Comments on: Practising what you preach: does it really matter? http://www.globalprblogweek.com/2005/09/22/cook-practising-what-you-preach/ September 19-23, 2005 :: Public Relations and Business Communications in the Age of Blogs Mon, 01 Dec 2008 21:00:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 By: Jami http://www.globalprblogweek.com/2005/09/22/cook-practising-what-you-preach/#comment-307 Jami Thu, 13 Oct 2005 16:57:16 +0000 http://www.globalprblogweek.com/2005/09/22/cook-practising-what-you-preach/#comment-307 I have been running into similar topics in other blogs and conversations lately. This all seems to come down to really believing in your own endorsements. Otherwise, public relations can seem more like the work of a defense attorney. By choosing not to "practice what you preach," it diminishes your own credibility. The examples you included from Guy Browning were very interesting. It is ironic that each field is less capable of doing their own job for themselves. Is this a learned practice? Does the customer always come first, even before the company? I am just curious as to how this is even possible. It is obvious why blogging consultants and Web designers are expected to lead by example. Most of the companies that are hiring for these specific jobs are clueless about the ins and outs of the process. Therefore, they are unable to make detailed decisions based on various elements of the individual job processes. Advertising and public relations present more of a package deal. The hiring company is able to determine what they need and who is best for the particular project. Of course, advertising and public relations are both fields that rely heavily on their own reputations. These companies are shooting themselves in the foot, so to speak, if they do not heed to their own advice. I have been running into similar topics in other blogs and conversations lately. This all seems to come down to really believing in your own endorsements. Otherwise, public relations can seem more like the work of a defense attorney. By choosing not to “practice what you preach,” it diminishes your own credibility.

The examples you included from Guy Browning were very interesting. It is ironic that each field is less capable of doing their own job for themselves. Is this a learned practice? Does the customer always come first, even before the company? I am just curious as to how this is even possible.

It is obvious why blogging consultants and Web designers are expected to lead by example. Most of the companies that are hiring for these specific jobs are clueless about the ins and outs of the process. Therefore, they are unable to make detailed decisions based on various elements of the individual job processes.

Advertising and public relations present more of a package deal. The hiring company is able to determine what they need and who is best for the particular project. Of course, advertising and public relations are both fields that rely heavily on their own reputations. These companies are shooting themselves in the foot, so to speak, if they do not heed to their own advice.

]]> By: Niall Cook http://www.globalprblogweek.com/2005/09/22/cook-practising-what-you-preach/#comment-271 Niall Cook Fri, 30 Sep 2005 21:01:12 +0000 http://www.globalprblogweek.com/2005/09/22/cook-practising-what-you-preach/#comment-271 Diana, Glad you liked the article, and I think your own insights are most interesting and valuable. Most of the points you raise are all the same ones I used to persuade Hill & Knowlton to set up <a href="http://blogs.hillandknowlton.com" rel="nofollow">Collective Conversations</a>, the blogging community for all our own employees that is featured in <a href="http://www.globalprblogweek.com/2005/09/19/cook-hk-blogging-community/" rel="nofollow">my first article</a> for Global PR Blog Week. I also don't think your examples of benefits should be restricted to PR agencies. Any industry whose primary 'product' is their expertise and talent should be using blogs for exactly the same reasons that you mention. So where are all the other creative and professional services firms? Niall Diana,

Glad you liked the article, and I think your own insights are most interesting and valuable.

Most of the points you raise are all the same ones I used to persuade Hill & Knowlton to set up Collective Conversations, the blogging community for all our own employees that is featured in my first article for Global PR Blog Week.

I also don’t think your examples of benefits should be restricted to PR agencies. Any industry whose primary ‘product’ is their expertise and talent should be using blogs for exactly the same reasons that you mention.

So where are all the other creative and professional services firms?

Niall

]]> By: Diana http://www.globalprblogweek.com/2005/09/22/cook-practising-what-you-preach/#comment-220 Diana Sun, 25 Sep 2005 21:47:15 +0000 http://www.globalprblogweek.com/2005/09/22/cook-practising-what-you-preach/#comment-220 I found your post very interesting because I never seem to think about these sort of ironies. In a class I am taking right now, Style and Design in Public Relations Messages, we are trying to encourage blog use by various public relations agencies. I understood how this could be useful in the sense of discovering customer’s perceptions about the agencies clients and dealing with crisis communications. However, I did not see the use in an agency blog. After reading your post, it has become evident to me that a Public Relations Agency needs to adopt a blog. Although the test was not the most scientific, it seems logical that agencies with good PR would regarded more highly by their potential clients. I can now see various reasons why using a blog could be beneficial for a public relations agency. First of all, an agency blog could serve as a model blog for potential clients to look at. When potential clients are deciding which agency to work with, they may be impressed by the agency’s well-designed blog and want something similar to that. The PR agency could also showcase their talent on their blog. Many PR firms have employees with a wide range of personalities. A blog could show potential clients, and all website visitors the assets of the PR firm. Furthermore, a public relations agency can use a blog to get their name and opinions out in the blogosphere. As there are many people constantly searching and reading other people’s blogs, it may help the agency gain publicity and rapport with the blogging community. Thanks for the insight. I found your post very interesting because I never seem to think about these sort of ironies. In a class I am taking right now, Style and Design in Public Relations Messages, we are trying to encourage blog use by various public relations agencies. I understood how this could be useful in the sense of discovering customer’s perceptions about the agencies clients and dealing with crisis communications. However, I did not see the use in an agency blog.

After reading your post, it has become evident to me that a Public Relations Agency needs to adopt a blog. Although the test was not the most scientific, it seems logical that agencies with good PR would regarded more highly by their potential clients.

I can now see various reasons why using a blog could be beneficial for a public relations agency. First of all, an agency blog could serve as a model blog for potential clients to look at. When potential clients are deciding which agency to work with, they may be impressed by the agency’s well-designed blog and want something similar to that. The PR agency could also showcase their talent on their blog. Many PR firms have employees with a wide range of personalities. A blog could show potential clients, and all website visitors the assets of the PR firm. Furthermore, a public relations agency can use a blog to get their name and opinions out in the blogosphere. As there are many people constantly searching and reading other people’s blogs, it may help the agency gain publicity and rapport with the blogging community.

Thanks for the insight.

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