Nkembuh Natalie’s Post

AGENCIES MUST TELL CLIENTS WHEN THEY USE A COMPUTER Depending on who you listen to, you might come to believe that the development of the "Computer" has signaled the end of the era of genuine typewritten craftsmanship and the end of humanity, or that it will continue to augment our work and the quality of our lives. In the realm of the PR and comms industry, the "Computer" is a technological marvel that could drastically enhance the range and quality of services agencies can deliver. This should be wholeheartedly embraced. However, "Computers" could also critically erode trust within the industry if they are not used transparently. If agencies are charging standard rates for services executed with "Computer" assistance instead of spending hours manually cutting and gluing newspaper clippings, clients could feel profoundly shortchanged - a disaster for our profession. This is why all PR and communications agencies must explicitly inform clients when and how they are utilizing "Computers" to support communications activities. They might even consider going a step further by publishing a "Computer Usage Disclaimer." Although most agencies are already integrating "Computer" technologies or conducting pilot "P.C." projects, many are hesitant to disclose this to clients for fear of appearing impersonal or insincere. Yet, in truth, "Computers" are enhancing the industry significantly. They’re helping accelerate the transformation of PR from a sector dominated by press office activities into a full-spectrum creative industry that attracts top-tier talent. Some agencies have even announced "Computers" as core pillars of their strategies, committing to spending millions on "P.C.s". This is largely because many of the repetitive tasks traditionally assigned to junior team members – such as unjamming fax machines, replacing typewriter ribbons, and correction fluid use – can be handled by "Computers". These tasks don't teach junior staff the essentials of PR; instead, they dull their enthusiasm and drive potential talent away. The growing capabilities of "Computers" also mean young PR professionals can assist with tasks that demand a human touch, like picking up the phone with journalists and (gasp!) facing clients. They can even lay the groundwork for more complex projects, such as strategic campaign planning, or helping senior executives figure out how to send an "electronic mail" message. And if agencies can allocate more of their energy to activities where human creativity and intelligence are genuinely needed, it can only benefit talent retention and job satisfaction. But to strike the right balance, the deployment of "Computers" within agencies must be managed judiciously to ensure it ONLY positively impacts teams, clients, and content. Its role should be supportive, not predominant. Its rollout should be gradual to ensure its effects are carefully measured and assessed. And, most importantly, its use MUST be openly disclosed to clients.

🎉 Celebrating Government Communications Day! 🎉 As a government communicator, I am proud to play a vital role in connecting our constituents and local community to the programs, services, and initiatives provided by their local government. Today, on Government Communications Day, I want to take a moment to reflect on what this role means to me. Being a strategic visual communications professional isn't just about creating pretty graphics or catchy slogans. It's about being the link that bridges the gap between government and the people it serves. It's about distilling complex information and acronyms into clear, easy-to-read, and easy-to-understand communication materials in a wide range of formats - whether it's presentation slides, brochures, mailers, reports, or more. My passion lies in ensuring that government information is transparent, effective, and accessible to all citizens. I firmly believe that it's our duty to reach out to the public, rather than expecting them to seek out important updates. That's why I strive to think outside the box and explore new channels to deliver our messages to the right audience. My background in graphic design and public relations has provided me with a solid foundation for connecting with a wide range of audiences. But it's my creativity and dedication to serving the public that truly drives me in this role. So, here's to all the government communicators out there - thank you for your hard work and dedication in making government more transparent, effective, and accessible for everyone. Happy Government Communications Day! 🌟 #GovernmentCommunicationsDay #WeLoveCAPIO #GovCommDay #PublicInformationRocks #prsa #Transparency #PublicService

Opportunities

At times, no matter how good your team – or your agency’s team – is, you need some additional resource. Perhaps for a special project, or a new development, or to solve a looming issue. Anticipation Marcomms Consulting can help. We take on a range of marketing-focused projects, whether one-offs, short-term or even long-term engagements. BRAND & COMMS PLANNING: from positioning and messaging strategies to creative strategies and campaign planning, to program design & implementation planning INTEGRATED MESSAGING & CHANNEL PLANNING: in partnership with Kristin Engard of The Juniper Consultancy DEVELOPMENT OF MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS GUIDES/TOOLKITS: ensuring consistency of approach   SPECIALIST COPYWRITING: financial services (B2B, B2B2C) INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS: messaging & engagement strategies, employee communications, communications development & coordination TRANSLATION SERVICES: English, Spanish, Portuguese (Brazil), Italian CLIENT-AGENCY RELATIONSHIP review, assessment and renovation, including talent and process audits TALENT ASSESSMENT/AUDIT: have you got the right people working on the right business? FACILITATION & EXECUTIVE COUNSEL: ongoing or on-off/occasional sessions to help advance strategy, clarify vision, and encounter innovative solutions And, working with partners we’ve cultivated over the years, we can offer full creative services, data analytics and market research. If you – or any of your colleagues – could use an experienced, flexible, value-added (and fun) resource, call us now!

I had flashbacks to the start of my public relations career reading this article on phone pitching reporters. At multiple agencies I worked at early in my career we had rooms in the office where people could go to call reporters so that we wouldn't disrupt the rest of the team sitting in the open space cubicles. And there was nothing more frustrating to me than calling an outlet and not finding a way to reach a reporter's direct line. Today, although there is no one-size-fits-all rule, the trend is moving away from phone pitching for the reasons discussed. Although the ultimate goal of pitching is always coverage, you have to offer the reporter value to achieve coverage and that starts by approaching them in the way that works best for them (and of course offering them a story worth telling). What are your thoughts on phone pitching? https://lnkd.in/eMR9wSXa

In case you are interested

FACT: In public relations, RFPs are *cruel & unusual punishment* for participating agencies. 😩 Seriously, can we please kill them? Here’s 5 reasons why: 1. They usually get issued to 5 or more firms, meaning your agency has — at best! — a 20% shot at winning. Not great. 🙄 2. Despite long odds, an avg RFP = about 20 hours to write (well). Quick math: 20 hours for a 20% chance of winning = cray cray. 3. Most RFPs ask for *free thinking,* strategy, etc. To which I humbly ask: ✅ Is it cool to ask *five doctors* each for 20 free hours of medical advice? ✅ Is it ok to ask *five investment bankers* for 20 free hours of financial advice? No? Interesting… 4. The truth is, most PR agencies can be vetted with: a 20-minute Zoom call & a trip to their url vs asking them to spend 20 hours compiling a rigid document that *literally nobody* wants to read! 🤯 5. Many RFPs I’ve gotten over the years *don’t provide a budget range* No budget guidance = banana pants silly. Imagine: “Please design my dream home… as for budget… I dunno… surprise me!” 🤷♂️ This shouldn’t be controversial. Unless procurement forces you to do it (*as was the case in the one we just turned down*) let’s kill RFPs. Kill them with fire! 🔥 They’re horrible and cruel. In 2024 and beyond, let’s do business with empathy. There’s a better way ✌️ This is the way ✊ #publicrelations

I’ve been sent an early copy of a book (published in a few days) called All The Worst Humans, by Phil Elwood. It lifts the lid on the tactics of big PR firms and is described as “a bridge-burning, riotous memoir exposing the secrets of the multibillion-dollar industry that controls so much of what we see and hear in the media.” Here’s an excerpt: “Ninety percent of mega PR firms' staff are bureaucrats. These firms claim to be experts in media relations, adept at securing coverage. Most of them don't achieve results for their clients. They don't know how to start fires. They understand their job is to create paper. PowerPoint presentations. Spreadsheets. Revise website copy. ... The weekly email we received with the roundup of coverage secured by the entire firm was embarrassing. Publicists pushed paper for years without placing a single story in a major paper. “But mega firms still charge clients millions for their services. It's a giant money suck. … Here's a good rule of thumb: More jargon equals more bullshit. More bullshit equals more billable hours. More billable hours does not mean more coverage.” I couldn’t put the book down. PR gets a bad rap for good reason. Meanwhile, as Elwood puts it, journalists earn a fraction of what PRs can earn. But not all PR firms are the same. Maybe there’s a way to help the current (dismal) state of journalism AND offer an alternative to the current PR industry model? I’ve been working on a project with a good friend of mine. More on that soon. But meanwhile, if you or your organisation is doing world-changing work but your story isn’t getting the traction it should, add your email to our list and we’ll keep you in the loop about what we’ve got cooking: https://lnkd.in/e4w-73bh

Email overload is real! And the higher the load, the higher the stress 😩 But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have a place in internal communication, says comms strategist Jenni Field you just have to know how to use it💡 Discover her best practice tips here https://lnkd.in/ev7buUWn #email #InternalComms #BestPractice #FreshIntranet

What do you think will have the biggest impact on internal communications in 2025? We asked over 200 survey respondents this question, and answers ranged from GenAI to more streamlined channels. Download the report for the latest trends, predictions, and successes for internal communicators in 2025. https://lnkd.in/gW3gihE2