Ryan Cohn

Sharing a few words today about the use of embargoes in PR. First, let me say that if you're using the embargo tactic to try to get more reporters to read your pitch—without any real value to them—don't. Embargoes are only effective in 𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧 situations - and even then, they should be used sparingly. Slapping the word "embargo" on your press release doesn't do _anything_. 😕 The reporter must first AGREE to honor the embargo. And in most cases, using one just doesn't make sense. After talking with reporters, the takeaway is that it may be OK to use an embargo IF: 1. You have a story worth embargoing 2. You have an existing relationship with the journalist built on trust To back up a bit, 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭'𝐬 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐨? When public relations practitioners pitch news to journalists using an embargo, they’re sharing information (many times in the form of a press release) before the announcement date. An embargo gives reporters time to write the piece and have it ready the moment the news is publicly announced. It’s offered under the notion that reporters won’t publish the story until the stated date. But - unless the news is earth-shattering, an embargo isn't warranted. And - reporters often won't honor them, even if asked, because they've been burned in the past when they held a story - and a competitor didn't. In other words, is your story worth asking a reporter to honor an embargo? For most companies in most cases, the answer is no. #mediarelations #PRTips #publicrelations

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T-minus...not very many hours until Election Day. Are you ready? ***Those in the PR/Comms industries: How are you handling Election Day for your brand/org, your employees, and most of all...yourself?*** [Me: We have the editorial calendar planned this week with flexibility for important election-related pieces if they come in. I'm working on several election-unrelated pieces. Taking time out to vote on Tuesday. Taking walk breaks/cat cuddling breaks Tuesday and Wednesday. Buying MORE candy. Already decided on ordering out for dinner Tuesday night with husband. ] Take care. Be gentle with yourself and others. Eat as much candy as you want.

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Most of us agree that the only way forward is for your PR team to be much better at using data to track results. We see many PR thought leaders comment on this subject, and there are new tech platforms that offer PR teams much better metrics. Yet still, PR metrics need to leave room for understanding what the data may not show.

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When executed well, embargoes are a great way to build trust and rapport with the journalists you work with most often and establish relationships with new contacts. When used incorrectly or too often, it could hurt your credibility and waste journalists’ time. Get more tips in my latest blog 👇

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What do journalists want from brands? Not press releases, not foreign junkets, not gifts. They want: *Stories they can tell their readers with confidence.* This looks easy but is not. - This requires attention to detail. - This requires persistence. - This requires trust. But let's not lose the plot thinking about the nuances. Nuances can take care of themselves if we acknowledge the broader truth. In PR, good stories are everything. #PublicRelations #MediaRelations #StrategyVerse

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Read this part twice, "in order to identify issues and THEN address them." Seek to understand and then to solve. Also...processes can be tested; communications can be tested. Not everything is/or requires a tech solution. #citizenexperience #equity #efficiency #bpr

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Fantastic article from Anita Puri and Kevin Ellenwood on the extraordinary opportunities and critical accountability required for generative AI. Read more for excellent recommendations, especially for leaders across the public sector, as we continue to evolve marketing communications efforts in the era of AI. #generativeAI #AI #marketing #communications #publicservice #government #leadership

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Kudos to Eleanor Hawkins and the Axios Communicators team for their "1 big thing" visual of the day. Yes, it's reductive guidance on when to speak out and when not to, and yes, you should think through it with more nuance and specificity to a situation at hand, but these are great questions to start with when you're wondering how to communicate through murky or uncomfortable events. Some other questions to consider: ▶ Do we know enough about this situation? If not, do we have a sense of timing for more information to come through? ▶ Can we meaningfully influence the situation by speaking out? ▶ If we are communicating about this, who is the right person to serve as our voice?

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The main expectation for comms and marketing leaders in 2025 is that they master the art of doing more with less as they work at connecting with consumers, a new SourceCode Communications study says https://odwpr.us/4eyO01K

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The reinstatement of Net Neutrality regulations got buried under news coverage of the TikTok “ban” bill, but last week’s FCC decision shouldn’t go unnoticed by marketers. Affordable, accessible bandwidth is essential to our business and our clients’ business. The video and tech heavy experiences that have come to define so much of modern PR and marketing rely upon broadband. I’ve long been a proponent of a broadband program similar to the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (which helped get bypassed Americans on the power grid). While we aren’t there yet, restoring Net Neutrality and looking at broadband through the regulatory lens of public utilities will likely speed infrastructure expansion. To use a railroad metaphor: the fastest train in the world can only run at the speeds its track allows. Comms and PR people can create the most innovative experiences, but they will always be constrained by bandwidth. The more that true broadband coverage is available, the faster our ideas will run. NPR published a great primer on net neutrality last week that is worth a read if you need to get up to speed: https://lnkd.in/ecNp9vmf #broadband #netneutrality #PR #digitalmarketing #bandwidth #FCC #BidenAdministration #ruralbroadband #InternetAccess

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Check out our latest industry article on public affairs marketing. Co-Registration campaigns are a cheap, but ineffective way to build your audience of grassroots supporters. Learn why CiviClick’s first party data and performance marketing approach yields better results: https://lnkd.in/eeBndiDf

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PR pros: Over the coming months (and already) there will be a lot of conversation around the inability to be effective in media relations during a chock-full-of-information (and misinformation) election cycle. And while there certainly is truth to it, there are opportunities within the chaos: ✅ Trade, sector and specialty publications will still be focused on their core audiences...and while there may be some political spillover into industry pubs... there will remain consistent opportunity. ✅ Beat reporters in the mainstream media will continue covering their industries. They may be looking for ways to connect the political conversation to the businesses and sectors they cover, but they will not abandon their core assignments altogether during the election. ✅ The online news world is 24/7 - get connected to digital news editors and online content directors who must fill pages and drive headlines nonstop - and offer them quick-hit headlines and fast-turn story ideas. ✅ Spend the next few months researching and pitching long-lead publications. What can you be doing today that will encourage coverage in early 2025? ✅ B2B sales and marketing will be focused on delivering a strong Q4 amid the busy-ness of the political economy - and publications focusing on B2B strategies and industries likely will be looking for content. ✅ Look for the chance to tie your pitch into what IS going on in the U.S. - there will be opportunities for thought leadership, expert opinion and industry/business responses to political platforms and proposed initiatives. ✅ And of course, be both strategic AND opportunistic -- looking for the avenue to offer a perspective for the day-two story and tying your client or company into existing news remains relevant, even in a volatile news environment. Always remember, our journalism friends are working around the clock with less resources than ever - don't nag them, spray and pray, or otherwise be annoying - now is the time to provide short-and-sweet, quality, relevant pitches. ⭐ Respect their time, and above all, do your homework before you reach out. ⭐ What other paths to media coverage in the next four months are you exploring? #PR #publicrelations #mediarelations #journalism #election #pitching #mediapitch #communications #B2B #B2C Inspire PR Group

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You're an executive about to interview with a top-tier reporter and publication. This is your chance for significant coverage. Ahead of the call, the PR team prepared a smart briefing email with talking points and background notes on the reporter. You didn't look at the briefing notes and left an opportunity on the table. Why? ▶️ Because research and preparation are key. ▶️ Because your PR team put information in the document based on working with this reporter several times. ▶️ Because journalists can be particular, and each outlet has its own style and POV.

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PRWeek’s Agency Business Report rankings dropped yesterday. It’s the publication’s annual breakdown + analysis of PR firms based on self-reported numbers. A few themes emerged in Diana Bradley’s deep dive from the client POV that mirror what I’m seeing brands prioritize in their agency partners: ✅ BROAD PERSPECTIVE: How much should an agency niche when it comes to industry expertise? Is it better to have a partner that serves multiple industries? There’s nuance to this debate, but at the very least, agencies need to bring to the table cross-industry visibility, insights, and best practices. ✅ WILLINGNESS TO PUSH BACK: This comes up a LOT in my searches. Yes, clients are busy and want their agencies to be an extra set of arms and legs. But what they’re really looking for is a partner who pushes them to deliver more impactful results. Sometimes, that means engaging in a little healthy debate. ✅ TEAM ALIGNMENT: I could go on ad nauseum about how the most successful client-agency partnerships boil down to great relationships. But it’s no longer enough to have a strong “core team.” As brands’ needs evolve, agencies need to be open to dynamic team structures, bringing in the right external experts or partner agencies to support their core expertise. ✅ ABILITY TO PIVOT: Being accountable when things don’t go as planned is crucial. Equally important is an agency’s ability to listen to the client and to be flexible and responsive to the needs of the business. ✅ EXPERT AT NAVIGATING ISSUES: Businesses are facing potential reputational risks from all sides. That’s why companies of all sizes and industries are increasingly looking for partners who understand the regulatory and political environments in which they operate and who can provide counsel at the drop of a hat. Would love to hear your thoughts... Clients: What qualities do you value most in an agency partner? Agencies: Where are you seeing potential clients dig in most?

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Online subscriptions were meant to offer convenience, but many brands now use deceptive tactics to lock customers in. The FTC's "Click to Cancel" rule aims to change that. As I explore in my latest article, this shift will force companies to prioritize customer value over short-term revenue. The future of loyalty depends on how brands respond.

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In the follow-up to my last two posts 👇 Clients hire PR agencies to be guided by their communications expertise. However, from the pitching process onward, the agencies are guided by clients' ideas about communications. Here's what the usual client-agency conversations look like: 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 1 Client: We want to issue a press release. Agency: Yes ma'am. 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 2 Client: We want to organise a press conference. Agency: When do you want it, sir? 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 3 Client: Our global MD is here. Organise a few interviews with the likes of The Economic Times. Agency: Sure. We'll organise 5-6 interviews right away. Agencies take all necessary actions to fulfil the clients' demands but this approach is mechanical. If the client is to be truly guided toward results, the following steps are more suitable: 1. Seek the news value on offer. 2. Guide the client on what media activity suits the given news value. 3. Identify the right media for the activity. 4. Connect the right journalists in those publications. 5. If the client's own media assets suit the needs better, arrange for broadcast there. 6. Track the outcome and share it with the client proactively. The client may not understand/agree to these steps in the first go but, in my experience, they can be brought on board through reasoning. I would love to know your experience if you tried this approach. ⏬ If you have a different playbook, feel free to share that too. ⏬⏬ #PublicRelations #Marketing #StrategyVerse

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Hi John Mueller. I am curious about your take on something and am hoping this sparks a larger conversation. A publisher creates an article depicting a video or embed (like a map for example) and the headline mentions that a user would expect to see the video or embed, however the website uses AMP and AMP strips out the video or embed from the page. How might this be considered in terms of some of the policies? For example, the Google News and Discover Misleading content policy: "We don't allow preview content that misleads users to engage with it by promising details which aren't reflected in the underlying content." The content does not intend to mislead but the technical parameters around AMP result in key pieces of content being removed for the AMP experience. Thanks!

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