PR 101 Part II: Developing a PR Mindset

When I decided to launch this series as a way to help people get a clear understanding of the value of PR, publicity and media relations I began to seek the perspectives of other PR professionals.  I figured that the people who are fully entrenched in the industry would have a breadth of knowledge and a way of articulating what PR is that I don’t.  Besides, while I understand the science of PR (and the nuances therein) the truth is, my strength lies in radio and TV broadcasting.

With that said, I was delighted to run across Frank Williams’ blog.  He’s a long-time PR pro and the publisher of a Leland, North Carolina newspaper.  I found his blog series on developing a PR mindset extremely insightful.  In it, he asserts that people must change the way they think about PR and not just seek publicity for the sake of getting publicity.  He goes on to suggest that a carefully planned strategy is one of the true foundations to PR:

If your public relations efforts are to be effective over the long haul, they cannot be a mere afterthought — they must be an integral part of your overall business strategy.  This requires a strategic, long-term PR mindset. 

 

The American Heritage Dictionary defines a “mindset” as a fixed mental attitude or disposition that predetermines a person’s responses to and interpretations of situations.  

 

Unless you are blessed with a natural PR instinct, developing a PR mindset is about changing the way you think. 

 

Developing a PR mindset requires that you begin with a proper understanding of what public relations is and is not.  This may require a paradigm shift in terms of the way you view public relations. 

 

Thanks Frank, I couldn’t have said it better myself!  To help you establish a PR Mindset, Williams offers a helpful list of articles for you to read:

 

·         A Common Misconception About Public Relations

·         The True Foundation of an Effective Public Relations Campaign

·         Taking the Time to Lay a Solid Foundation

·         Strategy:  A Framework for Intelligent Decision-Making 

 

Do you have a PR mindset?  Have you established your strategy and plan?  Any PR success stories? Please share!

Frank Williams is president of Pioneer Strategies, a public relations agency he founded in 2001. Williams also serves as publisher of The Leland Tribune.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Independence day vacation prompts endless stream of ideas to help businesses claim “independence” from obscurity.

I hope you had a great holiday!  On Saturday, my family and I returned from a fun-filled holiday vacation.  After 10 days in sunny, hot Puerto Rico (complete with lots of tennis, swimming, boating and more than my share of delicious latin food) I am rested, about 2 shades darker and more excited than ever about sharing the Power of Publicity and PR with you!

Even though I wasn’t supposed to work during my time off, my brain was constantly consumed with lots of great ideas for workshops, tele-courses and other opportunities for my clients to learn how to get their message in the media.  I found myself up in the wee hours of the night, jotting down ideas in long-hand (my husband doesn’t allow me to take the laptop on vacation)!

As a result, I’ve come up with a number of great things that you can take advantage of.  Since we just celebrated Independence Day, these things will help you claim your “independence from obscurity” and help you get the publicity you deserve!

• GET THREE SECTIONS OF MY e-BOOK ABSOLUTELY FREE - Anyone who signs up for my free newsletter will get a portion of my e-book Successful Media Strategies absolutely free.  The e-book gives you specific tools, advice, templates, questionnares and checklists that will help you get publicity now.  All this of course from me, an experienced, working media professional.  To get your free excerpt, pop over to my main website: www.yourmediamentor.com
• A FOUR-PART SERIES ON HOW TO BUILD YOUR PUBLICITY STRATEGY - On Mondays throughout the month of July, I’ll be hosting a series on BlogTalkRadio all about getting your message in the media.  The series will air LIVE Mondays from 1:00 - 1:15 p.m.:  http://www.blogtalkradio.com/motalks
• A MONTHLONG BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION -  September is my birth month!  All month long I’ll celebrate by sharing lots of great information with you to make your publicity efforts easy and how to integrate social media into your media efforts.  It’s going to be so much fun!
• ULTIMATE PUBLICITY BLUEPRINT WORKSHOP - Also in September, I’ll be launching what I believe will be one of my most fun projects.  It’s a group coaching workshop that will allow me to work with about 20 driven business people who want to get their message in the media.  This will be an intensive 10-session program that will not only give you an opportunity to learn from my years of experience in the media, but, I’ll also let you connect with some of my colleagues who have worked at places like National Public Radio, CNN, EBONY Magazine, ESSENCE, Inc. Magazine, the TODAY Show and more.  A webpage with all the details is coming soon.

As you can see, my brain was working while I was playing!  That’s why I take a long break at least 3 times a year.  Anyway, check back regularly for more information on all of the above and don’t forget to subscribe to the newsletter to get your free excerpt of my publicity e-book!  Also, feel free to leave your comments, questions or ideas here on how to get publicity.

Coming up Wednesday on the blog:  Part II of PR 101: Developing a PR mindset.

PR 101: Understanding the value of Public Relations

I’ve been doing a number of speaking engagements lately, talking to business owners and professionals about the Power of Publicity and how to leverage Public Relations as a means to build your brand and grow your business.  I’m always surprised to find that  many of the people within these audiences still don’t understand EXACTLY what PR is.  They always tend to lean forward when I explain the difference between advertising, marketing and PR.  Once I give the definitions, it’s like a light bulb goes off in their heads.  They get so excited!

That’s why I decided to enter a series of blog posts here about the basics of PR.  Over the next few posts, you’ll get a basic understanding of what PR is and exactly how to use it.

This post was taken from the June 21st edition of the New York Daily News. It was written by Elizabeth Lazarowitz.  She says:

Getting your business good buzz through public relations can give its growth a big boost.

“Public relations is a very effective tool for helping grow brands and reputations,” said Michael Cherenson, incoming chairman of the Public Relations Society of America. “Certainly, it helps the whole sales effort, and it works well [in tandem] with advertising.”

But drumming up media coverage, planning events and building your notoriety online can be a perplexing process. Knowing when it pays to hire professional help, especially for a small business on a limited budget, is often just as tough.

Luckily, there are steps that small business owners who lack the cash to hire expert help can and should take on their own, said Howard Geltzer, a SCORE counselor and former PR agent.

Geltzer tells entrepreneurs to scan the media and build their own database of publications and reporters that might be interested in their company. He recommends they make their pitch by assembling in an e-mail five to 10 key points about their business, emphasizing what separates their products or services from the pack.

“Don’t try to sell. Just provide facts,” Geltzer said. “A journalist is going to be able to ascertain whether what you’re saying is newsworthy.”

Click here to read more.