Comments on: Brr! This PR blanket isn’t working

By: Heather Yaxley

Heather Yaxley — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 15:56:02 +0000

I think Matthew is right in respect of how hiring a PR agency is not always the best approach for a sole-practitioner or small business, especially if that agency is only interested in churning out press releases for you – or has a poor reputation themselves with the media.

When it comes to relationships and managing reputation, when you are a micro-organisation, everything you do and say is part of your “public relations”. Hence, as you both agree, a blog is a vital means of expression of your values, talents, etc.

At the same time, we sometimes need outside advice to see our own strengths and help focus on building a reputation around our key skills. We can be too close, or self-critical, to recognise what others can see in us.

I think you are right to focus on understanding your talents and from that you should be able to develop a strategy that helps you achieve your objectives. Good luck.

By: Sherrilynne

Sherrilynne — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 07:56:52 +0000

Cutlip was right. So are you.

By: Strive Notes » February 29: Jo’s PR Top 5

Strive Notes » February 29: Jo’s PR Top 5 — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 07:46:00 +0000

[...] PR stands for public relations although some seem to think it stands for press relations. Apparently PR doesn’t work and it’s [...]

By: Sue Massey

Sue Massey — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 08:01:29 +0000

I found your site on google blog search and read a few of your other posts. Keep up the good work. Just added your RSS feed to my feed reader. Look forward to reading more from you.

- Sue.

By: Jason Whitmen

Jason Whitmen — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 07:59:11 +0000

I found your blog on google and read a few of your other posts. I just added you to my Google News Reader. Keep up the good work. Look forward to reading more from you in the future.

Jason Whitmen

By: Matthew Stibbe

Matthew Stibbe — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 07:57:34 +0000

For clarity, I meant that PR – in the sense of hiring a PR company – doesn’t work for freelancers. (I know I’ve tried it.) Blogging is an aspect of PR in the broadest sense but you don’t need to hire someone to do it for you. Just do it yourself and save some fees.

I’ve had pretty poor experiences with PR firms, both as a client (twice) and as a freelance journalist for five years. My blog is full of the daft and irritating things that PR “professionals” do.

Having said that, for larger companies PR – in the sense of hiring a PR company – is a sensible strategy. And for almost anyone in business, PR – in your sense of a “management function” – is vital. I’m just not convinced that the right way to do “PR” is always to hire a PR firm.