Apologizing: How You Say It Matters
There’s an old saying that goes, “It’s not what you say; it’s how you say it.” And when it comes to corporate apologies, this saying has a lot of truth to it. Sure, you need to make sure your apology has the right words, but even the best-written apology will be a total flop if i… Read more
Pick a Public Relations Specialty for a Career Jumpstart
You were born with a silver tongue and a head for publicity. You know you want to be a public relations professional. But knowing you want to “work in PR” and actually finding a job are two different things entirely. … Read more
Does My Company Really Need a Media Kit?
Most PR pros have seen their fair share of media kits. Some are elaborate and impressive, while others are little more than some flyers and documents stapled together. These bundles, which often come in folders or even clunky three ring binders, are handed out by companies to the press in order to provide a… Read more
Writing a Book as a Public Relations Tool
No matter what industry you’ve made your career in, there is always going to be a competitor out there who is more skilled, has more years of experience, or has better name recognition. You can narrow that gap though, by writing a book. Though digital media promoters might say otherwise, we are still … Read more
11 Tips for Building Media Relations and Maintaining Relationships With the Media
Long-term relationships with the media are the most valuable. Over time, you can earn the trust of reporters by building a rapport with them. Once you’ve gained their trust and established that relationship, they’re likelier to pay attention to what you have to say, and of course, this incr… Read more
Blaming the Customer is Never a Good PR Move
When things go wrong, most companies’ kneejerk reaction is to look for someone to blame. If you’re BP, you blame the contractor. Other times, you might blame another employee. The blame game is never a good idea. Customers don’t want to hear it. What they want is for your company to step … Read more
Why Infomercials Work (And What PR Pros Can Learn From Them)
It happens when we stay up past our bedtimes. The Late Late Show credits start to roll, and then, without warning, we’re suddenly in the clutches of one of those infamous infomercials. No matter how silly and cheesy these long commercials are, when you watch more than one infomercial, you’ll … Read more
5 Tips for Serving as a Company Spokesperson
PR pros often find themselves thrust into the spotlight as company spokesperson. For the pro who is accustomed to more behind the scenes work, this new role can be challenging and rife with booby traps. … Read more
What to Do When Your Online Reputation Has Been Compromised
As the old saying goes, “You can’t please all of the people all of the time.” But in the age of the Internet, almost all of the people have a forum where, when they’re not pleased, they can complain loudly and proudly. Whether it’s one cranky blogger denouncing your company … Read more
Using Contests to Promote Your Business
According to some estimates, the average person is flooded with up to 10,000 promotional messages each day. From advertisements to product placement and more, we live in an increasingly noisy marketing environment. For your business, this means finding new, engaging ways to cut through the clutter, s… Read more