The term “Human Capital” is offensive to some. They see it as treating people as material objects. I hope to build a greater appreciation that the character, competence and commitment of a firm’s professional talent has a major impact on its valuation in an M&A situation. That acknowledgement, together with other recommendations, are intended to…
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Category: Employee Retention
Cybersecurity and Telecommuting in PR, Alone and Together
Cybersecurity and telecommuting are two separate lanes for PR firm owners to manage. But they’re certainly not independent of one another. As the so-called dark web rears its ugly head, PR agency owners and C-level executives are increasingly responsible for protecting their digital and online assets soup to nuts. At the same time, owners must…
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Is Cry for PR Diversity Different This Time?
(This article originally appeared on odwyerpr.com.) It happens every few years, just like a Swiss watch. Cries are heard regarding the general lack of diversity within the creative services field and how it’s costing agencies and firms dearly. There are a few rounds of self-flagellation within the four walls, as the media trades run agonizing…
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Empathy at Heart of Co-Mentoring Programs
Several years ago I worked at an online media production company whose aspirations unfortunately exceeded its budget. Nonetheless, I was eager to get more experience producing online video content. I was assigned to work with Susan (her name has been changed), a millennial. She seemed to be a real whiz with video equipment and knew…
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3 Ways Female PR Execs Pursue C-Suite Seat
It’s a start. When Barri Rafferty in late November was named Ketchum’s next global CEO, she became the first woman to lead a top-five PR agency. It’s fitting that Ketchum has taken the lead when it comes to promoting female PR executives. A recent survey released by the global PR agency and the Holmes Report…
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PR Profession Rides Some Rough Waves
It’s not a pretty picture for the PR industry. Among a wide swath of firms, growth is down and profitability is flat. Adding insult to injury, PR firm owners are failing to boost their billing rates in order to compensate for increases in salaries and other expenses. Whether it’s the large holding companies or smaller…
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Canadian PR Firms Best U.S. Firms on Revenue, Profitability
Canada is celebrated for many things. Maple Syrup, Niagara Falls, and Wayne Gretzky quickly come to mind. Now you can add profitable PR agencies to the list, particularly when stacked up against their U.S counterparts. Net revenue for Canadian-based firms grew a total of 21.8 percent in 2016, according to Gould+Partners 2017 PR Firm Net…
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Lippe: Incumbent Upon PR Industry to Promote More Women
Maureen Lippe, founder-CEO of Lippe Taylor, recalls a series of dinner meetings she initiated with other female leaders in the PR industry. “What was astonishing to me is that most of these women had competed for years in business, but had never really met each other,” says Lippe, who since founding her PR firm in…
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Webinar: Millennials Eager to Lead, Willing to Learn
Millennials and older PR executives have a great deal to learn from one another. By collaborating more effectively they can bolster the value of their firm, break into emerging markets and land new clients. They just need to put their suspicions of one another aside and not let stereotypical thinking get the better of them….
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PR Agency Spotlight: 3 Ways to Meet Millennials Halfway
PR Agency Spotlight: Kate Finley, CEO, Belle Communications PR Firm Owners Need to Be More Willing to Adapt to Millennials but Not Bend Over Backward Kate Finley, CEO of Belle Communications, was about to start her presentation at a work session at the PRSA’s Counselors Academy spring meeting titled “The Marvelous and Mysterious World of…
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The PR Trifecta: Growth, Profitability and Billing Rates Stalling
In light of this solar eclipse this week, the constellations have started to align for the PR industry. But it’s not a pretty picture, with all the major financial indices down and little sign that the industry has started to make headways in order to reverse the declines. Just check out the tale of the…
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Brain Training for Better PR Writing
Influencer marketing. Gamification. Online video. The list of relatively new PR channels goes on and on, with little room for PR firm owners to catch their breath before they have to consider the next investment. Even the most seasoned PR executives—who possess total recall and a photographic memory—may be hard-pressed to keep up with all…
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