Welcome to our Blog

Playbook's Blog

Read our Blog
01 Aug 2023
Blog, Social Media Permalink

Why Social Media Monitoring is Important

August 1, 2023

Today social media has become an integral part of our lives. It allows people to connect with family, friends, and even their favorite brands. For public relations experts, social media monitoring has become a prominent tool for managing a client’s image online. This means that now more than ever, consumers are looking to social media to seek validation for potential purchases and gain insightful information. Therefore, public relations experts and social media managers must stay on top of what people say about their clients.

Social media monitoring is the process in which you actively overlook what customers and followers say online about the brand. Understanding these conversations and comments allows you to react appropriately and effectively to help a client best. Here are some benefits of social media monitoring. 

  • Improving Brand Reputation

By staying in the loop about what people express online, whether positive or negative, it is easier to respond appropriately to your audience’s needs. When you can effectively communicate with your audience in a timely manner, it builds trust and, in turn, produces a positive reputation.

  • Crisis Management

Social media monitoring allows organizations to monitor the public’s sentiment during a crisis or emergency. By tracking real-time conversations, brands, and social media managers can respond promptly, address concerns, and reduce potential damage to their reputations. This helps to control the narrative better and achieve business goals.

  • Competitor Analysis 

Social media monitoring helps you understand where your brand stands compared to your competitors. Competitive insights are essential to stay on top of your competitors. By acknowledging what works well for them and what does not, you can adjust your social media strategy to stay top-of-mind in the industry.

  • Stay on Top of Trends

Social media monitoring provides valuable insights into consumer preferences, sentiments, and trends. By analyzing social media conversations, you can identify customer needs, gauge brand perception, and refine marketing strategies appropriately. In addition, you can monitor the top keywords and hashtags used in your industry and track how they change over time.

  • Identify Key Influencers

Social media monitoring is a great way to track who is talking about your client the most and who could be a potential resource in the future. Influencers are a valuable tool to get the word out about a brand or product. If you are already keeping track of who is talking about your brand the most and who engages with it the most, it simplifies the search for influencers. 

In conclusion, social media monitoring should be an integral part of a public relations expert or social media manager’s daily schedule. Social media is not going anywhere, so staying on top of trends related to your client and conversations happening around your client is the best way to keep them in a positive light. Understanding your online presence and audience will help you develop the best possible strategy for your client.

06 Jul 2023
Blog, Public Relations Permalink

How to Build and Maintain Client Relationships

July 6, 2023

As a public relations professional, developing strong relationships that last with your clients is an essential skill. PR is a highly relationship-based industry, and to keep clients happy or to continue adding to your list of clientele, knowing how to maintain a positive relationship is essential. In addition, when you have a valuable relationship, you can expect better outcomes for campaigns and other work done to help the client. Not to mention, your agency’s word of mouth and reputation will improve if you can maintain loyal customer relationships. Here are five of our top tips on how to build and maintain client relationships.

  • Communicate Effectively and Consistently

Maintaining consistent and transparent communication with your client should be a priority. It can be easy to put clear communication aside when things get busy. This is why consistency is so important, and developing a plan to stay in touch during a project is a crucial first step. Although you must set boundaries with one another, being regularly available and responding promptly will show that you value your client and prioritize their needs.

  • Speak Your Client’s Language

It is crucial to dive deep into your client’s industry research before the relationship is established. With this comes general knowledge of their industry and ensuring that you use the correct language in communication and other marketing efforts. At Playbook Public Relations, we work with clients from various industries, ranging from real estate to restaurants to infrastructure. Therefore, understanding the basic terminology and their brand voice is critical to engage in conversations and representing them accurately. 

Then, in addition to understanding the content that your client specializes in, it is essential to adapt to their style and preferred modes of communication. This means that you must utilize tools and services that they are most familiar with, even if they do not necessarily match your own. These tools may include using video chats instead of emailing or using various cloud services, whether it be Microsoft Office or Google Drive.

  • Treat Your Client as an Individual

Although the primary goal should always be to maintain a professional relationship with your client, getting to know them more personally –to show you value them as more than just a paycheck– can go a long way. However, the level of the relationship will depend on the client. This is why you must get a feel for your contact person’s personality to see how comfortable they are with developing a more personal connection. In addition, the overall industry often plays a part in determining whether a personal connection is appropriate.

For instance, if you know that your client went on vacation recently, it would be a safe bet to ask how the trip went as a surface-level personal question. If you know you have a better connection with your client, sending something more personal, like emailing them an article about limited deals at their favorite restaurant, could be appropriate and appreciated.   

  • Be a Proactive Problem Solver

It is always good to be one step ahead of anything that might come your clients’ way. If you can anticipate any issues or conflicts that may arise for your client, you will likely find a resolution promptly. Also, being proactive will give you the time to develop creative solutions that will help clients navigate future obstacles and achieve objectives. This will also build trust with your client, demonstrating your diligence in maintaining their brand reputation.

  • Always Follow Up and Seek Feedback

Touching base with a client following the completion of a project or asking for feedback along the way is a great way to demonstrate that you value their input. While in the working stages of project development, actively listening to your client’s concerns and suggestions will help improve your work to meet their goals. This, in turn, will produce the best possible outcome and maintain a positive relationship with your client. 

When finished with an immediate project, it is good to follow up because it can also allow you to extend your relationship into the future. You can share what went well on the project and what you have learned in the process. This will enable you to position yourself for success by demonstrating your value as a PR professional and may set you up with future opportunities.

01 Jun 2023
Uncategorized Permalink

AI’s Impact on Public Relations

June 1, 2023

In an era dominated by accelerated technological advances, artificial intelligence (AI) has come to the forefront of numerous industries. Its impact is seen across several fields, and public relations (PR) is no exception. From tools such as Chat GPT to data analytics, AI is changing how we do PR and sculpting the future of communications strategies. Read this blog by Playbook Public Relations to learn how AI’s use affects PR. 

  • Improved Data Analytics

One of the key ways that AI is reconstructing PR is the improved data analytics capabilities. AI tools can now collect, analyze and interpret extensive amounts of data to gain valuable insights into customer behavior, sentiment analysis, and media trends. Also, AI algorithms can process data from social media, news articles, and other online sources to uncover emerging trends, determine patterns, and observe brand reputation. With these tools, PR professionals will not only save time, but they will also be able to make more informed decisions and refine their strategies.

  • Automated Media Monitoring

AI tools have also simplified the process of tracking and analyzing news mentions and social media conversations. Before the use of AI, tracking publications, websites, and social media mentions were done manually, making it more prone to human error and time-consuming. So, these AI tools can now efficiently browse and categorize news articles, blogs, and social media posts to give more accurate insights instantly. This helps PR professionals track the reach and impact of campaigns, identify significant influencers, and respond rapidly to media coverage, which improves overall media relations.

  • Enhanced Efficiency and Productivity

One of the significant impacts of tools like ChatGPT on PR is enhanced efficiency and productivity. Many PR professionals juggle several clients at a time which requires a large volume of media requests, press releases, client communications, and more. ChatGPT’s language processing abilities allow it to process and respond to a wide range of questions which helps free up time for professionals. This extra time enables PR teams to focus on other tasks that are not mundane and repetitive, like their strategic initiatives, creativity, and relationship building, which AI cannot do effectively. 

  • Ethical Considerations

While AI offers many benefits to the PR industry, it is essential to discuss the ethical considerations with its use. There may be privacy concerns, data security breaches, and the potential for AI biases which professionals must navigate. This is particularly important when using tools like ChatGPT, which operates on data that it is trained on. It raises concerns about biases, misinformation, and the possibility of creating false narratives. Human involvement is still necessary to review, modify, and moderate content created by AI tools. This is why finding the right balance between utilizing AI’s capabilities and keeping transparency, trust, and ethical practices in PR is essential. 

AI has undoubtedly transformed the PR industry, offering PR professionals improved data analytics, automated media monitoring, enhanced efficiency, and productivity. By taking advantage of the power of AI, organizations can effectively communicate their messages, engage with their audiences, and adapt their strategies to fit their client’s needs best. However, it is still essential to have human involvement to use AI with a thoughtful and ethical mindset to uphold trust and refrain from bias. As AI continues to evolve and develop, the future of PR is unclear, but it is headed in a good direction.

17 May 2023
Blog Permalink

5 Reasons Why Blogs Are Still Relevant and Good for Your Business

May 17, 2023

In today’s digital age, businesses have an overabundance of ways to connect with their target audience. Although we live in a rapid era where audiences want quick and easy information, creating and posting blogs are still a great way to reach your audience. As a result, blogs have become an increasingly popular and effective way for businesses to communicate their brand message, build a following, and drive traffic to their website. Read this blog by Playbook Public Relations to explore five reasons blogs are good for business.

  •  Establishes Authority and Expertise

One of the main reasons posting blogs is excellent for a business is that it establishes the business as an expert in the industry. In addition, by creating high-quality, informational content that discusses the needs and concerns of the target audience, companies will be seen as trustworthy and a go-to source for information. Over time this will increase trust, credibility, and loyalty from audiences.

  • Improves Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Blogging is an effective tool for increasing a business’s search engine optimization (SEO). By creating fresh and key-word heavy content regularly, businesses can improve their website’s visibility in search engines. In turn, this will lead to more organic traffic to the website, which can result in more leads, conversations, and revenue.

  • Provides Value to the Target Audience

Posting blogs also provides value to the target audience. By making content that addresses their questions and interests, businesses can offer valuable information that helps solve their problems or entertains their curiosity. This builds loyalty and trust with audiences, increasing engagement, shares, and referrals. 

  • Builds Brand Awareness

Blogging also helps businesses build brand awareness. Making creative, informative, engaging content and, most importantly, shareable allows businesses to attract new audiences to their website and social media platforms. This results in increased brand visibility and exposure, attracting more leads and conversations over time.

  • Provides a Platform for Thought Leadership

Blogging is an excellent place for businesses to showcase their thought leadership. Thought leadership is the collection of ideas demonstrating that a business or individual has expertise in a particular field, topic, or industry. Making content that provides insights, perspectives, and opinions on industry trends allows businesses to position themselves as thought leaders in their industry. This increases respect, influence, and recognition from peers, competitors, and the media.

In conclusion, posting blogs is suitable for a business for several reasons. They help establish businesses as an authority and expert, improve search engine optimization, provide value to the target audience, build brand awareness, and provide a platform for thought leadership. If you are a business owner looking to help your business’s online presence grow, we at Playbook Public Relations suggest that you consider creating and posting blogs as part of your content marketing strategy.

24 Apr 2023
Uncategorized Permalink

5 Point Checklist to Ensure Ethical Public Relations

April 24, 2023

Public relations is a vital component of any organization’s success. It is a strategic communication process that builds and maintains mutually beneficial relationships between an organization and its stakeholders. However, the practice of public relations has been challenged in recent times by ethical issues, such as false advertising, fake news, and propaganda. Therefore, ethical public relations has become more critical than ever in today’s society.

Ethical public relations is about building and maintaining trust and credibility with stakeholders through transparent and honest communication. It involves a commitment to responsible behavior consistent with ethical principles and values. Here are some best practices for ethical public relations:

  1. Honesty and Transparency – Honesty is a fundamental principle of ethical public relations. PR professionals must communicate truthfully with stakeholders and provide complete and accurate information. They should also be transparent in their communication, disclosing any relevant information that could impact stakeholders’ decision-making processes.
  2. Respect for Stakeholders – Respect is an essential aspect of ethical public relations. PR professionals must treat stakeholders respectfully and with dignity, recognizing their rights and interests. They should also be attentive to stakeholders’ needs and concerns and work to address them appropriately.
  3. Responsible and Accountable – PR professionals have a responsibility to act in the best interests of their organizations, stakeholders, and society. They should be accountable for their actions and decisions and be willing to accept criticism and learn from their mistakes.
  4. Avoiding Conflicts of Interest – Conflicts of interest can compromise the integrity of public relations. PR professionals should avoid situations where their personal or professional interests conflict with their responsibilities to their organizations or stakeholders. They should also disclose potential conflicts of interest and take appropriate steps to manage them.
  5. Adherence to Ethical Codes and Standards – Professional associations, such as the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), have established codes of ethics that guide ethical behavior in public relations. PR professionals should adhere to these codes, standards, and other applicable laws and regulations.

In conclusion, ethical public relations is essential for building and maintaining stakeholder trust. PR professionals must be honest, transparent, respectful, responsible, and accountable in communication and behavior. In addition, they should avoid conflicts of interest and adhere to ethical codes and standards. By following these best practices, PR professionals can contribute to their organizations’ success while upholding the highest ethical standards.

06 Apr 2023
Uncategorized Permalink

How to Increase Organic Search Traffic on Google

April 6, 2023

Organic traffic is integral to a brand’s online presence and success. Organic traffic is when people visit a brand’s website through search engines like Google. People often come across websites through keywords and social media accounts. Read this blog to learn how to increase your brand’s organic traffic.

  • Audience Research

Your audience is one of the most critical things to research in order to increase organic traffic. By examining your audience, you will better understand their preferences and motivations online.

To research your audience, it’s critical to partake in primary, secondary, qualitative, and quantitative research. The primary research, which is conducting research yourself from direct sources, will come first. This could include interviews, surveys, or focus groups. Then, you will want to focus on secondary research, which analyzes data that already exists and is published. This may come from websites, industry reports, and other public sources. Secondary research will usually act as an overview of the topic that supports what was already found in the primary research.

The primary and secondary research should be both qualitative and quantitative. Qualitative research looks at the behaviors of those focused on and analyzes their opinions and feelings. Quantitative research focuses on being more numerical to find patterns in the data collected. These patterns often highlight trends and relationships to understand your audience’s motivations.

  • Keyword Research

Another one of the most important things to research to increase organic traffic is keywords. By researching relevant keywords, you will understand what audiences are searching to help boost your SEO.

There are two types of keywords: short-tail and long-tail. Short-tail keywords consist of only 1-2 words, while long-tail keywords are longer phrases. For example, let’s say you are a coffee shop; a short-tail keyword would be “coffee,” and a long-tail keyword would be “best coffee shops near me.” So, to increase organic traffic, focusing on long-tail keywords may be more beneficial because they are more specifically catered to your brand.

Knowing the right keywords to use can be overwhelming when there are hundreds of options. However, the best ones will have a low difficulty score and bring in high traffic. Keyword difficulty means how challenging it will be to rank for that keyword; traffic is how much volume is coming in searching that keyword. Therefore, if a keyword doesn’t appear for many other sources but brings you a lot of traffic, that is the best option for your brand. 

  • Monitor Competitors

Another way to get ahead and increase traffic is to look at what your competitors are doing. What has or hasn’t been working for them? Looking at the keywords, they use can inspire you or show you what to avoid.

To begin your competitor research, a good place to start is to look at their online presence and analyze their website traffic, social media presence, and other online marketing efforts. From there, identify their strengths and weaknesses across all their platforms to influence your strategy. 

  • Utilize Social Media

Today, social media is one of the first places audiences will go when looking into a brand to develop a relationship. So, creating a solid social media presence is critical in increasing organic traffic. 

To develop the most effective strategy to bring in traffic, consider your target audience and research the platforms they are most active on and the content they engage with most. Then, do the same for your competitors. This will allow you to get the most out of your accounts.

Once you have a solid social media presence, maintain it well with an effective strategy. A good strategy includes sharing relevant content and building relationships with your audience. Your goal is to get audiences to visit your page and interact, so creating content they care about is crucial to increase traffic.

 

06 Feb 2023
Blog, content marketing strategy Permalink

How to Establish Goals in Social Media Marketing

February 6, 2023

Now more than ever, it is critical to establish a clear and precise social media marketing strategy. Without a specific plan or goal for your content, you will not be able to gauge results and may miss out on potential engagement. Continue reading as Playbook Public Relations goes over how to establish brand goals to reach your desired audience and outcome most effectively.

The best way to ensure that you are on point with your objectives strategy is to create S.M.A.R.T. goals: specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-based.

  • Specific

To make a goal specific, clearly state what needs to be accomplished. Do not be vague or overarching. This part of the goal does not explain the “how” but does answer many of the “w” questions. For instance, who needs to be involved, what are you trying to accomplish, and why? What is the reason for your goal? Why are you doing it?

  • Measurable

This part showcases how the action will be measured in quantitative and qualitative data collection. For instance, if your goal is to raise revenue by 50%, you can see an exact numerical amount by measuring the money you have made over a specific period. Or, if the data you are collecting is more qualitative, you can employ effective measures like client testimonials and surveys.

  • Attainable

Of course, a goal is about reaching for something challenging and accomplishing it. However, it must still be realistic and attainable. Assess that you have the skills, tools, and resources needed to reach the goal. If you do not have what you need, it may be time to revise your plan or find a way to improve your position.

  • Relevant

Confirm that your goal makes sense. Pay attention to what your competitors are doing, industry trends, and your brand’s overall goals and missions to know that it is relevant. For instance, if your competitors have more engagement on social media, your goal could be to increase traffic on your accounts through more video content, better photography, or another strategic decision.

  • Time-Based 

Set a specific amount of time to achieve your goal. You will not likely find the motivation needed to complete your goals without a deadline to meet them. Establishing a deadline is also a great way to set a step-by-step timeline to accomplish your goal on time.

Following these goal-setting steps is valuable in setting a strategy instead of just winging it in social planning. You can hold your company accountable for its goals by being specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-based. B.E. S.M.A.R.T. to BE SOCIAL!

15 Dec 2022
Blog, Public Relations Permalink

Recap of the Top PR Trends of 2022

December 15, 2022

At the beginning of the year, we predicted the top public relations (PR) trends for 2022. So, what trends became a reality? Here are our Top 4 trends of the year:

  • Brand Communities Boost Customer Engagement

One trend is the impact of building a brand community to boost customer engagement. Customers that follow a brand on social media are more loyal to the brand. This loyalty is established through the company updates and shows the customer’s show of support through likes, loves, and comments.

Additionally, if your brand has an established online community, those who may not know much about your company will view the brand as trustworthy. In a way, a large community of loyal customers becomes its own form of publicity all on its own. These customers generate word of mouth around your brand and engage in conversations that will bring in more customers. 

  • Targeting Niche PR

Since online has become the destination for most people to receive news, connect with friends, shop, and do just about everything, it is no surprise that there are millions of online outlets to share brand information with. In addition, the creation of personal blogs, informational blogs, self-publications, and influencers has given PR professionals the ability to target the best possible outlet to reach their target audience. 

Many influencers and blog writers have a niche, whether it is food critiquing or transportation technology. With so many informational sources, it can be overwhelming. Narrowing down by niche topics, allows you to better reach your target audience. 

  • Data and Analytics

Now that many outreach and advertising efforts are being used online and on social media, collecting and analyzing data is becoming more of a task for public relations specialists. In addition, each year the PR market value rises, brands expect more from their PR teams. 

Tracking the impact of public relations endeavors has become an essential skill for PR professionals. Some skills professionals need to know are tracking social media engagement, web traffic, and measuring brand awareness. In the long run, this data helps companies track where their strengths and weaknesses are, which allows them to cater their PR strategies to in ways that maximize engagement.    

  • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)

This trend is one that we predicted back in February, and it isn’t going anywhere. Embracing DEI within your brand benefits not only your public image and engagement but also the internal functions of the company. For example, when a workplace is diverse and safe for employees, they become more engaged and productive, significantly benefiting the company. Also, by showcasing your efforts for DEI online, you will be able to establish a more diverse and loyal customer base. Generic statements are not enough to showcase a truly equitable and inclusive space; these statements must be backed up with actions and initiatives to stay on top of DEI expectations.

It is essential to create a solid PR strategy for the year ahead. Organize the strategy in a way that understands the trends and how to best reach your target audience. Publicity opens the door to attracting new customers to your brand and fosters long-term loyalty.

10 Nov 2022
Blog, Public Relations, Social Media Permalink

PR Strategies that Work in Social Media

November 10, 2022

It is important to remember that social media is just as powerful a PR strategy as a press release or any other traditional approach, if not more powerful. That is why it is crucial to have a strategic social media strategy to create the audience you want and send out the right message.

These tips are a great place to start when thinking about building your social media strategy.

  • Consistency is Key 

The best thing you can do for your brand is to be consistent, especially in social media. In social media, it is crucial to be consistent with how frequently you post and how you present the brand voice and messaging style. Keeping your content regularly, in the beginning, may be difficult if you do not see results immediately; however, in the long run, it will pay off. 

This consistency allows your brand to develop an established tone and voice that sets it apart from competitors. It also gives you the benefit of a clean and organized feed aesthetic, and your followers will know what to expect.

  • Engage in Conversations

Social media is about being social, so engage with your audience! It’s no longer enough to post content and move on. You need to interact with your followers and participate in honest conversations. Audience engagement is a great way to humanize your brand as long as it maintains your brand tone and helps build a community. 

Once a community is established through social media, it opens doors for a loyal customer or fan base. Your audience will become more likely to share your content on their platforms and like or comment on your content which is excellent for the algorithm. 

  • Utilize Video Content

Video content is quickly becoming the leading form of content for audience engagement on social media, and it doesn’t seem to be going away any time soon. With the rise of TikTok and Instagram Reels, brands are quickly hopping on that trend. 

Keeping up with current trends and the latest technology is essential for video content. Videos are an excellent opportunity to show how your products work, interview employees, send out messages from CEOs, and so much more. Videos are where you can get creative.

  • Highlight Testimonials and Case Studies

Social media is perfect for showing off what you’re doing and accomplishing. Showcasing third-party testimonials give your brand credibility and make it trustworthy. Establishing credibility is vital to keep existing followers loyal and gaining new ones.

  • Showcase your Employees

The people who make up your business are your most important asset. So, posting about them often or posting their accomplishments is a great way to humanize your business and develop a positive company culture.

For instance, you could post an employee’s “day in the life” each month or give them shoutouts whenever they receive an award. This helps build a relationship between followers and the company and boosts employee morale around the office.

11 Oct 2022
Blog Permalink

How to Create Newsworthy Content

October 11, 2022

Every day, journalists’ inboxes fill with hundreds of stories competing for attention to be shared. So, how can you ensure you create newsworthy content to stand out and be selected?

Creating newsworthy content is an essential skill for PR professionals. However, it is not always easy to do. Playbook Public Relations is here to take you through the steps necessary to get your client’s story picked up and write the perfect pitch.

  • Think like a journalist

First, make the journalist’s life easier by thinking like one and creating the content they are looking for with as little editing as needed. To do this, consider what makes a story newsworthy from a journalist’s perspective. Then, keep this list in mind when reviewing your story.

Does it have…

  • Timeliness
  • Impact
  • Novelty
  • Conflict 
  • Proximity
  • Relevance 
  • Prominence 

The more things you can check off this list, the better, and if you can only check off one or even none, consider a new angle. However, it is crucial to remember the audience you are trying to reach.

For example, a hospital may focus on success stories of new procedures and surgeries on particular patients and their impact on the community. In contrast, a clothing store may focus on sharing the latest styles for the upcoming season.  

  • Stay on top of trends.

Whether it be external impacts on your industry that could affect your business or a more broad viral trend that you could make relevant, ensure that you cover those topics before the public moves on. Usually, there is a small window of time to write about a trend before it is “old,” so stay ahead.

For instance, this could relate to a brand’s social responsibility story. If a social topic such as a current climate crisis is relevant to your brand, that is a potentially great story. Or, more simply, if you are a skincare brand, around the summertime, a blog on sunscreen would be very suitable.     

  • Impress with facts and figures

People like to see the numbers. Whenever it is possible to access any data, whether it is qualitative or quantitative, include it if it fits the story. These figures give readers a measurable impact on their lives, which will spark interest. The more organized your data appears in the story, the better. Journalists often prefer infographics and graphs whenever possible to make the information clear and easier to read.

Not only do facts and figures add interest to your story, but they also will give you credibility. They create credibility because they can eliminate biases that journalists try to avoid.

Let Us Create A Winning Playbook For Your Business

icon-car.png
Playbook Global Headquarters

loading map - please wait...

Playbook Global Headquarters 27.921317, -82.494063 Playbook Public Relations3105 West Granada Street Tampa, FL 33629  (Directions)

OUR ADDRESS

  • 3105 W. Granada St

    Tampa, Florida 33629

  • (813) 789-7122

  • [email protected]

  • PlaybookPublicRelations.com

Contact Us

We create solutions. Our team will provide your company with the best multi-faceted publicity or marketing campaign. Let us create a "playbook" for your business.

    Are you Human?