Saturday, January 10, 2009

The Three Keys

Without a doubt, there are three keys to fundamentally being a great agent of Public Relations. You have got to be Professional, Personal, and (going into this century) Technology savvy. All of these aspects are important in mastering the art of Public Relations.

Professional
When serving your company, the client that you work for, or the public, how you practice PR says everything about how you can handle their needs and dictates "the trust factor." Being professional comes with the need for your own personal code of ethics and applying those morals in your decision making process. Being professional also in tales a need for transparency with with the company to the client and the public. Your morals reflect the company's morals.

How you carry yourself professionally also influences how your media counterparts see you. And how the media sees you often reflects on how the public tends to see you.

Personal
Odds are, you are not the only PR agent out there that has top notch professional skills but a friendly, caring personality can give you the upper hand. The best way to describe this would be the "Extra Mile" Syndrome, putting that extra effort to let the client and the public know you care about their needs.

Being personal means always having a warm smile on your face, being ready to go the distance to maximize efficiency for your clients needs, and saying "thank you." Sometimes that last one will mean a world of difference and gives the strong impression that you and your company truly care.

Technology Savvy
In case you have been living under a rock for the past eight year, this is the 21st century that we're living in now and technology is the ruling factor. Thanks to the Internet there is a higher demand for information and to have it as fast as possible. And as new tech savvy generations grow up in this time and age, it's important to ad hear to their "digital appetite." That's why we have to use the materials right here in front of us to give them what they need with the use of user friendly websites, e-mail and blogs.

Technology was a huge factor in President-elect Barrack Obama's campaign. Through the internet he was able to connect with his constituents and (what do you know) created a sense of "Personal" relationship with them. With the power of the Internet, the world is becoming a much smaller place than it was and technology is a powerful force in your pocket in such global community.

Saturday, January 3, 2009

Saying Thank You

As I'm learning my field, I'm realizing that it's always important to say Thank You. Nothing makes a company's client or donor happier than finding a way to let them know how much you appreciate their time and efforts.

This past summer, I headed the "StarsOfHope" Fundraiser campaign at Regal Entertainment Group's Westbrook Cinema 4 in Brookhaven, Mississippi where I work when I'm home during the summers and holidays. The Regal in-house program is designed to raise funds for the Regal Foundation’s “Stars of Hope, Shine for a Brighter Tomorrow” fundraiser campaign by asking for $1 donations at concessions.

The money for "StarsOfHope" goes to the Patricia Neal Rehabilitation Center (stroke rehabilitation), The Will Rogers Institute (lung cancer and pulmonary disease research), Variety the Childrens Charity (for disadvantaged, needy, sick children), and The Boys and Girls Clubs of America.

Our highest ambition is to raise money for these national and local charities through our $250 Gold Stars. Not only is the $250 Gold Star donation an important contribution, but it is also an enormous advertising opportunity for any company that purchases the Gold Star.

When company's make a donation, a Gold Star will bare the company’s logo and will be displayed at the front of Westbrook Cinema’s main lobby for the theater’s daily patrons to see through-out the summer. And to signify the importance of the company's contribution, the Gold Star will be incased in its own display frame.

Unfortunetely during this past summer, the economy was just starting to go through its financial strife that led to this year's recession. With a small city population of 9,861 like Brookhaven's, it's hard to get donations, especially when most of that money goes to local junior baseball/softball leagues.

But thankfully despite these factors, one man named Richard K. Furr did make a personal donation of $50 to the campaign. So to thank him for his contribution I made a point that the theater would give Furr a thank you letter this Christmas with two free Regal movie passes.

Being able to say "Thank You" creates a better, personal relationship. And at the end of the day, people need to know you appreciate them.