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In the last few weeks, we have seen countless stories about the soon-to-be-former NBA owner Donald Sterling. From mainstream media to tabloid outlets to social media sites, Sterling’s dirty laundry was aired before our very eyes. There is no doubt that he has been embroiled in a huge battle and now desires to salvage and repair his reputation.
No matter what anyone may think of Sterling personally, it is quite clear that he could utilize some type of public relations counsel that involves crisis communications or reputation management (in addition to some other help, but we are only focusing on P.R. in this blog). Sterling’s situation is a no-brainer for public relations to be employed.
However, for the small business owner or companies that don’t have high visibility, you may not fully understand how public relations services can be beneficial. So over the next few months, we are going to post blogs that address the different public relations tools that businesses use.
The Public Relations Society of America defines P.R. this way:
“Public relations is a strategic communication process that builds mutually beneficial relationships between organizations and their publics.”
The key phrase is “a strategic communication process,” which deals with who you communicate with, as well as how and what you communicate. Public relations should not be confused with marketing and advertising, although they often work hand-in-hand, they are not interchangeable.
By taking a look at various aspects of public relations, such as media relations, crisis communications, brand management, message development, community relations and more, your company will identify some strategic ideas from these next few blogs to utilize in your business on a regular basis.
Now, if your company becomes involved in a fiery problem, a là Donald Sterling, don’t wait for a blog to come out, be sure to contact a crisis communications expert pronto!