In Defense of Public Relations

When I read Don Bartholomew’s post, “You Might Be a PR/Social Media Redneck If…,” I was filled with laughter, yet at the same time sadness, just because there are so many PR agencies out there, including the one I work for, that can’t seem to adapt to the changes in the industry.

There is fear and ignorance that seem to plague many PR firms to take the step in changing the way they measure PR programs.  PR pros are so good at talking the talk about using social media in PR, but many are clueless as to what it entails. Furthermore, they don’t know how to sell their social media ideas to clients.

Here’s hoping that PR firms, including my own, will begin to embrace new ways of measuring PR. (Thanks to C-Money for forwarding Don B.’s post.)

I sympathize with Jenna Sokolich of Behrman Communications who received the scorn of the New York Post today because of an insensitive pitch that she sent out.

As it turns out, her boss was to blame for the tasteless pitch. Unfortunately, I can honestly say that I was not surprised that this was the case.

Who else can explain the difference between PR and publicity better than Seth Godin? Seth put in under 10 paragraphs, what I’d like to think a majority of PR pros including myself, have been trying to tell clients and PR firm bigwigs (you know who you are!).

I hope everyone in PR would send Seth’s post to everyone they know in PR. It may just stop the insanity!

The year was 1997. The Internet was changing how we communicate. Print newspapers were worried about readers moving online. The Dow Jones was above 6500. Wait, that sounds an awful like today.

The difference between 1997 and today is the state of the economy. Back in 1997, the economy was growing at such a fast pace, while today, it’s shrinking just as fast.

I remember landing my first job in PR right out of college in 1997. I joined a PR/advertising agency that handled mainly food and beverage clients. It was a boutique agency, which I didn’t know back then meant, sweatshop. The company had one email address and a dial-up Internet connection. Phone pitching was the norm and blast “fax,” yes,”fax” was fairly standard.

With the Dow Jones figures at 1997 levels, I’ve become somewhat nostalgic for the years leading up to implosion of the dotcom bubble. Here are some of the things I remember from the era:

1) Mahir-I Kiss You! — The first example of viral marketing on the Web.

2) VC Funding — Build a Website and you get money.

3) Dotcom Bust — Ten of the top dotcom flops.

4) Urban Legends — Remember the one about the chihuahua from Mexico.

5)Netscape vs. Internet Explorer — The browser wars.

If you’d like to join me in reminiscing, please feel free to comment.