Pressure From the Top?

Yes, and that pressure often comes from a CEO who knows what a public relations investment SHOULD produce.

And do public relations folks fear such pressure? Not those who've got the answers!

For example, "we're spending your public relations investment in the most effective way - insuring that our most important external audiences perceive us accurately, understand what we do, and end up taking those actions we desire.

"We're operating from a solid foundation," Mr/Ms Chairman, or Executive Director. Namely, people will act on their own perception of the facts before them. And those perceptions will lead to predictable behaviors about which something can be done. When we create, change or reinforce that opinion by reaching, persuading and moving-to-desired-action those folks whose behaviors affect your business, the public relations effort is a success.

So, what actions flow from that underlying premise?

First, we run a kind of G-2 operation by interacting with our most important external audiences - customers, members, prospects, technical specifiers and employees, among others. Here, we ask questions and gather information.

We need to know how they perceive our operation and our management. We listen carefully to what they say about us, especially our products or services. At the same time, we track print and broadcast media and other feedback sources.

We believe it's important to watch for developing misconceptions and inaccuracies. Particularly potential problem areas that may need corrective action. Problems like suggestions of technical difficulties with our products, personnel questions, perceptions of obsolescence, or trouble-making competitive rumors.

Once we've identified perceptions that need correcting, the question is, what is our strategy for getting it done? Here, we must ask ourselves whether we need to create a certain perception where none exists, change an existing perception, or merely reinforce it.

This is really important because the answer obviously will affect the persuasive messages we're about to prepare to correct the misperceptions.

So we carefully put together what we hope will be really compelling messages. Then, we aim them at those key target audiences we discovered are harboring misconceptions that, left unattended, will certainly result in behaviors we don't like. Our objective will be to move that opinion in our direction.

Now, not surprisingly, we must select communications tactics, known in some quarters as "beasts of burden," that are carefully structured to carry those persuasive messages directly to the attention of members of that key target audience.

Communications tactics range from one-on-one meetings, newspaper and radio interviews and press releases to open houses, speeches, brochures, newsletters and promotional events. There are literally scores of such tactics available to you.

Finally, we must gauge the impact of our communications activity by continuing to meet with members of that key target audience, and by monitoring our other feedback sources. We will watch and listen for signs of developing awareness of you, your operation and how it functions. But especially for indications that any misconceptions, or other problems we discovered, have been resolved.

"Mr/Ms Chairman, at the end of the day, I believe you want us to use our expertise in a way that helps you achieve your business objectives."

Thus, regardless of what strategic plan we create to solve a problem, regardless of what tactical program we put in place, when all is said and done, we must modify somebody's behavior if we are to earn our keep.

And that is our certain path to public relations success.

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

high-end home cleaning Morton Grove ..

In The News:

Aigen's Element robot uses solar power and AI to provide farmers with a sustainable alternative to herbicides, working efficiently in cotton and soy fields.

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

Cybercriminals accessed Medicare data of more than 100,000 Americans by creating fraudulent accounts, prompting CMS to deactivate accounts and issue new Medicare cards.

China's battery swap technology from CATL lets electric vehicle owners exchange batteries in under two minutes, with plans to expand to 1,000 stations across 31 Chinese cities by 2025.

Analysts at Silent Push have uncovered a widespread scam that uses counterfeit retail websites to steal the credit card information of online shoppers.

Chrome users need to update their browsers immediately as Google addresses a critical vulnerability that hackers are actively exploiting. Additional security measures are recommended.

A study found teens glance at phones for dangerous two-second intervals while driving, using devices primarily for entertainment, texting and navigation despite crash risks.

Security researchers uncovered a flaw in Windows 11 that allows attackers to disable Secure Boot using Microsoft-signed tools, requiring manual updates to protect against bootkits.

Carnegie Mellon's noninvasive brain technology allows users to move robotic fingers by thinking about the motion, offering new possibilities for people with motor impairments.

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) adds an extra layer of protection to your accounts. Instead of relying only on a password, MFA requires you to verify your identity using two or more methods.

Scientists from Duke, Harvard, and the University of Otago have unveiled a game-changing tool called DunedinPACNI. It uses a single AI brain scan to reveal how fast a person is biologically aging.

A disturbing wave of fake agent phone scams is sweeping across the United States, catching people off guard and draining their savings.

Emojis aren't just playful add-ons; they're powerful tools for building stronger connections in our increasingly digital world.

Google has taken a major step toward the future of clean energy by partnering with Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS), an MIT spin-out working to build one of the world’s first commercial fusion reactors.

If you create and share art online, you might have seen messages warning that Facebook's parent company, Meta, claims the right to use or even sell anything you post, whether it's pictures, poems, or artwork.

Cybercriminals hit Qantas in a major data breach that exposed information from up to six million customers.

Having reliable, loud, and timely emergency alerts on your phone or device is important because when severe weather strikes, every second counts.

Here's how your daily brew is becoming the foundation for greener buildings.

Artificial intelligence (AI) and large language models (LLMs), such as ChatGPT, are transforming how we learn. But what does this mean for AI and learning retention?

Modern AI data centers use much more electricity than traditional cloud servers. In many cases, the existing power grid cannot keep up. One innovative solution is gaining traction: repurposed EV batteries for AI data centers.

Microsoft 365 and Outlook users are being targeted by a tactic that injects fake billing alerts directly into their calendars.

Researchers are now showing us that old smartphones as data centers could be the next big thing in sustainable tech.

Scientists have created micro-robots for sinus infection treatment that can enter the nasal cavity, eliminate bacteria directly at the source, and exit without harming surrounding tissue.

Let's examine how your data is collected in everyday life, who is buying and selling it, what happens to it afterward, and, most importantly, what you can do to protect yourself.

Researchers at the University of Sheffield in the U.K. developed small robots called "Pipebots" that can travel inside water pipes to find and potentially repair leaks, all without any excavation.

Pressure From the Top?

Public Relations