Comments on: Social Media and PR: Are Journalists Quicker to Adapt?

By: Give your blogs more wellie with guest posts | Quest PR Blog

Give your blogs more wellie with guest posts | Quest PR Blog — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 14:57:06 +0000

[...] also fantastic to be invited to spark debates on your peers’ blogs and meet more great [...]

By: Roy Wells

Roy Wells — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 12:36:15 +0000

Sharon,

The advance of technology has forced us over the years to continually change our business models. I remember the “good old days” when client’s happily paid us to provide them with news clips. Today we tweet them for free as a way to build our audience.

Today’s social networking platforms provide tools for our client’s that will replace traditional services offered by PR firms. Those PR firms that will survive will be the ones who add value in their relationships, and move away from those services which simply become commodities. Think of all the species that have become extinct as a result of evolution.

By: Sharon Cain

Sharon Cain — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 07:38:13 +0000

Thanks for the positive feedback. I agree entirely and would like to see more encourement/support/input from our industry body to stress the importance of harnessing social media. The fears are that many traditional agencies may be in serious trouble if, as predicted, there’s another two years before we emerge from the recession.

By: PR Nottingham

PR Nottingham — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 19:59:52 +0000

These post is indeed true.:) Great input, I guess what really matters is that PR pros won’t stop trying to be “more” part of search marketing for its the trend.

By: Sharon Cain

Sharon Cain — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 12:13:40 +0000

Cheers Jon
Interesting and disappointing to hear its not just the UK PR firms who are slow to change. What a storming call to action for journalists to start digital agencies and a great way to tap into the wealth of powerful writing and other transferable skills that they possess as a starter for ten!

By: Sharon Cain

Sharon Cain — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 12:08:13 +0000

Great to hear you are making inroads Alex and intelligence gathering to good effect! We’re doing more training and consulting which reflects the hunger and appetite among SMEs to tap into the fabulous benefits that social media can bring.

By: Jon Buscall

Jon Buscall — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 07:37:08 +0000

It’s incredibly important PR firms get with digital. Or they’ll miss out on an important slice of the cake. Here in Sweden, despite being a key player in the development of apps and online services, PR firms are also somewhat behind. You can see from their websites and emphasis on trade magazines that they’ve not caught up with digital yet.

One major trend is for journalists to start digital agencies to challenge the old order.

Great post, Sharon!

By: Sharon Cain

Sharon Cain — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 06:58:46 +0000

Hi Gini
Thanks for the opportunity to comment.
Yes, many of us were gobsmacked – bearing in mind how much ‘noise’ and media comment Twitter has generated on a global scale.
There have been some interesting questions about whether this research reflects that the whole of the UK PR industry is slow on the social media uptake – or whether traditional PR agencies see social media as the remit of digital agencies. Ultimately though, it’s surely the PR industry’s remit to tap into the most effective channels for clients to help them accelerate their business goals?

By: Alex

Alex — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 02:26:26 +0000

In Australia, this kind of proactive approach to social media by PR pros to follow/contact is still in its infancy… but it’s getting better. As a PR Professional in Melbourne, I’ve only recently begun following all my client’s key journalists, competitors and related stakeholders and have already found opportunities I didn’t know existed before. All PR professionals need to embrace social media if they aren’t already. If you don’t know anyone – google it and find them! Email them, ask for their time, employ them for a day! I had a day with an social media expert two weeks ago and it’s changed the way I think about my job. Hop to it!

By: Gini Dietrich

Gini Dietrich — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 01:16:19 +0000

Hi Sharon! Great to see you here!!

It is SHOCKING to me that 78 percent of PR firms aren’t using digital technologies. SHOCKING! Last night I read a blog post from Roy Wells about how firms who do not consider ALL tools are doing a huge disservice to their clients. I agree. It’s time to get on the bandwagon already.