Comments on: Is It Time We PRs Grew A Pair?

By: Harriet

Harriet — Fri, 21 May 2010 14:37:25 +0000

@Melanie Seasons - thanks for your comment - I guess because online is a relatively new PR platform, clients would need to put their trust in you even more. Totally agree with you about managing expectations - again a delicate balancing act, especially at the pitch stage where it’s very easy to over-promise.

By: Stan

Stan — Fri, 21 May 2010 13:50:30 +0000

Grow a pair and meet me for a drink later.

By: Melanie Seasons

Melanie Seasons — Fri, 21 May 2010 13:46:42 +0000

Great post - and something I advocate myself.

Being on the online PR side, I feel the consulting bit is a little easier. Since my clients are mostly looking for direction from the beginning, I’m able to push back on what I know will work and what won’t.

For traditional PRs, the way forward is to manage expectations from the beginning - right even from that creds/chemistry meeting. There’s no need to be pushy, but it’s pretty easy to tell from the onset if the client wants to run the show.

By: Harriet

Harriet — Fri, 21 May 2010 09:44:50 +0000

@Rebecca Taylor – Thanks Rebecca – completely agree – we should be acting as consultants and that means holding our ground – even if that isn’t always enjoyable.

@Duncan Hopwood – Your point about giving your client what he/she wants and not what you think he/she needs is valid – however i do feel as the PR we have a better idea of what is realistic in terms of achievables and it is therefore our duty to be honest and firm with clients – without of course being rude

@Nick – Yes, clients do pay the bills and you’re right that we can only push back so much. If they are categorically refusing to listen to you, there is little point in starting a fight. Sometimes it gives you a good excuse for lack of pick-up too…”well - we did it your way so you can’t moan about coverage”

@andrew thomas – Good point – lets hope you are right.

By: andrew thomas

andrew thomas — Thu, 20 May 2010 21:27:57 +0000

I think you’ve nailed it with your comment about dealing with marketing folk. Marketers can’t help speaking with a sales brochure voice, whereas any half-decent PRO speaks with a journalists voice, and if skilfull, loosely tunes it to the accent of the target publications.

However, as PR folk are increasingly reporting into Communications instead of Marketing, so the sales brochure dialect should be heard less.

By: Nick

Nick — Thu, 20 May 2010 16:17:01 +0000

Agree completely with your sentiment Harriet but the reality is that clients still pay the bills, and we can only push back so much. You’re absolutely right we’re here to offer counsel but we’re also here to keep clients and sometimes you just have to suck it up and do what you’re told. Do we like doing that? Of course not, but I think thats just the reality.

One observation though - clients that haven’t a clue and won’t listen to feedback generally don’t hang around in their positions that long…;-)

By: Duncan Hopwood

Duncan Hopwood — Thu, 20 May 2010 16:16:14 +0000

I have a lot of sympathy for what you say (I could even point to a few scars) but when you are in front of some egos, telling them you know best can be a quick way to lose the business. Some people argue you should give your client what he/she wants, not what you think he/she needs. As a PR, you have two clients, the one that pays the bill and the journalist that chooses to run your story (or not). These two clients want different things and have different rules. It’s our job to satisfy them both. I think that word “delicate” in your final sentence sums up the challenge for many PRs, especially in cash-strapped times.

By: Rebecca Taylor

Rebecca Taylor — Thu, 20 May 2010 16:06:57 +0000

Great post Harriet and I completely agree with you. As PRs we should be acting as consultants, and in my career I have had clients who make this an easy and enjoyable process, and those who don’t! However, when it’s not so easy, it’s usually because the client doesn’t understand why something should be done a certain way (a problem that often arises in trade PR when the client is more used to working with consumer PRs). In those circumstances it’s up to us to explain and educate and in most cases we can then ensure the best outcome for everyone involved.