Historically, public relations has always been a face-to-face business. There’s something to say about meeting someone across a desk or across a table at a restaurant and looking them in the eye. Schmoozing, as they used to say back in the day. (Although there’s probably a new word for that these days, like ‘integrated live confabulation’, or something like that. But we digress.) But can you still schmooze on Zoom? Can you still conduct all facets of the PR business working remotely? Giving up those meet-and-greet lunches? Conducting virtual meetings from the dining room table instead of the conference room table?
In short order, the answer is yes.
Perhaps we all went kicking and screaming, force-fed into this new work-from-home world caused by the coronavirus outbreak. Nonetheless, the public relations industry is slowly seeing it can be just as – if not more – effective working remotely as from an office. Hey, look, somebody once thought of posting a picture and a bio and answering questions like what setting you cook your toast on or why Flo from the Progressive commercials is an American icon would work. Now online dating is a $3.2 billion annual business.
So, uh, yeah. Going digital works.
To be sure, though, this not a ‘rah-rah’ moment. Home or office, PR – like virtually every other business – has been devastated by the pandemic with layoffs, furloughs, pay cuts, loss of current business and lack of incoming business. But it is a revelatory moment of clarity.
PR firms are finding their efficiencies and their footing amidst the chaos. We are all understanding what a social, technological world we live in, especially as millennials are more apt to be open and blunt by communicating through texts and social media. And if good public relations is to work, there must be that kind of transparency between firm and client. At Media Maison, this is what we strive for. Every day.
Reach out to discuss things with our CEO, Samantha Martin, Samantha@mediamaison.com Whether from home, office or breaking bread outside a restaurant, we’ll help you take your business to the next level.