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But real “beast of burden” in this PR problem solving sequence is message you will use to alter offending perception you turned up during your audience monitoring drill. This is one message that must be very well written, clear as crystal, and supported by compelling and believable facts if it is to alter what some of your target audience members believe. In this way, message can nudge perception in your direction, lead to behaviors you have in mind, and help you achieve your unit objectives.
Final challenge? Get that message to eyes and ears of members of your target audience. And that means selecting and employing right communications tactics from wide choice available to you. You can use personal contacts, special events, media interviews and speeches. Or, you might select from among news announcements, facility tours, newsletters, brochures, audience briefings and so many others. But be certain that tactics you choose have a record of reaching people like members of your target audience.
Soon, however, questions will be asked as to how new public relations effort is faring. In other words, “Are we getting PR results we want?”
A fair question and one that can be fairly answered by returning to field for a follow up monitoring session. Once again, you as manager, and/or your PR support staff, must ask questions similar to those you asked during your earlier benchmark perception monitoring session.
The difference now? You want to see evidence that your perception monitoring, your public relations goal and strategy as well as your carefully crafted corrective message and communications tactics have actually altered offending perception as you planned.
Should results not come fast enough, additional communications tactics can be added, and their frequencies increased.
Bottom line: as department, division or subsidiary manager for a business, non-profit or association, if primary focus of your public relations effort is tactics, you are well-advised to make a shift in favor of this kind of workable PR blueprint that gives you best chance of achieving your unit’s operating objectives.
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Bob Kelly counsels, writes and speaks to managers about using fundamental premise of public relations to achieve their operating objectives. He has been DPR, Pepsi-Cola Co.; AGM-PR, Texaco Inc.; VP-PR, Olin Corp.; VP-PR, Newport News Shipbuilding & Drydock Co.; director of communications, U.S. Department of Interior, and deputy assistant press secretary, The White House. mailto:bobkelly@TNI.net Visit:http://www.prcommentary.com
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