“It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it.”, said Warren Buffett, the third wealthiest person in the world and also one of the most successful investors on the planet. This quote does share a good connection with Public Relations as it mainly focuses on building relationships that ultimately yields a good reputation for a company. PR, in general, is a fragile yet time-consuming process. Many companies do not invest the right amount of time on PR agencies which is not a good practice if you plan to hire one.
Here are some of the reasons why you should commit to a PR firm in the long run:
Seeds need time to grow:
Just like a farmer, a PR agency sows the seeds on platforms that can boost the company’s reputation. But Companies, on the other hand, should also acknowledge these efforts and give the seeds time to grow which can yield the best results.
Understanding and Planning strategies consume time:
As said before, Public Relations is a long-term game. Without keeping this in mind, some companies hire PR agencies just for time constraint projects such as announcements or product releases. Since the time to understand the company and plan out a strategy is less, the projects may not turn out to be very effective.
Quick media hits maybe fragile:
Quick responses and hits from media are often seen as delicate and insubstantial. In the shorter term, a company might attract a lot of media interest but maintaining it by hiring a PR agency for a longer term can help build a solid reputation amongst media.
Earning trust in bigger media firms:
Patience and dedication are what a company requires to see their story in a dedicated column in publications such as The Hindu or The Times. PR firms generally are good at handling media people and hiring them for a longer-term can invoke trust in them over the company. PR professionals also have a knowledge on what people would love to hear about the company and they would share it accordingly with media outlets, thus increasing reputation for the company.
Conclusion:
Public Relations has always been an investment for the longer term and companies aiming for good and solid reputations should consider this to enjoy the fruits from the firm’s efforts.
