It is rumored that there are clueless people in the world in all areas of life. For example, there were probably some very clueless people that were the reason these warning labels were created:
On a package in Japan: "Not to be used for anything else."
On an unknown vaccuum cleaner: "Do not use to pick up anything that is currently burning."
Nabisco Easy Cheese: "For best results, remove cap."
Unknown 500 piece puzzle: "Some assembly required."
Swedish Chainsaw: "Do not attempt to stop chain with your hands or genitals." I shudder when I think about this one...
We may laugh, but there are some sad individuals out there who might have had troublesome run-ins with these products.
In public relations, there are clueless people too.
|
|
There are some people who think that public relations is simply throwing press conferences and watching the press sell their prized possessions and donate the proceeds to the company to obtain permission to attend a conference about a colony of Asian red tailed hairless flying squirrels living in the break room refrigerator.
Public relations is about handling perceptions. A journalist needs to see the relevance and importance of your story if you want it to get printed or covered. Can you put a spin on a story to make it relevant? Sure. Just make sure you don't fabricate something. They'll find out, and you'll never recover.
Perceptions also control buying behavior. If you see a famous basketball player buy an old Ford Pinto because he thinks it's cool, you will likely see more old Pintos on the road than you would prefer to see in your lifetime. Why? Because people associate themselves with the famous basketball player when they drive their Pinto.
This lasts until the basketball player buys a Yugo, in which case, most people stop watching basketball and take up full-contact cross-stitching.
Is your company a major employer in the area? Did you reach astounding profits? Do you have a new product? Are you doing something great for the community, your employees, or both? These are good questions to ask. There are many more ways to find good story ideas and get that publicity you need.
Take the time to work on publicity the correct way. Don't just jump at the first idea you get and assume the press will love it. That would be foolish. Don't believe me? Try putting a plastic model together by following the instructions in reverse order. You'll probably end up with something resembling a Pinto.
Want to know how to get publicity? We have compiled 21 of our best reports covering many areas of getting cheap or free publicity. These 21 reports make up "Media Relations Power: 199 Ways to Get Free Publicity for Your Company, Cause, or Product." This is one of our finest products about publicity. Follow the link above for more information.
Like this article? Then Digg
It
or add it to your Del.icio.us Bookmarks!
Tags: Publicity
TrackBack
TrackBack
URL for this entry:
http://101publicrelations.com/cgi-bin/mt-tb.cgi/136
« Briefs, Fillers and Quizzes: How to Write Them and Why Editors LOVE Them
Public Relations and Publicity Blog
It Won't Do Any Good If Nobody Comes »
