It’s time to quash these 6 PR myths
Tired of all the nonstop partying and Mai Tais on the beach during those summer doldrums? We didn’t think so. Here are some pervasive misconceptions about the industry.
For one, the communications field is very crowded. PR pros outnumber journalists at a ratio of 4.6 to 1. When markets get crowded, competition becomes cutthroat. As a result, it’s not unheard of that false signals (read: noise) arise.
Second, relationships, personality and creativity drive PR—your biggest strength is your personality.
With this premise in mind, I asked my community two things: (1) the biggest PR myths they’ve encountered and (2) how to quash them. Out of 73 replies related to SEO, social, analytics, brand-building and integrated marketing, here are my six favorites:
1. The “all fun and no work” attitude Nominated by Melinda Jackson, publicist at JAG Entertainment
PR requires extensive networking and outreach. Jackson explains that as a result, the industry is perceived as being driven by fancy parties with no real work.
“Sure, there are amazing parties and events, but 95 percent of the time, publicists are locked to a desk, writing, brainstorming, sending emails, and making follow-up calls,” says Jackson. “Being a publicist truly is a 24/7 job. You have to be on at all times.”
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