Unleashing the Power of PR: A Contrarian's Guide to Marketing and Communication

Using dozens of case studies from well-known companies such as General Electric,?FedEx, Procter & Gamble, Merck, Boeing, and Intel, Delahaye president and public relations scientist Mark Weiner offers a?research-based model for creating and implementing public relations programs that will generate desired results and improve an organization's ROI. Written as a highly accessible hands-on guide, Unleashing the Power of PR explains how to use market research methods to plan and evaluate public relations programs scientifically. The author explores the benefit of learning to speak to senior executives in a way that will improve communications and ultimately help strengthen PR performance and results. In addition, the book debunks common myths—such as "PR is impossible to measure!"—that undercut the effectiveness of PR and obscure its real value.

This groundbreaking resource is filled with the most current and scientifically proven information about the effectiveness of PR, information that will enlighten even the most experienced professional communicator. Using the tools and techniques outlined in this book, PR professionals and marketers can improve their organization's performance and demonstrate?how public relations is a low-cost, high-value alternative for achieving meaningful business outcomes.

Step by step, Unleashing the Power of PR offers PR professionals and marketers a how-to manual for recognizing the misperceptions among their own public relations environment and shows what to do to take corrective action. The book also reveals what it takes to create more effective marketing and public relations campaigns and improve the reputations of organizations and brands.

"As communication professionals have evolved from tacticians to strategists, measurement has grown from a series of random ideas and steps to a science that has a clear direction and real-world application. With each year since the development of studies like the 'Excellence' project, new experts have developed ways to identify desired outcomes, employ proper measurement techniques, and apply their limited resources with the biggest impact. In this book, Mark Weiner applies his years of experience with Delahaye to offer case studies and analyses that break down the science of PR measurement in a way that is easy to understand and apply. The book offers a fresh and innovative approach that takes the profession one step closer to understanding and demonstrating the value of organizational communication. On behalf of IABC, I'd like to thank Mark Weiner for contributing to the communication profession by sharing his knowledge of public relations."

— From the foreword, by Natasha Spring, executive editor, Communication World, and vice president, publishing and research, International Association of Business Communicators (IABC)

"As communication professionals have evolved from tacticians to strategists, measurement has grown from a series of random ideas and steps to a science that has a clear direction and real-world application. With each year since the development of studies like the 'Excellence' project, new experts have developed ways to identify desired outcomes, employ proper measurement techniques, and apply their limited resources with the biggest impact. In this book, Mark Weiner applies his years of experience with Delahaye to offer case studies and analyses that break down the science of PR measurement in a way that is easy to understand and apply. The book offers a fresh and innovative approach that takes the profession one step closer to understanding and demonstrating the value of organizational communication. On behalf of IABC, I'd like to thank Mark Weiner for contributing to the communication profession by sharing his knowledge of public relations."

—From the foreword, by Natasha Spring, executive editor, Communication World, and vice president, publishing and research, International Association of Business Communicators (IABC)

Since he entered the field in 1986, Weiner has been a frequent conference speaker and a regular contributor to leading professional journals, sitting on the editorial advisory boards of PRSA’s Strategist and PR News. In addition, he was the 2004 chair of the Measurement Commission of the Institute for Public Relations. He is a member of the International Association of Business Communicators, the Public Relations Society of America, and the Institute for Public Relations. Before public relations, Weiner was an editor and syndicated newspaper columnist with the McNaught Newspaper Syndicate after starting his career with the New York Times News Service.

Preface.

The Author.

Part One: The Changing Landscape of Marketing and Corporate Communication.

1 New Opportunities for Marketing and Public Relations.

2 New Challenges Facing Marketing and Public Relations.

Part Two: Using Research to Strengthen Public Relations.

3 Measuring Public Relations Programming.

4 Setting Meaningful and Measurable Public Relations Objectives.

5 Using Research to Shape Public Relations Strategy and Tactics.

6 Evaluating Public Relations Programs for Continual Improvement.

Part Three: Transforming Your Public Relations Program.

7 Real Business Results: Proving—and Improving—PR ROI.

8 From Concept to Reality.

Appendixes.

1 Delahaye Executive Audit.

2 Delahaye Media Demographic Audit.

3 Delahaye Journalist Audit.

Index.

About the International Association of Business Communicators.