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Opinion Piece, PR Week, Article Paddy Herridge Opinion Piece, PR Week, Article Paddy Herridge

Diversification of PR services is vital in a ‘post-earned’ world (PR Week)

As an agency MD there are an ever-increasing number of ways in which you can secure third-party validation of your agency’s success. There are obviously awards – most importantly those of PRmoment naturally – but there’s also a range of accreditations, audits and benchmarking you can submit to in order to receive a stamp of approval.

The basis of the modern PR agency is a well-trodden path. In essence, leveraging an established base of media contacts, knowledge and strategy to sell media relations to clients at a decent margin has been the route to success.

Sure, there has been some innovation around the edges with paid and organic social; with influencers instead of media; or with selling content services and community management – but essentially, the core of the model has remained the same.

The end of this approach has been oft-predicted but, for most agencies, the dirty secret is that media relations is what pays the bills.

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Opinion Piece, Article, SynergyMode Paddy Herridge Opinion Piece, Article, SynergyMode Paddy Herridge

Busy-ness doesn’t make for good business (SynergyMode)

Being a busy leader has been fetishised by the modern business world. The CEO or senior exec whose diary is booked for months to come or who schedules their day in five minute slots is seen as more effective, more virile and more dedicated. However, are they genuinely more effective? Is busy-ness really the sign of effective leadership?

Being a busy leader has been fetishised by the modern business world. The CEO or senior exec whose diary is booked for months to come or who schedules their day in five minute slots is seen as more effective, more virile and more dedicated. However, are they genuinely more effective? Is busy-ness really the sign of effective leadership?

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Article, Opinion Piece, PR Week Paddy Herridge Article, Opinion Piece, PR Week Paddy Herridge

In an integrated world, PR must trade on its ‘secret sauce’: storytelling (PR Week)

All marketing is meeting in the middle: PR agencies are increasingly focusing on paid tactics; digital and media agencies are looking at earned media; and every man and his dog is peddling owned content.

All marketing is meeting in the middle: PR agencies are increasingly focusing on paid tactics; digital and media agencies are looking at earned media; and every man and his dog is peddling owned content.

In a world where we’re all doing the same thing, one has to ask: what’s the point of a PR agency?

The core skills of marketing these days are content production and distribution. That content may be a press release, a video creative, a physical stunt or an event.

The distribution may be through media relations, influencers, paid media placement, owned digital tactics or experiential.

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Opinion Piece, Article, PR Week Paddy Herridge Opinion Piece, Article, PR Week Paddy Herridge

Finding balance can help you to achieve brief ‘nirvana’ (PR Week)

A PR agency brief can be the difference between the success and failure of a campaign.

Whether it’s a brief for a new business pitch or for a fresh campaign for an existing client, getting the brief right upfront sets the scene for all that’s to follow.

With that in mind, it’s perhaps a surprise that briefs sometimes seem – to the agencies that receive them at least – to have been put together with little thought for the outcome.

A PR agency brief can be the difference between the success and failure of a campaign.

Whether it’s a brief for a new business pitch or for a fresh campaign for an existing client, getting the brief right upfront sets the scene for all that’s to follow.

With that in mind, it’s perhaps a surprise that briefs sometimes seem – to the agencies that receive them at least – to have been put together with little thought for the outcome.

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Opinion Piece, Article Paddy Herridge Opinion Piece, Article Paddy Herridge

Do awards and accreditation matter?

As an agency MD there are an ever-increasing number of ways in which you can secure third-party validation of your agency’s success. There are obviously awards – most importantly those of PRmoment naturally – but there’s also a range of accreditations, audits and benchmarking you can submit to in order to receive a stamp of approval.

As an agency MD there are an ever-increasing number of ways in which you can secure third-party validation of your agency’s success. There are obviously awards – most importantly those of PRmoment naturally – but there’s also a range of accreditations, audits and benchmarking you can submit to in order to receive a stamp of approval.

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Opinion Piece, Article, PR Week Paddy Herridge Opinion Piece, Article, PR Week Paddy Herridge

What should PRs do about the referendum on Europe?

With the Conservative election victory, a referendum on EU membership is now inevitable. The speculation over the political and economic impact will reach new peaks but, at a more practical level, what does a PR practitioner need to do now to prepare?

With the Conservative election victory, a referendum on EU membership is now inevitable. The speculation over the political and economic impact will reach new peaks but, at a more practical level, what does a PR practitioner need to do now to prepare?

Take a position

While commonplace in the US, it is relatively rare for UK businesses to take explicit political positions. However, given the potential impact of the decision on UK businesses, any PR should expect to be asked for their company’s view on the matter.  

As such, PR should play a central role in deciding the company’s position.

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