moment. Facebook launched in 2004. Twitter became a word in 2006. Instagram? 2010. In roughly the time it takes to conceive a child and see them get a drivers’ license, the innovation of social media disrupted, overwhelmed, inspired and challenged public relations professionals around the world. Both as individuals… Continue reading How PR Will Absorb the Social Sphere in the 2020s
Let this sink in for a moment. Facebook launched in 2004. Twitter became a word in 2006. Instagram? 2010. In roughly the time it takes to conceive a child and see them get a drivers’ license, the innovation of social media disrupted, overwhelmed, inspired and challenged public relations professionals around the world. Both as individuals… Continue reading How PR Will Absorb the Social Sphere in the 2020s
It’s that time of year to look into the crystal ball for the future. 2020 has by all accounts been one of the most challenging years (at least in my lifetime). I think we’re all looking forward to some positive change. So, for 2021, what is the future of communications, the future of PR and… Continue reading PRGN’s Public Relations Predictions For 2021
We live in an era of hyper-connectivity and information overload. Stakeholders are bombarded with messages every moment of the day. This crowded and cluttered marketplace has not only made stakeholders more informed, it has also made them more demanding about what they expect when they interact with brands and corporations. Communicating corporate and brand values… Continue reading Leadership Is Communication
When it comes to promoting a brand or product on social media, it can be difficult to reach the masses of your target audience without a large following. This is why it’s common to see celebrities, athletes and other influencers endorsing various brands on their Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and other social media platforms. However, tapping… Continue reading How Best to Work With Micro-Influencers
Sustainability is no longer an optional extra. It’s becoming a core part of business. In 2019, 90% of the S&P500 published a sustainability report. Investors and customers increasingly expect companies to meet their sustainability criteria. The pressure is not just coming from board rooms. Two-thirds of employees say sustainability is extremely important to them. So,… Continue reading Three steps to boost your sustainability offering
In today’s world, savvy PR pros need to be more than just good writers, they need to be knowledgeable about what constitutes optimised digital platforms and they must know how to manage the interaction between these platforms to maximise the chances of achieving the best possible SEO ranking. Two of the critical factors underlying successful… Continue reading It Takes More Than an Optimised Press Release to Hit the SEO Mark
There’s little question that businesses around the world have turned their attention to Generation Z, a group that is turning out to be far different than millennials and baby boomers. As such, internal marketing and communications departments as well as outside firms are trying to first understand this audience and then put in place campaigns… Continue reading Understanding and Marketing to Generation-Z
Companies and brands have never behaved as well as they are right now. For the past few weeks, we’ve seen a level of compassion and caring from brands that is “Hall of Fame” worthy. While this avalanche of good deeds and good intentions might be viewed as excessive by some, I’ve been impressed by the… Continue reading What if we turned the Covid-attitude into sustainable corporate behavior?
Globally, there has been an increase in public affairs campaigns initiated by various parties including governments, non-governmental organizations, businesses and special interest groups. These campaigns are developed to sway public opinion on various issues or even to lobby for certain changes in regulations or laws. Typically, public affairs campaigns are more visible and accepted in… Continue reading Creating Successful Public Affairs Campaigns: The 5-Step Approach
Providing Solace for Those who are Grieving The holidays are particularly difficult for those who have lost a loved one. As the PR support for a service line of hospital Torrance Memorial Home Health & Hospice, The Hoyt Organization was responsible for setting the stage for the initial community outreach, and spreading the word within… Continue reading “Light up a Life” for Torrance Memorial Center
Internships are an important asset for students starting their public relations careers. Each internship experience varies from agency to agency, presenting many opportunities for young professionals to learn different aspects of the industry. Most importantly, internships allow students to acquire skills they cannot learn in a classroom – working and collaborating in a professional space… Continue reading Top 13 Lessons PR Students Learned from their PRGN Agency Internship
As a founding member of the Public Relations Global Network, I’m often asked how the network came about, what was behind the important first step and who are the people who made the bold move. For your records, here’s now the beginning of a 27-year journey now called the PRGN. In 1992, a small group… Continue reading How PRGN was created
Businesses’ marketing strategies for young adults are dramatically shifting, and that’s because today’s young adults are no longer Millennials: they’re Generation Z. To fill the generation gap – and take advantage of the varied backgrounds and ages of staff in house at The Castle Group in Boston – we took an authentic approach and involved… Continue reading Marketing to Generation Z: What Gen Z Wants You to Know
Joanne is PRGN’s regional vice president for Asia-Pacific. In her regional capacity, Joanne supports PRGN’s Asia-Pacific members and plays an active role in business development and new member selection. She is Founder and Managing Director of LBS Communications, a financial communications firm helping clients in the power and utilities, telecommunications and IT, retail and consumer,… Continue reading Asia-Pacific
Many times we were in a situation where we had to tell our parents or friends what we were doing for living. More than once we used to get into long (read – very long) stories about our profession. We gave extensive definitions. We used a lot of words. And we still saw that our… Continue reading Top 50 shortest definitions and synonyms of Public Relations
Most communications officers know what public relations mean, but rarely do they fully understand everything that should be covered when planning a company’s PR activities for an entire year to come. It’s not only the media, stakeholders or even social media influencers that need to be watched. It’s also about deciding how the company should… Continue reading “A PR plan? The new girl can do it after making us some coffee” – Or what you should remember when creating a PR plan for your company
Nobody is more strongly positioned to create long-term, sustainable change than companies. According to a 2016 PwC Global CEO survey, 64% of CEOs say that “corporate social responsibility (CSR) is core to their business rather than being a stand-alone program.” The Survey interviewed 1,409 CEOs in 83 countries with 76% defining business success by more… Continue reading WHY CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY IS IMPORTANT TO YOUR BRAND
When watching somebody present in front of an audience, it takes just a few seconds to determine if this is going to be a compelling and interesting presentation or a boring waste of time. But once you’re standing in the spotlight yourself, it is up to you to make a difference. And here’s how to:… Continue reading How To Become A Better Presenter
Today’s media landscape is becoming increasingly dominated and disrupted by digital. It’s everywhere you turn. On the way to work, while eating breakfast and even when we’re with friends, we are constantly absorbing digital media and the endless amount of information technology provides. Blogging is a highly-effective content marketing tool; it is no longer a… Continue reading Why Your Business Needs a Blog
Video remains a sizzling hot medium for storytelling. Organizations of all sizes and industries are using it to tell their brand story. Some companies produce video in-house; others turn to specialized video production companies for help. But no matter how it gets produced, video benefits from adherence to best practices. Whether you’re involved in the… Continue reading 15 Tips for Making a Good Video
As PR pros, it can be difficult for us to step away from our inboxes and voicemails for time dedicated solely to professional development. It’s easy to put client needs in front of the latest webinar or online course, especially when your time is billable and there are deadlines at every turn. But public relations… Continue reading Top 10 Conferences for PR Pros in 2018
By writing a blog you broaden your knowledge, acquire new skills, develop your imagination and enhance vocabulary. You also become a better writer, interlocutor, an expert in your field, improve your own concentration and memory. These are advantages that nobody questions. If you do it just for yourself, your own pleasure and satisfaction of your… Continue reading Are you Making These 3 Common Blogging Mistakes?
It is a common request from potential clients to see a Public Relations case study of work comparable to what you are recommending to them. But what exactly are they looking for? Strategy, deliverables, measurement? Of course, but how best to provide that information without overwhelming and oversharing. Case studies are a great way to… Continue reading A Case Study for a Case Study
Before analyzing the results of a PR campaign, it is necessary to clarify what PR means today. The primary goal of Public Relations has always been to develop relationships, to connect institutions, companies, people and establishments with their users or their clients. What has changed over time, and has even significantly increased, are the ways… Continue reading What Results can you Expect From a PR Campaign?
What you say can or will be held against you, should you not take up the challenge to prepare for an interview. In the digital age, everything you say lives on forever, so, preparing for an interview should not be taken lightly. You should spend enough time getting up to speed and doing the due… Continue reading Nailing Your Next Media Interview With These Five Tips
Company websites used to be only virtual business cards. Not anymore. With the online developing faster than everything else around, websites moved to have a sales role or shifted to a hybrid function covering both the presentation and commercial purposes. Browsing the web one can see several neat website designs and functionalities and what might… Continue reading Does Your Website Accurately Represent You?
The debate between the DIY model vs. in-house vs. hiring a PR agency Anytime a company expands their marketing outreach efforts, no doubt there will be a great deal of discussion on which way to go. Should we hire a public relations/social media firm? Perhaps we should investigate hiring a freelancer? What about keeping it… Continue reading Delving into PR: Which Model Works Best for your Company?
The great digital transformation and Fourth Industrial Revolution we are seeing in large companies around the world is no longer confined to just mega-corporations and conglomerates. In Chile, many companies—both large and small—are in the midst of this great change. At the moment, Chile is experiencing large-scale penetration in mobile devices (71%, leading in Latin… Continue reading Digital Strategies Bring Clear Benefits to Companies
Weighted averages of analyst estimates are highly relevant for investor relations managers and even more relevant for investors. This shows a recent survey of cometis AG among around 500 investor relations managers, most of which are from the German-speaking countries Germany, Switzerland and Austria. The survey took place from end of March until end… Continue reading Smart Estimates: High relevance for investor relations managers
By RumboCierto Comunicaciones Bank of Palestine, the largest private bank in Palestine, sought to position itself in Chile -because this country is home to the largest community of descendants of Palestinians living outside their country- to attract businesses from Latin America to the region, and thus contributing to the Palestinian economic development. The requirement for… Continue reading From Palestine to Chile: Looking for Roots
Everyone has at least one pet peeve that drives them crazy, and most people have a few. Like when I call someone and they answer the phone and say “I can’t talk right now, I will call you back.” Back in 2013, I actually wrote a blog post on this (and answering your phone while… Continue reading Being on Time… No Longer Important
For a communications professional working in the U.S., the last few months have been a time of intense introspective about the state of the media. The rhetoric has been thick and charged. Phrases like “alternative facts” and “fake news” are making their own headlines. White House press conferences have taken on an element of the… Continue reading State of the Media: A (Global) Question of Trust
Back in my early PR years, I would call every reporter on my media list. I would occasionally find a few reporters willing to listen to my nervous pitch and if I was lucky, someone would bite and actually write a story. When I look back now, I realize I was most likely interrupting busy… Continue reading Media Relations 101
As the leaders in pizza delivery, Domino’s introduced the DXP™ single purpose delivery vehicle. The DXP adapts the Chevy Spark to carry an oven along with space for 80 pizzas as well as beverage and other foods. Domino’s sent an RFP to PRGN’s Bianchi Public Relations, a renowned automotive PR agency in Detroit, who asked… Continue reading Domino’s
We believe in developing trusting, enduring relationships one conversation at a time. We know how to develop relations with various audiences, online and in person, and we work to teach our customers how to be the best-in-class communicators. Fearey is 40-year-old full-service public relations, crisis management, and public affairs firm that is distinguished by its deep,… Continue reading Fearey
How much of a monster is PR? It’s what we do, it’s how we pay the bills and it’s mostly what we love. But how much are we responsible for the way it can consume people and is it ultimately for the good?
On Thursday Britain voted to leave the European Union (EU), striking a blow against the bloc and spreading panic through world markets as sterling collapsed to a 31-year low. Investors scrambled to sell the pound, oil and stocks as Britain took a lurch into the unknown, becoming the first country to quit in the EU’s 60-year history, a culmination of decades of suspicion over European aims of creating an ever-closer political union.
Many donors are keen to make contributions as specific as possible and decide therefore upon so-called “project-based donations”. The reason behind this is the desire for the donated amount to be 100 percent utilized for a clearly specific project. These wishes are understandable but can lead to unintentional drawbacks.
2015 has been the year of a leap forward in content marketing. During the last few years, digital marketing and communications have evolved intensely and interestingly towards techniques centered on the production of quality content. The core issue in this trend is about adapting to the digital environment where users can easily choose whatever they… Continue reading In A Sea Of Contents, We Should Stand Out Like Colored Buoys
