Transcript Document

Are You Ready? How to Succeed In the Changing World of PR

Nashville PRSA – September 22, 2009

Nashville PRSA – September 22, 2009

So What’s Changed?

 The three E’s of the marketplace  Status of public relations  Impacts of social media  Focus on business outcomes  Developing a personal plan

Nashville PRSA – September 22, 2009

Integrated Marketing Communications

 Defined as, “a planning process designed to assure that all brand contacts/touch points received by a customer or prospect for a product, service, or organization are relevant to that person and consistent over time.”  Goal of selecting the elements of proposed integrated marketing communications is to create a campaign that is effective across multiple media platforms.

Nashville PRSA – September 22, 2009

The Three E’s Bringing Change

Economy  Budgets are down  Value propositions are up  Harder to succeed in marketplace Environment  Trust and credibility are down  Number of messages are down  Audiences now expect to give input

Nashville PRSA – September 22, 2009

The Three E’s Bringing Change

Effects Strengthened Through PR  Public relations understands how to build and sustain beneficial relationships  Transference of credibility moves the message faster  Multiplying factor of combining distribution  Lower cost of finding new audiences  Feedback is more immediate, facilitates needed change to improve efficiencies

Nashville PRSA – September 22, 2009

Integrated Communications Marketing

 Defined as, “strategic delivery of all brand contacts/touch points to a customer or prospect for a product, service, or organization so that they are relevant to that person, consistent through all media and over time builds relationships they trust and seek for advice or value.”

Nashville PRSA – September 22, 2009

Status of Public Relations

Nashville PRSA – September 22, 2009

Public Relations Opportunities

Survey of Fortune 500 Marketing, Advertising and PR Executives says: • Mass market advertising and promotions are in decline • Public relations has the most to gain if they can show return on investment • Public relations more visible • Visibility results in more to define, protect and defend

Nashville PRSA – September 22, 2009

Advertising and PR Impacts

News coverage can have a substantial impact on consumer behavior, on par with advertising

“Normal” times they reinforce each other

Times of extremely positive and widespread news coverage, advertising doesn’t help that much

Times of extremely negative and widespread news coverage, advertising doesn’t help and may hurt

Nashville PRSA – September 22, 2009

How CEOs Measure PR Success

Awareness Level Attitude Change Achievement of Formal Goals Favorable Media Treatment Quality and Completion of Projects Volume of Clippings Source: Delahaye MEDIALINK 0 20 40 Nashville PRSA – September 22, 2009 60 80 100

Impact of Social Media

Nashville PRSA – September 22, 2009

Information Is Everywhere

Nashville PRSA – September 22, 2009

How Did We Get Here?

Welcome to Web 2.0

 Software developers changed how we used the web  Ability for content sharing; community development  Pull technologies emerged  Introduction of “social media”

Nashville PRSA – September 22, 2009

What is Social Media?

 Media for sharing and discussing information  Integrates social interaction/technology  User- or consumer-generated media  Ability to “publish” and distribute similar to traditional media  Creates communities with similar interests or attributes

Nashville PRSA – September 22, 2009

What’s Driving the Change

 Clients/companies want “it” (>75%)  Changing media landscape  Transparency, trust, credibility  Connectivity, media habits  Technology readily available  Relationship-driven marketing  Faster reaction/speed to public

Nashville PRSA – September 22, 2009

Importance of Social Media

7% Most Important Thing We Do 23% More Important 14% Somewhat More Important Equally As Important 32% 15% Somewhat Less Important 8% Less Important 1% Completely Irrelevant

2009 Study – VIGNETTE / Corporate Executive Board

Nashville PRSA – September 22, 2009

Who Leads the Web 2.0 Efforts

Customer Relations 2% 6% Consultant, Outside Agency Other – HR, PR 11% Marketing IT 12% 69%

Only 12% would rate their Web 2.0 initiatives as Effective

2009 Study – VIGNETTE / Corporate Executive Board

Nashville PRSA – September 22, 2009

Why Use Social Media

 Awareness  Engagement  Lead generation  Other proven uses: • Customer support communities • Significant cost savings • Employee interactions

Nashville PRSA – September 22, 2009

Tips for Social Media Success

 Get the right people; get your people right  Align your strategy; integrate goals – First the message, then the medium  Address value / measurement first  Plan your resources and approach  Make your presence known; know how you’ll promote

Nashville PRSA – September 22, 2009

Focus on Business Outcomes

Nashville PRSA – September 22, 2009

Documenting Business Outcomes

Defined measurement metrics and outcomes in four PR impact areas:  Financial  Reputation / Brand equity  Employees and other internal publics  Public policy

Nashville PRSA – September 22, 2009

Ask Four Questions

 Whom are you seeking to affect?

 What about them are you seeking to affect?

 How much must they be affected to be successful?

 By when does this effect need to occur?

Note that public relations goals should be relevant, realistic, specific, measureable and timely.

Nashville PRSA – September 22, 2009

Impact on Financial Performance

  

Generates revenue, sales, profit

 Marketing public relations drives sales / Investor public relations drives investment, valuation  Public relations drives donations and membership

Enhances efficiency

  Delivering a credible message to more for less

Avoids catastrophic cost

 Better audience targeting Effective counsel helps mitigate impact of crises

Nashville PRSA – September 22, 2009

Impact on Reputation / Brand Equity

 Commands higher prices, lowers costs, generates premium on stock price  Enhances recommendations / word-of-mouth, accelerating adoption  Increases customer loyalty / renewals / satisfaction  Improves talent acquisition and retention  Lowers legal costs

Nashville PRSA – September 22, 2009

Impact on Employees

      Increases employee satisfaction, engagement, & productivity, thus greater efficiency, increased retention, reduced turnover, lower recruiting costs Lowers legal costs Changes employee behavior, i.e., increasing focus on key areas - safety, quality, call response times Provides greater transparency Increases commitment to and from employees Creates a platform to communicate bad news

Note that items here also can refer to other internal publics, such as trade association members.

Nashville PRSA – September 22, 2009

Impact on Public Policy

     Creates public awareness, understanding and support for legislation, regulation and political candidates Affects voter behavior Helps pass legislation, regulation and initiatives Affects specific companies and industries through appropriations, taxes and regulatory changes that can affect any and all aspects of a business Instigates and perpetuates grassroots or grass-tops campaigns

Nashville PRSA – September 22, 2009

Developing a Personal PR Plan

Nashville PRSA – September 22, 2009

How Do You Measure Success

 “If I am successful; what will it look like?”  Written goals and objectives based on business outcomes  Quarterly reviews with immediate management – PR value, marketplace, competition – what are the opportunities?

 Twice annual discussions with senior management – long-range objectives and immediate needs – how do you fit?

 Focus on quantitative and qualitative

Nashville PRSA – September 22, 2009

What Else Can I Do?

 Get a mentor – both directions  Un-niche your media  Network  Be realistic about your chances of success  Write a weekly “sales” report

Nashville PRSA – September 22, 2009

Nashville PRSA – September 22, 2009