OluKai’s Post

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Hiring a social media specialist/manager does not guarantee that the company will amass a million loyal followers in a day or a month, especially when the goal is to cultivate a genuine and loyal followership that forms a trusted community around the brand. This concern is increasingly prevalent within the PR and communications industry, highlighting a widespread misunderstanding of the roles and value of certain professions within the corporate sphere. Several factors must be considered within this space of work, including: - The specific niche that the company operates in. - The audience that the company serves or targets. - The brand's reputation and its perception by the general public. - Establishing realistic and measurable goals to evaluate the success of the company's social media presence. While this list only scratches the surface, it underscores the importance of patience when entrusting a social media manager with the task of expanding a brand's presence and awareness.

I agree with you, Codi Dantu-Johnson, and I would argue that same discrimination applies to all branches of #communications. At the end of the day, if you're a good marketer, publicist, or social media #creator, your skills are transferable, regardless of industry. #marketing #publicrelations #givefolksachance

I'll disagree somewhat. I agree some clients unnecessarily want specific subject expertise. A company should have its own experts involved. There are many topics a writer might adequately research. But there are also areas in which a lack of expertise is a problem. The writer might look things up and not understand what they're reading because material involves inside knowledge to correctly comprehend. The writer might need to cover a topic where, for whatever good or bad reason, an internal expert isn't available for review (not a good situation, but it can happen). The writer might be responsible for data analysis requiring statistical or polling experience. It could be an area in which the writing also involves regulatory considerations or even proper use of industry slang to target an audience. Sometimes a writer with expertise can catch something the clients are missing for whatever reason. I remember once pointing out to a company in electronics that whoever generated one schematic had incorrectly labeled an antenna, which would have been quite the embarrassment. There is no writer I've ever met over many decades who would be a good or even adequate choice for all possible assignments. Plus, the more demonstrable expertise you bring, the higher the rates you can charge.

How to stand out in your PR Career: —Early experience on political campaigns, Capitol Hill and/or as beat journalist is really valuable. If you can do it, do it. The pay usually stinks, but it’s invigorating, you meet awesome people and learn how to just get stuff done under often non ideal circumstances. —Write well and succinctly. Including emails. Seriously. —Understand the difference between strategy and tactics and that the strategy drives the tactics, not the other way around. —Under promise, over deliver. But whatever you do promise, come through or if you can’t, offer reasonable workarounds. — When pitching media, normalize deep research and targeting versus spray and pray. — Understand the inputs and outputs that motivate diverse stakeholders and constituents, and the importance of crafting the right message to the right audience at the right time. — Be a nice person. Seriously, being a jerk pisses off everyone you need to influence. —Give more than you take but don’t get taken advantage of. Stand up for yourself without apology. —Provide a courtesy (aka free) discovery call, but not a second one unless you feel like there is a greater than 75% chance of doing business. —Members of the media, influencers, elected officials, etc are human beings too and they all talk and have long memories. See above about being nice. —You’re either at the table or you’re on the menu. So, you and your clients need to figure out how to be there without being annoying. Any other biggies?

A common misconception about public relations is that PR professionals are paid solely for results. In reality, PR is about much more than just outcomes; it's about the dedicated efforts and connections that pave the way to success. The true essence of PR lies in the continuous efforts to build and maintain relationships with media, stakeholders, and the public. Pitching the right stories, and managing communications require consistent effort. >Building Strong Connections One of the most critical aspects of PR is the network of connections that PR professionals cultivate. These relationships with journalists, influencers, and industry leaders are built on trust and mutual respect, which help in dissemination of messages (when needed) >Efforts Behind the Scenes Much of the work PR professionals do happens behind the scenes- researching, planning, and strategizing to ensure that every pitch or press release is tailored to the client’s goals and the current media environment. These efforts are unseen yet vital for a company. >Measuring Success While immediate results are valuable, the true impact of PR is often seen over time. PR efforts contribute to brand awareness, reputation management, and relationship building, all of which take weeks (sometimes months) to build. One cannot expect great media relations and coverage within few weeks of engaging So, next time you hire a PR agency, keep this in mind! #publicrelations #longterm #bustingmyths

How A Public Relations Expert can use Social Media to Enhance Campaigns Most professionals tend to think that social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter should be used to connect with customers by showcasing company culture, featuring new products, and to provide an additional customer service channel. While this is true, they shed light on the limited view some have regarding the uses of social media for other purposes like enhancing public relations efforts. In utilizing social media as a tactic to support a PR efforts, you could improve awareness of your brand as well as its exposure to audiences you may not otherwise reach. Read below for some tactics you can use on social media before, during, and after your PR campaigns.

been given what feels like good advices to one potentially thinking about hiring a PR agency: - a PR person is a connector - hire the person who you would want to be right now eg the person who, if you were yourself in PR, has the same life/approach/vision you would have (hanging in the right circles, going to the right shows, mingling with the right folks etc...) - know your end goal - have a clear mission statement - research agencies, select a few that seem potentially right - ask questions, let people talk Ex of questions: - have you worked with a company that was "here" in term of recognition and brought it up "there"? - can you describe how you did it? - what are the trends you see in the market? - who are you currently working with who you feel is could be connected to that would advance the goal? granted nothing magical here but the above felt intelligent especially to one who never gave pro PR any thoughts.

Countless false narratives, misleading posts, and dubious sources have proliferated, demanding communicators' vigilance in distinguishing fact from fiction. The platform's role in disseminating information, whether accurate or not, is undeniable and poses a formidable challenge in maintaining trust and credibility even to this day. For public relations professionals, Facebook started off as a valuable tool. It offered a direct line to target audiences, enabling engagement on a personal level. https://bit.ly/3OykfUF #CommPRO #PR #Facebook

Having different skills as a Social Media Manager is what makes us unique.