Posts Tagged ‘message’

Amy Schwinge: What’s the Key Message Anyway? #PR

Monday, March 19th, 2012

by Amy Schwinge, MAOM

With today’s instant viral communications, I have noticed that sometimes organizations focus on the quantity of messages versus the quality.

Even with social media, blogs, websites, e-mail, etc., just a click away, I think the message still should be relevant, on point, and of interest to who is receiving the communication (target audience). 

That is where the key message comes into play.  Even if an organization has a ton of messages to share, each communication should focus on a core message.  For people in the communications field, crafting key messages probably comes second nature.  However, in the fast-paced world of getting the communication out as fast as possible, the key message can be lost.

According to The Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), “Communications cannot always be controlled, but messages can. With repeated use, key messages and proof points ensure dissemination of clear, consistent and compelling information. Such messages serve as the foundation for effective communications, and can drive desired actions and positively impact your business.”

A quick link to a helpful resource: PRSA offers a webinar on how to develop meaningful messages.  This webinar could benefit novice to veteran communications professionals. 

 

Being True to Your Brand

Friday, March 26th, 2010

By Joe Bogardus

As always, consistency works best when managing your brand, especially with regard to new social media tools.

These new channels of communications do present some interesting challenges to brand stewards, because more departments are in the business of touching a company’s clients ranging from sales, marketing, communications, R&D, customer-care and more.

It is essential for the long-term well-being of the brand that people connecting with a company’s clients have an understanding and appreciation for the brand’s essence, its key messaging and the tone and manner in which these messages are to be consistently delivered.

More and more brands are looking to establish a set of social media policies that are readily available to all employees who come in contact with a company’s customers.

A popular management model being instituted is the formation of a social media stakeholder committee that consists of representatives from the various departments that use social media to manage various aspects of customer relationships. They are charged with working out how to position the brand effectively with their constituencies and making sure the brand voice is consistent across all platforms of communication.

Other brands are looking to a more centralized model with either a single person responsible or a decentralized approach making all employees responsible for communicating the brand message.

Whichever model your company chooses, it is critical that it be consistently employed and all the team members are fully aware of the roles they are expected to play.