The Public Relations Blog

4 tips a spokesperson can use to prepare for an interview

In the midst of an interview, sometimes it’s tempting to exaggerate to make your company look good. Perhaps you’re unprepared to answer the question, so you respond enthusiastically with a “fish tale.” Or, perhaps you’re attempting to “fake it before you make it.”

No matter the reason, you should never exaggerate or tell even the smallest lie. You’ll lose credibility and put your company’s future in danger. We’ve had one such client whose CEO embellished during an interview, and it didn’t turn out well. Learn from that company’s mistake so you can prevent it from happening to your company.

3 ways to minimize the risk and maximize the benefits of PR

When hiring a public relations firm, some companies and executives don’t realize that PR sometimes involves risks, while others actually assign too much prominence to those risks. It helps to understand more about PR and how it can benefit your brand before you hire a PR firm. Unlike advertising, you have little to no control of the timing, content, and context of a news story. Not understanding the risks involved in PR is mistake #4 from Axia Public Relations’ list of 15 mistakes companies make when hiring a PR firm. Here are three elements to pay attention to in order to minimize the risk of taking the plunge into PR:

Public relations and marketing are communications practices deeply entrenched in relevant content. While one discipline uses tools such as news releases and positioning statements, the other leverages glossy, image-rich brochures and catchy taglines. What continues to be elusive to some companies is the magical element of “content connection.” Content connection is the process of creating engaging, relevant content audiences crave that pushes them to a call to action, such as to like, share, review or buy. The first step in making the connection is to attract people to your business – to let them know you exist, what you do, what you stand for and what you can offer. How can your company begin to attract more customers?

3 tips for following up and staying on the radar

Your company has a great story, and you want to share it. You take the proper steps to deliver it to journalists, and then you wait patiently for them to publish it. And … nothing happens. What do you do when journalists aren’t publishing your story?

Don’t rely on appearances when choosing a public relations firm.

Some companies hire their PR firms based solely on appearances. This includes hiring a firm because it has attractive employees and agents who wear specific business attire. While these companies put on an impressive first meeting, they’re often lacking substance. The same goes for using only the company’s website as a gauge in deciding your PR partner. You need criteria by which to make your decision.

We hear PR horror stories from current and prospective clients and even people we meet at networking events about their experiences with other PR agencies. They hired a PR firm based on its appearances – perhaps even unintentionally – and they’re often left disappointed. We consider that mistake #3 when hiring a PR firm, and you don’t want this to be you. Instead, hire a firm based on these four items:

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). 

One of the top questions in public relations is, “How do I measure PR?” You can easily measure PR when you have a strong plan in place before your campaign begins. Researching what you want to accomplish and crafting a PR plan allows you to see if you’ve met your PR goals.

The content of your PR plan will vary depending on your organization's goals. We’ve outlined exactly what kind of objectives you can work toward using the power of PR.

With today’s ever-changing landscape of technology, the shuttering of brick-and-mortar businesses and media outlets popping up or leaving the industry, many believe that print media is dead and, along with it, public relations. However, PR is far from dead.

For more information why you shouldn't hire an advertising firm to do PR, see The size of a PR department in an advertising firm

Don’t make the same mistake many companies make when it comes to PR.

One mistake that companies often make when hiring a public relations firm is hiring an ad agency that dabbles in PR. While this may seem like the best of both worlds, it’s far from it. Often, ad agencies that say they do PR end up recommending mostly advertising programs (at an additional cost) while you’re still paying a PR retainer. This can end up costing you more money than a PR campaign. Don’t fall prey to hiring an ad agency masquerading as PR professionals. It’s mistake #2 of the 15 mistakes companies make when hiring a PR firm.

Your all-in-one guide to understanding the role of public relations

Everyone is familiar with the term public relations. Most people can give their own interpretation of what it means. The Public Relations Society of America defines PR as a strategic communication process that builds mutually beneficial relationships between organizations and their publics.