Q1 remains a time when most organizations want to kick their PR activities into high gear, but don’t forget that solid planning helps set the tone for the course of the year. This means making time to hold in-depth, strategic PR planning meetings either internally or with an agency to ensure goals are set, aligned with marketing and sales objectives and measured on a routine basis, e.g., monthly, quarterly.
From an agency standpoint, it is critical that any PR or marketing partner be integrated and in the know on important company initiatives and, at a more granular level, the company’s marketing plans. The closer an agency is brought in the fold, the better the overall PR strategy and recommendations will be.
PR is not just a one way street with an agency delivering content, media plans and results. Rather, it is a collaborative team effort among a company’s marketing department and specifically the PR liaison. An investment is necessary for an agency to produce the best results.
We often get questions from clients about what specifically can help bridge any communication gaps and what materials can be helpful in supporting PR initiatives.
Here are a few:
- Yearly Corporate Objectives
- Town Hall Meeting Notes
- Advertising/Marketing Plans
- Buying Profiles/Sales Decks
- RFP Responses
- Competitive Analyses
- Analyst Presentations
Also, involving an agency in any company-wide meetings (even as a silent participant) can help a partner acclimate to the company culture, messaging and more. Being open with an agency and integrating them into an organization pays dividends as it maximizes PR and marketing efforts.