The Pitch on AMC should be must see TV for anyone involved in advertising, marketing and/or public relations. Each week two ad agencies square off in a shoot out to land a piece of business with a major corporation. The agencies visit the company’s headquarters, do their research and form their pitch, all within a…
What’s in a name? If you are in business perhaps everything. Prior to the Internet most new companies created their corporate brand based on the founders’ names or some term which hopefully described their business in a few words. This worked well in the old economy where competition was less intense and sales were made…
Creating an awards strategy can be a valuable piece of the public relations campaign. It can be a big boost to helping companies build their brand, build awareness and connect certain messages with targeted audiences. While most larger businesses understand the value of an awards strategy, a number of small and medium sized firms fail…
The new year is upon us. It is always a good time to analyze your current PR plan or create a new one. Companies should review their current public relations plan and determine if it is still in-line with your corporate goals. Did the firm reach the desired increase in sales and revenue? If so…
Most public relations professionals are able to work hand-in-hand with the business owner or marketing department in order to determine the targeted audience they are trying to reach. This is a very key element to ensure proper messaging connects with the customer base. However the task of defining that audience, and the related message, can…
Most Public Relations campaigns work best when a well thought objective is established. The objective should be as tangible as possible. For example, “Increasing branding and awareness” is surely a goal of any PR campaign but that alone can be hard to measure. Instead focus on a number or action you want to achieve. “Connect…
I was a sports announcer at the outset of my career and had the opportunity to interview dozens of athletes, coaches and managers. Having witnessed the daily “song and dance” between Major League Baseball managers and the media I found these sessions to be most interesting, even fun, sometimes argumentative, and many times downright volatile.…
As a St. Louis Public Relations professional, I am often asked by business owners, “What are the differences between PR and advertising?” Comparing the publicity aspect with a typical ad campaign, the main difference is that with advertising you, the client or business owner control the message. This differs from publicity where the newspaper, magazine…
A St. Louis Public Relations professional, I am often asked if public relations can work for a small business. The answer is “yes”. Even on a lesser scale, the basics of creating a PR campaign for a small business are virtually the same as creating one for a large corporation. It involves analyzing your business…
The owner of a St. Louis Public Relations firm, I am often asked for advice when a friend or colleague inquires about a marketing problem or a potential marketing opportunity. Recently a friend solicited my assistance to spread the word about an upcoming advertising campaign he was involved in. The goal was to find a…