Comments on: The Failing Marketing and PR World

By: Duncan Alney

Duncan Alney — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 22:05:41 +0000

Kyle – there is a post on the hoosier PRSA blog post and a blog post as well. Check it out. You'll find it quite balanced.

http://blog.firebellydigital.com/2009/08/practice…

By: Duncan Alney

Duncan Alney — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 03:14:24 +0000

Just finally getting around to commenting on this. Thing is I've thought long and hard and really social media is perfect for PR firms yet so few in Indianapolis are immersed in it. Frankly other than Hetrick and Trendy Minds, I can't even say I'm familiar with a single firm that I've come across. I find it amusing how many ad agencies that represent brands and have unsuccessful social media campaigns for them there are in Indianapolis. Guess I understand why some of those monthly meetings are so uncomfortable now – talking one way is a lot easier than having a conversation aint it?

But here's where it gets interesting – building relationships and adding value are the present and future of marketing. If you aren't hip to conversations for yourself – how you gonna do it for someone else? Oh yeah I think the brainstorm cats are super cool – the live the paradigm.

I'd love to see a list of local brands' social media efforts and their agencies' non existent social media! This is Thomas Friedman's observations in action – the nobodies are the new somebodies. Not just us but all the peopel that are immersed in these agencies' brands.

Ok I'm stoppin' now.

By: Justin Thompson

Justin Thompson — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:01:50 +0000

I think part of the fear is not being able to commit to maintaining communications through many different outlets. Part of the issue is also determining what purpose the communication is for. Do agencies blog or Tweet to pass on client news? Do they merely promote themselves via these social media? Or do they merely package electronic social networking (and therefore branding) as part of all pitches to new clients?

Part of the reason is fear – fear of the unknown. Like you said, newer places may more easily adapt to this 'wild west' style of communication where anything goes, information overload. I know that where I work, which is not an agency, we are starting to venture out but for our target demographic – they do not use the internet like our generation does.

Instead of really pushing our brand/products out via the web, we make sure we are web present so for those that are savvy enough to use the web (sad, I know…) will be able to find us. But we do post monthly blogs and updates because I think that presence is important.

From friends I have in agencies, they're struggling to get all the work done with staff at less than half capacity so while I don't disagree, I think ultimately they become more concerned in producing items that are billable dollars versus value added and more public relations oriented.

(Ps: I don't disagree! ha!)

By: LaTosha Johnson

LaTosha Johnson — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:01:25 +0000

As an entrepreneur and blogger, I definitely say agree with you! For some reason I am amazed at how many companies (typically larger companies) still do not see the value of social media. How can you honestly expect to stay in business and not take the time to connect with your target market on their “turf”? In my opinion, I believe it is pure laziness when companies do not feel it is necessary to engage in social media. You are investing your time, but you get so much back in return provided you are sharing quality content and are truly making an effort to engage your customers. Great post!

By: Lorraine Ball

Lorraine Ball — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:35:42 +0000

I am surprised at how few of my peers i bump into in social media environments. While I feel like we are just scratching the surface, we are definately more engaged then most larger firms.

Perhaps it is because we bring in so many interns and turn them loose. Many are PR majors,. They know how to use the tools, but no one is talking to them about how to use them effectively for PR. So we let them experiment, and the results have been very positive.

I am disappointed that few of them have taken classes on this subject. I would think the universities should be embracing this. Of course there is no text book

By: Twitted by EvanStrange

Twitted by EvanStrange — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 20:00:45 +0000

[...] This post was Twitted by EvanStrange [...]

By: Mariah

Mariah — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:59:51 +0000

Kyle, this is right on.
As a college student studying PR I am learning all about social media and how organizations can use tools like twitter and blogging to reach an audience that before they might not have listened to before, or even know they were a "customer." To retain customers, businesses need to give them what they want, listen when they have issues with products/services so they can fix it. I think it's easy to say "hey, we need a social media plan," but I think where people are struggling is what to do next. This next step becomes real easy if you just emerce yourself in the tools like twitter, blogs and facebook: explore, explore, explore. Make your strategies listen, engage, energize, support, embrace.

If a PR or marketing person doesn't believe in social media as a communication tool by now they might need to look into another field: It's huge!

By: Rodger

Rodger — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:35:14 +0000

As a PR pro and blogger, I don't disagree with you, Kyle. We are blogging for the Hoosier Chapter of PRSA. You're right, however, I can count on one hand the number of PR agencies in partcular, that are blogging or use (attempt to use) social media.

I have seen one agency in Indianapolis use the PitchEngline SMR. I haven't seen one agency help build a SMNR (Social Media News Room). And only a few are Tweeting, and doing a bad job of it at that.