What are your PR resolutions?
- 16 Comment
The election, the economy and the ongoing war made 2008 one of the most challenging years in recent memory. The impact on PR cannot be overstated: We had a volatile year – agency cut-backs due to shrinking marketing budgets, the social media community buzzing that PR was dead, the social media community buzzing that PR is the new black, the abolishment of embargos by TechCrunch, and the frequent round-ups across Twitter and the blogosphere of bad PR’s most prolific poster children.
Like many industries, clients and employers are taking a step back and reevaluating the value of marketing and PR programs. In a time when our industry is under scrutiny, great opportunities to reexamine our relationships, strategies and goals in order to prosper have arisen. With the exception of the auto industry, PR and social media must be the most buzzed about industries in the world today – what an exciting time to be a part of the revolution of communication! And in what better time is there to help our clients grow and prosper in the time to come?
So along with your commitment to actually use your gym membership, take some time to think about your PR resolutions, items that can reinforce your value to clients and employers.
Here are some resolutions from me and my Twitter friends:
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Think Big – Let’s face it, we will still be doing press releases and media tours, but think about what out-of-the-box activities can really put our clients on the map. Brand sensitivity makes it a challenge for some companies to take risks, but help them take the leap by presenting fresh ideas every month. A great example is the monumental charitable endeavor from Danny Brown of Press Release PR, The 12 for 12K Challenge. Justin Goldsborough suggests frequently trying new things so your programs don’t become stagnant.
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Not-So-Idle Chit Chat – Clients get busy, PR people get busy. When your client asks to cancel your weekly call, ask to reschedule. Face-to-face meetings are even better. What’s working, what’s not – demonstrate your commitment to your clients’ business goals and realize that in these uncertain times the seeds of opportunity for the next stage of growth must be planted. Make sure the creative juices don’t stop flowing. Elizabeth Sosnow reminds us that in a down economy, client service is paramount to reinforce to clients and employers why our efforts are critical.
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Get Social – You’ve heard about social media all year, so you signed up on Twitter, you gussied up your Linkedin profile and you’ve stopped posting party pics on Facebook. Awesome! This year, send out your first social media release – PitchEngine.com has made it easier than ever. Don’t just follow the leaders like Chris Brogan, Guy Kawasaki, Robert Scoble, Brian Clark, Darren Rowse, and Dr. Mark Drapeau to name a few, but read their blogs and ENGAGE with them. Respond to tweets or comment on their blogs. Take advantage of some of the resources meant to teach you – seminars, Webinars, great blogs like Brian Solis’s “PR 2.0 blog” or http://www.ariwriter.com/ from Ari Herzog, or take part in journchat, a meeting of the minds for media and journalists on Twitter. Connect with like-minded people to see what best practices are being shared. Alexis Anzalone suggests it important to stay abreast of trends by reading a lot. Remember, knowledge is power.
Now decide what you want to do to create impact this year. Make a list, and post it next to your computer. Share your resolutions in the comments below. Create and nurture your value in 2009.
Rachel Kay is president of Rachel Kay Public Relations, a boutique public relations agency specializing in national consumer products and services and Web start-ups. Follow her on Twitter at @rachelakay.
16 Comments on this post
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Jessica said:
Great suggestions. I especially like “Get Social.” Everything written there was so true for me- Edited Facebook, joined and engage on Twitter, created a Linkedin profile. But, more interaction needs to take place. Can’t wait to start!
December 30th, 2008 at 5:18 pm -
Danny Brown said:
Good thing I never got that gym membership, that’d be an instant resolution broken!
I think a lot of agencies and professionals are going to be left behind as the fallout from 2008 kicks in properly. We’ll see value-based pricing models come in as opposed to archaic monthly retainers (seriously, where’s the focus when you have a monthly income regardless of quality of work?).
We’ll also see the forward-thinking PR professionals and agencies continue to find new ways to promote their clients, as well as educate them that they really need to listen to us more when we suggest less spammy approaches.
I’m also hoping that interns and junior execs are given more leeway in decision-making. Maybe not high-level decisions, but certainly early and key decisions that affect directions of a campaign. We should give them more credit than they get – they know a lot more than we did at their stage of career.
Great post Rachel, and thanks for the 12for12k nod
December 30th, 2008 at 5:27 pm -
Ari Herzog said:
Might I add another resolution that every PR blog (including this one) include a human face on either the top banner or one of the sidebars? Whether an agency is about community relations, media relations, government relations, or public relations, the keyword is relations. It’s hard for me to read advice from so-called experts on relations when I can’t relate to a face. But that’s me.
Thanks for the shout-out, Rachel.
December 31st, 2008 at 3:11 am -
Krista Parry said:
Wow, a lot of good stuff to keep me on my toes. I used to work for a PR agency years ago (prior to being in-house at Park City Mountain Resort) but it amazes me how many people are still trying to do PR today the same way it was done 10 years ago. My resolution is to continue to engage my audiences using several vehicles. I appreciate all of the insights and tips I gather from reading great posts/blogs like this one. Thanks!
December 31st, 2008 at 5:09 am -
Web Designing said:
I’d published a PR for Christmas celebration offers in our industry, you won’t believe we have really really good success from hits. Amount of conversions were big than search engine visits. PR writing is an art to make successful business knock.
January 1st, 2009 at 11:12 am -
@MattWilsontv said:
Hi Sarah, thanks for posting some interesting links to cool new people–I like getting to know the interesting people in social media and your blog helps me out a lot.
Thanks again.
January 2nd, 2009 at 2:54 am -
Scott Abel, The Content Wrangler said:
Sarah:
I’d like to chat with you about speaking on a panel with me at an upcoming social media event, Web Content 2009 Tampa Bay: The Impact of Social Media on Web Marketing Strategy. Can you email me offline so we can discuss?
Scott Abel
scottabel@mac.com
317-409-08939P.S. Our event series has several events, the biggest of which is Web Content Chicago, which, I noticed, is in your backyard. We can discuss your participation there as well. Thanks!
Scott
January 7th, 2009 at 8:01 pm -
Cartoon Bears said:
I’m not advertising, just providing some background and trying to find out what sites, services etc are good to post press releases on and if their are any individuals who might do PR on their own that could assist me in my efforts.
July 2nd, 2009 at 2:20 pm -
Cartoon Bears said:
Nice informational post.
December 14th, 2009 at 2:22 pm -
Cartoon Bears said:
Note that most professional video installers still use component cables in preference to HDMI since in most cases they give as good or better results.
January 9th, 2010 at 12:50 pm -
Disney world said:
Very informative but I think some topics are really missing I dont know.
January 10th, 2010 at 5:20 am -
Oak Computer Desk said:
Don’t think I will be taking you up on the gym idea but I like your thoughts about PR. Public relations has always been a challenge but so important to the success of a business.
January 18th, 2010 at 11:39 pm -
Oak Computer Desk said:
Forgot to mention that I like one of the other commentors suggestion about using a real picture on your website, great idea and would add a personal touch that you don’t often find in online business.
January 18th, 2010 at 11:41 pm -
Turkey said:
Rachel Kay would then follow with twitter. )
February 12th, 2010 at 11:22 am
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