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 work on business development for a law firm, and I’d like to figure out how to utilize PR more effectively for sourcing new clients. One issue is that our current clients rely on us for discretion, so we can’t publish the details of our work much. What can PR do for us without compromising our clients?
March 25, 2011
Dear Joe, As you suggest, many law firms can’t talk about client work in detail. While that’s a challenge, it doesn’t mean you should neglect external communications as an integral tool. There many ways that public relations can help your firm, and I’ll outline just a couple here. The key is to always think about […]
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Dear GiGi: Does direct mail work?
March 4, 2011
Today, email has just about replaced regular mail. Everything from advertisements to bills to holiday cards are sent electronically. In that sense, direct mail may seem archaic. However, your item may stand out more among a smaller pile of envelopes and flyers. Who are you trying to reach and what are your goals? Direct mail […]
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Dear GiGi: One blogger has been writing nasty posts about my company. How do I handle this without soliciting more negative publicity or giving the blogger more attention than is due?
February 1, 2011
First off, don’t panic! There’s a robust toolkit for these situations, so let’s take a moment to strategize and discuss just a couple of best practices. The overarching principle for dealing with negative publicity is to keep it contained as best you can. You shouldn’t give the negative post any more light, particularly if the […]
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Dear GiGi: So I’ve developed a press list and I’ve crafted my pitch. I’m ready to get my message out there and try to get some media attention, but when’s the best time to contact most journalists?
November 30, 2010
Dear Joe, In today’s 24/7 media world, competing forces vie for our attention every minute of every day. Journalists are no exception, so you’re absolutely right to think about timing your outreach strategically. Monday can be tough since many reporters, like the rest of us, spend the first few hours of their day downing coffee […]
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