Rhonda Hendrickson

Does your PR team know how to explain the work we do? In too many instances, asking different members of your team how to explain public relations may bring many different answers. The obvious problem with that is that it creates confusion. As we all already know, too many people already don't get what we do. It is less about saying the exact words but more about general cohesion of the story. If your agency hasn't gone through this exercise with your team, it is something to think about.

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This is true and good advice. PR is about more than media relations.

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Clients and PR agencies ought to be partners. But more often than not, they are at loggerheads. Both sides blame each other for deficiencies. This doesn't have to be like this. I am attempting to resolve some of the pain points. Tell me what change would you like to see and I will help you make it happen through my content. Let's start from client side. As a client, what change do you want to see in your PR agency? Share your thoughts in comments or DM. #PublicRelations #StrategyVerse #ClientServicing

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Worth reading from TimelyCare VP Katie Neal: 13 Leadership Lessons for PR Pros (Taylor’s Version). Let’s face it. Taylor Swift’s much-anticipated album, The Tortured Poets Department (out April 19), sounds like it should be about a corporate communications team. While most PR professionals will never win any Grammys, we share more in common with the megastar than you might think. We are creators, storytellers and writers. We find inspiration in life, work and relationships. And we are influential to our teams, across our organizations and in our communities — demonstrating daily how smart, strategic communications can advance your brand, even in times of crisis. In addition to Swift’s mastery of public relations, have you noticed that her catalog of leadership lessons is almost as extensive as her collection of songs? I curated 13 key Tay-keaways for comms pros — each paired with an album or song — to inspire your leadership style as well as your playlist. Are you ready for it?

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🔗 Link below: Thanks for writing Microsoft Start. The message is simple, no one is better suited to reinvent your image than FSC.

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I’ve seen multiple posts recently about agencies punching below their weight class—i.e., going all-in on new business opportunities below their usual budget threshold. While it may seem exciting to have big name firms pitch your business, consider the potential consequences: ❌ All style, no substance? ✅ If an agency pulls out all the bells and whistles, that doesn’t necessarily indicate that they’ll be a better partner. Focus on understanding the potential working relationship; not how good they are at pitching. ❌ Small fish in a big pond? ✅ There’s a risk that you may not get the level of service you would from a right-size firm. Ask about the typical budget and scope of their other clients (including those impressive case studies they just showed you). ❌ Around for the long-haul? ✅ As hungry as an agency may be for your business today, it doesn’t guarantee long-term commitment. Unless it’s a short-term project, you want a partner who’s going to stick by you ... so you don't find yourself repeating this whole process again in a year. What are your thoughts on the presence of big agencies in more RFPs? Beyond the impact on smaller firms, how do you think the trend is affecting clients?

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#MarketingMonday Insight Alert! 📰 Did you know that 87% of people still indulge in #magazines? While this data predominantly highlights news media and "traditional magazines," the implications are clear. A whopping 20% of readers visit the ad's website, 25% seek further info about the product/service, and a staggering 80% eventually take action. These insights stem from publishers like the New Yorker, GQ, and more. Let's zoom in on the magazines I collaborate with. They're intentionally crafted to be concise (perfect for a single sitting!), microtargeted to specific neighbourhoods (offering exclusive content not found elsewhere), and boasting impressive open rates. In fact, my own Neighbours of Hespeler Village magazine achieved an impressive 85% open rate in a local survey three summers ago! (Compare that to the 1-3% average of direct mail.) #PrintIsNotDead, especially when it's strategically crafted and hyper-targeted! 🎯📬 #MarketingInsights #CommunityEngagement

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👀 Fun truths from Usher Lieberman to start your Monday (💻 + ☕) PR is PR is PR in some ways. Tune in to Coffee with Communicators for some wonderful insights from his 25+ year career in comms. Subscribe here: https://lnkd.in/gBPt76UR #CWC #communications #PR #newsletter

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💥 Media relations PRO TIP: do the damn work. 👷‍♀️ Pitching a specific reporter? Great. **Read the last five-10 articles the reporter wrote** Now: Does your pitch makes sense in the context of what you just read? 🤔 If not, tailor your pitch accordingly or move on to a more appropriate target. 👍 If your pitch DOES make sense, tailor your pitch even more and proceed. PRO TIP #2: Without being “salesy,” make clear you’ve read the reporters work. This will lower barriers and at least get you a fair hearing. Why? Because reporters are (gasp!) human beings with human needs, just like you. If you’ve done your homework and actually read their work, they’ll be more receptive to your thoughtful approach. Quick made up Example: “Hi Sarah, I’ve followed your recent stories on data integrity, and agree that [quick, smart observation]. Related, [client] is sitting on ton of proprietary data across vertical industries that shows exactly where, to your point, “nearly everyone’s getting it wrong.” Happy to share/walk you through it if interested.” ### This isn’t the spray-and-pray pitching approach of yesteryear. This requires extra work. It requires empathy for your key targets. It means being of service to reporters instead of treating them like they owe you their attention. Want media results? Do the damn work. This is the way ✊ #publicrelations #mediarelations 👇

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💥 This email will self-destruct in 48 hours. 💥 There’s nothing wrong with telling a journalist that they need to respond by a certain deadline if they’re interested in your story. We spend so much of our time trying to accommodate journalists, but you need to be respectful of your own time, too. If you don’t set a clear deadline for when a response is needed, you could sit around forever waiting for a reply that will never come. If the journalist doesn’t reply in time, move on to the next person on your list. Don’t let a lack of response from someone cause you to miss out on telling your story.

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I found this article helpful for those wondering how to effectively use AI in public relations. Technology is wonderful. Humans need to learn how to use appropriately and ethically. Remember, AI is a supplementary tool along with the tools you're already using and knowledge you have gained from education and experience. https://lnkd.in/exnaf2NK

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Good Morning, Media Sales Peeps, Breaking news: The size of your audience is not a marketing plan. Heard recently from a Sweet Tea, Southern, Rep, "Well, we have been number one for the last seventeen-thousand-eight-hundred-forty-nine books in a row." Being just a little silly, but she was certain we had to have her station for the plan to be a success. The fact is, media buyers can take almost any station in any market and create a plan and a buy that works within budget. Remember Bear Bryant? Legendary Football Coach. They said of Coach Bryant, "he'll take his team and whip your team, and your team and whip his team." It wasn't about size. It was plan and execution. If you want to keep a client for the long haul, it's not just about throwing souls at the message. You risk a thin buy. Without enough frequency no one gets convinced. It's the message and the frequency with which the audience hears that message that make the buy a success. (Hire a copywriter if you are serious. You will amp the frequency organically with a consistently kickass message.) When you have the grace to meet your customer where they are -- humans running a business -- you will ferret out what makes them different. They are doing what they do for a reason. Find out why. It won't be hours of operation, awards the company has won, how many locations they have, how friendly everyone acts, or the phone number. The 'why' is the brand story. Take the 'why' and make it about the customer. (Please hire a copywriter.) If the budget isn't very large. Start with owning a daypart to ensure frequency. If the budget is larger, buy the whole station. If you are rich as Cresus, buy the whole market. Just deliver about a 3.0 or better frequency every week against A 18+. Change the ad every 4-6 weeks without fail. And, never, ever, stop advertising. Results begin in 9 mos to a year. Every year thereafter, brand impressions and houseold name status will grow. "Any damn fool can put on a deal, but it takes genius, faith, and perseverance to create a brand" - Ogilvy Your collegues will say, 'Oh, she has Grouper's Seafood on her list. She's always winning the big sales awards.' Mmmmm, Grouper's. I hear the "fish is so fresh, it's swimming when you order it." Thanks for reading! Please comment. I'd love to hear your perspective. #mediasales #radiosales #tvsales #cablesales #advertising #mediabuying #copywriting #radio #tv #cable #media

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Are my expectations of my agency too high? Are they too low? A marketing leader recently shared that she wasn't sure if her frustrations with her agency stemmed from her own unrealistic expectations. The more she questioned the agency’s performance, the more she started to question herself. Let's talk about some very realistic expectations for your agency partners: ✅ Be proactive. Even if you hired the agency for execution rather than strategy, you can still expect them to be proactive. It’s not enough to be good at taking orders. Must-haves include regular communication, responsiveness, and initiative. ✅ Understand the business. You shouldn’t have to inform them of significant competitor news. It’s their responsibility to speak the language of your business and be up-to-speed on the industry; it’s your responsibility to keep them in the loop on what’s happening behind-the-scenes. ✅ Deliver results that MATTER. You agreed on a strategy and scope of work when you hired the agency. Are they delivering on their promise? It’s not enough to have an ongoing laundry list of activities and results; they have to map back to the strategy you set together. ✅ Ability to pivot. Sometimes the strategy doesn’t work as planned. When unforeseen challenges arise, that’s when you need to have conversations to reassess and adjust as needed. It can be challenging to figure out whether you're experiencing performance issues on the agency’s side or unrealistic expectations on your end. If you’re unsure where your agency stands, reach out and I’d be happy to discuss!

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Audience identification is an area of improvement for many #communications and #marketing pros. We tend to stop at broad categories. We should get to more targeted levels. Doing so requires closer collaboration among sales, marketing, and communications than is typical. A lot of orgs don’t dedicate the time or resources to do it. Then we wonder why we miss the bullseye.

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📢 Amplifying Your Association's Voice in the Media 📢 In this week's edition of Association Insights, I explore why having a prominent voice in the media is indispensable for your association. Here’s why media presence matters: 👉 Influence Public Perception: Shape how the public and key stakeholders see your industry, managing your reputation and addressing misconceptions effectively. 👉 Advocacy for Change: Use media channels to advocate for beneficial policies and initiatives, driving positive changes for your members and industry. 👉 Establish Leadership: Enhance credibility and attract new members by positioning your executives and members as go-to experts. 👉 Energize Membership: Boost engagement and loyalty by demonstrating proactive stances on critical issues impacting your field. Having a strategic media presence isn't just about being seen—it's about being heard and making an impact. 👥 To all my communications directors out there: What challenges have you faced in getting your leaders on board with media engagement? Share your experiences and tips in the comments! #MediaPresence #AssociationLeadership #PublicRelations #Advocacy #MemberEngagement #IndustryLeadership

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The next iteration of brand collaborations will be with communities. Just as brands collaborate with influencers and other brands today, more and more they'll team up with communities like F.I.R.E (Financial Independence, Retire Early) to achieve similar outcomes -- awareness, reach, audience growth, sales and beyond. Which brands are primed to collaborate with the F.I.R.E. community specifically? IMO any brand that shares similar beliefs about self-actualization and self-optimization. Think: travel, wellness, fitness verticals, just to name a few. Stay tuned for brand-community collabs 👀

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Surveys, they're not just an afterthought.📊💡🚀 In the world of PR, we're often chasing the next big headline, the groundbreaking campaign. But let's pause for a moment. Surveys are the unsung heroes. They're your direct line to the pulse of your audience. Think about it. Surveys tap into the collective consciousness, offering raw, unfiltered insights. Too often, we dismiss surveys as simple data collection tools. But they're far more powerful than that. They hold the key to understanding, connection, and innovation. Popular opinion: Surveys are not just a tool; they can be the foundation of a successful PR strategy. Here's the game-changer: Don't just use surveys as a one-time tactic. Integrate them into your PR DNA. This shift in approach can revolutionize your strategies and outcomes. Let's make a pact. Let's commit to truly understanding our audiences. Let's create campaigns that resonate with them. Let's shift the focus of PR from 'us' to 'them' and see the transformative power of this shift. Because, in the end, isn't that what PR is all about? Surveys, it's time they took center stage. Embrace the power of surveys. The results might just surprise you. 🎯🚀 𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 22 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴, 𝘈𝘭𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘚𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘉2𝘉 𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘻𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘷𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘴, 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘦. 𝘍𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦: 𝘸𝘸𝘸.𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴.𝘤𝘰𝘮

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Surveys, they're not just an afterthought.📊💡🚀 In the world of PR, we're often chasing the next big headline, the groundbreaking campaign. But let's pause for a moment. Surveys are the unsung heroes. They're your direct line to the pulse of your audience. Think about it. Surveys tap into the collective consciousness, offering raw, unfiltered insights. Too often, we dismiss surveys as simple data collection tools. But they're far more powerful than that. They hold the key to understanding, connection, and innovation. Popular opinion: Surveys are not just a tool; they can be the foundation of a successful PR strategy. Here's the game-changer: Don't just use surveys as a one-time tactic. Integrate them into your PR DNA. This shift in approach can revolutionize your strategies and outcomes. Let's make a pact. Let's commit to truly understanding our audiences. Let's create campaigns that resonate with them. Let's shift the focus of PR from 'us' to 'them' and see the transformative power of this shift. Because, in the end, isn't that what PR is all about? Surveys, it's time they took center stage. Embrace the power of surveys. The results might just surprise you. 🎯🚀 For more than 22 years, we’ve helped B2B organizations promote the value of their products, services, and expertise. It’s powerful and effective. Let me explain: Calendly https://bit.ly/3JF08BO

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