Comments on: The heart of the problem – PR is about action, not communications http://www.fortexgroup.com/blog/2009/06/11/the-heart-of-the-problem-pr-is-about-action-not-communications/ C-Level PR Counsel Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:52:17 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Mike Marn http://www.fortexgroup.com/blog/2009/06/11/the-heart-of-the-problem-pr-is-about-action-not-communications/comment-page-1/#comment-14231 Mike Marn Fri, 19 Jun 2009 21:46:11 +0000 http://www.fortexgroup.com/blog/2009/06/11/the-heart-of-the-problem-pr-is-about-action-not-communications/#comment-14231 Thanks for pointing this out, Ephraim. I'm sure that many of us had the same gut level annoyance that you and Paul felt. And it IS very irritating to have to overcome that mild stigma of shallowness that has attached itself to PR for a variety of reasons. Truth is, there are probably 90% of us that believe we're in the 20% of PR firms that really ARE something more. But...although scaling the walls of credibility can be difficult...take comfort in this: the level of trust and involvement we get eventually matches the level we earn, with our insights, suggestions, ideas, and yes - ACTIONS. Those of us who prove our value can earn that seat at the table. These days, the distinctions are blurring between marketing, advertising, PR, social networking, etc. Anybody can SAY they are anything. It comes down to proving it. (I'll wager that McKinsey thinks it can do a fine job of putting together ad and PR plans downstream of its consulting gigs, too.) For PR (and ad) firms, t may take more salesmanship than you'd like just to be heard; but once you are, it comes down to being valuable. If you aren't, you aren't going to be important to the client or C-Suite no matter what. If you ARE, it doesn't much matter what you call yourself; you'll be measured by your contributions. Thanks for pointing this out, Ephraim.
I’m sure that many of us had the same gut level annoyance that you and Paul felt. And it IS very irritating to have to overcome that mild stigma of shallowness that has attached itself to PR for a variety of reasons. Truth is, there are probably 90% of us that believe we’re in the 20% of PR firms that really ARE something more.

But…although scaling the walls of credibility can be difficult…take comfort in this: the level of trust and involvement we get eventually matches the level we earn, with our insights, suggestions, ideas, and yes – ACTIONS.

Those of us who prove our value can earn that seat at the table. These days, the distinctions are blurring between marketing, advertising, PR, social networking, etc. Anybody can SAY they are anything. It comes down to proving it. (I’ll wager that McKinsey thinks it can do a fine job of putting together ad and PR plans downstream of its consulting gigs, too.)

For PR (and ad) firms, t may take more salesmanship than you’d like just to be heard; but once you are, it comes down to being valuable. If you aren’t, you aren’t going to be important to the client or C-Suite no matter what. If you ARE, it doesn’t much matter what you call yourself; you’ll be measured by your contributions.

]]> By: Michele Nix http://www.fortexgroup.com/blog/2009/06/11/the-heart-of-the-problem-pr-is-about-action-not-communications/comment-page-1/#comment-14225 Michele Nix Fri, 12 Jun 2009 22:10:45 +0000 http://www.fortexgroup.com/blog/2009/06/11/the-heart-of-the-problem-pr-is-about-action-not-communications/#comment-14225 Hi Ephraim, You're right. Paul makes some, as you say, painfully important points. To its detriment, some in the C-suite view PR a go-to dept when it needs to react to something...when it needs window dressing and damage control. But PR is not a stand-alone function; it is about action, but its success hinders on integration within other core business function. PR is at its best when it's pre-emptive, targeted, objective-based and part of the long-view business development process. Hi Ephraim, You’re right. Paul makes some, as you say, painfully important points. To its detriment, some in the C-suite view PR a go-to dept when it needs to react to something…when it needs window dressing and damage control. But PR is not a stand-alone function; it is about action, but its success hinders on integration within other core business function. PR is at its best when it’s pre-emptive, targeted, objective-based and part of the long-view business development process.

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