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
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
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…?
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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)
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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?
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?
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
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
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?
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
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?
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
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
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
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?
Nobody is more strongly positioned to create long-term, sustainable change than companies. According to a 2016 PwC Global CEO survey, 64% of CEOs say that “corporate social responsibility (CSR) is core to their business rather than being a stand-alone program.” The Survey interviewed 1,409 CEOs in 83 countries with 76% defining business success by more… Continue reading WHY CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY IS IMPORTANT TO YOUR BRAND
When watching somebody present in front of an audience, it takes just a few seconds to determine if this is going to be a compelling and interesting presentation or a boring waste of time. But once you’re standing in the spotlight yourself, it is up to you to make a difference. And here’s how to:… Continue reading How To Become A Better Presenter
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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?
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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?
“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?
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
By writing a blog you broaden your knowledge, acquire new skills, develop your imagination and enhance vocabulary. You also become a better writer, interlocutor, an expert in your field, improve your own concentration and memory. These are advantages that nobody questions. If you do it just for yourself, your own pleasure and satisfaction of your… Continue reading Are you Making These 3 Common Blogging Mistakes?
It is a common request from potential clients to see a Public Relations case study of work comparable to what you are recommending to them. But what exactly are they looking for? Strategy, deliverables, measurement? Of course, but how best to provide that information without overwhelming and oversharing. Case studies are a great way to… Continue reading A Case Study for a Case Study
Before analyzing the results of a PR campaign, it is necessary to clarify what PR means today. The primary goal of Public Relations has always been to develop relationships, to connect institutions, companies, people and establishments with their users or their clients. What has changed over time, and has even significantly increased, are the ways… Continue reading What Results can you Expect From a PR Campaign?
What you say can or will be held against you, should you not take up the challenge to prepare for an interview. In the digital age, everything you say lives on forever, so, preparing for an interview should not be taken lightly. You should spend enough time getting up to speed and doing the due… Continue reading Nailing Your Next Media Interview With These Five Tips
Company websites used to be only virtual business cards. Not anymore. With the online developing faster than everything else around, websites moved to have a sales role or shifted to a hybrid function covering both the presentation and commercial purposes. Browsing the web one can see several neat website designs and functionalities and what might… Continue reading Does Your Website Accurately Represent You?
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?
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
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
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
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
The debate between the DIY model vs. in-house vs. hiring a PR agency Anytime a company expands their marketing outreach efforts, no doubt there will be a great deal of discussion on which way to go. Should we hire a public relations/social media firm? Perhaps we should investigate hiring a freelancer? What about keeping it… Continue reading Delving into PR: Which Model Works Best for your Company?
The great digital transformation and Fourth Industrial Revolution we are seeing in large companies around the world is no longer confined to just mega-corporations and conglomerates. In Chile, many companies—both large and small—are in the midst of this great change. At the moment, Chile is experiencing large-scale penetration in mobile devices (71%, leading in Latin… Continue reading Digital Strategies Bring Clear Benefits to Companies
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
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
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
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
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
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
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?
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
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.
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
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
