Chris Maggio’s Post

Corporate comms or PR agencies? I’ve had the pleasure of being on either side of the profession, and can tell you that with certainty that both sides have their unique advantages. An agency environment provides the thrill of working across multiple sectors and building foundations with media relations spanning those sectors. On the other hand, a corporate communication role allows you to directly influence and shape the narrative of your business, provided your function is strategic and reports directly to the CXO. The occasional thrill of a multi-agency pitch experienced only in an agency environment is unforgettable. The creative brainstorms, consumer insights, stakeholder research, media perspectives, and invaluable outsider input all contribute to unique experiences. Yet, only an insider can accurately define the business problem at hand. I’ve been in situations where I've hired a PR agency to convey a message to my CEO, after all, it sounds better and more believable coming from an external consultant. But most importantly, its really all about partnership. The agency and the client have similar goals, so aligning individual KPIs with those of extended teams, including PR partners/agencies, is crucial. When your team does good work, you automatically look great! Share credit with them for cracking the stories that matter and openly discuss joint victories. Treat them as extended teams. And to my agency colleagues, understanding what makes your client sleep better at night and look good in front of their bosses will help solid partnerships for mutual success. What does my network think? #pragency #corpcomms #twentyyearsinpr #pr #comms

Thinking about hiring a #PR agency in 2025? 🤔 We're spilling the 🫖 on how brands can get C-suite buy-in. ⬇️ From enhancing your reputation to forging key media relationships, hiring a PR agency is the best way to increase your #brand awareness and elevate your brand presence. There's lots of reasons why brands should hire a PR agency - and we're sharing 1⃣5⃣ of them in our blog. 🤯 Ready to elevate your brand? Let's chat ➡️ https://bit.ly/4drHwBL #WeMoveIdeas #BrandAwareness

When hiring a #PR agency, do you go with the industry specific choice (Healthcare company selects healthcare PR agency) OR do you go broad? Go broad! 1. A broader perspective can help inform your strategy 2. A diverse team is an asset 3. Variety fuels inspiration Agree or disagree? Comment below ⬇

Diverging from the traditional progression steps in PR agency - how it looks & works. My recent post on career pathways at PR agencies received a lot of positive feedback, so thought I'd follow up with an alternative angle! Whilst the usual steps up the ladder in PR agency are known (and explored in my last post 😊), there are some different paths that people make: - Creative. More agencies are investing in creative teams, responsible solely for ideas generation/amplification and creative output. Some people in agency will take a split role of creative and account management and others will transition to a pure creative role. I personally think this is a really valuable asset to a company - not everyone is great at the creative AND the delivery. - Publicity/media. Whilst the decline of print media has meant that this role is reducing in prevalence, there is a place for media specialists to add real value in an agency, especially in an era of reduced opportunities for media coverage and a need to really nail your approach. I'd say many of these at a senior level are ex journalists. - New business. Surely a real commercial asset to a company. This role can range from being purely focused on generating leads to being someone focused on running the actual pitch process as a focus. - Planning & strategy. A move for those who don't enjoy the delivery or project management and are more focused on big picture thinking & research. - Client relations/operations. Some people are masters at client relations and dislike the commercial element of agency life. At a large agency, roles like this can be accommodated more easily. Thoughts? Have I missed any? #bradshawsearch #pr #communications

PR agency pros have some of ✨the best✨ training to succeed at in-house comms roles. Why? 🌟We’re tapped to develop strategic and creative campaigns to address business challenges. 🌟We need to garner results year over year or our clients won’t hire us back. 🌟We have to excel at storytelling to entice press to cover our clients and craft copy that moves hearts and minds. 🌟We often juggle multiple clients at once and navigate diverging company cultures and personalities… …while working under pressure and dealing with competing deadlines. 🌟We know how to dive quickly and deeply into different industries and explain complex concepts in clear and simple terms tailored to a wide variety of audiences. Up until a few years ago, I spent my entire career in the PR agency world and use my knowledge and skills every day in my current in-house role. I’m extremely grateful for this experience, and I believe anyone aspiring to score an in-house role should consider working at a PR agency at least once in their career. Does this track with your own experience? I’d love your thoughts. #corporatecommunications #pragency #inhouse

I love this post! Thanks Sarah Kissko Hersh (and an old friend for commenting on it). PR people are also good at being inspired by great content around them - and remixing it: "PR is PR is PR. With very few exceptions, if you can successfully do PR/comms in one industry you can successfully do PR/comms in any industry." Over the years I've worked for clients in: Architecture and design B2B B2C Nonprofits The study of sport in society Libraries Sound systems for home, office and beyond Smart city networked sensors on lampposts Snowskate shaped like a skateboard Public companies Private companies Start-up companies Entertainment marketing Sailing center NASCAR driver Professor at UCal-Berkeley Tech Adtech Fintech Martech Medtech Military and aerospace tech Social media tech Travel and hospitality tech Luxury Cybersecurity Dogs for security HVAC and heat pumps AI-powered neural sensing platform And more (even Deborah Henson-Conant who reinvented ways to play and wear the jazz harp). The principles are the same, and they are transferable (and teachable). New media relationships can be made. Old media relationships should age like fine wine. Businesses can be grown. So if you're hiring a PR person or PR agency partner, prioritize things like: Chemistry fit Attitude Writing skills AI skills Work ethic Life ethic Work/Life balance Curiousity Creativity Collaboration Communication Genuine interest in following news Genuine interest in making news Tenacity Agility Strategic acumen Fun Past success.

I remember my first job, my first intern coffee I made for 20 employees, my first piece of coverage, my first promotion and my first move into another role.. I still get that sparkle and excitement in every role I do now 12 years within the industry.. call me cheesy but PR definitely runs within the blood for me. I’d like to think these are some additional values and points I’d add that are as important as the usual advantages of a well experienced PR senior consultant in the consumer space. I think passion and a love for something definitely opens the doors for further innovation and growth during many projects, campaigns and day to day tasks. PR is busy, ever changing and it’s one of those roles that you stick by and get to grips with or don’t. What do you think of these tips? I’m not expert, just throwing my opinion out there: 1. Media Relationships: A seasoned PR expert has established connections with key media outlets, making it easier to secure valuable coverage for your brand. 2. Strategic Planning: They can develop strategic PR plans tailored to your brand's goals, ensuring maximum impact and ROI. 3. Crisis Management: With their experience, they can effectively navigate and mitigate crises, safeguarding your brand's reputation. 4. Industry Insight: A PR expert with genuine industry knowledge can offer valuable insights and trends, helping your brand stay ahead of the curve. 5. Creativity: Their passion and love for the industry drive creative PR campaigns that capture attention and resonate with consumers. 6. Brand Advocacy: They become passionate advocates for your brand, conveying its values and messages authentically to the media and public. 7. Networking: With their extensive network, they can open doors to new opportunities, partnerships, and collaborations for your brand. 8. Adaptability: In a constantly evolving media landscape, their understanding allows them to adapt strategies quickly to stay relevant and effective. 9. Storytelling: Their genuine love for the industry translates into compelling storytelling that engages audiences and strengthens brand identity. 10. Results-driven: Ultimately, their expertise and passion translate into tangible results, driving brand awareness, reputation, and consumer trust. #prconsumer #prtips #prjobs #prfreelancer #pruk #publicrelations #prreads #prb2c

Is it your first time hiring a PR agency? Or are you looking to hire one? You might know we’ll help generate media coverage for your company or product, but what does that look like on a monthly basis– 📈 Weekly/Bi-Weekly Meetings: Stay updated, share company news, and brainstorm. 📈 Regular Feedback: Gain insights from media interest and feedback. 📈 Partnership Opportunities: Discover new avenues to enhance your PR. 📈 Strategy Check-Ins: Review progress and refine your approach. A good PR agency will help you establish clear, realistic goals. Building media relationships, pitching stories, and managing programs all take time. Your monthly results will reflect these ongoing efforts and the groundwork laid for future success. Curious about what else to expect? Let’s connect! https://lnkd.in/eAKNQprP #marketing #publicrelations #mediarelations #communications #integratedcommunications #strategiccommunications #marketingagency #pragency #foodandbeverage #hospitality #strategy #pr

Yup. I spent over 5 years working my tail off to show B2B executives how true this was. It was a hard sell that I gave up on earlier this year. Now, I spend all of my attention on offering our services to PR & marketing executives. We all speak the same language, understand the same strategies, and execute the same tactics. My business is growing better, and I'm WAY less stressed. PR is PR. Industry doesn't matter - skill at PR does. #PR #CustomerService #Sales