Working in the field of PR or marketing, one of the worst case scenarios that we have all heard about is crisis management. Whether the crisis happens as a direct result to the firm or the firm’s client, as a PR and marketing pro, those two words definitely cause cringe.
Wikipedia defines crisis management as “the systematic attempt to avoid organization crises or to manage those crisis events that do occur.” In PR client crises can occur at anytime and handling the them with a successful management plan, can ultimately make or break a company’s reputation.
According to Nick Purdom of PR Week, “the PR industry has an important role to play in helping companies identify and manage risks that could damage their reputation.”
So how do you deal with fire and not get burnt? Fight it with water or don’t fight it at all.
Johnson & Johnson
Probably known as one of the largest company crises within the field of PR, Johnson & Johnson’s Tylenol tampering caused the company a 7 percent reduction in market share in 1982.
After Johnson & Johnson recalled the Tylenol bottles from every store, the PR crisis management team came into full effect. First, they re-introduced the bottles complying with the FDA and were filled with tamper-resistant caplets. They then offered a $2.50 coupon and gave consumers 25% off the purchase of Tylenol. Today, Johnson and Johnson is still one of the largest companies in the world and is known as handling the crisis management situation successfully.
Exxon Valdez Crisis
Unlike Johnson & Johnson, Exxon’s crisis of 1989 fought fire with, well nothing. According to the online interactive media lab at University of Florida, time is key in crisis management. Exxon waited too long to deal with the oil spill crisis causing their reputation and eventually their company by never taking responsibility. The company never communicated with the media or the public, never responded to the crisis and damaged their reputation because no PR crisis campaign was in effect.
After these two renowned crises occurred, it becomes very clear that as a PR practitioner it is best to handle a company crisis quickly and efficiently. Clearly, communicating with the media, giving something back to the public and providing future reassurance, can eventually lead to a successful crisis campaign.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Public Relations-ships
Relationships, we all know the word. In life we attempt to maintain hundreds of relations everyday from friendships to romantic affairs. Although relationships are part of everyone’s personal lives, relationships within the inner workings of professional lives are the most important kind of relations.
In public relations, becoming friends with the media and maintaining a symbiotic relationship can be a great strategy for all PR pros. But once that friendship is in tact, how do you relate to the media and maintain credibility?
According to lifetips.com, media relations is the relationship that a PR or marketing firm maintains with journalists and PR practitioners extend that relationship using the media. It’s simple; ultimately the PR pros and the media need each other and below are 10 tips to help maintain professional public relationships.
1) Don’t be afraid to call reporters and introduce yourself. Let them know who you, who your clients are and that they can call you anytime in need of a story. Be brief!
2) Tie the story to something local when speaking with the area media. This shows the media that you are trying to pitch to local audience building credibility within the region you work in.
3) Respect deadlines. According to an Rutgers-Newark, if a reporter is in the middle of deadline when you call him/her, call back. This shows that you respect their time and hard work.
4) Always act as a resource for the media and reporters. Don’t always expect reporters to publish your pitch, but when they are in need of a story, let them know they can easily come to you.
5) Never bash the media and always maintain a relationship, no matter what! Author and business speaker, Thomas Murrell states in a media relations article that instead of bashing or getting angry at the media because they didn’t quote you or publish your pitch, rethink how you approached them and communicated your message.
6) Follow-up on story ideas sent via e-mail. While you may have sent a press release to the media by email, calling them to make sure that they received it can show respect. However, do not call more than once after getting ahold of them. Respecting reporters time is a major component of media relationships.
7) If reporters publish stories, always follow-up and thank them. This shows that you appreciate their work.
8) Remember all information that a reporter will need when pitching a story. Sending them only a press release and not product or company photos might make them rule your story out.
9) Prepare clients for interviews with the media. How does this help with media relations? Getting clients ready for media interviews makes the interview process faster and quicker again respecting the media and reporters time.
10) When submitting a press release or pitching a story, write the reporter a note or personalized note when possible. This shows the reporter that you are trying to establish a credible relationship for the future.
For more media tips visit the below links:
http://www.indiaprblog.com/2007/01/15-media-relations-tips-by-pr.html
http://www.mediarelationsblog.com/111/six-tips-for-better-media-relations/
http://21stcenturymediarelations.com/category/media-relations-tips/
In public relations, becoming friends with the media and maintaining a symbiotic relationship can be a great strategy for all PR pros. But once that friendship is in tact, how do you relate to the media and maintain credibility?
According to lifetips.com, media relations is the relationship that a PR or marketing firm maintains with journalists and PR practitioners extend that relationship using the media. It’s simple; ultimately the PR pros and the media need each other and below are 10 tips to help maintain professional public relationships.
1) Don’t be afraid to call reporters and introduce yourself. Let them know who you, who your clients are and that they can call you anytime in need of a story. Be brief!
2) Tie the story to something local when speaking with the area media. This shows the media that you are trying to pitch to local audience building credibility within the region you work in.
3) Respect deadlines. According to an Rutgers-Newark, if a reporter is in the middle of deadline when you call him/her, call back. This shows that you respect their time and hard work.
4) Always act as a resource for the media and reporters. Don’t always expect reporters to publish your pitch, but when they are in need of a story, let them know they can easily come to you.
5) Never bash the media and always maintain a relationship, no matter what! Author and business speaker, Thomas Murrell states in a media relations article that instead of bashing or getting angry at the media because they didn’t quote you or publish your pitch, rethink how you approached them and communicated your message.
6) Follow-up on story ideas sent via e-mail. While you may have sent a press release to the media by email, calling them to make sure that they received it can show respect. However, do not call more than once after getting ahold of them. Respecting reporters time is a major component of media relationships.
7) If reporters publish stories, always follow-up and thank them. This shows that you appreciate their work.
8) Remember all information that a reporter will need when pitching a story. Sending them only a press release and not product or company photos might make them rule your story out.
9) Prepare clients for interviews with the media. How does this help with media relations? Getting clients ready for media interviews makes the interview process faster and quicker again respecting the media and reporters time.
10) When submitting a press release or pitching a story, write the reporter a note or personalized note when possible. This shows the reporter that you are trying to establish a credible relationship for the future.
For more media tips visit the below links:
http://www.indiaprblog.com/2007/01/15-media-relations-tips-by-pr.html
http://www.mediarelationsblog.com/111/six-tips-for-better-media-relations/
http://21stcenturymediarelations.com/category/media-relations-tips/
Thursday, October 18, 2007
For the love of money
For many of us, graduation is approaching and participating in the “real world” will soon consume our entire lives. Instead of working at D.P. Dough and delivering “the alternative pizza” to college students at 3 in the morning to earn some extra cash, a real job will come into play and being a broke college student will no longer be an excuse. It’s time to be a grown-up.
We all work hard in college in order to graduate and hopefully, will find a job in a specific area that we love and are passionate about. But will the love of a job suffice when it comes to salary? Will the starting salaries straight out of college be worth the effort and hard work in college?
Let’s hope it pays off.
According to an article on CNN.com, employers are paying more now to out-of-college students than the past couple of years. The National Association of College and Employees found that business majors received a 3 percent increase in starting salaries out of college since 2003 leaving their average starting pay at $40,630.
Marketing and public relations majors are different, however. According to the NACE, marketing grads will receive an average starting pay of $37,832 and public relations/liberal arts students will receive an average pay of $30,337.
The Wall Street Journal salary data breaks down technical journalism majors and provides starting salaries around $30,000 for students within the areas of news assistants, reporters, web-content writers, editors and PR pros. The data shows that TV news assistants receive an average of $25,000 to start and reporters fall a little short at about $24,000. The highest starting salary for journalism majors however, is web-content writing and design at $32,000.
So what are the highest paying jobs for student’s right out of college?
The answer: engineering and computer science, with a recent 15% increase in the last year at almost $52,000 to $54,000.
Before graduating and ending your school career, I guess deciding if working in your area of study for love, will rule over money.
We all work hard in college in order to graduate and hopefully, will find a job in a specific area that we love and are passionate about. But will the love of a job suffice when it comes to salary? Will the starting salaries straight out of college be worth the effort and hard work in college?
Let’s hope it pays off.
According to an article on CNN.com, employers are paying more now to out-of-college students than the past couple of years. The National Association of College and Employees found that business majors received a 3 percent increase in starting salaries out of college since 2003 leaving their average starting pay at $40,630.
Marketing and public relations majors are different, however. According to the NACE, marketing grads will receive an average starting pay of $37,832 and public relations/liberal arts students will receive an average pay of $30,337.
The Wall Street Journal salary data breaks down technical journalism majors and provides starting salaries around $30,000 for students within the areas of news assistants, reporters, web-content writers, editors and PR pros. The data shows that TV news assistants receive an average of $25,000 to start and reporters fall a little short at about $24,000. The highest starting salary for journalism majors however, is web-content writing and design at $32,000.
So what are the highest paying jobs for student’s right out of college?
The answer: engineering and computer science, with a recent 15% increase in the last year at almost $52,000 to $54,000.
Before graduating and ending your school career, I guess deciding if working in your area of study for love, will rule over money.
Monday, October 15, 2007
Color PR purple
Rocktober. We have all heard the word at least 100 times within the last week and we all know exactly what it means: the Colorado Rockies winning streak completely “rocking” the month of October.
Just last year this time no one would have ever thought that the Colorado Rockies would be in the running for the MLB World Series. And in October 2006, Colorado Rockies public relations coordinators were starting to develop campaigns to increase fan base for the 2007 season. Now, the PR pros for the Rockies can continue working on the current season and increase fan base, hopefully, for the World Series.
In case all you PR majors that are interested in pursuing a career in sports PR were wondering, the current PR team for the Rockies are: Irma Thumim, Rich Rice and Matt Chisholm.
So what exactly are these PR coordinators doing to maintain the Rockies’ name in the public and color Denver purple?
Currently, the purple PR team is pitching press releases announcing the game dates, winning stats and other important information in order for the media to inform fans. With the Rockies scattered through out almost every newspaper in the nation, this is an important time to pitch to the media.
Also, the PR team has worked with local politicians to encourage the support of the baseball team. According to the Denver Post, Gov. Bill Ritter and Mayor John Hickenlooper announced that tomorrow is Colorado Rockies Purple Tuesday, where everyone in Colorado wears purple. These politicians also officially named LoDo 21st street “Rockies Road”, to remind “denverites” that they are in Rockies country.
With the Colorado Rockies name currently in every newspaper and on every TV in America, I wonder what the team’s PR coordinators will do next to continue the Rockies’ publicity. I only hope that they continue to pitch releases announcing the success of the team and seek publicity for the 2008 season.
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
PRSS…whAt?!
Almost everyday I attempt to recruit CSU public relation students to join Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA). And everyday I repeatedly get the same responses. Some say they actually are in PRSSA and a paid member but don’t want to attend meetings. Others say that they can’t afford to pay the fee to become a member. And many say they don’t have time to participate in the meetings and events.
While all of these excuses seem to be fairly legitimate, it seems as though many PR students don’t get why the organization is helpful to their careers after college. And while their answers to my question silent me, I don’t have a second to really state why PRSSA is a helpful tool for PR students.
So here goes…
Networking
PRSSA allows you to network within the CSU community as well as the PR world off campus. This means meeting fellow PR students, professors within the Journalism Department, Colorado PRSA members and committee, PR pros and agencies and the many other PR leaders and experts. Once becoming a PRSSA member you receive emails and updates on current events, meetings with PRSA members and names of PR pros that live within Colorado.
Annual National Conferences
This year the annual PRSSA conference is held in Philadelphia and offers an opportunity for PR students to interact with PR practitioners from around the nation. This conference has guest speakers, resume classes, networking opportunities and social events. Not only is this a great way to travel around the nation, it also allows you to go beyond your community and expand your PR knowledge.
Writing Practice
PRSSA offers many writing opportunities for PR students to practice their writing, AP style and grammar skills. PRogress is a PRSSA’s official newsletter that is published once a month and talks about PR trends and issues. The PRSSA blog is a great tool for PRSSA members to practice online writing and interact with other members. Also, PR tactics is a newspaper put out by PRSA and accepts articles written by PRSSA members.
PR Jobs
PRSSA members get access to an online career resource center that contains job postings within the fields of PR and communication. Also, being a member of PRSSA allows you to put it on your resume. Many PR firms in the nation will not even look at a resume for a PR position if you are not a member. Having PRSSA on your resume shows credibility and commitment to the campus or community.
Joining PRSSA as a PR student in college opens the door to many career opportunities in the near future. Isn't that what college is all about?
While all of these excuses seem to be fairly legitimate, it seems as though many PR students don’t get why the organization is helpful to their careers after college. And while their answers to my question silent me, I don’t have a second to really state why PRSSA is a helpful tool for PR students.
So here goes…
Networking
PRSSA allows you to network within the CSU community as well as the PR world off campus. This means meeting fellow PR students, professors within the Journalism Department, Colorado PRSA members and committee, PR pros and agencies and the many other PR leaders and experts. Once becoming a PRSSA member you receive emails and updates on current events, meetings with PRSA members and names of PR pros that live within Colorado.
Annual National Conferences
This year the annual PRSSA conference is held in Philadelphia and offers an opportunity for PR students to interact with PR practitioners from around the nation. This conference has guest speakers, resume classes, networking opportunities and social events. Not only is this a great way to travel around the nation, it also allows you to go beyond your community and expand your PR knowledge.
Writing Practice
PRSSA offers many writing opportunities for PR students to practice their writing, AP style and grammar skills. PRogress is a PRSSA’s official newsletter that is published once a month and talks about PR trends and issues. The PRSSA blog is a great tool for PRSSA members to practice online writing and interact with other members. Also, PR tactics is a newspaper put out by PRSA and accepts articles written by PRSSA members.
PR Jobs
PRSSA members get access to an online career resource center that contains job postings within the fields of PR and communication. Also, being a member of PRSSA allows you to put it on your resume. Many PR firms in the nation will not even look at a resume for a PR position if you are not a member. Having PRSSA on your resume shows credibility and commitment to the campus or community.
Joining PRSSA as a PR student in college opens the door to many career opportunities in the near future. Isn't that what college is all about?
Monday, October 8, 2007
Seize first imPRessions
We have all heard of the saying “don’t judge a book by its cover” . Well this expression can mean a lot to people, unfortunately in the real world, especially as a marketing agency or public relations pro, your cover gets judged.
According to many statistics and research found on first impressions, in the first three to five seconds upon meeting someone, you are instantly judged. Naturally, fathers judge their daughters new boyfriend, the interviewee judges the interviewer and the prospective client judges the marketing firm or PR practitioner.
In an article I recently read from the entrepreneur section of about.com, the first impression process in the business world starts by being considered as a perfect company or person for the job. After a longer period of time, appearance starts to fade and personality, confidence and intelligence starts to come into effect. And last, but not least, the overall appearance can essentially make or break the presentation.
After reading the article it came clear to me that judging a book by its cover can sometimes be helpful in encouraging business pros to perfect their presentations to potential clients so that they can ultimately represent their company and their company’s reputation. In PR, the entire point of campaigns is to persuade the public to have an optimistic view and a great impression on the client’s company or product. In marketing, building a brand and positioning the over-all view and public perception of a company is what agencies do. So why not get judged and be judged?
In a speech that I attended last year for PRSSA, a couple tips for PR students that President of PRSA Colorado, Palmer Pekarek gave was not to wear perfume to an interview and make sure your coat is lint free. Although these tips seem extreme, selling your self and your firm to new and existing clients proves to them that you can handle the reputation of their company.
So when presenting to a prospective client or attending an interview, don’t wear perfume but smell clean, use a lint roller on your clothes, be confident but not cocky and succeed.
After all PR and marketing is all about the making their clients look good.
According to many statistics and research found on first impressions, in the first three to five seconds upon meeting someone, you are instantly judged. Naturally, fathers judge their daughters new boyfriend, the interviewee judges the interviewer and the prospective client judges the marketing firm or PR practitioner.
In an article I recently read from the entrepreneur section of about.com, the first impression process in the business world starts by being considered as a perfect company or person for the job. After a longer period of time, appearance starts to fade and personality, confidence and intelligence starts to come into effect. And last, but not least, the overall appearance can essentially make or break the presentation.
After reading the article it came clear to me that judging a book by its cover can sometimes be helpful in encouraging business pros to perfect their presentations to potential clients so that they can ultimately represent their company and their company’s reputation. In PR, the entire point of campaigns is to persuade the public to have an optimistic view and a great impression on the client’s company or product. In marketing, building a brand and positioning the over-all view and public perception of a company is what agencies do. So why not get judged and be judged?
In a speech that I attended last year for PRSSA, a couple tips for PR students that President of PRSA Colorado, Palmer Pekarek gave was not to wear perfume to an interview and make sure your coat is lint free. Although these tips seem extreme, selling your self and your firm to new and existing clients proves to them that you can handle the reputation of their company.
So when presenting to a prospective client or attending an interview, don’t wear perfume but smell clean, use a lint roller on your clothes, be confident but not cocky and succeed.
After all PR and marketing is all about the making their clients look good.
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
NoCo firms
Ah, Northern Colorado- a place where people are made for the outdoors, where mountains shade its cities from the warm sun and where thousands of people have resided within the last couple years. It seems as though Northern Colorado has a lot to offer to its citizens: modern housing and shopping centers, up-scale restaurants and entertainment and employment opportunities available at many corporations.
Although Northern Colorado seems to be a great location to live in, let’s face it, its no New York City. And this leads CSU graduates with marketing and publication relations degrees wondering where they will reside after their college career ends.
However, some of the NoCo marketing firms below that I have listed, might just help lead them into the right path.
Burns Marketing Communications: Recent winner of the ninth annual Torch Awards by the Mountain States Better Business Bureau, Burns Marketing is known as one of the largest marketing firms in Northern Colorado. Focusing on research, communications and PR, Burns Marketing has some of the top clients in the state including Inta Juice, Hewlett-Packard and Miramont Lifestyle Fitness. Burns Marketing is also known for hiring CSU seniors as paid interns who then become employees.
Almaden Marketing Group: Based out of Fort Collins, Alamaden Marketing focuses on graphic solutions, marketing and advertising for local clients. Alamaden Marketing client's include multiple dental labs and local indoor football team Colorado Ice.
HuebnerPetersen Marketing Communications: HuebnerPetersen Marketing, whose slogan is “we differentiate client brands for success”, is a marketing and PR firm based out of Loveland. HuebnerPetersen focuses on strategic brand positioning, communications and PR. Their clients include Jayco RVs, Vescent and Chief Buildings.
So, before packing your bags and heading to the big apple, consider starting a career with these top NoCo firms.
Other NoCo firms
Strategic Leadership Group
A-Train Marketing
Although Northern Colorado seems to be a great location to live in, let’s face it, its no New York City. And this leads CSU graduates with marketing and publication relations degrees wondering where they will reside after their college career ends.
However, some of the NoCo marketing firms below that I have listed, might just help lead them into the right path.
Burns Marketing Communications: Recent winner of the ninth annual Torch Awards by the Mountain States Better Business Bureau, Burns Marketing is known as one of the largest marketing firms in Northern Colorado. Focusing on research, communications and PR, Burns Marketing has some of the top clients in the state including Inta Juice, Hewlett-Packard and Miramont Lifestyle Fitness. Burns Marketing is also known for hiring CSU seniors as paid interns who then become employees.
Almaden Marketing Group: Based out of Fort Collins, Alamaden Marketing focuses on graphic solutions, marketing and advertising for local clients. Alamaden Marketing client's include multiple dental labs and local indoor football team Colorado Ice.
HuebnerPetersen Marketing Communications: HuebnerPetersen Marketing, whose slogan is “we differentiate client brands for success”, is a marketing and PR firm based out of Loveland. HuebnerPetersen focuses on strategic brand positioning, communications and PR. Their clients include Jayco RVs, Vescent and Chief Buildings.
So, before packing your bags and heading to the big apple, consider starting a career with these top NoCo firms.
Other NoCo firms
Strategic Leadership Group
A-Train Marketing
Monday, October 1, 2007
Show-off marketing
Recently, a new marketing trend has emerged. Instead of the typical advertising through commercials or magazine ads, or product placement, marketing firms are now starting to focus on a new kind of tool: trade show marketing.
Whether it is exhibiting at medical trade shows, health and fitness trade shows, RV trade shows, or spa trade shows, more and more marketing agencies are devoting client time and money into conferences and expos all over the world that result in success.
Why?
First, what better way to build client positioning and reach out to the media than debuting at exhibitions that fit your client’s products and services? Trade shows reach out to specific target audiences, show-off products for demonstration and allow companies to view competitors and network with experts within a specific industry.
According to TSNN.com, there are more than 15,000 trade shows across the nation showcasing products within over 100 different industries. Media attend shows visiting booths in order to write about the latest and greatest products within the industry allowing PR pros to pitch directly to interested publications. Also, trade shows provide pre and post-show lists offering marketing firms a chance to advertise to attendees before and after the expo.
So all you marketing pros, jump on the marketing band-wagon. Now is the time for trade show marketing.
Other Trade Show links
Trade Show Week.com- a website offering trade show directories, news and tips
National Product Insider.com- an article providing tips on how to save money
Springfield Business Journal- another article offering insight into the trade show world
Whether it is exhibiting at medical trade shows, health and fitness trade shows, RV trade shows, or spa trade shows, more and more marketing agencies are devoting client time and money into conferences and expos all over the world that result in success.
Why?
First, what better way to build client positioning and reach out to the media than debuting at exhibitions that fit your client’s products and services? Trade shows reach out to specific target audiences, show-off products for demonstration and allow companies to view competitors and network with experts within a specific industry.
According to TSNN.com, there are more than 15,000 trade shows across the nation showcasing products within over 100 different industries. Media attend shows visiting booths in order to write about the latest and greatest products within the industry allowing PR pros to pitch directly to interested publications. Also, trade shows provide pre and post-show lists offering marketing firms a chance to advertise to attendees before and after the expo.
So all you marketing pros, jump on the marketing band-wagon. Now is the time for trade show marketing.
Other Trade Show links
Trade Show Week.com- a website offering trade show directories, news and tips
National Product Insider.com- an article providing tips on how to save money
Springfield Business Journal- another article offering insight into the trade show world
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
