Is Your Client an Idiot?
| Category: PR/Publicity and Media | Date: 2003-10-02 |
Short answer: Yes.
Long answer: Probably.
I dont know if the heat is getting to people or what, but lately Ive been hearing some horror stories from PR people about their clients. In every case Ive analyzed the PR person has been right and the client has been woefully wrong. Unfortunately this doesnt mean anything. The PR person or firm has to make the client happy, not the other way around. And despite the fact that corporate spending is beginning to return, the economic environment is such that most PR firms are going to have to grin and bear it -- for now.
The PR firm-client relationship is an awkward one. The client relies on the PR firm to get its message out and the PR firm has to rely on the media to accomplish that. The pressure to perform is enormous, but the ability to quantify results is usually difficult. The client is, seemingly, never happy.
In todays column, Ill examine a recent case of client unhappiness that Ive been informed of and let you know the advice Ive offered to the PR people involved. As always, the names of the innocent -- and guilty -- will remain a mystery.
A PR firm convinces a local television stations news department to do a segment on its client. Everything goes off perfectly: people are interviewed, research is provided to the news producer and the client is oh so happy knowing that it will be featured on the eleven oclock news. And then the unthinkable happens -- the segment never runs.
The client is furious and wants answers. Youre furious and want answers as well. But the producer of the segment isnt giving answers. Theyre actually ignoring you. The client is really upset and questions your ability to handle the situation. What do you do?
Its important to understand that news is fluid -- and your client needs to understand that as well. Every week there are thousands of television segments filmed and articles written that dont air or arent published as scheduled. Some of these will never air or be published, but most will find their way to the public at some point. It may just take a slow news day to get them there. Unfortunately, its beyond your control to decide what gets aired or printed.
The news cycle changes moment-by-moment and that means articles are spiked and segments are shelved. Ive written 1,000-word stories that have never seen the light of day because big news broke, I got a scoop or, believe it or not, a more interesting story fell into my lap. If I have to spike my story, I call the subject and PR person to let them know.
In the real-life case here, however, the news producer acted very unprofessionally -- not returning calls or emails and not providing an explanation why the piece didnt air. This infuriated the PR person who had no recourse but to tell the client, "I dont know why its not being aired."
I suggested that the PR person not go over the producers head and contact the news director. Moves like this rarely solve the problem and usually cause more problems. I explained that the segment would probably air eventually and antagonizing the producer wouldnt solve the problem and could hurt future prospects of working together. Dealing with the client is another story though.
It may not be the excuse the client wants to hear, but its the only valid one: Its not in your control. Write it off and move on.
The client needs to understand that beyond a hostile takeover of the television station that involves hijacking the airwaves, theres nothing further you can do to get the segment aired. Youve done your job and now its time for the producer to do his job. The news cycle will come around to the point that the piece will probably air, you just have to bide your time.
In my mind, the client in this case displayed an amazing amount of ignorance when it comes to how the media works. So many people hire PR firms with massive expectations. They think their story is so amazing that the networks will be clamoring to get them on the air and The New York Times will be calling every five minutes to request an interview. If only it was that easy and let me tell you what, from a journalists point of view, if only all of your clients stories were so compelling.
From the very beginning of the relationship, the client needs to be told what they can expect and when they can expect it. When they push, push back and explain that while youve yet to master the concept of mind control.
This is an issue that comes up so often. Clients sometimes think paying a PR firm means they are guaranteed press clips. We all know its that not that easy. Be upfront and honest from the start and when a situation like this comes up, stand up tall and explain to them that harping on one incident does no one any good.
One piece of advice I offered in this case was for the PR firm to take the story to the television stations competitor. Call a producer at a cross-town competitor and explain what happened to the first piece. The media is savage when it comes to competing. Ive written stories that I would have never considered simply because I knew a competitor was working on the same story. Use this to your advantage.
And when your client starts complaining about things out of control, forward them this column.
About the Author
Ben Silverman is a business columnist for The New York Post and the publisher of the soon-to-be-relaunched DotcomScoop.com. This article is from PR Fuel, a free weekly newsletter on public relations produced by eReleases ereleases.com, the leader in press release services for small businesses. Archived articles can be found online at: http://www.ereleases.com/pr/prfuel.html
Copyright (c) 1998-2003 eReleases(TM) (MEK Enterprises LLC)
prfuel@ereleases.com
http://www.ereleases.com
Long answer: Probably.
I dont know if the heat is getting to people or what, but lately Ive been hearing some horror stories from PR people about their clients. In every case Ive analyzed the PR person has been right and the client has been woefully wrong. Unfortunately this doesnt mean anything. The PR person or firm has to make the client happy, not the other way around. And despite the fact that corporate spending is beginning to return, the economic environment is such that most PR firms are going to have to grin and bear it -- for now.
The PR firm-client relationship is an awkward one. The client relies on the PR firm to get its message out and the PR firm has to rely on the media to accomplish that. The pressure to perform is enormous, but the ability to quantify results is usually difficult. The client is, seemingly, never happy.
In todays column, Ill examine a recent case of client unhappiness that Ive been informed of and let you know the advice Ive offered to the PR people involved. As always, the names of the innocent -- and guilty -- will remain a mystery.
A PR firm convinces a local television stations news department to do a segment on its client. Everything goes off perfectly: people are interviewed, research is provided to the news producer and the client is oh so happy knowing that it will be featured on the eleven oclock news. And then the unthinkable happens -- the segment never runs.
The client is furious and wants answers. Youre furious and want answers as well. But the producer of the segment isnt giving answers. Theyre actually ignoring you. The client is really upset and questions your ability to handle the situation. What do you do?
Its important to understand that news is fluid -- and your client needs to understand that as well. Every week there are thousands of television segments filmed and articles written that dont air or arent published as scheduled. Some of these will never air or be published, but most will find their way to the public at some point. It may just take a slow news day to get them there. Unfortunately, its beyond your control to decide what gets aired or printed.
The news cycle changes moment-by-moment and that means articles are spiked and segments are shelved. Ive written 1,000-word stories that have never seen the light of day because big news broke, I got a scoop or, believe it or not, a more interesting story fell into my lap. If I have to spike my story, I call the subject and PR person to let them know.
In the real-life case here, however, the news producer acted very unprofessionally -- not returning calls or emails and not providing an explanation why the piece didnt air. This infuriated the PR person who had no recourse but to tell the client, "I dont know why its not being aired."
I suggested that the PR person not go over the producers head and contact the news director. Moves like this rarely solve the problem and usually cause more problems. I explained that the segment would probably air eventually and antagonizing the producer wouldnt solve the problem and could hurt future prospects of working together. Dealing with the client is another story though.
It may not be the excuse the client wants to hear, but its the only valid one: Its not in your control. Write it off and move on.
The client needs to understand that beyond a hostile takeover of the television station that involves hijacking the airwaves, theres nothing further you can do to get the segment aired. Youve done your job and now its time for the producer to do his job. The news cycle will come around to the point that the piece will probably air, you just have to bide your time.
In my mind, the client in this case displayed an amazing amount of ignorance when it comes to how the media works. So many people hire PR firms with massive expectations. They think their story is so amazing that the networks will be clamoring to get them on the air and The New York Times will be calling every five minutes to request an interview. If only it was that easy and let me tell you what, from a journalists point of view, if only all of your clients stories were so compelling.
From the very beginning of the relationship, the client needs to be told what they can expect and when they can expect it. When they push, push back and explain that while youve yet to master the concept of mind control.
This is an issue that comes up so often. Clients sometimes think paying a PR firm means they are guaranteed press clips. We all know its that not that easy. Be upfront and honest from the start and when a situation like this comes up, stand up tall and explain to them that harping on one incident does no one any good.
One piece of advice I offered in this case was for the PR firm to take the story to the television stations competitor. Call a producer at a cross-town competitor and explain what happened to the first piece. The media is savage when it comes to competing. Ive written stories that I would have never considered simply because I knew a competitor was working on the same story. Use this to your advantage.
And when your client starts complaining about things out of control, forward them this column.
About the Author
Ben Silverman is a business columnist for The New York Post and the publisher of the soon-to-be-relaunched DotcomScoop.com. This article is from PR Fuel, a free weekly newsletter on public relations produced by eReleases ereleases.com, the leader in press release services for small businesses. Archived articles can be found online at: http://www.ereleases.com/pr/prfuel.html
Copyright (c) 1998-2003 eReleases(TM) (MEK Enterprises LLC)
prfuel@ereleases.com
http://www.ereleases.com
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