Not long ago, after consultations with others in an association I represent, I made a partnership pitch to another organization with similar interests. If the idea had been accepted, it would have radically changed our organizations.
So, you can imagine my impatience when I didn't hear back from the person to whom I'd made the proposal. She had welcomed the idea, but a decision would be made by a council within her organization.
Given the importance of the decision to their organization, I didn't expect a quick response. But, I would have liked at least a phone call saying the council had accepted, rejected, or was still considering the idea.
Then, I had a "Eureka" or maybe I should call it a "Whoops" moment. I realized I hadn't reported back to the people in my organization either. That made me guilty of the same lapse of communication as the lady in the other organization. With that recognition, I made amends by sending out an email and followed up with a report at a meeting.
In taking an analytical view of this incident, I realized that nothing can be something when it comes to communication.
The idea that nothing can be something seems counter- intuitive. But, you may remember the famous Sherlock Holmes' observation about the dog that didn't bark (the fictitious detective solved a baffling case by noting what did not happen, rather than what did happen).
You can probably come up with several ideas about the importance of communicating, too, even though nothing has changed. That's especially true if you're the one who didn't hear from someone else.
First, you may have made plans that assume either a change or a continuation of the status quo. Perhaps you're holding off on holiday plans until the issue is resolved one way or the other.
Second, at least you know an anticipated decision or event hasn't yet occurred, and that you didn't miss something (for example, as I write this I'm waiting for a client to confirm some information and it would be nice to know that I haven't missed a callback or an emailed reply).
Third, if you've received an update telling you nothing has happened, you don't need to contact that person and ask if there have been any developments. Similarly, you can advise the people who look to you for information.
One other note: This might be a variation on what I call the Everybody Knows syndrome. That's a decision not to communicate, based on the assumption that others know what I know. For example, I might not tell anyone the office will be closed between Christmas Day and New Year's Day because I think everyone should know that, which is likely a bad assumption on my part.
In summary, if the issue is important, communicate frequently, even if nothing has happened. Something is nothing when you or others wait impatiently for news.
2011/06/30
2011/06/25
Relationship Management: Knowing and Communicating with Your Key Publics
Many organizations actively engage in 'Issues Management.' For most, this involves scanning the news, developing communications strategies around relevant issues and trends, and then communicating their messages back through the media.
However, effective communications is more than just managing issues through the media. Companies and organizations must also be aware of their external publics – the people and groups outside of an organization's sphere that affect, or are affected by, what that organization does.
This is known as 'Relationship Management.' It is the discipline of identifying key publics and establishing strategies for building and maintaining mutually beneficial relationships with those publics.
Identifying External Publics
Like most organizations, there is a good chance you are already using media monitoring to track the issues that affect your organization. This is Communications 101.
You may even be taking it one step further and conducting some kind of media analysis, including assigning tones like positive, negative or neutral to news stories. And if you're not, you should be. Without proper analysis and evaluation, your communications team is not doing its job properly.
But where it really gets interesting is when you take your existing monitoring and analysis and add another dimension to it. One of the best examples of this is tracking and analyzing quotes.
Tracking quotes helps you identify your key publics. You can see exactly what they are thinking, what they are saying, what they are doing.
And by taking further small steps, such as cross-referencing tone with quotes, you can easily identify the type of relationship that exists between your organization and its different key publics. You can get a picture of what you are doing right and what you are doing wrong, and, where necessary, develop a plan to change the relationship.
Obviously, the more positive the quote or article, the greater the chance that the person being quoted is an ally to issues favorable to your organization. Conversely, the more negative the quote or article, the greater the chance that the person being quoted is opposed to issues favorable to your organization.
Furthermore, the more times a person is quoted, the greater the chance he or she is an Opinion Leader – a person that knowingly or unknowingly influences opinion. It's important that your organization try to have an open and professional dialogue with Opinion Leaders no matter what their position is.
Dealing with Key Publics
A lot of people feel the media ultimately control public opinion. There's no denying they do have an enormous influence, but they are only one piece of the PR puzzle.
It's important that PR professionals not limit themselves to just the media. Sometimes it's best to communicate right to the source, if possible. Remember, as a professional communicator, your primary job is to disseminate information, not necessarily to deal with the media or write news releases. How you get the information to your publics is not what matters; what matters is that they get the information. Using the media and writing news releases are simply a means to an end. <
According to Statistics Canada, 61 per cent of Canadians belong to a group or organization, including organizations unions, religious groups, professional associations, etc. Opinion Leaders are a very important component of these groups.
Once you have identified the groups and their Opinion Leaders, it's important to develop consistent messages that will clearly state your organization's position on key issues. Without that consistency, you run the risk of looking hypocritical or insincere. The last thing you want is to be communicating different messages regarding the same issue.
If you want people to trust you and your organization, consistency is a must. Trust is the first step in developing a relationship with the Opinion Leaders and your key publics.
Honesty is Always the Best Policy
Remember, when it comes to any type of communications, honesty is always the best policy. Trying to manipulate the media or the public is a dangerous game. If you're honest, people might not always like what you have to say, but at least they'll believe you and have a greater respect for you in the long run.
Monitoring the Media Helps Ensure Honesty Prevails
Monitoring the media allows organizations to ensure everyone is on message, helping to prevent misunderstandings through inadvertent contradictions or an overly aggressive spokesperson. Also, proactive media analysis can gauge how well key publics and other influencers, such as the media, are accepting your organization's position on an issue.
Media Analysis is a Powerful Tool, but...
Media analysis can help identify miscommunication, and can also help identify the underlying reason for that miscommunication. It's also an effective way of identifying key publics and opinion leaders, gauging where they stand on an issue and finding out what they are saying.
However, it's important to remember 'Relationship Management' is about dealing with people directly. Media analysis is just a tool to help ensure your organization is communicating honestly and effectively – the same way the media are just a vehicle for delivering your message.
But even if you have a top notch media analysis program in place, you should never stop communicating directly with your key publics to figure out where they stand on key issues and how they view your organization. After all, public relations and communications are all about communicating effectively, and nothing is more effective than getting your information straight from the source.
However, effective communications is more than just managing issues through the media. Companies and organizations must also be aware of their external publics – the people and groups outside of an organization's sphere that affect, or are affected by, what that organization does.
This is known as 'Relationship Management.' It is the discipline of identifying key publics and establishing strategies for building and maintaining mutually beneficial relationships with those publics.
Identifying External Publics
Like most organizations, there is a good chance you are already using media monitoring to track the issues that affect your organization. This is Communications 101.
You may even be taking it one step further and conducting some kind of media analysis, including assigning tones like positive, negative or neutral to news stories. And if you're not, you should be. Without proper analysis and evaluation, your communications team is not doing its job properly.
But where it really gets interesting is when you take your existing monitoring and analysis and add another dimension to it. One of the best examples of this is tracking and analyzing quotes.
Tracking quotes helps you identify your key publics. You can see exactly what they are thinking, what they are saying, what they are doing.
And by taking further small steps, such as cross-referencing tone with quotes, you can easily identify the type of relationship that exists between your organization and its different key publics. You can get a picture of what you are doing right and what you are doing wrong, and, where necessary, develop a plan to change the relationship.
Obviously, the more positive the quote or article, the greater the chance that the person being quoted is an ally to issues favorable to your organization. Conversely, the more negative the quote or article, the greater the chance that the person being quoted is opposed to issues favorable to your organization.
Furthermore, the more times a person is quoted, the greater the chance he or she is an Opinion Leader – a person that knowingly or unknowingly influences opinion. It's important that your organization try to have an open and professional dialogue with Opinion Leaders no matter what their position is.
Dealing with Key Publics
A lot of people feel the media ultimately control public opinion. There's no denying they do have an enormous influence, but they are only one piece of the PR puzzle.
It's important that PR professionals not limit themselves to just the media. Sometimes it's best to communicate right to the source, if possible. Remember, as a professional communicator, your primary job is to disseminate information, not necessarily to deal with the media or write news releases. How you get the information to your publics is not what matters; what matters is that they get the information. Using the media and writing news releases are simply a means to an end. <
According to Statistics Canada, 61 per cent of Canadians belong to a group or organization, including organizations unions, religious groups, professional associations, etc. Opinion Leaders are a very important component of these groups.
Once you have identified the groups and their Opinion Leaders, it's important to develop consistent messages that will clearly state your organization's position on key issues. Without that consistency, you run the risk of looking hypocritical or insincere. The last thing you want is to be communicating different messages regarding the same issue.
If you want people to trust you and your organization, consistency is a must. Trust is the first step in developing a relationship with the Opinion Leaders and your key publics.
Honesty is Always the Best Policy
Remember, when it comes to any type of communications, honesty is always the best policy. Trying to manipulate the media or the public is a dangerous game. If you're honest, people might not always like what you have to say, but at least they'll believe you and have a greater respect for you in the long run.
Monitoring the Media Helps Ensure Honesty Prevails
Monitoring the media allows organizations to ensure everyone is on message, helping to prevent misunderstandings through inadvertent contradictions or an overly aggressive spokesperson. Also, proactive media analysis can gauge how well key publics and other influencers, such as the media, are accepting your organization's position on an issue.
Media Analysis is a Powerful Tool, but...
Media analysis can help identify miscommunication, and can also help identify the underlying reason for that miscommunication. It's also an effective way of identifying key publics and opinion leaders, gauging where they stand on an issue and finding out what they are saying.
However, it's important to remember 'Relationship Management' is about dealing with people directly. Media analysis is just a tool to help ensure your organization is communicating honestly and effectively – the same way the media are just a vehicle for delivering your message.
But even if you have a top notch media analysis program in place, you should never stop communicating directly with your key publics to figure out where they stand on key issues and how they view your organization. After all, public relations and communications are all about communicating effectively, and nothing is more effective than getting your information straight from the source.
2011/06/18
5 Easy Ways How to Make Money Online
hese days, you'll find many ways that will attract you to make money online, but getting the most reliable one that can truly provide you with your expected income may be difficult to attain. A lot of people have come to realize that working 8 hours a day won't really make it to cover their daily expenses, and be able to afford a good life.
While most of them may require too much effort, investment and skill, there are easy ways to engage them just like the opportunities mentioned below.
1. Getting income through eBay
This is one of the easy ways of doing it by selling your stuff that are no longer used. This way, you're not only clearing out your mess in the basement or garage, but at the same time, you're making money out of them. You can get started by registering as a seller, and everything is done easily.
2. Earn through paid surveys
Getting paid for simple surveys is great fun and a profitable way to make money online. One cool thing in joining this moneymaking opportunity is that you are able to earn something in your free time. The moment you have decided to sign up with a reputable survey company, all you have to do is monitor your e-mails regularly, choose the best types of surveys, and you'll be pleased to earn money whenever you get the survey forms completed.
Aside from the income, you'll have a chance to access new products that are still being researched, long before they become available in the market.
What kinds of companies should I look for?
The simplest way to check it out is joining an organization that specializes in assisting consumers, to hook you up with the kinds of surveys that really pay most.
3. There is money in blogging
This online business simply requires a minimal start-up cost. All you have to do is create an impressive blogging website and once you grasp the techniques on how to make money online, your bank account will start to grow bigger. Some of the ways to get started as a blogger include having a WordPress account, and setting up your own blog with your own domain name.
4. Affiliate marketing can provide you with huge income
With the power of your own website, you can generate your audience, and implement new marketing strategies to attract new potential clients to visit your site and buy the product that you're selling. Keep in mind that every customer is interested on what kind of information you can provide them in your site.
5. Rake in money by branching out as a content writer
If you can supply your website regularly with original content, then there will be more chances for you to reap enormous cash. In this case, if you can write well, this can be a new opportunity for you to become a web writer.
Kavin Kumar is an internet marketing expert in the field of e-mail marketing. If you want to grow your online niche in terms of traffic, achieve higher sales conversion rates or are simply starting out in the world of online business then take the first step now and visit his site at http://unlimitedcashinternet.com. Stop hesitating!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Raj_Kavin_Kumar
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6761365
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