The Public Relations Blog

Whether you’re preparing your team for an influx of media interviews or planning to launch a new marketing and communications campaign, getting everyone in your company on the same message is critical to the success of your efforts. Your company’s representatives are often the biggest influencers for your company and brand, after all. It’s critical to make sure this vital audience is helping – and certainly not hurting – your communication efforts. Here are five tips to help you.

Plenty of media outlets – digital and print – leverage individuals with special expertise, large followings or authoritative diatribe to round out editorial coverage in the form of columns. In fact, prior to YouTube, Facebook and Instagram, columnists were the key influencers. For example, there was Pauline Friedman Phillips who, under the pen name Abigail Van Buren, wrote the syndicated “Dear Abby,” until her death at the age of 94. Walt Mossberg earned fame amid the pages of the Wall Street Journal for uncovering and demystifying technology. Herb Caen riveted readers of the San Francisco Chronicle with his daily column, which many considered the “voice and conscience” of San Francisco.

Someone has invited you to join the Forbes Council and you’re very flattered. Your immediate thought is that you should promote this honor and leverage your achievement to the hilt. However, let’s take a deeper look. Is it really an honor? Or, is it just another paid membership?

Why the distinctions matter to your company and bottom line

In some companies, public relations and marketing share the same space, with their goals and functions used interchangeably. At other companies, they’re separate, with different reporting structures and a constant battle for budget dollars between the two. Some organizations have one function reporting to the other. How does your company handle these disciplines and, more importantly, are you using them correctly?

This was just one of the topics at the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism’s highly anticipated 2017 Global Communications Study. How we structure and utilize PR and marketing is a major issue facing the PR industry and one your company must tackle to ensure you’re getting the maximum benefit and profitability.

3 tips to be certain your PR agency knows your field and can deliver success

Why would you risk hiring a public relations firm that hasn’t achieved results within your company’s industry? Before hiring a PR firm, do your due diligence to ensure you’re hiring a firm that fits your needs and wants – one that can create a successful PR campaign in your industry. Hiring an inexperienced PR agency is mistake #6 in Axia Public Relations’ list of 15 mistakes companies make when hiring a PR firm. Check out our three areas of importance to ensure you hire an experienced PR firm that will bring you success.

3 qualities you need for PR success

The public relations game has changed drastically since the introduction of the 24-hour news cycle. It’s no longer sufficient to draft news releases, run campaigns and manage crises. While the methods have changed, the heart of PR remains the same.

Students today will be decision-makers tomorrow. The next generation of PR professionals looks to current leaders to guide it. Axia Public Relations’ CEO Jason Mudd is doing his part to help shape the future of PR. He understands the changing landscape and the importance of blending the old with the new in PR tactics. Joined by other experts at the University of North Florida (UNF), Mudd gave advice on the qualities every PR expert should have.

3 key points for maximizing the effectiveness of your PR strategy

Having been in the public relations game for nearly two decades, I’ve found that one question continues to plague our industry: How long will it take to see the value of public relations? Everything we do in business should net a return – that’s the whole point, right? PR has most certainly transitioned into a business of measurement. Where once clip books and impressions marked success, we must determine today’s campaign success by precise metrics and established goals.

Invest wisely; don’t underspend on PR.

Most companies are looking to save money — especially on items they don’t believe are essential to success. You might think you should hire the low-cost public relations solution rather than finding the right solution for your company. However, choosing a cheaper solution instead of the solution that addresses your company’s needs may jeopardize your company in the future.

Public relations builds a company’s brand. It’s a vital element to success. Don’t endanger your company by underspending on PR. Use these four strategies to ensure you’re hiring the right PR solution for your company and not making mistake #5 of the 15 mistakes companies make when hiring a PR firm.

Bring more customers to your company with a better reputation

Warren Buffett said it best:

A company’s reputation is one of its most important tools online – every website has ratings and feedback sections. Obviously, too many “1-star” reviews on a giant online retailer like Amazon can doom a product. It’s important to remember that while there are many indicators of online reputation, one of the most important consumer indicators may be the Better Business Bureau (BBB). 

Overcome hiring a PR firm mistake #1

Hiring a public relations firm is an exciting time for most companies. However, sometimes, people get so enthusiastic about their product/service and story that they jump in headfirst without being fully prepared. In fact, Axia Public Relations considers hiring a PR firm too soon mistake #1 from our list of 15 mistakes companies make when hiring a PR firm.

Here are three situations where your company is hiring a PR firm too soon: