A colossal determinant in prolonged success is the ability to stay out of your own way.  As far as shooting yourself in the foot is concerned, Herman Cain may as well have been at the controls of a computer-guided missile zeroed in on his own wingtips.  After dodging numerous tripwires in the form of sexual harassment accusations, his presidential campaign was driven into the proverbial ditch amidst extra-marital affair allegations.  With enough loose ends to construct a ropes course, Cain was ill-prepared for such a lofty venture as running for the highest office in the United States.  As far as PR is concerned: bookmark Herman Cain’s campaign as a prime example of what NOT to do.

In the Bible of public relations, preparedness is next to Godliness.  There is no use investing your time, money, sweat, and tears into an undertaking to be the arbiter of your own unraveling.  Fools rush in might be the appropriate adage.  Cain’s misstep was not properly evaluating every aspect of his own life (including what appears to be a Himalayan-sized hamper of dirty laundry) before throwing his hat into the ring, the outcome of which has resulted in his public political undoing.

Prior to embarking on any endeavor, brace yourself for the possibility that it skyrockets.  Sudden, overwhelming success can make unintentional martyrs of the unprepared.  When your name or business gains household notoriety, so do the crumbs and scraps you’d rather leave under the rug.  Keep your damage-control PR at an absolute minimum so you can focus on newfound success and longevity.

The bell has tolled on Herman Cain’s presidential aspirations, but by vetting yourself and your constituents you can avoid paralleling this slow and embarrassing descent.  With a concise level of preparation there should be no surprises or curveballs to impede your pathway toward success.  Do not become the pilot of your own corporate kamikaze; preparedness can keep you flying high.

-Carter Breazeale

PR/PR Public Relations

The manner in which you communicate can transcend gaps and torch bridges.  Interpersonal communication is an integral facet of corporate life; it is the difference between lost contacts and signed contracts, and effective communication in every level of your operation should be your first-step to ensuring quarters in the black.   Whether it’s timely client follow-up calls or confirming that your supervisor actually received your time-off request, communication is the oiled cog that keeps the wheels of business turning.

I consider myself a ‘swing-man’ of sorts in our office.  I’m always open to assisting any of my coworkers in pressing tasks, and this requires a high-level of communication to guarantee the workload is taken care of efficiently and effectively.  Collaborative efforts are a frequent occurrence here at PR/PR, whether it’s crafting a pitch or formulating a marketing strategy for one of our clients.  This demands advanced knowledge and familiarity of everyone’s responsibilities and their respective client’s platforms, as well as clear channels of communication to keep performance at its peak.

Any communicatory lapse, especially those you may deem ‘rudimentary,’ can lead to the proverbial wheels falling off.  Nothing spells incompetence like rushing out the door on Friday afternoon before responding to a time-sensitive email or returning a phone call.  Errors of this nature can create a snowball effect, leaving an avalanche of clean-up required on Monday.  Limit them and you’ll notice an increase in productivity, as well as a tangible decrease in company-wide Advil consumption!

Keeping a tight lead on your business begins with indoctrinating everyone involved with the mind-set that effective communication is king.  When questions or issues arise, do not go it alone: convey your concerns to those around you, and create a forum for collaborative solutions.  The corporate machine only runs as smooth as its operators’ allow, and communication keeps the joints and pistons greased so breakdowns are few and far between.

-Carter Breazeale

PR/PR Public Relations

We’ve all heard The Buggles song, Video Killed the Radio Star, but in the world of PR: have radio and television killed the value of print media?  Do the benefits of voice and facial recognition across radio waves and TV tubes dilute the worth of name branding and article placement in newspapers and magazines?  The immediate answer can be summed up in a resounding, unequivocal ‘no way;’ and in the world of publicity, it’s actually quite the opposite.

Here at PR/PR, we field a great deal of calls relating to potential clients seeking publicity via television or radio exposure.  Whether it’s a career financial consultant looking to break into the realm of professional speaking or an author with a forthcoming book release, we receive queries about radio and television PR from professionals across a broad spectrum.  While there are certifiable and quantifiable merits to exposure through both of these mediums, the probability of sustained visibility is simply not as high as print. 

Radio and television may provide measurable spikes in phone calls and buzz surrounding your platform or topic, but they do not deliver the publicity plateau that published articles in newspapers and trade and business magazines will.  With print media, you are forever emblazoned within those pages, which reach the hands of industry leaders and event planners seeking keynote speakers for their annual meeting.  There will be no struggle to recall the name behind the refreshing ideas, as it is right in front of the reader, along with contact information and links to your information online. 

Music videos did not spell the end of the radio star, and television and radio have certainly not started the doomsday clock for print media. Remaining relevant in a world of fleeting attention spans is a challenging proposition, but having your articles in board rooms and in the hands of professional decision makers definitely makes the course less daunting.  Publicity is about constant, focused visibility; and the base of sustaining your brand and name starts on a newsstand or between the covers of a magazine.

-Carter Breazeale
PR/PR Public Relations

As a self-proclaimed product of the ‘MTV-generation’ I vividly remember Everclear’s album So Much for the Afterglow dominating the airwaves in the mid-nineties.  The band’s infectious take on radio-friendly alternative rock music was inescapable; you simply heard it everywhere.  The smash lead-single Everything to Everyone propelled the group to superstardom, and provided a musical commentary on people-pleasing and spreading yourself too thin.  With the song’s nostalgic melody echoing in my memory this morning, I realized how appropriate and applicable the lyrical content is to the world of public relations.

It’s basic human nature to strive for acceptance and widespread approval.  From childhood achievements placed on refrigerators to a boss’ handshake after securing a high-profile client, the desire for recognition is ingrained in every one of us.  It’s one of the motivating factors that acts as a propellant to success, but acting overzealously can cause a loss of focus and prove to be an obstacle professionally.

With PR/PR’s extremely diverse client base there are many precise markets that are targeted. Izzy Kalman, for example, is making immense inroads in the management and prevention of bullying, and Jen Fitzpatrick, an author and expert in the field of early onset Alzheimer’s disease.  Each of these clients has enjoyed tremendous success by aligning their brand and message with their specific audience and avoiding extraneous niches which would not provide tangible results.

While widespread exposure is always the name of the game, the key is to hone in on the market that will be most beneficial to you and your business.  There will always be detractors from what you do; those who do not appreciate your take on a particular topic or stance on an issue.  Adjusting your brand in a feeble attempt to recruit those from the ‘other side of the fence’ is a foolhardy venture, and will surely muddle your message and set you back (not to mention act as an albatross on your resources.)  Some people simply cannot be swayed, regardless of content, intent, or integrity.  Accept this fact, move forward, and shake hands with the correct crowd.

It’s often astounding how the subconscious mind works, and how simply humming a 90’s tune became an issue of relevance in the field of PR, and the subject of this week’s blog post.  It’s often difficult to ‘censor’ yourself, so to speak, but you should fortify your efforts around feasible opportunities, not simply grasp at the wind in hopes of a lead or break.  With pinpointed PR and name-branding that highlights your message and business, you will be heard and recognized by the right people. 

-Carter Breazeale

PR/PR Public Relations