Will these things be the future of PR? Diversification, Martech mastery... and storytelling?

In this episode, I talk to Damian Frances, a journalist who studies PR and comms.

Damian is also the Editorial Director of Mumbrella, the organisers of CommsCon 2023, the biggest PR-focused event in Australia. He invited The Public Relations Podcast along to the recent event in Sydney.

Once the sessions were over, we sat down for a chat to discuss what we had heard.

The conversation moved from fax machines and press clippings to modern strategies involving diversification and digital. We look at how the general mindset around marketing is likely to change. We look at PR and the problem of measurement with MarTech and how that will help but also talk about the problem of agreeing on measurement standards. And, we talk about this event and how it is helping to inspire people for the future of PR.

In this episode, I dive into the world of influencer marketing with Maria Jordan from Fireflies Management, discussing her experience working with a family of influencers and the importance of aligning their brand values with their partnerships. We also explore a thought-provoking article by Trevor Thomas about the rise of anti-hero brands and the potential rewards of taking risks with organizational avatars. Plus, we share insights on how PR trips, content creation, and targeted pitching have evolved in the travel industry. It's a fascinating topic.

If you want to get your story across to the traditional media then you need to get your pitch right.

There is almost a checklist you can go through to make sure you cover all the bases.

It ranges from a good headline to making sure you have the right pictures in the details.

Jeroen Bos, the CEO of PR.co, joined me for a chat about our experiences with bad pitches and what you need to do to get it right. Then as the episode goes on, I share more of my thoughts on this and break down a recent press release as well, to show what's wrong with so many approaches.

I've just got off the phone with a seasoned journalist where we were talking about the problem reporters find today or getting back to research in-depth stories. As the media landscape evolves, it raised the question as to whether PR professionals could help in this process but not just by pitching an idea and sitting back but by getting actively involved in helping the journalist's career without compromising their integrity. Let me know what you think. You can reach me on LinkedIn. Details in the episode.

In this eye-opening episode of The Public Relations Podcast, I chat with Alexandra Annabelle, the lead PR from techfugees.com to discuss the challenges and strategies of promoting humanitarian causes in a world plagued by disaster fatigue.

Discover how Alexandra and her team use human stories, meaningful relationships, and collaboration with other organizations to get the message across.

We also talk about what her approach says about the role of PRs and how it's evolving to be much more than just about talking to journalists or influencers.

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In this week's "The Public Relations Podcast" we delve into the latest AI breakthroughs that are shaping the PR industry.

Learn why the growth of AI-driven newsrooms and content creators who rely on AI for their content, will put more and more emphasis on PR professionals to deliver high-quality pitches.

We look at why chatbot companies could increasingly become the brand voice of some firms.

We look at a potential job opportunity for you!

And we find out why now, or at least for the next couple of months, could be the perfect time to write a book about your company.

AI is changing everything, and this episode brings you up to speed on a few more ways it's affecting the Public Relations industry.

In this episode, we delve into the concept of "bridging" and how it can help you expand your reach and tap into new audiences outside of your typical sector.

We explore the common mistakes people make when attempting to "bridge", and share a step-by-step process to identify the right connections and pitch your story effectively.

The technique works whether you are doing this as an individual, in an SME business or in a large PR agency or department.

The episode is packed with tips and real-life examples that will help you understand the power of bridging and how to use it to your advantage.

Learn how to make the most of PR opportunities by building bridges and connecting your story to new audiences.

In this episode, we explore the importance of empathy, self-doubt, and passion in the world of PR. 

We look at how empathy and sensitivity are key traits for successful PR professionals and how rejecting the hard-sell approach is crucial to lasting success. 

We also delve into imposter syndrome, something that many PR practitioners face and how trusting our gut and finding passion in the stories we pitch can help overcome self-doubt.

Richard shares a personal story of a missed opportunity with three of the UKs top news editors that could have been a game-changing moment and he talks about chatting with two PR practitioners in the disaster and hobby spaces about how their personal involvement and passion in these areas have made them successful in their PR efforts.

The episode concludes with a discussion of how our feelings can help us understand the nuances of the stories we pitch and connect with journalists and content creators. 

This episode is all about the role of empathy, self-doubt, and passion in the world of PR and how we should all learn to trust our gut in order to find success in our comms efforts.