Dear GiGi: Starting out at a larger corporation that boasted many resources and now leading a smaller but successful company, I know that there are potential benefits and drawbacks for each when it comes to size. In regards to working with a PR team though, does size really matter?
April 22, 2014
Dear Morgan – Realistically, the size of the firm with whom you are working may not necessarily have the greatest impact on the types of results you ultimately receive. Quality, not quantity, is paramount. Your communications partner should be intelligent, creative, and perseverant, and, to that end, firms big and small can both perform at […]
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Dear GiGi, I work for a national nonprofit, and one of our board members was recently tied to a small scandal at her company. Although the charges are unfounded, I’m worried that my organization may become collateral damage by way of association. What can I do to protect my organization’s integrity and avoid having our name dragged through the mud?
September 23, 2011
Dear Dana, Regardless of the charges’ merit, you absolutely should be thinking about how the scandal may reflect on your organization. Everyone associated with the organization — from the executive director to board members to staff to interns — are brand ambassadors, and their actions affect the collective integrity. Here are a few things you […]
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Dear GiGi: I run the comms team at a quickly growing tech startup, and we’re thinking of engaging a PR firm. What kind of internal resources should I plan on devoting to a solid PR effort?
September 6, 2011
Hi Gloria, You bring up a point that’s crucial to a successful PR program, yet often overlooked. The answer is that it depends entirely on your organization and the firm with which you want to work – but let me offer some guidance: First, determine your basic needs and goals. • Are you a new […]
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Dear GiGi: I’m in the very early stages of launching a new business. I have capital and a few early-adopter customers, but I’m just getting started. When is the right time to engage a PR firm?
April 22, 2011
Dear Jake, Knowing how and when to engage a firm is important, particularly since a good communications firm does so much more than media relations, which is often the perception. There’s no easy answer, but I recommend asking yourself a few questions to begin: • How do you imagine a PR firm helping your business? […]
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Dear GiGi: My company is expanding; we’re opening a new Midwest office. We’re interested in using PR to get the word out – is it better to retain a PR firm in the local market or where our HQ is (East Coast)?
April 8, 2011
Hi Erin, Great question – geography is often a factor in public reactions, whether it’s identifying your target audiences or, as you suggest, figuring out which office should interact with an outside PR agency. In my experience, the location of the PR firm doesn’t impact the quality of the communications effort; an experienced firm that […]
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Dear GiGi: I know which audience I want to reach, but I’m not sure where to reach them. How do I know what my target audience is reading or watching?
December 14, 2010
That’s a great question, and there is no easy answer. After all the work you’ve done developing your messaging, creating a strategic plan, and putting together your pitches, you don’t want it to go to waste by targeting the wrong media outlets. There are a variety of ways to find your audience – some more […]
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