Karthik Srinivasan

Plot twist: Influencers need more than just a pretty feed! Just penned a piece for Campaign India and The Other Circle on why influencers can't ghostwrite their own PR. Spoiler alert: It's not about the 'gram, it's about the grand plan! Read how to go from 'swipe up' to 'level up' in the influencer game: https://lnkd.in/dRHSsacP #InfluencerPR #BrandBuilding #MoreThanJustLikes #BestPRPractices

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These PR firms can help drive effective strategic communication initiatives for Indian and global entities looking to stand out in a challenging Indian market and boost media visibility.

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The PR industry stands at a precipice. Can it successfully metamorphose from a purveyor of press releases to a strategic partner driving business impact? Or will it succumb to the increasing pressures of a digital age demanding authenticity, transparency, and tangible results? Only time will tell.

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🌍 India’s Influence is Growing Like Never Before — and so should your brand’s presence in the digital world! 📈 At PR Professionals, we believe that just like #India is rising on the global diplomatic stage, your #brand can also dominate its industry through the power of strategic communication. 🚀 From crisis management to thought leadership, we specialize in amplifying your brand’s story and delivering high-impact PR and social media strategies tailored to your needs. We’ve successfully delivered for the best of brands such as UNICEF, DLF Limited, Jindal Stainless, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) IDFC FIRST Bank, Ministry of Power, IITs, IIMs, Manipal, Artemis, and now, we’re ready to take your brand to the next level! Just like India's diplomatic rise being acknowledged globally, it's time for your brand to make waves in the market! 🌟 Let’s harness this momentum and -- Grow your digital footprint 📲 Enhance brand visibility 🌐 Navigate crisis situations with confidence ⚠️ Get in touch ([email protected]) with us today to unlock your brand’s full potential. #PR #SocialMedia #BrandVisibility #DigitalGrowth #StrategicCommunication #CrisisManagement #Leadership #Marketing #BrandInfluence #publicrelations #mediamanagement #communication #branding

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Salesforce recently released the new State of Marketing report, sharing insights from over 4,800 marketing leaders across 29 countries. In case of India, 79 percent of marketers are already experimenting with or have fully implemented AI into their workflows. Read more about it and other interesting facets in the article below. #artificialintelligence #AI #India https://lnkd.in/gwcWPcYQ

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This raises some very crucial questions about the growth of the PR agency model in India. Sampark, PR pundit, Genesis, PRactice, Clea were the first set of original firestarters ...the original rebels...in the Indian PR industry and a lot of us cheered on as it grew and grew and grew. These models laid the path for others to follow as they chalked out possible models of growth. Every move after Vaishnavi PR went down was scrutinized but in the last decade PR seemed to have come in its own with investments, M& A , partnerships and collaborations ruling the roost. In all these the original principals are still around. What happens when the principals move out for good. Is Sampark the first of many ? However you put it, it poses some serious questions about agency growth. Key ones being... ➡ Is an agency successful only when it is founder-led? ➡ What is then a succession plan? ➡ Will this ever be a scalable business that can grow without M&A ? ➡ What is the best possible model for PR agency growth in India ? ➡ Do international agency models and Indian cultural sentiment not align? #pr #publicrelations #prindustry Paarul Chand Aakriti Bhargava Raghavendra Rao Nidhi Agarwal Pooja Trehan Sonali Sokhal Chhavi Dang Manjuu Rangarajan Sandeep Rao Sudhakar Rao Praveen Singh Malini Sharma Thakur Komal Lath Suhasini Mehta UDITA DUTTA (Hiring at all Levels) Roshan Mohan Amulya Nagaraj Kritika Lalchandani Kaajal Gadhia Budhbhatti Urmila Biswas

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"We just want to be in the papers. Let everyone see our CEO as a thought leader." This was a client's feedback after we had shared our strategic roadmap with them. I am sure this experience is one most PR professionals are all too familiar with- a desire for quick buzz and short-term visibility. But we all know, deep down, that true impact lies in strategic, long-term PR. Most people these days view #PR through the narrow lenses of media relations and influencer marketing. While these tactics are important, they're just a tiny part of a larger strategic picture. Whenever people ask me what #PublicRelations is, I always answer that PR is about building and managing relationships with stakeholders. (This may include customers, employees, investors, government officials, and the media.) It's about shaping perceptions, managing reputation, and creating positive change. Tactics (like media relations and influencer marketing) are the tools we use to achieve our strategic goals. They can be powerful, but they're only effective when used in a coordinated and thoughtful way. Let me give you practical examples to show the difference between PR tactics and PR strategy using a product launch: Tactical PR: Organizing a press conference to announce a new product. Strategic PR: Developing a long-term plan to position the company as a leader in its industry, using the product launch as a key milestone. Why is strategic PR more important? Long-term impact: Strategic PR focuses on building sustainable relationships and creating lasting value. Alignment with business goals: Strategic PR ensures that communication efforts are aligned with the organisation's overall objectives. Measurable results: Strategic PR uses data and analytics to track progress and demonstrate ROI. Crisis preparedness: Strategic PR helps organizations prepare for and respond effectively to crises. In a world of fleeting attention spans, strategic PR creates lasting value for your brand. By investing in long-term relationship-building and meaningful communication, you're not just making headlines—you're building a legacy that will stand the test of time.

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An interesting must read.

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Unveiling Growth Strategies for Small to Medium Agencies with Arun Sudhaman, Editor PRovoke Media Join us for an insightful conversation on The India PR Show's third episode, where Arun Sudhaman, an industry expert, shares invaluable insights into agency growth trends. Discover key questions answered, such as defining mid-size to small-size agencies, identifying niches for differentiation, and navigating global best practices. In this episode, Arun Sudhaman delves into the nuances of agency growth, providing actionable tips and real-world examples for aspiring agencies. From understanding industry benchmarks to implementing strategic differentiation, this episode is a goldmine for agencies aiming to scale their operations effectively. Don't miss out on this must-watch episode for PR professionals, agency owners and communicators eager to elevate their agency's growth trajectory. Subscribe to The India PR Show for more interviews and expert insights into the world of public relations. Watch the podcast here https://lnkd.in/gawbyQMM listen here on Spotify - https://lnkd.in/g8VtsvVV Google Podcast- https://lnkd.in/ggR_rTzM Tune in monthly across YouTube, podcast platforms, and social media channels to gain invaluable insights and join the conversation. Follow us on IG: TheIndiaPRShow LinkedIn: The India PR Show The India PR Show is brought to you by Bala Kumaran and me. Please watch, listen, and share. Let us also know what you think and who would you want to see on the show next. Produced by BrandStory Productions Ebony & Ivory PR #publicrelations #marketing #journalism #india #podcast #theindiaprshow #tiprs #communications #theindiastory #entrepreneur #digitalmarketing #pr

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Applauding the Ministry of Information and Broadcast, India, for mandating self-declaration certificates for advertisements starting June 18. This move will significantly bolster consumer protection and tackle the spread of deep fakes, hoax calls, and misleading content. Advertisers will now be accountable for ensuring their content's transparency and integrity, marking a pivotal shift towards responsible advertising. As deceptive practices face a crackdown, the media landscape will benefit from enhanced trust and authenticity. Kudos to the Ministry for prioritising consumer interests and promoting ethical advertising standards. News link - https://lnkd.in/g7CYxDka The Advertising Standards Council of India #ConsumerProtection #ResponsibleAdvertising #MediaIntegrity

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Stress ! This is an honest conversation I had with Sanjay Arora, may be a couple of months after I joined ANTS Digital Pvt. Ltd. In 2021 The agency life when viewed from the positive prism is lively, lovely, exciting, gives you so many opportunities which are versatile. The other way or when viewed from a less positive prism is it’s #stressful to deal with so many clients. Everyday is a new adventure, there is a new problem statement, there are multiple deliverables. Your brain needs to switch from one brand to another and there is internal coordination and client expectation management. I was a little overwhelmed with too many things at a time. So, coming back to the question I asked Sanjay - how do you deal with this stress? He said, #DeliveringEachDay is the only thing we can do to avoid stress. Stress emanates from #overthinking about something that is actually easier to execute. Thinking a lot instead of executing. Lack of #Planning. #Procrastination #LackofDeepFocus The universities teach the subject but these are soft skills one needs to build over time. Not giving a sermon but I had been a person with lot of stress for many years. I used to think a lot about what all could go wrong. But over years I only realised that you have to do what you can do within your capability, by giving your 100%. Beyond that it’s not in your purview to worry about the result. Again, simple truth from #Bhagawadgita. It doesn’t say that do not act. It says act to best of your capacity, but do not stress over outcome. Stress is often made in mind! I am still not 100% stress free but I am definitely better off - in terms of planning, giving my best, being focused and thinking less about outcomes. To be honest, clients expect sincere efforts. They help and pitch in too to make things work. Making a brand work is not just upon the agency it’s upon the client too. Clients are not looking for magicians, they are looking for sincere people who can share their vision and bring their vision alive in the best possible manner!

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MEDIA/ PR LESSONS TECH BRANDS CAN TAKE FROM THE INDIAN ELECTIONS: The media is your way to access the media’s consumer. Your audience is not the media but those who read or follow it. The media’s effectiveness depends on how much its consumer believes what appears in it. If the media is perceived as corrupt or sold out, it loses value as its consumers are unlikely to believe in it. When you start corrupting/ buying out the media, it starts saying what YOU want rather than what its consumer needs to know. It loses credibility. A sold out media ignores its consumer, the very people you are trying to reach through it. You also get used to having your own opinion treated as the truth. This makes you less responsive to those who point out when you are wrong. A culture of mutual sycophancy sets in. So, you end up paying people to carry what you say and they carry it because of the money/gifts/ favours/devices you give them. But what you are saying has no value to the consumers you are targeting, because you yourself have eroded the credibility of the media. The loss of credibility of some media leads to the growth of alternate media, which often thrives on simply criticising everything you do. This is seen as credible because hey, everyone who praises you is seen as having sold out. At the end of it all, you spend a truckload of money trying to reach a media’s audience but are unable to get your message across because the media itself has been damaged. What’s more, your strategy has led to the growth of a collection of loud critics, which you cannot control. The solution: 1. Never forget that your target is not the media or the media person, but their audience. A happy media house or media person counts for nothing if their audience don’t believe what they say. 2. Never do anything to compromise the media’s credibility. 3. Recognise that media coverage is not synonymous with “positive coverage.” Even critical coverage can have its plus points. In fact, how you handle your critics is a better measure of your ability than how you handle those who praise you. Anyone can handle their own fans! 4. Keep an eye on not just what the media are saying but its impact on its audience. Remember: the media’s audience is your target, not the media itself. A glowing positive story is of no use if it does not get across to the audience or is not believed by it. 5. Build strong relationships which do not compromise credibility of either party. Remember that when you corrupt someone you can converse with, you are sowing seeds for the emergence of someone who will rebel and won’t speak with you. Finally, recognise that if someone is asking you for money to mislead his or her audience about you or your competitors, they will take money from your competitors for exactly the same. That’s about it for now. Thanks for your patience. #Media #Communications #PR #PublicRelations

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Exploring the theme 'Value of PR for a brand: How do you measure its success?' at the 14th edition of IPRCCA. Insights and expertise shared by our MD, Dr. Sarvesh Tiwari, will pave the way for innovative PR strategies. PR Professionals | exchange4media #e4mIPRCCC #e4m #IPRCCC

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Why does Adfactors PR succeed when some independent firms didn't: Former Sampark PR Managing Partner, Raju Kane, shares his views on what makes India's leading PR firm tick and the lessons it offers for other PR firms targeting growth. 📖 Recommend reading! 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gGRXGSRd Adfactors PR | Mudra | #Sampark #PR #Founders #Growth

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The history of advertising in India dates to the early 20th century when advertising was primarily done via print media. The earliest form of advertising in India can be traced back to January 29, 1780, when the first advertisement was published in India’s first newspaper called "The Bengal Gazette" (weekly). It was also known as the “Calcutta General Advertiser” or simply “Hicky’s Gazette” penned after James Augustus Hicky, the founder and publisher. The advertisement until the 18th century essentially meant sharing information on important events and the early newspaper were sharing information such as the arrivals of ships from England, the sale of household furniture, the deaths of important figures, etc. India was primarily done through print media. The first advertising agency, J. Walter Thompson, was established in Mumbai in 1929 and was responsible for creating advertisements for some of the biggest brands of the time, including Ponds and Lever Brothers. The agency started with print advertisements in newspapers and magazines, and its success prompted other agencies to follow suit. The first Indian Ad Agency, the Indian Advertising Agency, was launched in the same period riding the waves of two main events; The Swadeshi Movement (1907-1911), which gave rise to indigenous industries, and the second, was the installation of the first rotary linotype machine by the Statesman of Calcutta in 1907. The later period of the 1930s and 1940s saw the emergence of cinema advertising, where ads were played before the start of a movie. The emergence of radio stations and television in the advertising landscape marked a new era, with over 30% of the world's population using them by the 20th century's start. This led to more personalized advertising, with direct communication between brands and consumers.

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“Are podcasts the new strategy for PR?” Reflecting on this with the distinguished panel Srishti Thakur ( she/her) Thakur , Yashika Sagar, Kanak Kohli was indeed interesting. As this is the conversation, I remember starting nearly 2 years back, when I forayed into Podcasting. Since then , the industry has seen a consistent and rising trend 💹 From marketing, PR to comms fraternity; it's not easy for anyone to ignore the role and influence of Podcast in the communication mix . No wonder when we all got up on stage to discuss this, it wasn't easy to get us down :) Each one of us brought out a different view and delved into facets of podcasts.  Like, → Srishti Thakur ( she/her) emphasized upon the importance of understanding the audience's listening habits. She said, “It is important to understand whether your audience is listening to podcasts. For the education sector specifically, you wouldn’t see any such podcasts. So it is a great medium for us, but we have to learn to do it right.” → While in my view point :  “The only key to ace podcasts is consistency. So if you are inconsistent with your content, be it video, audio, or even PR, sustained efforts is the key to build your podcast much like any other branding.” Kanak Kohli summed it up perfectly by saying : “It’s a hand-and-glove scenario with PR and podcasts and they will certainly act as two peas in the same pod.” "As the landscape continues to evolve, integrating podcasts into PR strategies will offer a unique and effective way to engage and connect with audiences at a deeper level and the potential is emmense even with regional content," added Yashika Sagar As someone on both sides of the spectrum that is - PR and podcast I totally agree that the potential of podcasts is huge for brands and marcomm , because of the medium’s intimate and targeted approach , and loyal audience. Catch the full discussion that was held at exchange4media PR 40 under 40 Summit; just click the link below and get started 👇 https://lnkd.in/g4ksN36s Karan Bhatia Annurag Batra

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