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 misperceptions about the industry.

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Top PR leaders embrace a simple yet powerful mindset: You shouldn’t always believe what you hear.

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.

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