IT’S A PR THING

Episode 19 -- PR Strategic Planning

If you want to be successful in your public-relations efforts, then you must have a PR strategic plan. Whether you're planning for the organization's reputation, or for a specific initiative or campaign, you must have a thorough and documented PR strategy.
Today, Sam Sims, PRSA incoming board member and Fellow, podcast host of PR for the Rest of Us and president of the Sims Group, chats with our host Stephanie McFarland about PR strategic planning.
Together, Sam and Steph talk about the key components of a good PR strategy, best practices, and how to manage the planning process and collaborate across the organization, and tips on how to implement the plan and measure success.
This is a real and sincere Friday afternoon chat between two experienced PR pros who give some valuable food for thought on the PR strategic planning process.
Grab a pen and paper -- and let's all dive in for some more PR learning love!

Episode 18 -- Corporate Cultures That Court Crisis (Part IV)

Today on the series finale of Corporate Cultures That Court Crisis, we cover the "Blissfully Oblivious" culture. This culture usually takes one of two forms: Either the organization doesn't want to be aware of anything detrimental brewing in its bowels OR the organization is genuinely naive to the risks its unknowingly taking or facing.
 
Don't let this business culture invade your organization and invite crisis or controversy. Be the radar system for your organization -- help keep it in a healthy place with the four tips in our final installment.
 
Grab a pen, grab a pad of paper, and let's dive in for some more PR learning love!

Episode 16 -- The Power of Gratitude

Happy Thanksgiving week! I love this time of year . . . because it's cool to be thankful, to reach out and share gratitude and count our blessings.
Did you know that Harvard and Berkley have some great data on what gratitude can do for your business? Well, we're going to hit the highlights of that data today -- and focus on how to integrate gratitude across your stakeholder relationships and use it to create true wealth in your business.
And don't miss the preface, because I have a special message for all of you who have been listening for the past year. I am so grateful for your time and interest in this show, and love having the opportunity to share PR love with you each week.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day, and know that you are greatly appreciated!
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Email address mentioned in the show preface: admin@mcfarlandpr.com

Episode 15 -- Corporate Cultures That Court Crisis (Part III)

'Hair on Fire'
Thank you for joining us today for IT'S A PR THING -- where today we're on Part III of a four-part series on Corporate Cultures That Court Crisis. Again, these are business cultures that invite crisis and controversy, putting the organization at risk.
Today's episode focuses on the "Hair on Fire" culture, and gives us a robust taste of what operating in a constant state of urgency and emergency does to an organization's people and its stakeholders. You may even find some hints of Trump, Musk, Biden, Ye -- and even the FTX crew in this culture.
You'll also learn some tips and strategic tactics to help organizations course correct, if they're heading in this direction.
Lots to cover today, so let's all dive in for some more PR learning love.
 

Episode 14 -- Corporate Cultures That Court Crisis (Part II)

It's not deficient publicity that lands companies and organizations in hot water -- it's the management decisions they make. And today  we're continuing our series on business cultures that invite crisis or controversy. This is the second episode in a four-part series that helps you identify businesses with a "tone at the top" that's problematic -- and can ultimately lead to sudden disasters, an unsafe workplace, regulatory woes, adversarial market pressures and more.
Is your company culture putting you on this trajectory? And if so, how do you course correct? Today's episode focuses on a business culture that is one of the most difficult to change, but . . . if there is a will, there is a way!
Join us today for some solid food for thought, and let's all dive in for some more PR learning love!

Episode 13 -- Corporate Cultures That Court Crisis (Part I)

Today we're starting a new series called Corporate Cultures That Court Crisis. Is your business culture setting your organization up for disruption, public backlash, lost revenue, damaged relationships, etc.?
Is your culture Too Big for Its Britches? Is it All About the Bennies? Is it operating Cowboy Style, or Blissfully Oblivious?
Join us today as we focus in on our first culture category, and learn the behaviors, characteristics and the risks these organizations face -- and how to course correct if you're heading in the wrong direction.
This is going to be an interesting episode today, and an excellent one to pass on to your leadership. So get ready to take some copious notes, and let's all dive in for some more PR learning love!

Episode 12 -- Talking With Tanner: A Fresh Look at Working in the PR Field

Don't let the title fool you, our more seasoned PR pros -- this episode is for all of us!
Today we're talking with Tanner Sizemore, who gives us insights into what it's like for a new professional entering the PR field, how it's different from the world of academia, how relationships play into a new professional's experience, and what kind of culture new PR pros are looking for today.
While my end of the audio is low and a bit muffled (sorry -- a little technical hiccup), Tanner is loud and clear as the star of today's episode. And he has some standout thoughts for us all to consider, and to pass along to students, incoming professionals, our own kids, and others.
So grab a pad of paper, grab a pen - and let's dive in for some more PR learning love!
 
 

Episode 11 -- The Key Influence To Engage Stakeholders

Today we're going to reveal the key influences that drive stakeholder engagement. If you're scratching your head about why your million-dollar plus ad campaign isn't driving people to purchase, vote, participate, etc.  . . . well there is a reason for that. You're going to see why advertising and news releases, or “earned media” have a short lifespan when it comes to driving stakeholders to productively engage with you in a meaningful way. But, more importantly, you're going to learn what has the biggest influence along that continuum
So get ready to listen and learn, and ultimately save you time and money, and your team from the wear and tear of unnecessary stress and frustration.
Grab that pad of paper, grab a pen, and let's dive in for some more PR learning love today!

Episode 10 -- Crisis and Controversy: 3 Key Tips to ‘Get Ahead of the Story’

Can you still get ahead of the story in today's media environment? And if so, how do you do that? Schmooze the media? Press release your way out of it? "Reframe" the situation and set the record straight?
In today's episode, we get all up in these questions. And we lay some hard reality on you in the form of three crucial tips to help you get ahead of the news story -- and who has the biggest burden in the organization in keeping you out of the negative headlines.
So grab that pad of paper, grab a pen, and let's dive in for some more PR learning love!
 
 
 

Episode 9 -- The 14 Resources To Help You Manage Your PR Function

Thank you for tuning into IT’S A PR THING. Today we're going to cover 14 resources and tools available to help you manage and improve your public-relations function within your organization. THAT’S 14! One to check out everyday for two weeks!
These tools and resources come from a breadth of organizations and experts AND many of them are free or accessible at a very low cost. 
So get ready to take copious notes today as we dive into some more PR learning love! 
RESOURCES REFERENCED IN TODAY’S EPISODE
Our Podcasts — FREE
EPISODE #3 -- THE FIVE LIMITING BELIEFS ABOUT PR 
TUESDAY TIP #2 -- AVOIDING THE SCRAMBLE, HERDING THE CATS 
TUESDAY TIP #4 -- BLT + PICKLE and the CEO 
TUESDAY TIP #9 -- THE 10 TOOLS TO BUILD BETTER MEDIA RELATIONSHIPS
EPISODE #8 -- THE MEDIA INTERVIEW: FOUR PRO-TIPS TO HELP YOU PREPARE AND MANAGE IT
Books -- Under $20 each
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People-- Steven Covey 
Damage Control: The Essential Lessons of Crisis Management -- Eric Dezenhall & John Weber 
Left Turn -- Dr. Tim Groceclose
More podcasts -- from other people -- FREE 
School PR Drive Time Podcast
The CX Leader Podcast 
 
Case Studies  -- FREE 
 
Case Study Library @ MCFARLANDPR.COM