http://www.360prblog.com/

So I’m just a wee bit late in the game with this post.  Hey, we’re busy with client work, a good thing right?  The New York Times published an article over the holiday weekend, Spinning the Web:  P.R. in Silicon Valley.

While some in the PR industry scoffed at the article (read Edelman’s rebuttal), there was at least an element of truth and a lesson or two to be learned by reading about the galavants (including bikini-clad client meetings) of Silicon Valley publicists.  Plus, let’s be honest, it was a fun, lighten-up, summertime read.

So here’s the true part:  PR is still about relationships.  That’s true whether dealing with influencers online or off, and it’s one of the reasons why PR practitioners are better equipped to lead brands into social media than other specialists who focus on transaction-based marketing.

There’s no denying the powerful combination of relationships + social media in the successful launch of Wordnik.   But it’s not simply ‘who you know.’  The nature and quality of the relationship is key.  How deep does the relationship run?  Is it truly two-way and built on mutual respect?  Will it last over time?

The Edelman blog brought to light another important point:  to reap the benefits of a sustained PR effort, you need a strategic approach, not just a whisper in so-and-so’s ear.

Filed under: Media and Press, PR Industry |