Much Ado About A Lot!

I say public relations can be a matter of survival for your organization.

So, to me, making your business a success is a lot over which to raise much ado!

Especially when the very people who hold your future in their hands - your key, target audiences - may harbor negative perceptions likely to hurt you by turning into negative behaviors.

Needn't happen.

In the first place, you should already be monitoring those potentially damaging perceptions by regularly interacting with those important publics. Why let them stew until they boil over?

By letting that kind of personal opinion monitoring identify what's on the minds of those important people, you can decide on a specific behavior you wish to see come about, one that flows from a specific perception.

Progress!! You've just set your public relations goal - create a specific behavior from an equally specific perception.

Let's try it out! To do so, you need a strategy to implement that goal. Fortunately, we have just three strategies from which to choose: create opinion (perceptions) if none already exist, change existing opinion, or reinforce it.

Let's decide to "create opinion." First step: we need to prepare a persuasive message. It will be designed to create awareness of your products and services among your key, target audience. Or it might explain your position on a con- tentious issue with which some members of your target audience disagree.

Now make sure the message is focused on their perceptions; that it carefully explains the facts as you see them; and that the message is believable. Read it to a colleague to check that it meets these persuasion tests.

Now, how do you get this persuasive message over which you have worked so hard, into the consciousness of those folks who make up your key, target audience?

You use our tried and tested "beasts of burden," communications tactics designed to carry messages to the right ears and eyeballs. Luckily you have a basketful at your disposal. Speeches, emailings, news releases, personal meetings, editorial board interviews, special events and scores of others.

Are we succeeding in moving opinion among our target audience in our direction?

We'll never know if the effort is succeeding unless we regularly monitor the changing perceptions and behaviors of that #1 target audience. First, we want to know if our message was received, then how many remember seeing or hearing it, and then how many can recall its content, our message!

Finally, what we need to see is the perceptions and behaviors - i.e., opinions - of the target public moving in our direction. When we do, we can say with assurance that our public relations program is succeeding.

Please feel free to publish this article and resource box in your ezine, newsletter, offline publication or website. A copy would be appreciated at bobkelly@tni.net.

Robert A. Kelly ? 2003.

Bob Kelly counsels, writes and speaks to business, non-profit and association managers about using the fundamental premise of public relations to achieve their operating objectives. He has been DPR, Pepsi-Cola Co.; AGM-PR, Texaco Inc.; VP-PR, Olin Corp.; VP-PR, Newport News Shipbuilding & Drydock Co.; director of communications, U.S. Department of the Interior, and deputy assistant press secretary, The White House. He holds a bachelor of science degree from Columbia University, major in public relations.

Visit: bobkelly@tni.net; bobkelly@tni.net

rental limo Atlanta .. Lockport Chicago limo O’Hare

In The News:

A Texas company is developing a hypersonic jet, Stargazer, that could fly from New York City to London in under an hour, redefining boundaries of aviation.

Porch pirates are on the prowl this holiday season. Tech guru Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson has a number of tips to prevent holiday package thefts.

Fueled by artificial intelligence, CyberDog the robotic dog is designed specifically locate fire ant nests, which are endangering ecosystems.

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents

Internet browsers are useful, but they can be dangerous. Clicking on malicious links can direct you to dangerous websites that steal information or infect your device.

Apple's latest iOS update introduces advanced artificial intelligence capabilities, which may be capturing and analyzing sensitive information.

Breach site confirmed 56,904,909 Hot Topic users' data leaked online. Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says the company's silence makes matters even worse.

Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson discusses how an innovative Easy-Way kit turns standard strollers electric, simplifying navigation for parents.

Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson talks about T-Mobile being hacked in broad cyberattack on global phone and internet companies.

Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson shows you how to add, customize and manage widgets for quick access to apps and info from your iPhone home screen.

Wrong Google searches can not only compromise your device and personal data. They can also bring law enforcement to your doorstep. Hackers are targeting Google searches.

China's Shanghai Kepler Robotics has developed a new humanoid robot that can carry up to 35 pounds per hand for commercial applications across various industries

Checking your hearing has gotten easier with the new hearing test feature in AirPods Pro 2. You can take reliable hearing tests using your iPhone or iPad.

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson explains how a VPN — virtual private network — works and how running it can slow down the operation of your device.

The WalkON Suit F1, an exoskeleton developed to help people with disabilities, can actually walk over to a person in a wheelchair, solving a major problem.

ClickFix, a new scam targeting computer users, is on the rise in the U.S. The scam prompts its targets to click on a link to fix a problem.

Skydweller is the world's largest unmanned solar-powered aircraft that can stay airborne for weeks, and even months, without refueling.

The U.S. government said it is investigating after People's Republic of China hackers targeted commercial telecommunications service providers in the U.S.

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

Scammers are using increasingly sophisticated ways to lure unsuspecting victims, and some are impersonating an email help desk or support team.

You can unsend or edit your iMessages with the latest iOS updates. Kurt the CyberGuy explains how you can save yourself some potential embarrassment.

Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says there’s been a rise in cybercriminal services using hacked police and government emails to send subpoenas and data requests to U.S. companies.

Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson discusses how Axiom Space and luxury designer Prada are collaborating on NASA's Artemis III spacesuit design.

Much Ado About A Lot!

Public Relations