If this sentiment was applied more liberally across the blogosphere, I believe there would be less negative fluff to sift through each day. Though I enjoy a spirited debate and understand the need for discussion about PR mistakes and campaigns (see NY Times “Target Tells a Blogger to Go Away” for a good example), I need to have constructive solutions for the time I invest in reading a blog. I would like to challenge whiney bloggers to produce content that contributes value to the conversation.
I qualify complaining as a post that opens with criticism and does not offer constructive insight or positive action steps. Bloggers can be very helpful in voicing concerns and highlighting ineffective practices. However, as an “expert” if they don’t offer a better path, savvy readers will seek counsel and conversation elsewhere. Last week, I read a post that discussed everything a PR expert cannot do. One of the main complaints in this blog discussing client relations was “I cannot read your mind.” As it was written, the blog left me without useful information or advice for this common problem. It would have gone from complaint to worthwhile with a few pointers on innovative techniques for helping clients communicate more effectively.
There are many very worthy sites–I would like to recommend Valley PR Blog (www.valleyprblog) as a source for timely, targeted discussion for the Phoenix public relations market. I also suggest researching what the respected professionals and media in your network are reading and following follow on sites like Twitter and Facebook. Today, there are innumberable sites available in the world of social media–it is critical to invest in writers with an intuitive voice and viable advice.
Courtenay, thanks for the shoutout to http://www.valleyprblog.com. You raise a good point – a lot of people (and I’m guilty of this myself) get too mired down in complaining, without providing a positive roadmap for solutions.
It must be human nature to focus on the negative, the sensational, rather than the positive.
Comment by Linda VandeVrede — July 30, 2009 @ 8:43 am |
Good point, Courtenay!
I saw the same blog you mentioned, and my reaction was, “OK, so you can’t read the client’s mind. You already know that communication is difficult, so ask the questions you need to ask to get the clear understanding you seek.” If we have the unspoken attitude that clients are dumb, I can’t help but believe that one way or another, that attitude will be conveyed to the client.
Thanks for your post.
Comment by Peter Faur — July 30, 2009 @ 9:49 am |
Peter, I agree 100%. Clients deserve our respect and most don’t specialize in communication-that’s why they are paying a PR pro. As experts, we best serve the client by giving them the tools they need to learn to define their goals clearly.
Comment by bigskypublicrelations — July 30, 2009 @ 10:04 am |