Tweet

Harvey Farr Articles

Written by: Harvey Farr

Biggest Mistakes When Pitching a Story - Click To Read Article
Pitching stories to the media is a skill that takes practice. Most PR courses don't teach pitching skills. It takes an understanding of the media, knowledge of the industry category your product or services is in, and some common sense. Here are the biggest mistakes PR people make when trying to get media coverage for their company or product.

Is Branding Enough? - Click To Read Article
For the past decade, the premier marketing term has been "branding." Every company and organization believed that it had to "brand" itself to achieve successful marketing results. Branding has its place, but in today's rapidly changing world, where buying power is shifting to the consumer, is good branding enough? Further, does "branding" even mean today what it meant just a few years ago? Let's take a look.

Engage: The Word of the Year - Click To Read Article
One can't talk about social media marketing without using the word "engage." Everybody knows that the objective of social media is to "engage" your community. Experts warn against a hard sell or just putting information out there with the hope that people will respond. But what does "engage" really mean and how do you do it?

What Should A PR Consultant Cost? - Click To Read Article
Consultants don’t come cheap, especially if you’re talking about legal or financial representation. However, understanding how a public relations consultant charges, or should charge, can make the process of retaining one extremely cost-effective.

Crisis Communications in a Transparent World - Click To Read Article
We live in a world of transparency. High profile individuals and corporations can expect their every move to be recorded some place on the internet for all to read and view. And, the internet never forgets and certainly is not very forgiving. How do those in the public eye deal with a world of continual documentation, especially when the internet is the ultimate free-for-all?

Winning Outside the Courtroom - Click To Read Article
How A Solid Litigation PR Strategy Can Assure Victory, Regardless of What Happens in the Courtroom

Is Social Media Marketing Overrated? - Click To Read Article
Social media is all the rage in today's marketing mix. Companies no longer drive traffic to their websites, but rather to their Facebook pages. But what is the true ROI (return on investment) for social media? And, what about all the smaller organizations that have full social media campaigns but find it simply doesn't add value to their marketing campaigns?

Going Viral - Click To Read Article
Everybody knows the phrase “going viral” but what does it really mean and how do you get your video to go viral? The key is to understand what the phrase really means.

Internal PR to Motivate Your Business Team - Click To Read Article
Good public relations applies as much to your employees as it does to your customers. Paying attention to motivating your employees always pays off handsomely.

What Should Hiring a PR Firm Cost? - Click To Read Article
When searching for a PR firm, one of the obvious criteria is whether you can afford them. You can find the best PR firm in the world, but if you can’t afford them, then you’re wasting your time. That’s why it is important to understand how PR firms charge and get an understanding of what the total costs may be.

Team Marketing: The Right Approach - Click To Read Article
Marketing/PR consultants will take one of two approaches in working with their clients. One approach is to treat a client as a client where they offer work and advice and have no vested interest in the outcome. The other approach is when the consultant makes him/herself part of the marketing team so there may not be a financial or equity interest in the client’s business, but as part of a team the consultant exhibits more of an interest to achieve success. I suggest the latter approach.

Is Technology a Blessing or a Curse? - Click To Read Article
Whether we like it or not, we’re hooked on technology. Whereas not that many years ago, cell phones, laptops, desktops and tablets were more likely to be found in science fiction novels than in our homes, we’ve come to not only like technology, but rely on it.

Why So Many PR Consultants Fail - Click To Read Article
Some organizations dispose of PR consultants like they dispose used plastic bags. And who can blame them? Too many PR consultants fail in their representation of organizations because they simply won’t take the time or invest the energy to learn their industry. However, understanding a client’s industry is the key to successful PR.

5 Ways to Know if Your Marketing/PR Firm is Doing its Job - Click To Read Article
Creating and implementing a marketing/PR campaign is not that difficult. Creating and implementing one that actually achieve results is another matter. But how do you assess and evaluate how effective your marketing campaign is? Here are some tips to help you measure effectiveness.

The Road to Good PR - Click To Read Article
Good PR is such an elusive process that many organizations have either a limited understanding or a total misunderstanding of what it is and how to get it. How can you get something, when you don’t know what you are trying to get? Hopefully this article will help clear the air as to what good PR is and how to get there.

Good Communication Starts With Communicating What You Want - Click To Read Article
Marketing terms such as public relations, publicity, communications, advertising, marketing, social media are often used interchangeably. While there are similarities, they are different, and it is critical the differences are understood.

PR Starts with a PR Plan - Click To Read Article
When embarking on a PR/marketing campaign, it is critical that you first start with a plan. Achieving goals and objectives is what PR is all about, and you need to clarify what your goals and objectives are so you know the plan is working. Here is how to do a PR plan.

The Small, Boutique PR Firm – A Better Model - Click To Read Article
As the marketing/PR industry undergoes changes, marketing/PR firms are changing as well. The large, bloated PR firm is fast becoming a thing of the past. The better model is a boutique firm with low overhead and access to talent and resources that can move on client campaigns quickly and with top-level expertise.

How to Make Your Special Event Truly Special - Click To Read Article
Whether a nonprofit trying to raise funds or a commercial enterprise that wants to impress clients and customers, there is a right and a wrong way to put on a special event. If you're going to the trouble and expense of a special event, make sure you get the most bang for your buck.

The Truth About Social Media - Click To Read Article
Social Media -- what is it and what role does it play in the marketing mix? Is it the future of marketing or a fad? How is it used and why is everyone talking about it?

Beware of Hidden Costs of Hiring a PR Firm - Click To Read Article
Public relations firms bill in many different ways. However, the billing practices of some are not as transparent as they should be.

Finding the Right PR/Marketing Firm - Click To Read Article
Not all PR/marketing firms are created equal. Certainly, not all are a good fit for your organization. That's why sometimes it makes sense to get professional help when doing an agency search.

How to Find a PR Firm That's Right for You - Click To Read Article
Hiring a PR firm sounds easy, but is it?

How to be a Talking Head - Click To Read Article
The media has transformed from a one-way communications mechanism to a forum for multiple-way conversations. Those who participate in the conversation are viewed as leaders in their industry, but how do you get involved in the conversation?

Your Public Relations is Showing - Click To Read Article
PR is more than sending out your messages through the media. It entails every contact you have with the public, and many you might not even realize.

The Real Crisis With Crisis PR - Click To Read Article
When a crisis hits, who do you call? Your lawyer of course. But in this image conscious world in which we live, you also need to get on the phone to your PR/crisis manager. Not all PR people are experts in crisis communications, so it is important that you have someone who is experienced in dealing with highly sensitive, high pressure situations; someone who knows how to handle the media, gauge public opinion, has an understanding of legal terminology and most of all, has experience in damage control.

How To Publicize A Start-Up Business - Click To Read Article
If you are starting a new business, regardless of whether you are selling a product or service, getting publicity may seem like a daunting endeavor. It doesn't have to be. By using the right strategies and mindset, you can get exposure for your start-up and look as experienced and established as competitors that have been around for decades.

Social marketing is no replacement for creative, strategic marketing - Click To Read Article
Marketing and public relations is all about getting attention. But how do you get the attention you deserve when there are so many others competing for air time, print and internet space? Technology can be both the problem and the solution. It's a matter of getting back to basics.

Reputation Preservation in a Crisis - Click To Read Article
Every company and organization should have a crisis communications plan in place. The risk of not having one is just too great, for you never know when or how a crisis will strike. And every crisis has the potential to put your reputation at risk. Here are some tips on how to create a plan.

Nonprofit PR Marketing With a Mission - Click To Read Article
Successful nonprofit organizations understand that to attract funding, they must promote their agency as a brand, just like commercial enterprises. Every nonprofit should create and implement a public relations / media relations program to let potential funders, supporters and volunteers know who they are and what they do. This is a must for effective fundraising. With all the nonprofits in the country, getting media exposure is competitive and not an easy task. But it can be done as this article outlines.

When Hiring A PR Firm Think Small - Click To Read Article
More and more companies are opting for small PR operations rather than large PR firms. The primary reason is cost. There are many one and two person shops who have the experience of senior-level PR pros, but don't have to charge the high fees because they don't have the high overhead. So why pay for your PR firm's fancy offices and get junior account executive experience when you can get a seasoned pro for less money. It just makes sense.

Good Public Relations is More Than A Good News Release - Click To Read Article
People too often believe that public relations is only for a mass audience. Not so. Good public relations starts with one-on-one relationships.

The Magic and Mystique of Branding - Click To Read Article
Think your company or organization is too small to establish and promote your brand? Think again. Even small companies, that serve narrow audiences, can benefit from creating and promoting a brand identity.

SmartPR The Future of Marketing - Click To Read Article
In this rapidly changing, technology-driven age, with new trends emerging virtually daily, every company must approach their marketing in the most strategic, smartest and cost-effective manner possible. Gone are the days when a company can simply buys ads and wait for the cash register to ring. Today good marketing requires an intimate knowledge of your target markets and how to best reach them. PR is fast-becoming the marketing system of choice, and SmartPR is the only way to go. That is what we do for our clients. And it works.

Public Relations Is Not Just For PR Pros - Click To Read Article
Good public relations involves the participation of everyone in an organization – from the guard downstairs to the CEO. Instilling a sense of public relations consciousness in employees’ should be a primary goal of all organizations. Today many firms train all their employees in public relations basics to make the entire organization PR savvy.

Business to Business PR - Click To Read Article
Good public relations is much more than creating a great image and generating stories in the media. It is also paying attention to one-on-one PR to make the sale when a prospect calls. And for many businesses, that is the most critical public relations a company can have.

How To Hire A PR Firm - Click To Read Article
10 Tips to Help You Find the Right PR Firm to Represent Your Company or Organization

Marketing in Tough Economic Times - Click To Read Article
Marketing And PR Are Often The First To Go When Times Get Tough; Does This Make Sense?

Cut Costs and Add Value to Your Marketing at the Same Time - Click To Read Article
With the sluggish economy, companies have to cut costs, but that doesn’t mean decreasing the ability to market effectively.





Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Tweet

Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!

Name:
Email:

Popular Articles

Unspoken Yet Important Rules for Book Proposals

Basic Operating Question (BOQ) for Empowerment

When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Log On

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.