Comments on: When PR Stops Working

By: Cool Insider

Cool Insider — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 00:07:00 +0000

imp,

Nice to know somebody else in this line. Sometimes the best that clients can do is to let go and listen to what the agency recommends. Increasingly though, you do see a mixed bag with folks who have experience in both agency, client and media crossing over to each other's domain. That makes the dynamics different too.

By: imp

imp — Sat, 02 Jun 2007 04:10:00 +0000

i used to be on the agency side. 🙂 and we do get the really dumb clients. however, my agency doesn’t exactly pander to clients’ demands except the targets. we look at hitting the targets and that’s paramount. how we do it, we usually prefer to take the lead rather than the client tell us his wishes. we take that into consideration, of course, but if we know something to be a sure failure, we resist.

By: Cool Insider

Cool Insider — Thu, 31 May 2007 08:08:00 +0000

endoh,

That's an astute observation indeed and exactly my point. While there are educated clients who also act as inhouse counsel (like yours truly), others may be desperate "lao bans" who need that extra boost for their business. Hiring the right PR agency to them is critical not just to score media mileage but also for training and education. Making your clients look foolish is never a clever strategy!

By: Cool Insider

Cool Insider — Thu, 31 May 2007 08:06:00 +0000

natasshea,

Great to know that. Welcome to the wild, wacky world of PR, where hours are long, heart attacks are plentiful and super heroic acts abundant.... ;)

By: Nastasshea@Nesh

Nastasshea@Nesh — Thu, 31 May 2007 03:32:00 +0000

Good writeup! Myself graduated from PR and Advertising and actually still learning in the working world about the important of PR in one company.

By: Cool Insider

Cool Insider — Wed, 30 May 2007 22:24:00 +0000

aaronk,

That's very true. I guess the iffy nature of PR versus advertising sometimes makes executives more nervy when using it as a communications tool.

Having said that, I believe that one can generate more publicity if you engage the media more proactively and see it from their points of view. There are tonnes of tricks in the books, which I am sure you are aware of.

For my next post, I will talk about an ongoing campaign which scored high on awareness and publicity.

By: Cool Insider

Cool Insider — Wed, 30 May 2007 22:19:00 +0000

imp,

Good point there. PR shouldn't just be about inches but impact. Sometimes a smaller story, if properly nuanced, can be enough to engage the public.

BTW, are you also in this line of work?

By: Endoh Taiki

Endoh Taiki — Wed, 30 May 2007 20:56:00 +0000

Before I read your feedback, I have already realised that most of the points were pointing towards the clients than the entire process of publicity.

His points are valid, but the understanding behind these obstacles are somewhat different from my school of thoughts. Afterall, PR experts are engaged to educate and assist clients in all these situations. If everything is thrown back at clients, why do we still need PR professionals for?

By: imp

imp — Wed, 30 May 2007 06:28:00 +0000

and the media factor. it’s sometimes pretty tough to ‘predict’ how the media will pick up on PR campaigns, strategies, etc. i rather gauge public reaction than media response.

By: Cool Insider

Cool Insider — Wed, 30 May 2007 05:42:00 +0000

dieselfire,

Thanks for visiting and welcome to the scary world of PR, if it is indeed your first time. I think a lot of it boils down to understanding what makes both the media and newsmakers tick. The key thing is to always maintain cordial and harmonious relationships (the R in PR) while still standing firm sometimes on what makes or breaks a company's reputation and mindshare.