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2021 State of PR

Share the goods.

2021 State of PR in yellow text that is right aligned over a multicolored background

Muck Rack recently released its 2021 State of PR report. The report covers PR challenges, tech, media outreach, digital, measurement and budgets—all very exciting stuff for us and now you. 

Needless to say, we couldn’t wait to dive in. 1,618 of our peeps were surveyed, with 50% being from agencies, 35% from well-known brands, and 15% from nonprofits. The report is over 71 pages and covers A LOT. For the sake of this blog and not to bore the living daylights out of you, we are focusing on challenges and measurement.

Challenges

Getting responses to press releases or pitches will always be the top challenge for PR pros. The good news for 8THIRTYFOUR is that agencies are more likely to get responses from journalists (65% vs. 51% for brands and nonprofits). This means investing in an agency to get the results you desire is well worth the cost. 

Another big challenge is finding the right angle. One size does not fit all. Before we do any outreach for our clients, we craft several different pitches and customize them even further based on the reporter, publication and past articles. It’s quality, not quantity.

The report goes on to say agencies are much more likely to deliver creative solutions. When you hire us, you get an entire team.

Measurement

If you are chatting with an agency and they tell you PR can’t be measured, you need to run (preferably to 8THIRTYFOUR).

Here are the ways PR pros measure success:

  • Website analytics
  • Social media
  • Sales
  • Publication reach and UVM (unique visitors monthly)

PR pros meet internally weekly, with reporting to clients varying between weekly, monthly and quarterly. 

Our team meets weekly, reports bi-weekly and provides coverage reports each month. PR is constantly changing. It is your agency’s job to stay on top of trends, breaking news and reporter shake-ups.

As for the future of PR, 82% of respondents agree that its importance will only grow. The last year seems to have opened the CEO’s eyes to the value of public relations. Budgets are trending up, with 45% increasing from the previous year. 
We can tell you all day long that the investment is worth it, but you’ll need to experience it yourself.

When you’re ready, we’ll be here.

 

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FUN FACT FRIDAY: It’s only fitting for us to own a building where a trailblazing female operated her businesses in 1906. The Phillips family represented one of the longest-running retail tenures in Grand Rapids history; L.E. Phillips Jewelry in the 1365 Plainfield Ave. building from 1906 until 1973. Dr. Eva Phillips, a certified and licensed optometrist ran her practice out of the jewelry store’s secondary parlor and was an equal partner in the jewelry store. Together, they offered a unique one-stop shot which expanded to include appliances, record players, and more. The couple operated the shop through two World Wars and the Great Depression, acting as the neighborhood matriarch and patriarch. @crestongr @crestoncorridor @crestongrandrapids @citygrandrapids @grandrapidspubliclibrary

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Open post by 8thirtyfour with ID 18112263326023209
Have you tuned into The Happy Hour Hustle Podcast yet? If not, a) you’re missing out and b) you need to follow immediately. Hosted by @bodespeaks, episodes drop every other week, and feature some pretty bada$$ guests if we do say so ourselves. This week, Kim sits down with @kelsey_orchard , VP of Marketing and Communications at @fifthwheelfreight to chat building a personal brand, Gen Z entering the workforce, misconceptions about logistics, spotting fake LinkedIn profiles – oh and why your GPA doesn’t matter anymore. Grab a watermelon margarita, sit back and enjoy for lots of laughs and real talk. Listen now at the link in bio.

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Register at the link in bio.

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Open post by 8thirtyfour with ID 18132641716644887
National Perimenopause Month starts today. We have a LOT to say, and we’re not going to be quiet about it, especially this month, so buckle up. We were not prepared for perimenopause, much like our periods, sex, or anything else to do with our bodies. God forbid we talk about it openly. We were taught to be ashamed, keep quiet, and to accept that it is just part of being a woman. We reject that narrative. In fact, like @bodespeaks, we want to bring it up in every conversation. When we normalize perimenopause and the conversation around it, we stop isolating, and we’re all more prepared. Join us for Uncomfortable Conversations: The Pause on September 24th — a powerful conversation hosted alongside the @smallbusinessassocofmichigan Women’s Business Council, featuring some kicka$$ experts who will give you the real talk on perimenopause (more to come on them later). Register at the link in bio.

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Open post by 8thirtyfour with ID 18089775152664042
You asked, we delivered. Introducing the Women's Owners Network - a new program built for what comes first, joining our proven Fellowship model to support Michigan women at every stage of business ownership. Whether you've got a team of 10 or it's just you and your laptop, you deserve a room full of women who get it. Six months of leadership, finance, operations, capital access, paired with real support for the isolation, emotional volatility, and decision fatigue that come with owning your own business. You'll have your own board of directors in your corner, including @bodespeaks plus a group of mentors, instructors, and coaches who've been exactly where you are. Applications due October 1. Apply now at the link in bio.
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