Why aren't more agencies, PR firms, social media people/agencies practicing what they preach?
Let's start this locally.
Kyle Lacy posed this question in recent post entitled "the failing marketing and PR world"
"I am becoming increasingly concerned with the lack of blog writing by public relations, marketing, and advertising firms in the city of Indianapolis and abroad. The simple fact that a communications company is not in-tune with the changing landscape of the consumer driven world is troubling… to say the least."
Rodger Johnson, on the Hooiser PRSA blog in this post entitled, "How are you using social media for your clients"
While there are a few agencies experimenting with social media, I've talked with one agency owner about his effort, I don't see many of us embracing social media as tools of engagement. I wonder why that is?
In her characteristic candid style, Elizabeth Friedland responded:
Our clients are paying us to make their brands better but utilizing EVERY strategic tool at our disposal -- not just social media. They're not paying us to try to launch ourselves into the social media "digiratti."
To which, Gus Pearcy, said (wow Gus - I'm not even going to start with those loaded remarks)
PR is not about the method; it's about the results. Why is Lacy so sure that PR firms are not using social media? Firms work for a client. The strategy is not something to brag about. It's like revealing the secret behind sawing the lady in half. It's clever, but it's no longer magic.
My man, Chuck Ghose jumps in with the answer I find most appealing:
The best way to learn a game is to play it. If I were hiring an agency, I'd like to see how they are using it to grow their own business. I think it would provide insight into their potential strategy for clients.
And, in his own poignant style, Robby Slaughter says:
As for Kyle Lacy's original post, I think his concern is that if you look around, many---if not most---people who wear the PR hat are not really leveraging social media. In fact most of the people in this thread seem to think social media is just another tool in the PR toolbox.
But again, from the outside, it looks like a sea change. Social media appears to be a fundamental shift to re-engage individual empowerment over the conversation
Great conversation, everybody. But, frankly I'm disappointed in the lack of answers to the real question: Why aren't you practicing what you preach?
Some questions about all the random commentary around why more firms aren't practicing what they preach?
Does transparency prevent you from doing your job? When did keeping clients thinking you perform magic ever result in sustainable relationships. Smart clients know how you do it. They work with you because you add value and you have a relationship. Sure keep a few tricks up your sleeve. Ken Honeywell, Well Done Marketing founder and overall bad ass, said it best "clients and agencies deserve each other". There are people that do it well - clearly. Hetrick Communications, Trendy Minds, Brainstorm, and many more do a great job practicing what they preach. Clearly, if anyone should specialize in social media - its PR firms. I'd love to see more discussion and some real answers.
Last point: Say you want to get in shape at your gym and you decide to get a personal trainer. Would you hire the over-weight (yes I said it), unhealthy, chain smokin' personal trainer because he or she's got a lot of great clients and awards? Sorry, maybe I'm not that open minded. Credibility matters. EAT YOUR OWN DOG FOOD (Thanks Brad Ward for clueing me into this Chris Brogan quote).
Bring it. It's a discussion. Keep it focused ;). The question is why you aren't practicing what you preach.
Duncan Alney Facebook | Twitter | Naymz | Blip.fm
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