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Happy New Year SPARKers from all of
us here at Spotlight Communications!
If your holidays were anything like
ours, you ate a little too much,
partied a little too hard, and now
you are trying your hardest to hold
onto those New Year’s resolutions.
Perhaps one of your resolutions is
to launch a new PR campaign? With
that in mind, we’re devoting the
first SPARK of 2007 to answering a
seemingly basic yet surprisingly
complex question— what exactly is PR
and what can it do for me? So
whilst you struggle to keep your
resolutions kick- back and soak in
these little gems of knowledge |
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A Textbook Definition
Various researchers and
professionals have wrangled over
what constitutes PR since the early
days of Ivy Lee and Edward Bernays,
and as such, there is no one
“official” definition. Generally
though, most can agree that public
relations is a management function
involving the relationships between
an entity and the various
constituents who hold stake in that
entity’s well being.
And Now, Plain English…
Public Relations is ultimately about
perception and reputation, and it is
the result of what you do, what you
say and what others say about you.
Your customers, the general public,
and the media can have a powerful
impact. So PR involves cultivating
those relationships— creating them,
building them, sustaining them,
improving them and sometimes even
saving them! Whether you
manufacture widgets or have a star
on the Hollywood walk of fame,
everyone needs PR.
Jack of All Trades, Master of Them,
Too
There are many different
specializations that fall under the
umbrella of public relations. Media
relations, employee relations,
community relations, investor
relations, government affairs, and
corporate communication are all
members of the same big happy
family. A good PR campaign takes
into account all of them.
Speak Softly and Carry a Big Press
Release
Not many realize just how
influential PR is. Whereas lawyers
operate in a court of law, PR Pros
do their work in the court of public
opinion. An effective public
relations strategy can help mold the
public’s graces in your favor; a
deficient one can you send you and
your brand or company spiraling into
business oblivion. And we hear it
kinda stinks there.
What Have You
Done For Me Lately? Mm Mm Mm Yeah.
Do you have an awesome new product
that needs exposure? PR will help
you get it. Are you a CEO who’s just
been caught with your hand in the
proverbial cookie jar? PR can save
your hide. Need to make your
employees a bit less disgruntled? PR
has the answer. PR can do all this
and much more! An incredibly potent
tool such as this must be wielded
with responsibility, and in the
right hands it can do a world of
good. |
