Public Relations
Tips & Trends

Marketing and communications executives are “going global,” with seven out of 10 saying their organizations currently have, or will have in the next five years, a global marketing function, based on the results of a study commissioned by the Public Relations Global Network (www.prgn.com), one of the top international networks of independent public relations agencies.… Continue reading 70 Percent of Corporate Communicators Expect to have a Global Marketing Function at their Organization within Five Years, PRGN Survey Reveals

Cross border fitness trend   Four PR agencies from the Public Relations Global Network (PRGN) have been chosen over the last months as PR partners for Zumba Fitness, LLC, covering together seven European countries. After a pitch with four competing agencies in the Benelux, which was won by Evident PR, Zumba inquired for PRGN agencies… Continue reading Zumba® Fitness selects 4 PRGN agencies in 7 European countries as PR Partners

(OCT 08, 2012) – Today the Public Relations Global Network (PRGN) announced the addition of new worldwide agency affiliates in France and Hungary. Joining the ranks of PRGN are The We Agency of France and Goodwill Communications in Hungary. New PRGN member agencies are: The We Agency, Paris, France Located in Paris, the We Agency… Continue reading PRGN Anounces New Worldwide Public Relations Members Affiliates in France and Hungary

(OCT 10, 2012, WIESBADEN, GERMANY) – The Public Relations Global Network (PRGN) announces the winners of its second annual Best Practices Awards here on September 28 awards ceremony and dinner, according to Mark Paterson, PRGN president. “The PRGN Best Practices Awards competition helps to build our knowledge center that can be accessed by member firms… Continue reading Public Relations Global Network (PRGN) Announces the Winners Of Its Second Annual Best Practices Awards Competition

The Public Relations Global Network (PRGN), an international network of nearly 50 independent public relations firms worldwide, has released the findings from its international survey of communications professionals regarding their current and anticipated future use of social media in Europe, Australia, Africa, South America, Middle East, Asia and the United States. According to Mark Paterson,… Continue reading Public Relations Global Network Survey Provides Insights on the Position of Social Media in Worldwide Communications

The Public Relations Global Network (PRGN) today announced the addition of three new worldwide agency affiliates in Chile, Portugal and Tokyo, bringing its global reach to 47 cities worldwide. The announcement was made during PRGN’S business conference in Los Angeles, California on April 18th. Joining the ranks of PRGN are RumboCierto Communications representing Chile, Global… Continue reading PRGN Announces New Worldwide Public Relations Affiliates in Chile, Portugal and Tokyo

Member agencies worldwide acquired 51 new clients from 21 sectors in total Media relations, crisis communications and strategic counselling are what clients ask for most Los Angeles, USA, Frankfurt, Germany (December 19, 2013) — The member agencies of the Public Relations Global Network (PRGN), one of the world’s leading networks of independent public relations consultancies,… Continue reading PRGN continues global expansion in Q3 2013

PRGN with new leadership   Public Relations Global Network (PRGN), one of the world’s leading international networks of independent public relations agencies, today announced the election of Uwe Schmidt, CEO and co-owner of Industrie-Contact (IC AG) in Hamburg, Germany as its new president. Schmidt will lead the worldwide network of 47 independently owned firms on… Continue reading Public Relations Global Network Elects Uwe Schmidt as President

Good Chance a European Journalist Will Permit CEO to Review Quotes Prior to Publication.   Don’t be Rude to a Spanish Journalist   Preparing to be interviewed by a German or Italian journalist? Make sure there’s nothing in your personal life that you wouldn’t want included in a news story. That’s among the findings of… Continue reading American CEOs Preparing to be Interviewed By European Journalists Should Expect Different Practices, Reports New Study by PRGN

German Industrie-Contact AG CEO and PRGN President and football/soccer addict Uwe Schmidt has interviewed the head of the Brazilian PRGN partner agency LVBA, Gisele Lorenzetti, about the World Cup.

Germany vs. Argentina   Industrie-Contact CEO, PRGN President and football/soccer addict Uwe Schmidt from Germany, has interviewed the head of the Argentinean PRGN partner agency Identia PR, Dominique Biquard, about the upcoming World Cup Final in Rio de Janeiro.   Uwe: Dominique, the 2 football super powers Argentina and Germany play the World Cup final… Continue reading The World Cup Final Interview

From the invention of the wheel to the invention of the computer, technological progress never stopped redefining the concept of proximity. Thanks to the Internet, the communications society – at least in its technological dimension -, has become a reality. As a matter of fact, the millions of connected devices circulating in the world: Smartphones,… Continue reading All neighbors in the global village

Addition of Bianchi Public Relations and Free Communications Brings International Network’s Reach to 49 Members.   LONDON – The Public Relations Global Network (PRGN) today announced the addition of two new agency affiliates from Detroit, Michigan (USA) and Romania, bringing its global reach to 49 cities worldwide. The induction into the organization was made during… Continue reading Public Relations Global Network Announces New Affiliates in Detroit (USA) and Romania

Addition of Reed Public Relations and Aristo Communications Adds to International Network’s Reach.   SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – Public Relations Global Network (PRGN), today announced the addition of two new agency affiliates from Nashville, Tennessee (U.S.A) and Istanbul, Turkey, bringing its global reach to 45 firms worldwide.  The induction into the organization was made during PRGN’s… Continue reading Public Relations Global Network Announces New Affiliates in Turkey and Nashville (USA)

South African-based Evelyn Holtzhausen Named President-Elect   SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – The Public Relations Global Network (PRGN), one of the top four international networks of leading independent public relations agencies, today announced the election of Edward M. Stevens, APR+M of Stevens Strategic Communications of Cleveland, Ohio, as president. Stevens will lead the worldwide network of 45… Continue reading Public Relations Global Network Elects Ed Stevens, APR+M

CEOs can best prepare for interviews by knowing how journalists prepare themselves while making sure their online personas are up-to-date   While European journalists will permit CEOs to review quotes prior to publication, most U.S. media say no way!   Preparing to be interviewed by a North American journalist in the United States or Canada?… Continue reading American CEOs Preparing to be Interviewed by the Media Must Have an Online Presence

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

One day when God became so angry with mankind after their vain attempts at building the tower of Babel, to be more in his likeness, he henceforth sent them the Babylonian language of confusion thereby ending their delusions at becoming gods. In actual fact, it was humans alone, the communications industry to be more precise, who orchestrated this tangle of languages: Native Advertising, Product Placement, Content Marketing, Advertorials and several more phrases buzzing around the market, seemingly perplexing although all having one thing in common: It all boils down to occupying editorial space.

Professional communicators usually have lots of stories to tell – I know I do. The trick is getting the right people to listen and getting them to act. One way to think of it is moving the audience from the story to the store. Often with digital marketing, the story gets bad, or worse, no… Continue reading GPS for Digital Marketing Campaigns

by Evelyn Holtzhausen President Elect, PRGN More years ago than I care to remember, when I was Cape Editor of the Sunday Times, I’d often receive a call from “head office” in Johannesburg requesting a “follow up” on a tip off or rumour that some celebrity or other had been seen swanning around Cape Town.… Continue reading Dynamic Tension

Last week, I hosted a Webinar for public relations professionals throughout the world who are members of our Public Relations Global Network. The topic? Critical Thinking. Many of us, in any business, but perhaps especially in PR, fall into the day-to-day trap of working hard but operating on auto. We follow directions and get the… Continue reading Critical Thinking and Why It’s A Must for PR Pros

Faced with a dwindling user base, Twitter is set to launch a new product later this year which it hopes will engage more people with the use of large-scale photos and videos to highlight trending events. Dubbed “Project Lightning,” the microblogging site is adding a new photo-centric tool that takes users to the photos, videos… Continue reading Can Project Lightning Save Twitter?

By now, most people are aware that Volkswagen’s image has taken a severe hit over the past month, when it was revealed that the automaker had installed technology in its cars that could “cheat” emissions tests. VW admitted that worldwide, 11 million cars that run on diesel fuel had this type of technology, and the… Continue reading Volkswagen Exec’s Sincere Apology Blames Rogue Engineers – Not the Best Approach to a PR Crisis

I attended the recent Forum on Global Leadership, hosted by the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition. Among the speakers was U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake. I didn’t realize what an African background the senator has. He has lived in Namibia, Zimbabwe and South Africa – and is fluent in Afrikaans. He, along with Lt. Gen. William “Kip”… Continue reading Africa, the new emerging market

“It takes a whole life to build a reputation. It takes a moment to destroy it”. The concise comment by Gianni Puglisi, IULM’s dean, summarizes perfectly the media storm fallen on the automotive industry Volkswagen, accused by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of having adulterated data regarding its diesel cars’ emissions. DieselGate, as it… Continue reading DieselGate, all the mistakes by Volkswagen PR team

“A costruire una reputazione occorre una vita. A distruggerla basta un attimo”. Il lapidario commento di Gianni Puglisi, rettore dello IULM di Milano, riassume perfettamente la tempesta mediatica che si è abbattuta sulla casa automobilistica Volkswagen, accusata dall’Agenzia per la protezione ambientale americana (EPA) di aver truccato i dati relativi alle emissioni di sostanze inquinanti… Continue reading DieselGate, tutti gli errori del team PR di Volkswagen

The Public Relations Global Network recently had nearly 30 agencies attend its twice-yearly international conference in Dubai representing more than 15 countries and 7 states in the U.S. The conference identified several trends in the global communications marketplace that are worth noting. Some of these takeaways include: Visual communications is almost as common as written… Continue reading 10 Global Business Communications Trends Impacting Local Public Relations Executives throughout the Globe

PRGN welcomes The Hoyt Organization to its 46 agency member network PRGN leadership is pursuing additional partnership opportunities in China, Africa, Belgium and New York Dubai, United Arab Emirates – November 9, 2015 – The Public Relations Global Network (PRGN) today announced it has selected The Hoyt Organization, Inc., a Los Angeles-area based full- service… Continue reading Public Relations Global Network Adds Affiliate in Los Angeles (USA)

PRGN gives 39 international awards of excellence to 18 agency winners Cros (Russia) tops awards ceremony with 8 wins Dubai, United Arab Emirates – November 10, 2015 – The Public Relations Global Network (PRGN) recently announced the winners of its annual international Best Practice Awards competition. “This is a strong and competitive awards competition showcasing… Continue reading Public Relations Global Network Announces Winners of 2015 Best Practice Awards

by Valentina Giacaman Hazboun Founding Partner at RumboCierto For a PR firm today, it is much more difficult to try to contain a crisis for a client in a world where everything seems to be transparent and information flows through social networks in less time than previously thought. Gone are the days when companies thought… Continue reading Leaks and Transparency in a globalized world

por Valentina Giacaman Hazboun Socia Fundadora de RumboCierto Para una firma de PR hoy es mucho más difícil tratar de contener una crisis de un cliente en un mundo donde todo parece ser transparente, y la información fluye por redes sociales en menos tiempo de lo que se pensaba. Atrás quedaron los tiempos en que las… Continue reading Filtraciones y Transparencia en un mundo globalizado

Interview by Netzwirtschaft.Net   Who is Uwe Schmidt? Please briefly introduce yourself. I am a communicator. Which means, I communicate across all channels throughout the world and also gladly assist others along the way. The reason for this can maybe be found in my choice of career. Initially, I wanted to be a teacher, then… Continue reading Uwe Schmidt, interviewed by German Netzwirtschaft.Net (Digital Workouts)

The recent acquisition of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide by Marriott International may have stunned the hospitality industry but it was not totally unexpected to me. Mileage Communications was Marriott’s PR agency based in Singapore for more than 17 years, since 1994. When we were appointed, Marriott had just opened the JW Marriott Hong Kong,… Continue reading Implications of the Marriott International’s acquisition of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

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.

In recent times, we have heard a lot about “Storytelling”, the art of using stories to communicate and connect with target audiences. Born as a purely journalistic narrative method, this set of techniques and specific skills has evolved to establish itself as a real discipline. However, there is still a lot of confusion around the definition of… Continue reading From Sport to Corporate Storytelling

New member agencies enhance capabilities and expand reach of global communications group PRGN looks to continue expansion in the U.S., Europe and in other markets around the globe Washington, D.C. – May 3, 2016 – Three top-notch communications firms, two in the U.S. and one in China, were welcomed as full members of the Public… Continue reading Agencies in Minneapolis, New York and Hong Kong join Public Relations Global Network

SEO, Content and Trust Top List of Global PR Takeaways from the Spring PRGN Global Leadership Conference Search engine optimization, digital content and trust topped the list of topics being discussed by top independent public relations agencies globally, according to the members of the Public Relations Global Network (PRGN), who recently met during PRGN’s Semi-annual… Continue reading SEO, Content and Trust – Top List of Global PR Takeaways

[vc_column_text pb_margin_bottom=”no” pb_border_bottom=”yes” width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”] By Jim Bianchi , Bianchi PR, Detroit   What do PR firm owners from around the world talk about when they get together? Search engine optimization, digital content and trust topped the list of subjects discussed by PRGN agency principals when they gathered in the last week of April… Continue reading The Top Takeaways from the Spring PRGN Global Leadership Conference

Public Relations Global Network Selects Evelyn Holtzhausen as President HWB Communications founder to lead international network of independent public relations agencies Washington, D.C. – May 11, 2016 – The Public Relations Global Network (PRGN), one of the largest international networks of leading independent public relations agencies, announced today the election of Evelyn Holtzhausen, founder and director of… Continue reading Public Relations Global Network Selects Evelyn Holtzhausen as President

Koos Viviers the curmudgeonly editor of the Cape Times, in Cape Town, South Africa, sat in his leather lined chair behind his mahogany desk, and glowered at me, the brand new, extremely nervous night editor of “his” treasured morning newspaper. “Your job is simple”, he said.

The positive impact a rave review has on your product or service can’t be beat. Whatever the budget, the size of the billboard or the impact of the TV campaign, “nothing,” as the dearly-departed Prince sang, “compares” to a happy customer championing your cause.

Fellow PRGN’ers you may think that Trump vs. Clinton is the only show in town but we’ve got our own tussle happening next week. Variously known as Brexit or the vote to Remain/Leave Europe, the Referendum which will decide whether the UK stays in the European Union is massively vexing people.

I’ve traveled to and from the UK since the age of six. I love the British and especially their sense of humour (even though I’m aware that I will never fully understand it.) Their strong will to lead and ability to speak up if they believe something is wrong is something I truly admire.

After three decades of officiating high school sports and working in the public relations industry, Evelyn John Holtzhausen, president of our global PR network, PRGN, and head of a successful agency in Cape Town, South Africa, asked me if there were any parallels between the two.

Barbara Pleban, owner and vice-president of Multi Communications, and Isabel Jorge de Carvalho, CEO and founding partner of Global Press, will be jury members of the 63rd edition of the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.

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.

In the cold light of dawn after the seismic result of the UK referendum, the balls which had been blasted into space are gradually falling to earth and reality is taking hold.

The predominant message across all forms of German media has been one of regret about the result. Most commentators agree that a unified EU is necessary to address common European and global challenges. They also believe that the EU needs the UK.

The marketplace for PR mergers and acquisitions is more diversified than ever — which means means new and more flexible ways for deals to be structured.

I am very proud of my city and my state. After witnessing our first major sports championship in Cleveland after more than 50 years, we have witnessed another event of extraordinary magnitude. It’s the Republican National Convention.

The Democratic National Convention’s selection of Philadelphia for its historic convention this week is no accident. A city often overlooked between the towering shadows of New York City and Washington, D.C., Philadelphia offers convention-goers and watchers a unique experience.

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?

Aside from the well-known highly corrupt and troubled governments in Venezuela, Bolivia and Ecuador, for the past two years (and more) Latin American countries have been involved in a series of scandals that have undermined confidence in politics and in business at corporate level.

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Communications Director & Newsroom Head Nicole Chamberlin shares the secrets of her team’s success – and explains why HWB clients keep returning for more coverage.

Aside from the well-known highly corrupt and troubled governments in Venezuela, Bolivia and Ecuador, for the past two years (and more) Latin American countries have been involved in a series of scandals that have undermined confidence in politics and in business at corporate level.

What do you think it takes to achieve exceptional results for your clients and organizations? There are things like working hard and paying attention to their needs that certainly top the list. But doesn’t that seem obvious?

Voice search is quickly becoming the way consumers are searching for information they need – especially for business. Landis Communications Inc. (LCI)’s digital marketing consultants, Mannix Marketing, have 4 great tips on how to optimize voice search with virtual assistants like Siri. If you are an iPhone user – or even if you are not… Continue reading 4 Best Practices For Optimizing Voice Search

It is always easier to reach your destination when you know where you want to go. Social media editorial calendars can map your social media strategy down a successful path. Not convinced? Here are five reasons why social media editorial calendars work for us and why we suggest adding them to your social media strategy.… Continue reading Five Reasons to Create a Social Media Editorial Calendar

Social media management can be time consuming and expensive. For many the real value isn’t something they can clearly see. If your goal is to turn likes into more bricks and mortar customers, or you want to get a sense of a return on your investment, consider these ideas. 1. Exclusive Offers: Typically, your social… Continue reading Four ways to Connect with your Social Media Followers Offline

Did your organization recently win a coveted industry award and you’re not sure how to promote it besides adding the plaque or trophy to the office? This is something most organizations struggle with. Here are five tips on how you can leverage and promote an industry award to help support communications and recruitment efforts: Add… Continue reading How to Promote an Industry Award

Inbound marketing is an effective way to connect with potential customers and strategically deliver information. One of the most successful tools is video. According to a recent Hub Spot article, the amount of videos posted to Facebook has grown 75% over the last year. On Twitter, visuals also produce 18% more clicks, 89% more favorites… Continue reading Inbound Marketing Video Tips

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

It’s any publicist’s dream to call a reporter who knows our name, which companies we represent and even remembers our die-hard Green Bay Packers fandom. It’s even better when the reporter works at a publication that is extremely valuable for our clients. Although building relationships with reporters is no small feat, it’s certainly possible –… Continue reading Pitching for Keeps: Building Relationships with Trade Publications

Social media is an essential aspect of building your brand, but building a strategy can be daunting. Here are a few quick tips for embracing social media to increase your business’s bottom line. Social media will give back to you and your business what you put into it. Take even just a small amount of… Continue reading Quick Tips for Getting Started in Social Media

At the beginning of 2015, The Fearey Group moved offices and did a complete redesign of our workspace in the process. We went from private doored offices to an open, collaborative floor plan. We increased our technology infrastructure, worked on our message and created new tools in the process. And we did this for many… Continue reading Send What You Intend: Four Tips to Avoid Mixed-Up Messages

For us PR pros, our smartphones are basically glued to our hands. Whether it’s emailing clients, checking the latest news alerts, posting to social media or searching for that contact we met at a networking event, our phones are often our most indispensable tool as communicators and help us provide even stronger service to our clients. Here’s… Continue reading The Guide to Apps for PR Pros

Did you know that nearly 70 percent of people in the U.S. have a smart phone? It’s not a huge surprise that the majority of internet access is now done through mobile devices versus desktop computers.  Updating your marketing strategy to incorporate mobile users isn’t a trend that applies solely to B2C companies. Your B2B… Continue reading Using Mobile to Dominate the B2B Category

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

For those of us in the profession of public relations, the rise of fake news and the attacks on legitimate media outlets have been deeply disturbing. The Code of Ethics developed by our industry’s leading professional association, PRSA, calls out honesty as one of six, key professional values that its members uphold: We adhere to… Continue reading PR Pros, It’s Time to Pay Up: #SubscribeToTruth

The now famous United Airlines debacle of a bloodied passenger being dragged off a plane will resurface in news stories about United for years. Virtually everyone has seen the video of the crisis, from school children to captain of industries and because of it, they are paying a lot more attention to United. What could United… Continue reading Bloody Incident Will Haunt United Airlines

Use Of Non-deal Roadshows & Sell-Side Conferences among Senior Investor Relations Officers in German-Speaking Countries Wiesbaden, April 25, 2017 – Together with Rivel Research and the IR Club, cometis AG analyzed the use of non-deal roadshows (NDRs) and sell-side conferences. We asked IROs in key German-speaking countries: How often are you on the road? What… Continue reading Study: Use of Non-deal Roadshows & Sell-Side Conferences

This post is sponsored by ClickTime and Gould+Partners. Over-servicing among PR firms doesn’t simply mean working for nothing. It’s a lot more costly. That’s because when your firm starts to expand client services—without being adequately compensated—it has a negative effect on the rest of the operation. Indeed, the repercussions for over-servicing can make a bad… Continue reading How Over-Servicing Impacts PR Agencies

PRGN’s recent gathering in Dallas, Texas was a real meeting of the minds – and cultures.  Hosted by local PRGN agency, Three Box Strategic Communications, senior communications leaders from around the world converged to talk about integrated media, new business, the challenges facing our industries today and a lot of “how do you do that… Continue reading Welcome Y’all…PRGN Meets in Dallas

The Public Relations Global Network (PRGN) today announced the addition of two new communications agency affiliates to one of the world’s largest PR agency networks. These firms – S&A Communications and asoluto – joined PRGN during the consortium’s recent bi-annual meeting in Dallas, Texas.  PRGN members elected Christina Rytter, managing director and founder of Copenhagen,… Continue reading Public Relations Global Network (PRGN) Hits 50-Member Mark with Addition of Two New Agencies, Selects Christina Rytter as President

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

You always hear how important networking within your field is to finding a group of peers and mentors that can share experiences and best practices. The Fearey Group is lucky to get in-person access to more than 50 other independent agencies every year as a member of the Public Relations Global Network. PRGN, heading into… Continue reading Global PR – Networking Across the World While Staying in One Spot

By Valentina Giacaman – RumboCierto Chile We have witnessed recent events in which world leaders openly accuse the press, as never before. Macron in front of Putin himself accuses the Russian press, whereas a person like Trump declares himself in open warfare against the press. Has the press done something? In my country Chile, as… Continue reading Does the press lie?

You didn’t get the media attendance you expected at your last press conference. And you’re taking heat from your boss for the weak turn-out. She wants to know why reporters didn’t attend your press event. What went wrong? There are a number of reasons that reporters cite for not showing up to press events.  Often, they politely… Continue reading Why Reporters Didn’t Attend Your Press Event

  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

Known as the City of Angels, Los Angeles boasts both the second largest media market and the third busiest airport in the United States – and there is a lot more to La La Land.  We also have a diverse, multi-ethnic population that makes us a cultural hub – with people from more than 180… Continue reading Mastering PR in the LA Market: Five Tips to Becoming an Insider

Earlier this year, PRGN launched its Instagram account and earlier this month, Instagram takeovers,a new series where our partners will share what life is like in their city and at their agency. Instagram is unique because unlike Facebook and Twitter, the content has to be visual and it’s difficult to share links on the platform.… Continue reading PRGN Launches Instagram Takeovers

Austria is among the world’s most stable and prospering economies, but its media landscape is comparatively small. If you can’t convince a handful of relevant journalists to tell your story to their audiences, you’re lost because you don’t have many alternative ways to go. So when you are trying to use traditional media channels for… Continue reading Doing PR in Austria – some hints to maximise success in a special Central European market

Good crisis communications planning starts with base fundamentals – assessing areas of risk, preparing your organization including effective policies and solid messaging and narrative that defines the organization and its values. Check out Xenophon CEO David Fuscus’s newest blog post: Key Fundamentals of Crisis Communication Plans. https://xenophonstrategies.com/crisis_communication_plan/

It’s now been more than a year since Britain’s seismic decision to exit the EU but here in Ireland, we still don’t know how it’s going to pan out. Late last year, a survey found that almost 60% of UK-based financial and professional service providers had begun ‘contingency planning’. Of these Brexit preppers, around three-quarters… Continue reading Setting up in Ireland? Why PR must be part of the plan

I’m a huge podcast fan – they’ve made my hour-long commute each morning not only bearable, but enjoyable. Whether I’m in the mood to be informed or entertained, there is a podcast for everything and I’ve become a loyal subscriber to a handful of shows (shout out to ‘Four Finger Discount’ the podcast that reviews… Continue reading Should I Advertise on Podcasts?

During the Dallas Spring Meeting for PRGN members of the Leadership Roundtable, we were given the opportunity to get out of the hotel conference center and explore one of Dallas’ top corporate headquarters (and a Three Box Strategic Communications client) – Topgolf. While the visit was a great opportunity to cut loose and have a little… Continue reading Fore! What Topgolf Teaches Top PR Pros About Making it to the 19th Hole

There is a great deal of confusion about the difference between Vision and Mission Statements and they often become intertwined. As a result, they can be uninspiring, confusing or overly long making them difficult to remember, much less articulate. Philosophically Vision and Mission Statements should be separate but related, just like strategy and tactics —… Continue reading Vision & Mission Statements: The Basics

Holiday season means days away from the office for partners, clients and employees – and it means a lot of Out of Office (OOO) messages, delivered automatically to your mail inbox. Some of them are useful, some funny, some are mysteries; it all depends on what you want to achieve and how you do it.… Continue reading 5 quick tips for your next Out of Office (OOO) message

Every day in Washington, there are dozens–or maybe hundreds–of press conferences. The grand staircase at the Capitol building is a popular spot, as is the iconic entrance to the Supreme Court after a key ruling. The White House Rose Garden is, perhaps, the most prestigious of them all. Below are three of Xenophon’s favorites: 1.… Continue reading Top Three Venues for a Press Conference in Washington, D.C.

Imagine this: You get an unexpected call in the middle of the day. Your company’s network has experienced a data breach and information for thousands of customers is now susceptible to hackers. You don’t know all the details yet, but the local news has gotten wind of the story and they are planning to run… Continue reading The Importance of a Good Crisis Management Plan – And How to Get Started

At Xenophon Strategies, we’ve handled crisis communication on 13 major hurricanes for a variety of clients.  Check out the new blog post on communications lessons hurricanes have to teach from David Fuscus.  From planning to execution, getting ready for a natural disaster can be difficult for any organization, these principles will make it easier.  http://tinyurl.com/y93tm3lo… Continue reading Crisis Communication & Hurricanes

Hungary’s media consumption is rapidly shifting towards social media. And so much so that the king of all media, television – which has survived all major media transformations so far – is now being dethroned by young video makers of YouTube. By 2017, advertising potential for social platforms has become a multi-million dollar market in… Continue reading How Social Influencers Shape Communication Trends?

For PR pros, social media is more than just memes and foodie videos – it’s a valuable tool for connecting your brand with the media. You can be just 140 characters away from your next media placement if you follow this list of do’s and don’ts. Do 1. Watch the trends Journalists are continuously hunting… Continue reading Do’s and Don’ts of Using Social Media to Pitch Journalists

Throughout my all-most 20 years in the communications game, I have been participating in many business networks – national as well as international. These networks have contributed to many learnings and business connections, but also to some important realizations. These became particularly obvious, when I became active in the leadership of Public Relations Global Network… Continue reading Why PRGN Works

You’ve got the idea. Your business plan is in place. The financing is ready to roll. Now you’re ready to launch. Let the media tour begin, right? Wrong. In today’s world, launching a new company isn’t just a news release or even a media tour. There are simply too many new companies and products are… Continue reading Launching a New Company? Make Sure PR is in your Toolbox

NYC to Nashville Laura Vinci, CooperKatz How does five days spent in Nashville benefit the way we do business in New York City? From an event-planning lunch at O’Charley’s (including samples!) to Wine Wednesday meetings to PRSA networking events, this woman from the Big Apple got a chance to experience how things are done in… Continue reading A PRGN Exchange: Takeaways from Two Agencies

For the modern business, social media is an essential tool that makes it possible to connect with your target audience in the very place where they are choosing to spend their time. There are many benefits of using social media for business including building brand presence, building credibility, developing relationships, gathering marketing research, increasing website traffic,… Continue reading Social Media Marketing for Businesses

Internal conferences and meetings play an integral role in a company’s ability to develop business strategy, discover new industry trends, and connect employees in a way that facilitates discussion and promotes a shared vision for success. To ensure participation, it’s important to find a central location to host these events – especially if your company… Continue reading Making Meetings Matter

For the past 25 years, David Fuscus of Xenophon Strategies has worked on hurricances, plane crashes, earthquakes, tornado and other disasters. Hurricane Irma is the scariest one of them all. He has just published A How to Help Guide by a Crisis Communications Pro based on his experiences and learning what works and what doesn’t.… Continue reading Hurricanes Irma & Harvey: A How to Help Guide by a Crisis Pro

Whether you’re a recent graduate embarking on your first job-hunting adventure or a seasoned pro seeking a mid-career lane change, finding the right fit can be a confusing and stressful process. Through the long cycles of networking, researching and interviewing, it’s easy to lose sight of your own long game and where it is you… Continue reading Looking for a PR Job? PRGN is a Global Job-Finding Resource for the Public Relations Industry

Who Has to Shoot First? by Uwe Schmidt, Industrie-Contact (Hamburg, Germany) in co-operation with David Landis, Landis Communications Inc. (San Francisco, USA) Sometimes it is cumbersome to get a budget figure from a prospective client. They prefer to keep us in the dark and want us to unveil a number first. It is a bit… Continue reading Potential Customers that are Reluctant to Reveal Their PR Budget

Yelp, Trip Advisor, Glassdoor, Amazon and hundreds of other sites invite customer reviews on products, businesses and services. Less than stellar reviews can have a real financial impact on your business. According to Web Republic, products with positive reviews sell 200% more than those with no reviews. So how do you influence your customers to… Continue reading Customer Reviews Can Make or Break You – How to Support Those Elusive 5 Stars

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

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?

When it comes to public relations, the best-kept secrets are those protected by the PRSA Code of Ethics. This means PR professionals will keep proprietary information proprietary and would rather go to jail before disclosing business secrets. Now, here are three secrets. Each of these secrets assumes you have an excellent relationship with the media.… Continue reading Best Kept Secrets in Public Relations

If you’ve never had a client ask you to lower your fees, you are one of the lucky PR professionals! For the rest of us, here are 5 tactics you can try the next time a client mentions budget cuts. Prepare facts: Many clients feel that they are paying too much because they can’t see… Continue reading What to Do When PR Clients Pressure You for Lower Fees

Recently, Hong Kong Observatory announced a move with World Meteorological Organization (WMO) to rename four typhoons that caused human casualties and economic loss in Hong Kong and other South China Sea regions. The renaming of these typhoons was an act of rebranding, designed to raise more public awareness about the cause of the disasters, and… Continue reading Rebranding for a Better Future

Network complements five years of 20 percent growth by welcoming three new member firms from Brazil, Malaysia and Mexico KYOTO, JAPAN – 27 October 2017 – Public Relations Global Network (PRGN), one of the largest international networks of independent public relations agencies, marked its 25th anniversary during its fall meeting in Kyoto, Japan, by welcoming… Continue reading Public Relations Global Network Marks 25 Years as the World’s Local Agency

Media relations is our bread and butter in the PR industry. There’s nothing better than a well-placed media hit that’s authentic, engaging and delivered directly to your target audience. But with an increasingly competitive media landscape and a growing desire by many brands to tackle multiple markets at once, honing the perfect media pitch can… Continue reading 10 Tips to Construct a Media-Pitching Email that Works

Social media is no longer the territory of the millennial. Today, consumers ranging from 14 to 65+ and beyond (to infinity!!) are active across the various platforms on a daily basis. In the current climate it wouldn’t be out of order to assume that your audience is using social media in one way or another,… Continue reading Which Social Media Platform Is Your Audience On?

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?

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

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?

Survey also offers fresh insights into how reporters vet and work with high-profile interview sources LOS ANGELES, CALIF. – Nov. 28. 2017 – Public Relations Global Network (PRGN), one of the largest international networks of independent public relations agencies, announced today the results of a worldwide media survey that finds increasing pressure on reporters to… Continue reading Public Relations Global Network (PRGN) Media Survey Reveals Growing Pressure on Reporters to Perform on Social Media

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

Public Relations Global Network was founded 25 years ago to expand local knowledge into a communications provider that can serve clients in multiple markets. Like-minded independently owned and operated firms gathered together to share best practices, win worldwide business and enjoy the camaraderie of peers. But a lot has changed in the industry since then…… Continue reading PRGN at 25 – Change is the Only Constant in PR

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?

Everyone knows the best time to plan is the beginning of each year. But, the end of the year offers some unique opportunities too. How can you maximize your brand in the 4th quarter? Here are a few End-of-the-Year PR and Social Media PR Tips. 1. What is Trending? Get Brand recognition by paying attention… Continue reading Win 2017 With These End-of-Year PR Tips

Having been in the communications industry for more than 40 years, first within corporations, then in consultancy, there were many lessons gleaned along the way. These have helped me to deal with various stakeholders better and to handle PR events and activities more effectively. I hope you will find them useful. Dealing with the media… Continue reading PR Lessons From Over the Years

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

In consumer public relations, we often build our annual plans around new product launches and all of the buzz – and sales – they will bring. While every new product is different, here are a few tried and true tips to make the most of any product launch campaign. 1. Plan ahead. Ideally, the PR… Continue reading 5 Tips for a Successful Product Launch

At first glance, a product review may just seem like a bunch of words coupled with images of a product, lavishing the product with half-hearted praise and encouraging readers to buy. Is that always the case? Reviewing is about making connections between images, text, and a reader, just like any other story. I enjoy reading… Continue reading Pitching for Product Reviews

We live in amazing times today, we are so digitized and so technologically advanced that the beginning of my PR career 20+ years ago seems to be in another life. I remember sending press releases by fax and communicating very important issues via pagers. No mobile phones, no blogs, no Facebook, no Twitter, but a… Continue reading Reveal the Client’s True Problem In Order to Develop a Resolution

For years they have been on separate paths, but since crisis is a synonym of corporate reputation, clients no longer worry about hiring a law firm when looking for a solution to their conflicts, but for several years they have understood that simultaneously they should look for someone who watches over their public image before… Continue reading The New, Close Relationship Between Communication Agencies and Law Firms

Social media influencers are not a new thing by any means. With the growth of platforms like Instagram and Snapchat, the term blogger has almost become a thing of the past. Why have a WordPress account that needs to be updated constantly with full length, long form posts when you can influence the masses with… Continue reading The Rise of the Micro-Influencer: Why Less Really Might Be More

Different people have different interpretations of what brand building means. Sadly, many equate advertising campaigns or logo changes to branding exercises – which only scrapes the surface of holistic brand building. Instead, brands must be built enterprise wide and most importantly, inside out. Companies that fail to deliver on their brand promises will inevitably face… Continue reading Employee Communication: Five Elements to Build Winning Brands

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

“Dead ones live longer” is a common phrase – and indeed, it applies also to pr. The question is not if the press release in general is dead but much more how to make it a vivid, compelling and fruitful part of your toolbox. The starting point is of course: Who should read, enjoy and… Continue reading Is the Press Release Dead?

Name: Mark Hazlin Title: Senior Vice President PRGN Agency: Xenophon Strategies, Inc. (Washington, DC, USA) Xenophon Strategies is a full-service strategic communications firm based in Washington, DC, specializing in PR, public affairs, and crisis response. Years at the Agency: 12 1. You were a journalist in your prior life. What made you jump to the… Continue reading Ten Questions with Mark Hazlin

Having been in the public relations business for nearly three decades, I’m often asked by business associates why and how to find the right PR firm for their needs. So, just like BuzzFeed, we’ve compiled some easy-to-read lists for you. My colleague Alison Bailin at PRGN’s Phoenix agency, HMA Public Relations, offers the following 10… Continue reading Why Should You Hire A PR Agency? And How Do You Find the Right PR Firm?

Name: Nick Miles Title: Senior Consultant PRGN Agency: Cabinet Privé de Conseils Location: Geneva, Switzerland Years at the Agency: 6 years, 9 months 1. Where did you grow up?: Philippines, Hong Kong, Zimbabwe, Japan, UK, and Singapore. 2. Why did you move to Geneva?: I was headhunted in 1998, and moved from London to Geneva… Continue reading Ten Questions With Nick Miles

Think you will ever ride in a flying car? Check out the latest on Flying Cars from David Fuscus of Xenophon Strategies, PRGN’s Washington, DC member. https://tinyurl.com/y9kn7pw3

Just as social media has changed everything about communications and marketing, it’s taken the practice of crisis management to new heights. The immediacy of channels such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and others make managing a crisis even more difficult, particularly when the groundswell of public commentary on the issue and the response – or lack… Continue reading Top Five Things to Know about Managing a Crisis on Social Media

We’ve all seen it on the news. The spokesperson heads to the microphone, reads a statement, then begins taking questions. Then, we notice something. He or she makes a mistake. Whether your spokesperson starts speaking off-topic, becomes a “deer in the headlights” or unintentionally gives away private information, a mistake takes place. Any one of… Continue reading What to do When Your Spokesperson Makes a Mistake

Name: Brianne Murphy Miller Title: Director PRGN agency: Landis Communications Inc Location: San Francisco, USA Years at the agency: 20 years (!) 1. What did you do before PR? : I’ve worked at start-ups (all failed – very Silicon Valley), publishing (Glamour and Sunset) and in fashion. 2. Why did you choose to enter PR?:… Continue reading Ten Questions With Brianne Murphy Miller

With earned media playing an increasingly important role in content-sharing, media relations remains a crucial element of public relations. But media pitching is highly challenging. Some surveys suggest that 95 percent of pitches never get a media response. Here are five reasons your pitches may be falling on deaf ears. 1. You didn’t do your… Continue reading 5 Reasons Your Media Pitches Are Getting No Response

The best kind of press isn’t something that you buy, but how exactly do you get free press coverage? Because the media is constantly pitching new products and services, getting noticed can be difficult. Here are three clever ways to ensure you get the media coverage you want, provided by the world’s top media relations… Continue reading Clever Ways to Get Free Press Coverage

Do you Google yourself and your company? If not, you should. Google is the first impression for anyone who doesn’t know you. It’s common for clients, customers, colleagues and even competitors to use the Internet to form their opinion of you. They want to know who is saying what? Is the information positive, negative or… Continue reading Reputation Management and Monitoring Your Web Presence

Back some years ago when many of us were ‘spring chickens’ one of the golden rules of PR was that companies did and should not have opinions on politics because they were corporate entities and not people. A few different techniques were used, but most of the time journalists were told that individual companies did… Continue reading Keeping Your Brand Out of Politics

Popularity of influencer marketing is a rich seam for brands and PR reps but greater transparency is now needed to enhance trust and credibility, writes Owen Cullen. It seems hard to believe now but there was a brief flicker of time, quite a few years back, when people weren’t sure if social media would catch… Continue reading The Rise of the Social Influencer

When clients hire a public relations agency to develop a PR campaign, they typically measure its success by the number of times the story was picked up, in which publications it appeared, and how many times it was retweeted or shared. Of course, they also want to know that the story was free of errors… Continue reading The Right Measurements to Determine a Successful PR Campaign

A Twitter presence, whether personal or corporate, is part of daily life in 2018. According to Hootsuite, nearly 330 million users worldwide access the platform in more than 40 different languages. Even more impressive is the number of active users: 42 percent access the app every day, while another 24 percent use Twitter weekly. That… Continue reading Do You Have a Twitter Marketing Plan?

As an industry, public relations has experienced our fair share of PR. Popular TV shows like “Mad Men” and “Sex and The City” have bolstered PR’s reputation as a career path lined with celebrity parties, free swag and other VIP perks. While many of us do frequently work on cool projects with major brands and… Continue reading 5 Ways to Know If Working in the PR Industry is Right for You

The Public Relations Global Network (PRGN) announced today the slate of new officers for one of the world’s largest PR agency networks. The appointments were announced during the consortium’s recent bi-annual meeting in Toronto, Canada. The three-day event, where the group’s leadership teams discuss best practices and find new ways to collaborate and develop business… Continue reading PRGN Elects C.L. Conroy as President

Anthropology is a science born out of two schools of thought related to how should a social scientist study a community. One approach, widely developed by one of anthropology’s founding fathers, Bronislaw Malinowski, was the “observatory participation”. Briefly put, in order to understand a community, you should spend time inside that community and try to… Continue reading 7 Ways to Get to Know Your Audience

Name: Kent Barrett Title: Vice President PRGN agency: The Hoyt Organization Location: Los Angeles, USA Years at the agency: 9 years 1. What did you do before PR? : I was a political reporter covering the Illinois Statehouse for ABC affiliates and did a brief stint as a TV News assignment editor in Madison, Wisc.… Continue reading 10 Questions With Kent Barrett

The Peace Summit between President Donald Trump of USA and Chairman Kim Jong Un of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea held at The Capella Hotel on Sentosa Island concluded on 12 June. The historic meeting was considered a success, as both parties agreed to meet further to work out the details for a permanent… Continue reading PR Implications of the Peace Summit in Singapore between President Trump of the USA and Chairman Kim of the DPRK

Nearly 3 years after the VW emissions scandal broke worldwide, the CEO of VW-owned Audi is arrested for fraud, false advertising and hindering the investigation by German authorities.  The first rule of crisis communications is to end the crisis and on something of this scale, that means untainted leadership and a willingness to right the… Continue reading VW Crisis Communications Failures Never End

Public relations has long been a powerful marketing tool for companies. In today’s digital environment, its impact is greater than ever. Here are nine reasons why every company should be investing in PR: 1. Allows a company to own and manage its narrative. Companies that fail to invest in PR are essentially ceding their narrative… Continue reading 9 Reasons Why Every Company Should Invest in PR

The corporate horizon has been littered with the skeletal remains of brands whose reputations have been tattered by a PR disaster. Three types of crises, in particular, have dominated the news recently: Security breaches (think Equifax) Bad behavior by a “rogue” employee (the Starbucks employee who had two African-American men arrested) #MeToo complaints lodged against… Continue reading Top PR Disasters and How to Avoid Them

There used to be a way to reach your target market with just a few touch points. Send out a press release. Produce an event. Sponsor a program. According to the Online Marketing Institute, it now takes 7-13 touches to reach a potential customer. Today’s consumers are immune to traditional marketing, PR and advertising strategies.… Continue reading Integrating Your Marketing and PR Strategies

The use of influencers is now a crucial element in every communications and PR agency. Over the latest years, influencer marketing has won the trust of consultants and their customers, but as with most trends, we run the risk of underestimating its complexity. “She has 70k followers on Instagram. How can’t she be perfect?” When… Continue reading 4 Ways To Leverage PR While Working With Influencers

Artificial intelligence is not science fiction anymore. AI is here, and it’s probably part of your daily life. In fact, when you search the web at any time from any device, whether you’re typing into a browser or talking to Siri, you are interacting with AI. Search engines use AI to deliver the best results… Continue reading How Artificial Intelligence affects SEO

We came from a world where selling a product or service was all about how you positioned yourself and how you ‘sold’ your company, through advertising, marketing and PR where you told people what you thought they should know about your product. It was really all about you and how good you were. Now we… Continue reading 7 PR Tips On Turning The Tide On Consumer Distrust

Social media is a very powerful tool for business. It is a platform for businesses to showcase their strengths and build a community of followers. Unfortunately, that same power can translate to major damage in the event of a crisis. Social media gives publicity issues the fuel to escalate to a full crisis in mere… Continue reading How to Keep Your Business Safe from Social Network Threats

The popularity of influencer marketing has exploded in recent years. Common belief is that the influencers‘ opinions can shape the perceptions of their followers. Though marketing campaigns constantly change, the followers‘ faith and trust in the influencer remains consistent. Online customers are known to trust the recommendation of individuals within their network or social circle. … Continue reading How to Connect with the Right Influencer for Your Brand

When it comes to launching a new product or service, success isn’t defined by whether or not you launch “on time.” Many mistakes can be avoided by slowing down, thinking through the entire campaign strategically and ensuring all ducks are in a row before pontificating your news to the world. Here are four key things… Continue reading Four Actions Companies Must Take Before Launching A New Product

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

Hiring any consultant is a difficult task. How do you find one that will mesh with your company culture and values? What about the budget? How can you measure results? With public relations, it can be even more difficult, given most people struggle with the intangible aspect of our industry. That said, there are ways… Continue reading So, You Think You Need a PR Firm: Tips from an Insider on How to Do it Right

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

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

A murmur has begun to rise about the decline of the public relations industry in Turkey. Agencies are losing blood, teams are getting cut in half, and revenues are plummeting. There are question marks lingering in the Turkish economy, including the rise in currency exchange prices and the potential outcome of elections. The fundamental problem… Continue reading Where is PR going in Turkey?

Name: Márk Németh Title: Head of Consumer PRGN Agency: Goodwill Communications Years at your agency: 7 Why did you choose to enter PR? I was working as a journalist at a print business daily when the world financial crisis hit. The editorial staff shrank and I found I had less time for the part of… Continue reading Ten Questions with Márk Németh

Bucharest, Romania – November 8, 2018 – The Public Relations Global Network (PRGN) announced the appointment of Gábor Jelinek as its inaugural Executive Director at its fall meeting held in Bucharest, Romania in late October, and recognized its member agencies with awards for the best communications campaigns in the past year. As PRGN’s new Executive… Continue reading Public Relations Global Network (PRGN) Selects its First Executive Director

As the end of  2018  quickly approaches, it has become more important than ever for Public Relations agencies to be available at anytime, anywhere, and devoted to the ultimate success of their clients, no matter what it takes. But, in this day and age, what does it take? What makes a PR agency stand out… Continue reading The Importance of a Global Network in a Digitized World

Podcast: Play in new window | Download In this episode of the PRGN Leadership Roundtable blog series of “Ten Questions,” we mix it up by bringing you an audio interview between Bradly Howland of HWB Communications in Cape Town, South Africa and Paul Konrardy of Evans Larson Communications in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Bradly shares the glories of Cape Town… Continue reading Ten Questions With Bradly Howland: An Audio Podcast

It’s that time of year. We’re all finishing up the current year while looking towards the future, gazing into our all-knowing crystal balls. And in our industry, that means looking at what’s in store for the field of public relations in 2019. I took the liberty of asking my friends and colleagues at the Public… Continue reading What’s in store for PR in 2019?

Here some ways to end 2018 on a high note. Publish your end-of-the-year report. Share your 2018 successes with your clients and staff. Provide a Share of Voice report to display how your efforts compared to Brand X. What other tracking will your client appreciate? Provide it. Pursue that elusive media outlet. So your client… Continue reading Win December with These End-of-Year PR Tips

Nowadays, PR is much more than media relations, press releases or launch events. PR becomes a modern combination of classical and new communication trends – integrated, 360 degree PR strategy including visuals, digital solutions, and, of course, blogging. Blogs fit the taste of those who are looking for interesting pieces of news, non-traditional recommendations or… Continue reading Why should blogging be a part of your PR strategy?

So, how do you keep an eye on your competitors?   One of the best and easiest ways to keep watch is to audit your competitors’ communications. It requires you (or your agency) to keep an eye on (as well as an ear out) for what they are saying. The right places to look and… Continue reading Keeping an eye on the competition

The Castle Group expands and adds its Atlanta, Georgia team to PRGN; Mileage Communications grows its presence and adds its New Delhi, India location into the network NEW YORK – January 15, 2019– The Public Relations Global Network (PRGN) announced today that it has added two new locations to its global network, raising the number… Continue reading Public Relations Global Network Adds PR Agency Offices in India and Georgia

Don’t expect a big surprise when reading our answer to this question: No, a formal certificate of any kind of curriculum is definitely not necessary to work and survive in PR – as many agency owners, pr managers and employees without a degree can tell you from their experience. But having said this, of course,… Continue reading Is a College Degree Necessary to Work in PR?

Meltwater will offer PRGN Member agencies special insights and offers   February 29, 2019 – Leading Media Intelligence firm Meltwater has signed on with the Public Relations Global Network (PRGN), one of the world’s largest international public relations networks, as a sponsor in 2019. The four-month sponsorship agreement enables Meltwater to showcase its media intelligence,… Continue reading Public Relations Global Network Signs Meltwater as Sponsor

Public relations is typically defined as a set of actions aimed at creating and maintaining a good image of a person, a company or any organization. The image can be built for the general public (consumers, clients, investors, public institutions, social organizations, etc.) and also for an organization’s own staff (internal communications). In light of… Continue reading What is a PR Firm?

Today, more than ever, employee advocacy and PR are intrinsically linked, and a true connection is necessary when business objectives need to be met. When we talk about messages and communication with audiences, corporate image, the social networks, all this can be leveraged multiple times if the employee advocacy is in place and functioning well… Continue reading Employee Advocacy Can Improve PR

Let’s be honest, every company can face a social media crisis at any time. If it hasn’t happened yet, it may come to you sooner or later. A comprehensive communications toolkit today cannot be complete without a blog, so it is quite right to ask: How can a blog be part of your contingency plan?… Continue reading 5 Ways to Use Your Blog to Manage a Crisis

Optimizing your schedule is important for making the most out of every workday. It’s true no matter what your profession is – public relations professional, CEO, parent, teacher – since every minute you save allows you extra time for yourself, your family or another client. But, prioritizing goals to maximize your daily schedule isn’t always… Continue reading Start Your Day with the Right Marketing Mindset – Four Tips to Create a Successful Daily PR Routine

Reduced to the essentials, it is actually quite simple: investors on the capital markets want to earn money and they hate making mistakes. This principle applies universally worldwide and across all investor classes. Sometimes experience, a good nose or a so-called golden hand can help make a worthwhile investment decision. However, in order to assess… Continue reading How good Investor Relations can make a difference

The public relations agency can serve a number of significant roles in the C-suite. The question is, how do you find true acceptance in the C-suite. Strategic vision. It is critical that a PR firm understand the corporate vision. If there is none, this is the most important job to be accomplished. The future of… Continue reading 10 public relations agency roles in the C-suite

Should PR professionals be afraid of Artificial Intelligence? On the contrary, they should embrace the advantages provided by AI, starting with an enhanced influence. Will PR professionals be soon replaced by robots? If DeepMind managed, less than 2 years ago, to create an AI “chess master,” the subsidiary of Google could feasibly create an AI… Continue reading The Big Bang theory of PR

Although PR professionals are usually seen as news-shapers, we’re also news-makers, especially as our industry continues to evolve at an ever-increasing rate. And whether it’s tips on how to utilize new social media management tools or an analysis of the latest communications disaster, the PR trades do a vital job in keeping our industry up-to-date.… Continue reading What News, Blogs and Magazines to Monitor if You’re in PR

Although PR professionals are usually seen as news-shapers, we’re also news-makers, especially as our industry continues to evolve at an ever-increasing rate. And whether it’s tips on how to utilize new social media management tools or an analysis of the latest communications disaster, the PR trades do a vital job in keeping our industry up-to-date.… Continue reading What News, Blogs and Magazines to Monitor if You’re in PR

Although PR professionals are usually seen as news-shapers, we’re also news-makers, especially as our industry continues to evolve at an ever-increasing rate. And whether it’s tips on how to utilize new social media management tools or an analysis of the latest communications disaster, the PR trades do a vital job in keeping our industry up-to-date.… Continue reading What News, Blogs and Magazines to Monitor if You’re in PR

Global communications group adds two new member agencies from Helsinki (Finland) and New York (USA) during bi-annual meeting The Public Relations Global Network (PRGN) selected two new agency members from Helsinki (Finland) and New York (USA) to one of the top five largest networks of independent PR and communications agencies. The group decided on admitting… Continue reading Public Relations Global Network Adds Offices in Finland and New York

Succession and acquisition strategies, digital solutions and services, growth in the Asia-Pacific region and reaching and involving Generation Z among larger opportunities discussed by global PR professionals at the bi-annual meeting. The Public Relations Global Network (PRGN) held its bi-annual meeting in Amersfoort, the Netherlands, between May 16-18, 2019 where the group’s leadership teams discussed… Continue reading Members of Public Relations Global Network Convene to Exchange Knowledge and Develop Business Partnerships Globally

Global communications group elects new president during bi-annual meeting The Public Relations Global Network (PRGN) announced today the slate of new officers for one of the top five largest networks of independent PR and communications agencies. The appointments were announced during PRGN’s recent bi-annual meeting in Amersfoort, the Netherlands. At the Amersfoort meeting, attended by… Continue reading Public Relations Global Network Elects Aaron Blank as President

In the endless ocean of the digital world, social media posts by companies and brands are often overlooked or do not attract the attention of its audience at a desired level. To improve engagement, brands often choose to promote their products by cooperating with influencers thought to be fit for the brand. Influencer marketing –… Continue reading The Macro Effect of Micro-Influencers

After 40 years of agency history, there are some key learnings I’d like to share on one of still the best PR tools: case studies. Let’s clarify first how we in the German market define a case study: That’s an article showing a solution (product/service) of a client of ours in use by one of… Continue reading Drafting PR Case Studies: Tips based on 40 years of PR experience

Love them or leave them, the fact is we simply can’t ignore them – the difference that is between employers, the Baby Boomers and their younger employees, the Millennials. One of the most common complaints Baby Boomer leaders have about Millennials is that they seem to have a sense of entitlement, resulting in part from… Continue reading Building bridges to cross the generation gap at work

No matter what you do the request for proposal (RFP) is a fact of life in the world of PR agencies and clients. In fact, some 30 percent of all PR agency new business comes via the RFP. For many corporate and institutional clients, RFPs are necessary, as corporate purchasing guidelines often require them to… Continue reading PR Tips: Best Practices for PR Firm Request for Proposals (RFPs)

Embracing its newly approved Strategic Plan, the global PR agency network targets expansion in emerging markets in Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, and strengthens its capabilities by adding a new regional structure to drive growth To drive growth in emerging markets, strengthen regional representation and better address its global member agencies’ and clients’ needs,… Continue reading PRGN Names Three PR Agency Executives as Regional Vice Presidents

No personal contact, no investment in your company. The simple truth is: Investing is a people business and Investor Relations is about building relationships. Going on a roadshow to get in direct contact with institutional investors is obviously one of Investor Relations most important activities. Roadshows offer an opportunity to ensure that Investor Relations has… Continue reading Why Every Stock Listed Company Should Go On Investor Roadshows Across Europe

Agency life is an evolutionary process and brings times of stability as well as disruptive changes —some of them forced upon the agency from the outside, some of them deliberately initiated to bring the organization to a new level. The Austrian PRGN member formerly known as asoluto has gone through such a change and since… Continue reading How “asoluto” became “accelent” — What We Learned from Rebranding Our Agency

Online activism is a very potent tool for change that gives activists who would otherwise go unnoticed an immediate and potentially global audience to hear their side of a particular story. We’ve seen how activists can garner a groundswell of support that can overrule the ‘terms and conditions’ of business and even put world leaders… Continue reading Why Online Activism has the Power to Change the Way We Do Business

Ah, North America! Home of the natural wonders of Canada, beloved cuisine of Mexico and general craziness of the United States. Within these disparate, yet adjacent, countries lie a host of communications agencies with subspecialties in practically every industry. The question is: how do you find the best PR agencies in North America for your… Continue reading Who are the Top PR Agencies in the U.S., Canada and Mexico?

Is PR one of your options to start your career? Searching the web for PR jobs can be an enormous task and you’d often be thrown into confusion. The PR industry has become so diversified and almost borderless and at the same time the “think global, act local” thinking leads you in global business. Which… Continue reading Just graduated college? Follow PRGN toward PR jobs near you

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

In today’s world, there’s no escaping social media – especially when it comes to crisis communications. I can say this with authority since 99.9 percent of the crises we’ve managed in the past few years have involved one platform or another. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, Yik Yak (yes, even Yik Yak, for those of… Continue reading Five key learnings from social media crisis

How often do you feel you’ve got too many things going on around you? Instead of getting straight to PR work, you suddenly find yourself doing 10 or 100 other things, just not the right one you should be doing? Or maybe it is difficult for you or your team to finish all tasks in… Continue reading Top 10 PR tools that make a difference in your productivity

Variety is the spice of Europe Europe is the continent of variety: language, habits and cultural sensitivities vary enormously, sometimes even within single countries! My own country Belgium being a prime example, a uniform approach does not work for both the Francophone and the Dutch-speaking parts of this small country. If you are looking for… Continue reading How to choose the best PR agencies in Europe

Being a local boutique PR agency in Malaysia, we do face a fair bit of challenges in terms of recruiting, retaining and most importantly, inspiring a team. After all, we lack the financial and human resource support that an international agency may have. However, over the last thirteen years, we have continued to grow and… Continue reading How To Lead A Team: Perspectives From A PR Firm

There is no question that real estate is an exciting industry. It shapes our cities, creates places for us to shop, work and even shapes the places we take our children to play. As a result, to be involved in the development of new projects – and see them rise out of the ground –… Continue reading Real Estate Public Relations: The Five-Step Process that Creates a Successful Program

Let’s face it – most PR pros aren’t in it for the awards… but they sure are nice. Besides adding statues and plaques to your office shelf, PR industry awards present excellent opportunities for agencies to analyze their work, receive feedback from peers, evaluate outcomes and benchmark against best practices. However, with rising entry fees… Continue reading More than office décor: Five PR awards programs that will make your agency stand out

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

In an era of corporate reputation coming under close scrutiny from an increasing number of directions, strategic communications agencies – at least the ones staffed with experienced communications professionals and former journalists and capable to support companies and individuals alike in a crisis situation – have become increasingly valued by law firms and their clients.… Continue reading Communication Agencies and Law Firms: the new allies in business crises

The worldwide image of business lobbyists is rather negative: they fight to defend only their companies’ interests; they mobilize their energy to keep a status quo when the world is requesting changes; they act in the shadow. But this aversion to lobbying is not a fatality: the root causes of negative mindsets can be changed… Continue reading A genuine approach: positive impact lobbying – and why clients should care…?

Public relations is thriving – and evolving in exciting ways. It’s a great time to be in the business. At its core, our work is unchanging: actively pursuing relationships – shaping them, building them and maintaining them. That will always be front and center. But other aspects of our profession are developing or expanding. Here… Continue reading 5 Trends Influencing the State of Public Relations

Today, the public relations profession involves a number of roles and functions, including media relations, corporate and marketing communications, brand awareness, creative solutions, and many more. Depending on your business, your relationship with PR and the role of PR within your organization can vary considerably. Regardless if a business is either trying to outsource the… Continue reading What makes a PR firm the best for you? – Here are the right questions to ask

No matter how hard they try to avoid it, companies often need to deal with disastrous situations – *it happens. But what makes them an actual PR disaster is not necessarily the mere existence of a crisis but rather the way the crisis is being dealt with. There are numerous instances in which companies dealt… Continue reading Five PR disasters we can all learn from

The Public Relations Global Network (PRGN) announced winners of its annual Best Practice Awards at the end of October. “The PRGN Best Practice Awards reflect the wide range and diversity of talents that are represented by our global partners,” said PRGN President, Aaron Blank. “With 50 agencies around the globe, the awards represent the high… Continue reading PRGN Announces Winners of 2019 Best Practice Awards

Last year, I wrote an article titled “Escaping The Bangsar Trap” for a leading Malaysian business magazine. Bangsar is an affluent suburb in Malaysia’s capital city of Kuala Lumpur. The “Bangsar Trap” however describes the siloed mindset of the privileged, largely English-speaking Malaysian upper middle-class. This can be an issue in the communications business as… Continue reading Navigating the Asian Communications Landscape – And 5+1 recommendations for successful campaigns in Asia

“Culture eats strategy for breakfast” – that’s what management consultant Peter Drucker said about the power of corporate culture. He asserted that strategy is important but that an organization’s culture is the true path to its success. Lots of PR agencies brag about their culture. Their website and social media channels share pictures of their… Continue reading Four clear signs that tell your chosen PR agency has great culture

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

When public relations first came on the scene in the early 1900s, it was originally based on a journalism foundation simply because most companies wanted to get their name in the newspaper. As it evolved, it became a sophisticated approach to creating the right message targeted to the right audience in the right way. This… Continue reading The Meaning of PR: How it’s changing as we head into 2020

The marketplace has often been described as a war zone, and your communications plan has to win the battle for the attention of audiences and most importantly, their buy-in. As the new year approaches, many brands and organizations would be in the midst of planning their next phase of communication. Broadly, we can see two… Continue reading How to Develop Effective Communications Strategies: The SNIPER approach

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

It’s that time of year again: as 2019 comes to a close, we’re all staring into that crystal ball, wondering what the future holds for public relations in 2020. I asked our worldwide PR affiliates from the Public Relations Global Network for their ideas. Here’s a smattering of what’s in store for PR. Happy new… Continue reading PR Predictions for 2020 – looking into the crystal ball of PR

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

In public relations, we’re always working hard for our clients to get them noticed on lists that decry “The Top This” or “Best Of That.” And yet, like the proverbial shoemaker’s kids, we might not always do it so well for ourselves. What’s a great PR agency (or any business) to do? Well, here are… Continue reading “Best Of” Lists: How to gain notoriety for your business in 4 easy steps

Gong Xi Fa Cai! As the Year of the Rat begins January 25, 2020, I wish you all a healthy, wealthy and prosperous new year! The Year of the Rat symbolizes vitality, and it is believed to be particularly good for businesses and entrepreneurs. China has always been a very attractive market, offering great potential… Continue reading Advice for doing business with Chinese clients – from a Chinese perspective

In the first week of January, CES2020 confirmed its role as one of the most important shows for advanced automotive technology, with a record number of new vehicle introductions from automakers for this show, as well as a record number of automotive suppliers and mobility technology systems companies participating in this juggernaut event in Las… Continue reading Top lessons learned for automotive and mobility suppliers from CES2020

There are supposedly as many trends to watch as experts you ask. There are about 1,000 PR professionals working at member agencies in PRGN. For your convenience, here we present only the five most important trends that will shape the year 2020. Placing results of PR activities into a purchasing funnel PR experts will increasingly… Continue reading Five PR trends that will shape 2020

Recently I saw an article in a tabloid paper saying people spend 25 years of their life sleeping and 19 years at work. This means the second biggest identifiable span in our lives is spent either working, being at work or thinking about work. A daunting thought. If work consumes so much of our lives,… Continue reading Communication at the workplace: a global future challenge

Is your company listed on a stock exchange? Great! Once a year the attention is all yours when you publish your annual results. But you have to do it in the right way to collect bonus points with the media, investors and the public. Here are five vital tips to successfully communicate the company’s financial… Continue reading 5 ways to make your earnings season communication a win

At a recent dinner at a corporate event, I had the opportunity to listen to a stand-up comedian. Each joke was more macho than the other. And I thought, what a bad image this dinner will give this brand with all the women here and how old-fashioned the whole gig is. At least I don’t… Continue reading What to watch for when making your brand more appealing to women

As a PR firm, we counsel clients on social media best practices, helping them to take a fresh look at what they’re doing, why they’re doing it, and how it’s performing. Based on our many client interactions on the topic, here are three common social media mistakes companies make, and tips for avoiding them. Having… Continue reading Three Common Social Media Mistakes – and How to Avoid Them

PRGN’s Boston and Atlanta agency The Castle Group collected nine tried and tested advices from its staffers who had been working remotely well before the pandemic forced companies to introduce WFH policies. See their guide to the big adjustment. Read more

What do Unilever, Oxfam, Cambridge University and the German Federal Government have in common? They all report against the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs are becoming the common DNA of business, government and civil society around the world. But what are the SDGs? And how can your organisation add the SDGs to its… Continue reading How to include the SDGs in your company’s DNA?

Recipients of crisis communications messages all seek similar things, no matter if from business leaders or government officials. PRGN’s Philadelphia agency Buchanan Public Relations offers six key elements in any critical communication around Covid-19, including some example wordings that go with their tips. Read more

A growing number of office workers around the globe have been forced to work from home due to the COVID-19 outbreak, and this trend is likely to continue for some time. Many of the 1,000-plus employees from PRGN’s 50 global agencies are already accustomed to remote work scenarios. We’re happy to share their advice for… Continue reading Working from home: Advice from PRGN members around the globe

Working with the media in times of a widespread crisis is tricky. Brands reaching out to journalists in the front line of the global pandemic must find the right tone and content. Three Box Strategic Communications, PRGN’s Dallas agency, tells how to engage with the media with Covid-19 all around us. Read More

With Covid-19 dominating the media, Industrie-Contact, PRGN’s member agency in Germany, is taking a look at how readers – and writers – of news can stay away from fake news and keep mentally sound and focused. Critical skills in times of crisis. Read More

PRGN’s Detroit agency Bianchi PR shares their top PR advices for automakers for the time of the coronavirus crisis. Their nine tips – from handling customers respectfully to how to change course of scheduled launches and events – offer advice to all B2B companies on rerouting communication in these troubled times. Read More

Experienced remote worker and executive vice president of PRGN’s Chicago agency, Shannon Quinn offers her personal advice on how to stay effective and balanced when making the big change to work from home for a while now. Read More

Brands often miss it even when the environment changes so radically and visibly around them. PRGN’s Philadelphia agency Buchanan Public Relations shows a few examples how bad timing or bad wording backfires when brands continue to communicate without caution in times of crisis. Read More

Change your social media strategy drastically when your environment is doing the same and is going for a crisis – says PRGN’s North Carolina agency, S&A Communications, in its latest blog piece. And offers the three key steps to help make the change in the right direction. Read More

Social media platforms are taking advantage that Covid-19 is attracting record number of visitors to them. HMA Public Relations – PRGN’s founding member in Arizona – has taken a look at what innovations and socially responsible messages the platforms are airing at the time of the global public health crisis. Read More

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

“No one’s ever heard of us.” “People know us for the wrong reasons.” “I want it all.” Having represented hundreds of companies over the course of our almost 30 years in business, we have heard these exasperations all too many times. There are five specific themes that repeat themselves when it comes to public relations,… Continue reading Five PR Nightmares Businesses Can Avoid

Building a positive reputation in the midst of a crisis may seem counterintuitive. Yet, as we have seen in the Covid-19 event, the worst of times can bring out the best in people and organizations. Five tools, likely present in your professional toolbox, will improve your ability to guide organizations in enhancing their reputations during… Continue reading Positive Reputation and Crisis: Not Mutually Exclusive

While I’m writing this, the vast majority of all commercial passenger aircraft are grounded as global and domestic travel is mostly prohibited. However, once this picture changes, airlines will need to quickly regain the trust of passengers and get back into a professional communications mode. This is when communications agencies can step in. But what… Continue reading How to be Pro When Doing PR for Aviation?

There are a lot of things in the world more important than sports, as we so clearly realize now more than ever in the middle of a global pandemic, but I’ve still got to say: I miss the games, the golf, the French Open. Most of us will dearly miss the Olympics. Who won the… Continue reading Missing Sports – Just as Much as Working on It

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?

Possibly right now, more than ever, social listening is an important aspect of your brand and reputation, and even your clients’ brand and reputation. As the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdowns still continue to affect our day-to-day lives, businesses, nonprofits, schools, shopping, entertainment habits and more, people are turning online to engage with one another and… Continue reading Expand Your Monitoring, and Brand, With Social Listening Tools

The Public Relations Global Network (PRGN) announced today it has added three new locations to its global network, raising the number of its offices serving PR clients throughout the world to 53. PRGN is adding three new offices to its network in Little Rock, Arkansas, Denver, Colorado, and Portland, Oregon. PRGN will be represented in… Continue reading Public Relations Global Network Adds Offices in Arkansas, Colorado, Oregon

There used to be a time in which an investor’s main objective was to maximise the return on their investment without any regard for factors concerning the environment (E), social (S) matters, or governance (G). These times are over. Now there is an increasing awareness of these so-called ESG criteria among the general public and… Continue reading The importance of ESG reporting for listed and non-listed companies

The global health and economic crisis that all of humanity faces in 2020 has forced many PR firms to downsize. While size is quite clearly not the ultimate factor determining the quality of services of a PR agency – or how they are a match with their clients – a boutique size and family atmosphere… Continue reading Small is Beautiful: Managing a PR Firm

Managing reputation for a brand or a company at the turn of this decade has been challenging for a variety of reasons: First: Everything has become faster and global, from news to information exchange, movements, trends and issues. Many of the recent grassroots movements and major issues, such as Brexit, #MeToo and Extinction Rebellion, have been… Continue reading The Five Pillars of Online Reputation Management

The Public Relations Global Network (PRGN) announced today the slate of new officers for one of the world’s five largest networks of independent PR and communications agencies. The appointments were announced during PRGN’s recent bi-annual Spring meeting, held virtually for the first time due to the Covid-19 pandemic. During the online video meeting – which replaced… Continue reading Public Relations Global Network Elects Robert Bauer as President

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

The Mileage Communications Group celebrates its 28th anniversary in 2020. On this occasion, I am especially proud of what our group has contributed to the PR industry in Singapore and the profound impact we have made in nurturing creative young minds for our profession. Over the years, our Singapore headquarters has taken in numerous interns… Continue reading The Virtuous Cycle in the PR Industry

PR for real estate projects should always be focused on ensuring that clients sell properties. Our clients sell luxury properties as second homes abroad. In addition to traditional PR tools, we have used numerous tactics in past years to further improve the results of our work and help the sales process. For the moment, some… Continue reading Real Estate Communications: Add Color to Concrete

The global hospitality industry has been dealt a devastating blow by Covid-19. Most hotels and restaurants suddenly lost the majority of their customers and are struggling to keep their businesses alive. How has PR changed as a result? Can PR help in this situation? How should PR professionals think differently now? Here are what we have… Continue reading How hospitality and leisure PR has changed under Covid-19

The most recent research studies on leadership share the image of a future increasingly characterized by skills that have socially and historically belonged to the females. The old “command-economy” mentality by Henry Ford is now outdated and overtaken by the modern working organization, inspired by values such as active listening, empathy, sharing, delegation and inclusion.… Continue reading Female leadership and PR: What have they in common?

Frequent Flyer Survey Shows Pent-Up Demand Washington, DC PRGN member Xenophon Strategies has released their 2020 Frequent Flyer Survey on flying in the time of COVID-19. The research was conducted by the firm’s research arm, Xenophon Analytics by polling members of the company’s proprietary, opt-in, Frequent Flyer Database, which includes 200k+ passengers who are all verified… Continue reading Frequent Flyer Survey 2020 – Flying in the Time of COVID

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

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

There’s been no shortage of discussion about social media’s seemingly endless potential to bring people closer together.  Clearly, it is a powerful tool that can efficiently provide information to the masses and create stronger bonds in any number of communities. However, along with these positive opportunities come threats to all entities, especially in today’s “new… Continue reading Social Media — A Boon or a Bane?

Who doesn’t love redwood trees? These iconic trees, some of the oldest and certainly the tallest and largest in the world, are mainly located in California (with a small grove also in remote China). Redwoods exude a majestic presence with their beauty, their breadth, their height and their age: it just makes you want to… Continue reading What Can Redwood Trees Teach Business about Sustainability?

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

Digital PR is simply the evolution of what has until now been known as “traditional” PR. It’s the opportunity to step away from the credibility crises that traditional PR practitioners have had to face so often in the past with new-age tools and tactics that are customisable, effective and measurable. To a certain extent one… Continue reading What does a PR firm do in the digital age?

Pitching seasonal media stories is a staple of consumer public relations. The coverage calendar ebbs and flows with many of the same topics year after year, and our job is to find a new angle to help our clients shine. Back-to-school season has been one of the most consistent and far-reaching seasonal stories to tie… Continue reading When Back-to-School is Anything but Normal

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

Close cooperation between agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGO) is becoming the norm increasingly, as it offers a win-win situation for both sides. Ideally, such cooperation can generate for NGOs an increase in resources, as well as growing public awareness, improved reputation, accomplishing new extraordinary projects and recruiting more donors.  On the agency side, such cooperation… Continue reading How to Work with NGOs for Mutual Success

I’m often asked, “How do you generate new business leads?” There’s no silver bullet to answer that question, but if I had to pick one strategy it would be: the power of Search Engine Optimization (SEO). Our marketing communications agency, Landis Communications Inc. in San Francisco, celebrates 30 years in business this October. For probably… Continue reading Six Tips: How SEO Can Power Your New Business Strategy

With crises of democracies and capitalism the end of this decade has brought to us globally, it has become more and more necessary and frequent for diverse interest groups to express their opinions to governments in fast and powerful ways to change the environment around them. Tired of waiting to raise their voices through traditionally… Continue reading Effective B2G Communications, or How to Reach Political Decision Makers in the Digital Age

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

(Oct. 19, 2020 – NEW YORK) – The Public Relations Global Network (PRGN), hosted a lively panel discussion featuring agency leaders from around the world, discussing “The New World Ahead.” Held in conjunction with the network’s bi-annual Fall conference on October 16, this first-time virtual event was attended by nearly 200 communicators from around the… Continue reading Communicators from Around the World Convene Virtually to Exchange Knowledge and Develop Business Partnerships Globally

Successful content marketing takes time and energy and let’s be honest, as you begin to develop your strategy, you simply can’t do everything at once. Writing a daily or even weekly blog may seem simple at first, but when you add keyword research, interviews, graphics, photographs, CTAs and careful integration into your broader digital marketing… Continue reading Five Secrets of Successful Video Marketing

As the Covid-19 pandemic continues to rage on, the world is learning how to cope with it and businesses are looking for new opportunities the crisis presents. In the travel and leisure industry – my closer area of expertise – professionals are already brainstorming now not only about how to survive, but also how to… Continue reading New Angles That Work in Travel and Leisure PR in the Midst of the Pandemic

Corporate stocks have seen a rollercoaster year due to Covid-19, political turmoil and social unrest all impacting market sentiments. And now news on the vaccines have arrived and are spreading hope on the stock markets again. How can publicly traded companies – especially midcaps and small firms not sitting on large marketing budgets – keep… Continue reading 5 Simple Ways to Boost Visibility of a Stock

The world has a plan to end poverty, fight inequality and save the planet from climate change – the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs contain 17 goals and 169 targets. The plan sounds lofty and daunting, right? Even so, the SDGs are forming part of the DNA of business, government and civil… Continue reading Why Stakeholder Engagement is the First Step to Reach Your SDGs

With Covid-19 still dominating our social and business interactions – and will likely continue to do so well into 2021 – the usual company meetings are bound to look a lot different for some time to come. So it is high time we take a look at how hybrid events combine the best of in-person… Continue reading Rethinking Corporate Event Strategies for 2021: How Hybrid Events Accomplish Goals and Create Engagement

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

For most business leaders, 2020 almost certainly will be viewed similarly to sports accomplishments that include asterisks to denote records set under questionable circumstances. Yet, many of us as senior communications advisers are wired for this time in history. While we admittedly prefer to function through carefully planned and crafted strategies and tactics, most of… Continue reading Three Lessons of 2020 That Help You Prepare PR Programs in 2021 and Beyond

As we look forward to this new year of 2021, what do companies need to do to move their brand forward and increase the bottom line?  As members of the Public Relations Global Network (PRGN), we are all given this challenge by our clients regularly. Of course, the world is in a different place globally… Continue reading Why Companies Should Invest into PR & Digital in 2021 and Beyond?

What a year.  2020 might as well have been “the year of crisis.” Or maybe it was just one big 365-day crisis. It certainly felt like it, as The Castle Group’s crisis communications practice managed more than 100 crises for 57 clients in 19 states and two countries. As we reflect on 2020, we all… Continue reading 2020 – The Year of Crisis

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

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

Global communications group joins initiative calling for communications professionals to do their part in face of the global pandemic, climate emergency and future threats facing mankind The Public Relations Global Network (PRGN) today joined an initiative endorsed by Orbicom, the network of UNESCO chairs in communications, and called the “International Declaration of Communications Professionals and Researchers… Continue reading Public Relations Global Network Endorses UNESCO Declaration on a Healthier, Viable, Better World

For starters, here’s one piece of useful information: the automotive PR industry is now very similar to the technology PR industry. This is because cars have become devices and drivers have become more of a user. Sounds familiar, right? I used to work for a tire company and now I work for a device producing… Continue reading PR Tips for Tech Companies Entering The Automotive Market

NEW YORK-LONDON, February 9 – The Public Relations Global Network (PRGN) has appointed Sara Pearson, Founder and Chairman of integrated communications agency Spider in London, UK, as its new Regional Vice President for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA). At the RVP position Sara replaces Uwe Schmidt, Co-owner and Partner of Industrie-Contact AG in Hamburg,… Continue reading Public Relations Global Network Appoints Sara Pearson as Regional Vice President for its EMEA region

It goes without saying that 2020 was a year we’d all rather forget. While the vaccine proliferation in many parts of the world offers a light at the end of the COVID tunnel, public relations professionals should keep five potential crises in the back of their mind as we work to normalize again. Vaccine rollout… Continue reading The Five Crises to Watch for in 2021

From podcasts to Clubhouse, new communication trends are putting oral culture back at the center of communications and public relations. With around two million users worldwide in January and around 50,000 users in Italy just weeks after its arrival in our country, Clubhouse is a networking platform that has brought voice, the most traditional communication… Continue reading Clubhouse: Voice-Based Communications Returns as a Key Element in Building Relations

Doing your first ESG (environmental, social and governance) report is not as simple or straight-forward as it seems. In no way are we trying to deter you from producing your first ESG report. It is one of the most important reports a company does for responsible investors and key stakeholders. Yet, our experience with first-time… Continue reading What Most Companies Get Wrong When Doing Their First ESG Report

Once upon a time, we only talked about “hybrid” in science class. Today, the word is ubiquitous. In any language, we’re referring that in-between world blending in-person and remote – in the classroom, office and, yes, events.  Ready or not, hybrid events are in your future; depending on where you are, maybe sooner than later.… Continue reading How to Successfully Host a Hybrid Event

NEW YORK-LONDON – Member agencies of the Public Relations Global Network (PRGN) have reported an unprecedented surge of new business success in the first two months of 2021. Despite the global pandemic and its economic impacts worldwide, independent agencies prove resilient, agile and successful in expanding their business offering – an internal survey at PRGN… Continue reading Public Relations Global Network Agencies Start 2021 With More Than 100 New Client Assignments

Working with influencers is like braving the wild, wild west. Without any specific guidelines or code of ethics, each brand-influencer partnership is unique and can result in really great coverage, really awful coverage or something in between.  With each passing year, influencer trends shift dramatically, too. The of-the-moment Instagram star is the micro-influencer, a social… Continue reading How to Find Micro-Influencers That Match Your Brand

It’s been a long and challenging 12 months since the World Health Organization declared Covid-19 a pandemic on March 11, 2020. Many businesses have moved to remote work or a hybrid workplace model, while others were forced to shut their doors permanently. However, with vaccine rollouts across the United States on a fast track by… Continue reading Five Ways Communicators Should Prepare to Reopen After Covid-19

Recently a list of the best social media campaigns of 2020 has been revealed and it includes campaigns from globally renowned brands such as Spotify, PlayStation, Bud Light, Ocean Spray, Heineken, Netflix and Pringles. Rightly so, the campaigns offered significant insight to communication pros not just because of the brand name behind the campaigns but… Continue reading The Best Social Media Campaigns of 2020

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

Tourism and hospitality are two of the most affected industries following the COVID-19 global crisis. Many jobs have disappeared, many companies have gone bankrupt, and many services no longer have a reason to exist. Today, a year later from the pandemic’s onset, we are struggling to adapt to this new normal. The hospitality and tourism… Continue reading Five Key Campaign Reboot Elements For Tourism Brands After Covid-19

Crisis communications as a public relations practice stands out not just in the execution of high level strategies at an amplified pace, but because every crisis communications scenario serves as a stress test for that organization. Whether that crisis plays out in the headlines or gets managed internally, everyone immediately recognizes what worked… and what… Continue reading The New Chapters You Should Add to Your Crisis Handbook After Covid-19

Millennial moms are more than their skinny jeans. Eighty percent of children in the U.S. are born to millennial mothers, and with moms controlling 85% of household purchasing decisions, millennial moms grasp about $2.4 trillion in spending power, according to Forbes. Communicating with millennial moms requires rethinking your biases and reworking marketing strategies to ensure… Continue reading Side Parts and Sippy Cups: Speaking the Language of Millennial Moms

“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

NEW YORK-LONDON-BRUSSELS – The Public Relations Global Network (PRGN) and the International Public Relations Association (IPRA) have signed a cooperation agreement involving information exchange and benefits to the organizations and their respective memberships. According to the cooperation, member agencies of PRGN will be able to enter IPRA’s renowned annual public relations global competition, the Golden… Continue reading Public Relations Global Network and the International Public Relations Association enter cooperation agreement

NEW YORK-LONDON – The Public Relations Global Network (PRGN) is holding its bi-annual member conference virtually between May 5 and 7, 2021. The event, which in previous years has been held at rotating locations across continents, is being run this year on a virtual events platform due to the global Covid-19 pandemic. The three-day event… Continue reading PRGN Members Convene Virtually to Exchange Knowledge and Develop Business Partnerships

NEW YORK-LONDON – The Public Relations Global Network (PRGN) announced today the slate of new officers for one of the world’s largest networks of independent PR and communications agencies. The appointments were announced during PRGN’s recent bi-annual Spring member conference, held virtually due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Following a vote from PRGN member agencies, Alexandra… Continue reading Public Relations Global Network Elects Alexandra Dinita as President

Competition in the Food & Beverage industry is always fierce. With consumers choosing from hundreds of restaurants, F&B brands need to get creative when promoting new products and initiatives. A few PR campaigns from the past several years have stood out above the rest. Read on for a sample of our favorites and our takeaways… Continue reading Top Five Examples of Successful Food PR

NEW YORK-LONDON – The Public Relations Global Network (PRGN) announced today it has added two new agencies to its global network, raising the number of its offices serving PR clients throughout the world to 54. PRGN is adding two agencies with a total of four new offices to its network in Birmingham, Alabama, as well… Continue reading Public Relations Global Network Adds Agencies in Alabama and Brazil

Pitching attorneys to the media as subject matter experts is an effective way to bring exposure to a particular law firm or practice. While pitch topics may not always be law-focused, partners can still bring a unique perspective to the media landscape while highlighting their expertise. However, depending on the size of the law firm,… Continue reading What Makes an Attorney a Good Source for the Media?

Last year was epic in terms of disruption to most businesses and few industries were as disrupted as the real estate industry. While the disruption was immense, it wasn’t all negative. In fact, real estate is having a banner year in 2021, fueled in part by the way the real estate had to change its… Continue reading Real Estate PR: Top Five Trends for a Hot Market

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?

We used to think of Millennials and Gen Z-ers as, well, the young people in our lives, but in recent months the difference between the two generations has become a viral topic. Open any social media platform and you’ll see one generation mocking the other about clothing and hairstyle choices, but the differences between the… Continue reading Millennials vs. Gen Z – The Importance of Generational Marketing

Without a doubt, technology has opened the door to one of the most remarkable and recent inventions, social media. Its thriving popularity is apparent — as of the start of this year, more than 55% of the total global population are now social media users.  Social media has become an essential part of organizations Public… Continue reading Navigating the World of Influencers in PR

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

Let’s be honest: Not every client has a compelling story to tell if you look just at their products or services. So, a little investment in a poll or survey can help raise their profile as a thought leader and relevant voice in their respective industry. But there are a few caveats to observe so… Continue reading How to Use Polling for More Effective PR Communication?

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

A traditional communication tool ended up in the shadows, thanks to the advent of social media, but newsletters are back and are on the rise again. Newsletters are now seen as the most suitable strategy for effective communication with consumers, especially in times of lockdown, according to the Talkwalker and Hubspot report on Social Media… Continue reading The Return of Newsletters

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

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?

Climate action is the most mentioned UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) in corporate sustainability reports, according to the Global ESG Monitor, a unique study piloted by Public Relations Global Network members cometis, Xenophon Strategies and Currie, and research firm Kohorten. What is your company’s position on climate change? Is your company taking action? Whether you… Continue reading Talking About Your Position On Climate Change

Clubhouse, the audio-only social media platform, is experiencing rapid growth and making headlines. Still, many marketers have yet to grasp the potential this brand-new platform offers. Clubhouse is an iOS-only app that allows users to listen to, participate in and curate “club rooms” where they can discuss any topic in the world. Discussions are often… Continue reading Harnessing the Untapped Marketing Power of Clubhouse

In 2018, teenage Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg caused a worldwide sensation by protesting outside the Swedish parliament to raise awareness for climate change activism. Since then, a whole gamut of issues associated with the environment has constantly been in the spotlight.  It’s not just environmental concerns that are becoming increasingly critical, but a more… Continue reading ESG Based Investing Faces Fast Development in Singapore

As companies embrace public relations as a means of positively influencing a brand’s perception by managing communications with the media and influencers and the public, it’s important to continually review the tools that have proven to be most effective in consumer public relations. The benefits are clear and include boosting top-of-mind consumer awareness, building credibility,… Continue reading Top 10 Tactical Tools of Consumer PR

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

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

Even with a steady dose of blog posts, podcast episodes and social media updates, no content marketing strategy is complete without the addition of earned media. With that third party validation tempering any skepticism of marketing tactics or spin, media coverage in news or trade outlets can be a powerful tool for your business. Brand… Continue reading How Earned Media Supercharges Search

There’s a saying that there are two things you shouldn’t talk about at parties: religion and politics. That’s because talking about either one is liable to get you into hot water with people who might otherwise be your best friends.  Similarly, the decision for a brand to engage in a public affairs campaign—a political communications… Continue reading How to Launch a Public Affairs Campaign If Your Brand Has Never Done It Before

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

It seems like ages ago, but when a public relations or marketing professional wanted to create buzz for their client or brand, they used to quickly fall back on media relations. These days, that’s not necessary the case. Thanks to the rise of the internet and social media, all media are being consumed differently and… Continue reading A New Approach for Media Relations

More and more enterprises acknowledge their responsibility to share their profits with the society in which they work and grow. It is not just a matter of “good consciousness”, but rather a step that is quite logical and well based in human everyday experience: Sooner or later you will need another one’s support and help,… Continue reading Social Giving – How Should Corporations Approach It?

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

You’ve taken the deep dive and designed a PR campaign that you hope will advance your goals. You’ve planned, organized the team and rallied stakeholders. That’s a lot of work. For what? That’s right. Begin with the end in mind! Here are five outcomes you should expect from any well-designed PR campaign: 1. Hitting your… Continue reading 5 Outcomes to Expect from Your PR Campaign

The Public Relations Global Network (PRGN) announced winners of its 2021 Best Practice Awards today in an online Awards Gala ceremony attended virtually by member agencies from across the globe. In the tenth year of PRGN’s awards program, member agencies submitted close to 110 entries on client work, agency promotion and campaigns into 22 categories,… Continue reading PRGN 2021 Best Practice Awards: Top Winners Represent All Three Regions

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

It’s no secret that mobile devices have taken the world by storm, with more people communicating and consuming content on them each day. In fact, the average person in the United States spends 5.4 hours on their mobile devices daily. However, this increased mobile usage isn’t just limited to consumers. With an estimated 70% of… Continue reading Four Ways Businesses Can Leverage Mobile for B2B Marketing

NEW YORK-LONDON – The Public Relations Global Network (PRGN) announced today it has added three new agencies in the Middle East and Spain to its global network, enhancing its ability to serve clients throughout the world. The expansion marks the 30th anniversary of the global agency network, which plans to start new programs and initiatives… Continue reading Public Relations Global Network Kicks Off 30th Anniversary Year by Adding Three Agencies in the Middle East and Spain

Remember the saying “There’s no such thing as bad publicity?” Well, that’s not entirely accurate. More and more, brands are seeing the impact of PR scandals and crises and how they impact their market positions. Depending on the circumstances, a crisis can cast a brand in a bad light, destroy a hard-earned reputation, and put… Continue reading Top 5 Corporate Crises in 2021 to Learn From

Nobody can foresee specific events or disruptions, however, there are trends and forces that shape the future. One of these is sustainability – or what investors call ESG. Sustainability is a business approach to creating long-term value by considering how an organisation operates in the ecological, social and economic environment.  Sustainability (and ESG, which stands… Continue reading Why Sustainability Matters to Your Business – and What Can You Do About It?

In a digital world, use of social media is no longer optional for your brand to thrive. When approached with a strategic lens, it can boost your brand and expand your market, but that doesn’t all happen overnight. Before diving into a new social media platform, take some time to prepare. Be intentional with your… Continue reading Five Key Steps to Introducing Your Consumer Brand to a New Social Media Platform

In response to the invasion of Ukraine on the orders of the Russian government, the Executive Committee of the Public Relations Global Network is condemning the attacks and issuing a statement of solidarity for both the Ukrainian people and the Russian private citizens who do not support their government’s actions. The crisis in Ukraine is… Continue reading In support of Ukraine, the PRGN Executive Committee calls for communications professionals around the world to do the right thing and pledge their abhorrence to the actions taken by the Russian Government

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

Congratulations! You’ve been selected to present a keynote speech on your area of expertise. Now comes the hard part — developing a presentation that will effectively engage and resonate with your audience. Whether you’re presenting to an audience of 25 or 2,500, you’ll want to ensure that your keynote speech hits the mark.   Below… Continue reading Preparing for the AGM: How to Build a Compelling CEO Speech in Five Steps

Some of the most famous case studies prove how public relations changes behavior. Companies with poor reputations are respected again. Warring factions make peace and live in harmony. Recalled product lines return to the shelf. PR can really does have the power to change the world. There are case studies everywhere where PR has made… Continue reading Public Relations Can and Does Change the World

Companies are increasingly expected to report in detail and comprehensively on their material, non-financial sustainability information. The pressure comes from various sides, especially from investors and politics. Among current developments making new sustainability reporting standards to become legally binding, the recently created International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) and European Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) should… Continue reading A Global, European and German Perspective on the Latest ESG Reporting Standards

Even managers most prepared to speak in public and to meet the most varied stakeholders are often reluctant to speak with the media and do not know what to do when invited to give a media interview.  Whether the interview is a first time or an already familiar situation, success depends on several factors that… Continue reading Five Tips for Giving Media Interviews

Regardless of your industry, social media can be a powerful tool for a company of any size to market its products and services to other businesses. Facebook, Instagram and Twitter might be the most common platforms mentioned in day-to-day interactions, but LinkedIn is the most relevant for B2B communication. A recent survey conducted by HubSpot… Continue reading 10 Ways to Leverage LinkedIn in B2B Communications

The Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) by the European Union points to a dilemma that financial market participants (FMPs) might also face in the U.S. If FMPs, who primarily focus on small and mid-sized enterprises (SMEs), have to report on the sustainability performance of the companies they work with, they might not be able to… Continue reading New EU Sustainability Reporting Rules Ask EU and U.S. Companies for More Data on Operations

Being a good corporate citizen should be a part of every organization’s overall strategy. It starts at the top and isn’t something that should be approached in a haphazard way. Oftentimes, companies get involved in particular charities or causes because they have a direct connection to the CEO or other company leadership. Those initiatives are… Continue reading What is Good Corporate Citizenship?

Every organization, business and brand relies heavily on its public reputation for success. Publicity gives brands the power to reach a large audience and share their stories with the world. By leveraging the art of public relations (PR), brands gain access to a powerful tool that can help them reach their goals—from building greater brand… Continue reading Dissolving the Myth: How Public Relations Helps Brands Sell

Communications group elects new officers during 30th anniversary meeting Returning to the Phoenix area where the group was founded 30 years ago, the Public Relations Global Network (PRGN) recently elected a new slate of officers to guide one of the world’s largest networks of independent PR and communications agencies.  The appointments were announced at PRGN’s… Continue reading Public Relations Global Network Elects David Fuscus as President

NEW YORK-LONDON – The Public Relations Global Network (PRGN) announced today it has added two new agencies in Florida and Mexico to its global network, enhancing its ability to serve clients throughout the world. The announcement was made at PRGN’s special 30th anniversary semi-annual global conference held recently in Scottsdale. The move raises the number… Continue reading Public Relations Global Network Marks 30th Anniversary Year with Addition of Agencies in Florida and Mexico

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

At the 30-year anniversary meeting and conference of the Public Relations Global Network (PRGN) in May 2022, member agencies elected David Fuscus to serve as the 32nd President of the global network of independent communications and PR agencies. In a quick interview to kick off his presidency, David shares his views on what sets PRGN… Continue reading At PRGN Deep Relationships and Trust Result in Great Service – President’s Q&A

Believe it or not, it’s time to start thinking about your company’s plans for CES 2023.  Primed for a big comeback this year, the show is taking place in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA Jan. 5-8, 2023, with Media Days Jan. 3-4. CES is the most influential tech event in the world, bringing together companies, including… Continue reading How Companies Should Prepare – and Why Start Now – for A Successful CES 2023

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

Over the past 20-plus years, no industry has been disrupted more by technology than public relations and communications. At the turn of the millennium, PR was largely earned media, working directly with journalists to spur stories or becoming a trusted source for inclusion in organic articles. Think about it. In 2000, most people got most… Continue reading What is Old is New Again

The practice of public relations requires a variety of skills: strategy, communication, analytics and creativity. All of these components blend to create a colorful, evocative, engaging and informative landscape. Those who excel in the strategic and analytical side may not have the same natural aptitude when it comes to creativity, and even the best strategy… Continue reading How to Put the Creative Into Public Relations

How the Largest Free, Open-Source and Decentralized Microblogging Network in the World Works As a result of Elon Musk’s interest in acquiring Twitter, and despite some hesitation about the examination of fake accounts, the name of another social network has been bouncing for months, so that it would represent the ethical alternative to the most… Continue reading Mastodon: The Social Network Alternative to Twitter?

The relationship between organizations and professional communicators is a very complex and intimate one. It takes time for both parties to know and understand each other to achieve success. That’s why we should always aim for long-term partnerships, the kind that can be compared to a marriage. When you marry, you bind yourselves to a… Continue reading The People Behind the Brands – Living Happily Ever After

As the global Covid-19 pandemic has so clearly demonstrated over the past few years, every organization—no matter its size or industry—is vulnerable to the ever-looming threat of a crisis. These threats can range from security breaches and product recalls, to natural disasters and workplace violence incidents. As PR professionals, we understand that a company’s response… Continue reading 7 Simple Steps to Developing a Crisis Communications Plan

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

It is no secret that a positive employer culture and an appealing, transparent work atmosphere are more than ever essential conditions for accepting a job offer. Of course, an employee must be paid a fair wage for the work he or she does, but it is not only the amount of the salary that matters.… Continue reading Three Signals That Tell Your Company Builds the Right Employer Culture

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

The past few years have brought previously unseen challenges for societies globally – pandemic, war, inflation and increasing social demands and tensions. Communications professionals will have to take these new factors into account when advising their clients on day-to-day activities as well as when drafting communications plans.  Increasingly, it is not the communications theory behind,… Continue reading How to Build Successful Communications Plans for 2023

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

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

The Public Relations Global Network (PRGN) announced winners of its 2022 Best Practice Awards at an awards gala ceremony held at the Gardens by the Bay in Singapore and attended by more than 30 member agencies from across the globe. In the 11th year of PRGN’s awards program, 32 member agencies submitted more than 100… Continue reading PRGN 2022 Best Practice Awards: Agencies Win Big in Singapore

SINGAPORE-NEW YORK-LONDON – Following its 2022 Asia Summit Conference and Fall Member Meeting in Singapore, the Public Relations Global Network (PRGN) announced today it has added New Zealand-based Alexander PR Ltd. to its global network, enhancing its ability to serve clients throughout the world.  Following the addition of five new member agencies earlier this year,… Continue reading PRGN Expands Asia-Pacific Presence with Addition of New Zealand Agency Alexander PR

One of three tenets upon which Mileage Communications was built, and which guides interaction with clients, partners, staff, vendors, the media and other stakeholders, is observing integrity. Integrity refers to being honest, reliable, and trustworthy. It is about seeking to always do the right thing, standing up for what is right, and addressing conflict respectfully.… Continue reading Observing Integrity – Your Key to Long-Term Success in PR

NEW YORK-LONDON-BRUSSELS – The Public Relations Global Network (PRGN) announced today the appointment of Natacha Clarac, general director of Athenora Consulting in Brussels, Belgium, as its new Regional Vice President for the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region. Natacha will replace Sara Pearson, Founder and Chairman of integrated communications agency Spider in London, UK,… Continue reading PRGN Appoints Natacha Clarac EMEA Regional Vice President

  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

Something any public relations person or business can do today that will make a difference is to embrace sustainable development. The move will set them up as individuals or companies for success. Embracing sustainable development means understanding and reporting the social and environmental (non-financial) impacts and risks associated with a company’s operations. Soon, sustainability reporting… Continue reading Why Sustainable Development is Important to Business

In the last two decades, digital advancements have drastically changed the way people select products and services. Newspapers, magazines, TV news and press releases are all still relevant and valuable forms of communication, but social media platforms have had an explosive impact on an entire generation and offer more contemporary tools to connect with your… Continue reading Signs to Watch When Selecting the Matching Influencer for Your Brand

In an increasingly connected world, it’s critical for public relations, marketing, and communications specialists to understand the dynamics that exist when communicating across cultural lines. Throughout the year, billions of people celebrate hundreds of holidays, religious events, and festivals. Communications specialists need to understand how to effectively navigate and understand holidays of the world, especially… Continue reading Holidays of The World: A Communicator’s Guide for Cultural Diversity