Managing a team of marketing and PR professionals can be stressful. Depending on your role, you’re likely responsible for the team’s performance and outcomes, tracking the ROI of PR campaigns, monitoring online and public sentiment and scrutiny of your client, and coordinating the accurate and effective execution of press releases or other critical communications. This… Continue reading Six Ways Marketing and PR Leaders Can Follow to Avoid Burnout
Israel is one of the fastest-growing countries in the world. At just 75 years old, it has become a significant player in the global economy and a true contributor to the development of technology. Israel is known as the startup nation, with thousands of startups operating in a country of 9.5 million people. This, and… Continue reading Communications in Israel: the Challenge
Today, media relations outreach and social media programs are considered basic fundamentals in a public relations program, but in truth, they are just one component of a successful business strategy. Given public relations is an integral component in today’s business landscape, a strategic investment in communications efforts can drive results and help companies stand out… Continue reading Making Sure Your Public Relations Efforts Generate New Business
It’s no secret that the rise of social media and content marketing has made it easier to connect and engage directly with your target audience. However, as consumers become increasingly more skeptical of marketing tactics and spin, third-party validation in the form of media coverage can be the perfect complement to further amplify the reach… Continue reading Four Ways PR Can Reinforce Content Marketing
After the past few months of corporate missteps, it would be simple to advise companies to just keep their heads down and not engage in potentially controversial issues. But that’s not how PR folks roll. A recent Gallup poll found that the United States is almost evenly divided about whether businesses should take a… Continue reading Navigating Tumultuous Waters: Careless Companies Sink, Thoughtful Companies Swim
When you’re living in a material world, instant gratification is the name of the game and your business-to-consumer marketing approach should cater to its audience accordingly. However, when your focus is on B2B marketing, your clients’ services are the product and the purchasing process is not as simple as clicking “Add to Cart” nor should… Continue reading Playing the Long Game in B2B Marketing
Technology has a central role in communications and organisational operations, to the degree that a technology blind spot on a company board can have serious and wide-ranging implications for a company. A board’s lack of understanding of the technology landscape can cause missed opportunities for growth that stems from the evaluation and adoption of or… Continue reading The Use of Data and Technology in PR
There’s no time to postpone establishing the necessary structures for proper ESG reporting. Capital markets demand essential non-financial information to make informed investment decisions, your biggest clients are under pressure to report on sustainability data from their suppliers – i.e. your company‘s data! – and the legislative requirements are getting stricter by the minute. Capital… Continue reading Top Three Reasons Why Every Company Needs Good ESG Reporting
When a crisis hits a business and affects its reputation, the response must be prompt, transparent, and effective. Here are the most important things a business should do when a crisis hits the media, affecting its reputation. Firstly, a business should acknowledge the crisis publicly. Silence can make the situation worse and lead to negative… Continue reading What to do When a Crisis Hits Your Business
In today’s economic environment, every company is looking for ways to improve efficiency, cut costs and pack the new business pipeline. For savvy C-suite executives, public relations is a key component to building the right personality for their brand. As a result, it also sets the stage to build the new business pipeline. How does… Continue reading How Digital PR Strategies Drive New Business
Stakeholder and customer expectations have changed drastically in recent times, putting much pressure on businesses and brands to actively engage and communicate. It is now an expectation from stakeholders that businesses must operate with more accountability to the planet and people, besides making profits. This is not just true of regulators and investors, but also… Continue reading Sustainability and ESG: Enablers Of The Purpose-Driven Narrative
New White Paper Shares Expert Advice from Around the Globe A crisis is often evaluated by how the CEO or Management handle it leaving out the important role of the board. There are common factors that come together to create bad habits but with improved communication you can avoid a dysfunctional board of directors. Crisis… Continue reading The Role of Boards In Crisis Leadership
The Covid-pandemic has left behind some major obstacles for future healthcare and pharma communications campaigns. While there are regional differences, the general pattern seems to be global and comprises of four key trends: a renewed scepticism towards science in general and medical sciences specifically; a deep distrust in the pharmaceutical industry; a spirit of non-reflected… Continue reading Reviving Healthcare and Pharma Communications after the Pandemic
We have seen so much change in recent years. The world has rapidly shifted towards digital, and Industry 4.0 is sweeping across value chains of most if not all economic sectors. The age of PR (or Public Relations) 4.0 has arrived together with the massive shift to digital and social. PR4.0 is more than just… Continue reading PR4.0 Has Arrived – Are You Ready For It?
When it comes to marketing and PR, tactics often seem subjective. Everyone’s got an opinion on whether that advertising campaign was effective, or if this message would be best received by stakeholders. But when it comes to ROI in marketing, subjectivity gets tossed aside in favor of concrete results and analysis. As PR and marketing… Continue reading How to Address Client Demands for ROI in Communications & PR
Early in my career, I once bought a $600 espresso machine thinking this and great snacks were the keys to employee retention and satisfaction. As a more seasoned leader, I cringe that I ever thought something so foolish. The truth is that in all areas of our lives, we are searching for greater happiness and… Continue reading Meaning and Purpose Fuel Attraction to Public Relations Jobs
It is five minutes to midnight, at least when it comes to sustainability and corporate reporting. We are living in a time where demands from several stakeholder groups – be it NGOs, customers, investors or governments – have never been higher. To give you an example: no one wants to buy a T-shirt that has… Continue reading Why Every Company Will Need Good ESG Reporting
In recent months, many companies worldwide, especially social media and tech-based companies, have cut their workforces citing inflation, the ever-looming recession and loss in revenue as the chief reasons to blame. While some of these layoffs generated only a few headlines in the news, some well-known CEOs and bosses have not handled the communication of… Continue reading Announcing Layoffs: Treat It Like Crisis to Minimize Reputation Loss
Every year, hundreds of companies face major scandals and crises that require a significant amount of damage control. There is a lot that PR and marketing professionals can learn from these situations and the selected response. Here are some of the top five corporate crises from 2022 and key takeaways that every leader can use… Continue reading Top Five 2022 Corporate Crises – And The Lessons Learned
Ethics and transparency, AI and innovations, ESG agenda and constant crisis mode – these are some of the key trends that will shape 2023 for brands and communicators, say PRGN’s leading global communications experts in our annual collection of PR predictions. As the end of the year approaches, PRGN is asking every December its member… Continue reading PR Predictions 2023: Tougher Markets, More Strategic Roles and New Opportunities Await Communicators
New Year’s resolutions are destined to be broken. It takes more than a statement of intent to change a behaviour. At least that’s what we know from behavioural science. It requires a change of habit and that’s easier said than done. When it comes to making a resolution for your brand there are two parts… Continue reading What Your Brand’s Sustainability Resolutions Should Be For 2023
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
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
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
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
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
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
In 2019, I wrote a piece for Forbes called “Don’t Go Dark in a Downturn.” In the article, I shared how to leverage marketing and PR during enduring times, such as a recession. Luckily, the advice still held true for 2020 and beyond. Brands need marketing momentum to get through economic downturns – but it… Continue reading How to Pitch PR to C-Suite Leadership
It is 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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?
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
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
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?
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Several years ago, an automobile insurance company came to our Miami PR Firm asking if we can market a bilingual literacy program for them. We were ecstatic! We had been trying to explain to several of our corporate clients the value of investing in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), also known as Cause Related Marketing. And… Continue reading Cause Related Marketing: Who Is It For And Why Should Your Company Invest In It?
From its origin as a trendy new way to promote a brand, content marketing has grown into a versatile and easily customizable strategy to reach a highly targeted audience. Businesses and organizations across all industries now utilize content marketing to build brand awareness, thought leadership and lead generation. However, it takes more than publishing a… Continue reading Content Marketing at its Best
Over the last year, many companies have asked themselves: are we doing enough to address social justice issues that affect our customers and employees? And is it wise for brands to publicly take a stance on such issues? Leaders are understandably hesitant to step out of their comfort zone and court any kind of controversy.… Continue reading Why Your Company Should Get Involved in Social Justice Issues
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?
At its core, PR is all about reputation management with stakeholders. People and brands rightly expect PR professionals to help them connect with important stakeholders, build meaningful relationships and effectively communicate the right messages to them. However, many make the mistake that PR can help them solve a real leadership and business problem especially when… Continue reading The Best PR Can’t Replace Real Leadership
Over the past 15 months, the global pandemic has challenged mankind in so many ways, from our very existence to the way we do business, and thankfully, the worst part appears to be behind us. As life goes on, so is the need to communicate, promote, salvage, interact, advise, contain, create – connections, ideas, plans,… Continue reading What Should PR Firms Be Prepared For In the Post-Covid Era?
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?
“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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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?
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
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
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
(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
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
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
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?
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
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
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
