In the dynamic world of public relations (PR), the power of well-crafted writing cannot be overstated. When considering a PR partner, one of the most crucial factors to evaluate is their ability to create engaging content and write compelling PR materials. Clear and engaging writing is a vital link between businesses and the public. This kind of effective PR writing [...]
In the November/December issue of the Harvard Business Review, Frances Frei and Anne Morris explained how storytelling can drive bold organizational change. While the piece focuses on changing a brand from the inside out, it shows that storytelling powers transformation by connecting and inspiring people. Frei and Morris break down the elements of successful storytelling, which are just as relevant [...]
As my colleague Lauren Beehler recently pointed out in her article, “Improve Outlines to Enhance Your Writing,” it can be beneficial to organize your thoughts when beginning a new assignment or project. Beehler explains that an outline can help “ensure your writing is organized, thorough, and achieves its purpose,” among other things. To build upon Beehler's recommendations, I thought I'd [...]
Crafting the direction and order of ideas mid-writing can be confusing and lead to missing information, random interjections, and illogical presentation. A thoughtful outline will help ensure your writing is organized, thorough, and achieves its purpose. An outline is a plan for your writing, typically consisting of the work’s intended goal and audience, an ordered list of relevant topics, and [...]
Writing is a central component of a PR professional’s role and day-to-day tasks. We’re masters of communicating effectively through writing. We can adjust our tone and voice for specific authors and audiences and lead the reader to a desired conclusion or call to action. Strong writing skills provide a foundation for all aspects of public relations. If you want to [...]
According to Stephen King, “If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot.” Fortunately, in my role with Communiqué PR, I’ve had significant opportunities to exercise my writing skills and have identified some best practices that I plan to incorporate into my process. I thought I would [...]
When you devote time, effort, and energy to a project, it can feel like your work is a piece of yourself. If you’re emotionally invested in your project or unprepared to acknowledge that there may be room for improvement, feedback can feel like an attack on your self-worth and erode your confidence. However, receiving and using feedback is an essential [...]
Accurate and precise language is essential for communicating a writer's intended meaning. There is a risk, if you do not choose your words carefully, that your reader will be forced to pause and decipher your meaning or that your word message will be conveyed inaccurately or lost entirely. Either way, your writing loses credibility, and in the latter case, you [...]
A well-written question will mean the same thing to all respondents.Jennifer Leigh Brown When creating a survey, if you’re hoping to receive accurate and insightful answers, the phrasing and functionality of your survey queries can determine the success of your results. Questions that are poorly worded, biased, confusing or don’t allow respondents to accurately reflect on their experiences can result [...]
The use of quantitative data in communication can be very powerful as we’ve noted in previous blogs: “Leveraging Data in Storytelling” and “When Leveraging Data, Don’t Forget the Human Element.” However, numeric information is only effective if people understand it. Dr. Ellen Peters, the Philip H. Knight chair and director of the Center for Science Communication Research (SCR) at the [...]
Ragan’s PR Daily recently published an article by Daphne Gray-Grant who is a writing and editing coach and author of 8½ Steps to Writing Faster, Better. I thought the article titled, “Seven Habits of Highly Effective Writers” was a gem, and completely spot on. It’s no secret that as a PR professional, exceptional writing skills are a must-have. And by [...]