Kevin Mullins

Journalists are spilling the tea about what they like and don't like. Frank Strong of The Sword and the Script shared the results of a recent Cision survey. He pulled the stats that PR pros need to know about to improve their odds of success. 42% of reporters say credibility is the top challenge facing journalism. Tip: Avoid adjectives and hyperbole when you pitch. 67% of journalists use social media to source information. Tip: Keep your social feeds active and relevant. 55% of journalists want exclusives. Tip: Consider using them judiciously. #PR #publicrelationsagency #journalism

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PRWeek's great 2024 Business Report highlights the key challenge facing our industry. Communications is more important than ever. Comms and policy leaders are being asked to play far larger roles as business partners supporting ever more stakeholders. So why did the industry suffer so much in 2023 after many years of growth? As an sector, we are not adapting fast enough to the needs. Organizations are desperate for help but also under tremendous financial strain. They now need both senior level counsel and advisory support as well as deep domain expertise to actually produce. By and large, our industry is still split by this chasm - between strategic and tactical. Clients cannot afford to separate these, either in time or money. At Bully Pulpit International our goal is to bridge this divide, building a team that can both 'think and do' at the highest levels. It's not always easy. Last year was a challenge. But if you share this vision for the future, please check out some of our open roles: https://lnkd.in/dGQwJUSG

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📢 Leveraging PR Success for Fundraising 📢 Welcome to this week’s Association Insights! Today, I’m tackling a vital topic: How can you leverage PR success for fundraising with earned media? Here’s a quick breakdown: 🌟 Capitalize on Visibility: Share media mentions across your channels to boost visibility and credibility. 📰 Integrate Media Coverage: Use quotes and stories in your fundraising materials to add credibility and show media recognition. 🔗 Connect to Your Mission: Explain how positive media attention aligns with your goals and impacts your work. 💬 Engage Your Audience: Use media coverage to start conversations, encouraging supporters to share and discuss the news. By leveraging PR success effectively, you can enhance your fundraising efforts and further your association's mission. Use media visibility to build trust, engage supporters and demonstrate impact. 💡 How has your association leveraged PR success for fundraising? Share your strategies and experiences in the comments! #AssociationInsights #Fundraising #PRsuccess #Communications #MediaRelations #OnWrdUpWrd #AssociationCommunications

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Worth reading from TimelyCare VP Katie Neal: 13 Leadership Lessons for PR Pros (Taylor’s Version). Let’s face it. Taylor Swift’s much-anticipated album, The Tortured Poets Department (out April 19), sounds like it should be about a corporate communications team. While most PR professionals will never win any Grammys, we share more in common with the megastar than you might think. We are creators, storytellers and writers. We find inspiration in life, work and relationships. And we are influential to our teams, across our organizations and in our communities — demonstrating daily how smart, strategic communications can advance your brand, even in times of crisis. In addition to Swift’s mastery of public relations, have you noticed that her catalog of leadership lessons is almost as extensive as her collection of songs? I curated 13 key Tay-keaways for comms pros — each paired with an album or song — to inspire your leadership style as well as your playlist. Are you ready for it?

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Every industry needs a HERO, and in this case, it's Peter Shankman. We've all been griping about the demise of one of the #PR industry's most useful tools, the formerly great (and formerly free) HARO, aka Help A Reporter Out. It served as a matchmaking tool of sorts between reporters who needed sources for their stories, and the sources themselves. Ah, the good old days. But our prayers have been answered and Peter just announced a brand new version!! 👏 🎉  Check out the link below. You can sign up as a source (or representative of a source) or a journalist. And both options are free! A few friendly rules of engagement from Peter before you jump in: -"Only reply to queries if you have something productive to add" (This should be common sense by now, folks. In other words, keep your Chat GPT-generated responses to yourself.) -"...ask yourself before you send a response: Is this response really on target? Is this response really going to help the journalist, or is this just a BS way for (you) to get in front of the reporter? If you have to think for more than three seconds, chances are, you shouldn’t send the response." (Enough said. 💪 ) I'm hopeful that this tool will allow more subject matter experts at all stages of their business to access media opportunities and gain visibility.   One more thing - HERO (Help Every Reporter Out) is just one of many resources and places where journalists engage and post their story needs. A good PR person should consider this one of many tools in their arsenal. https://lnkd.in/gTxJ9jGP Thanks for being a HERO, Peter!! #pr #mediarelations

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🎤 Navigating Media Coverage with a Measured Voice 🎤 In this week's Association Insights, I tackle a delicate yet critical question: Can your association secure media coverage without taking a hard stance on issues? Here’s a quick breakdown: •Media Interest: Stories that offer clear viewpoints or new insights tend to attract attention. Without a distinct stance, your association may struggle to stand out. •Leadership Positioning: Articulating clear positions on relevant issues not only draws media attention but also cements your role as an industry leader. •Provoking Thought, Not Division: Aim to provoke thoughtful discussion with fresh perspectives, enhancing engagement and coverage. •Building Journalist Relationships: A well-defined stance makes your association a go-to source for expert opinions, fostering stronger media relationships. In today’s crowded media landscape, being bold can significantly amplify your voice. Think bold to be seen and heard! 📣 I’d love to hear from you: How has your association navigated media coverage while balancing member perspectives? Share your experiences and strategies in the comments below! #AssociationInsights #MediaCoverage #PublicRelations #Leadership #OnWrdUpWrd #CommunicationsStrategy

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Demo'ing your technology can be an important part of your PR campaign. However, based on the current media landscape, they are very hard to secure if you are not Microsoft (for example). If you do land one with a journalist, the stakes are high to get it right. Based on my experience being involved with demos that have gone awry, here are two things you need to know before going into it.

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Are you ready for it? The 2024 US Election further accelerated a media shift that's been coming - one that's a game changer for brands and organizations. Our Earned Media Innovation Lead Brad Burke explains more in PRWeek.

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So many gems in this article from Allison Carter of Ragan Communications and PR Daily. I didn't contribute to this list, so am going to now: --> Throwing spaghetti against the wall to see what sticks is not a PR strategy. It just creates a mess, is a waste of resources, and leaves a heap of sh*t that needs to be cleaned up. #publicrelations #PRStrategy #communications

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How engaging are your promotions, your #communications, your #PR? Are people tuning IN or tuning OUT? Here’s what happens when you don’t connect w/your #stakeholders: https://lnkd.in/eQsjBf85 #PRtip #WritingTip #MarketingTip

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In today’s crowded media landscape, trust is a rare commodity… Consumers are inundated with ads and promotional content but are drawn to stories that come from credible, independent sources. Earned media isn’t just a way to get noticed — it’s a strategy to build trust and authority that stands the test of time. Learn more at the 🔗 in the ⬇️ #earnedmedia #pr #publicrelations

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The Best C-Suite Communicators Keep it Real – and Meaningful 4 Ways Authentic Leaders Break Through As a comms pro, I’ve worked with many execs in a variety of industries. Those who do it best know leader communication isn’t as much about polished speeches and carefully crafted emails (what you say); it’s about how much of yourself you’re willing to reveal. These authentic behaviors create meaning while enhancing an organization’s culture and results. 1) Embrace your quirks and be human | Your quirks aren’t flaws, they’re features. Whether it’s a love for 80s rock or a penchant for cheesy puns, letting your personality seep into your communication makes you relatable and memorable. Authentic leaders make sure their true selves aren’t lost in translation. REAL DEAL: The most memorable leaders dig deeper than a favorite sports team or vacation spot. One leader talked about his struggles with training for a marathon and another shared about a new puppy’s impact on the family dynamic.  2) Share the struggles before congratulating the successes | C-suite leaders can seem untouchable and removed from the day-to-day. Break that illusion by sharing your failures and lessons learned. Admitting you don’t have all the answers doesn’t make you look weak, it makes you look real. Vulnerability breeds trust, and trust builds teams that perform. REAL DEAL: Leaders with a learning mindset build in a standing meeting agenda item that highlights recent missteps and celebrates learnings before recognizing the wins. 3) Be spontaneous and accessible | Scheduled town halls and prepared Q&A sessions have their place, but the most authentic leaders know the value of impromptu interactions. Drop into a virtual coffee chat or have a no-agenda meeting. Show up where your team doesn’t expect you. REAL DEAL: One CEO regularly popped on screen unexpectedly during small team Zoom calls, much to the surprise and delight of participants. When working from home, he would often have one of his children make an on-screen appearance. 4) Don’t just tell a story, tell your story | We all know that stories are stickier than facts and figures. Storytelling is a communication fundamental. But even more important to leadership communication is telling your story – revealing something about your history and experience that aligns to where your organization is going just hits differently. REAL DEAL: A retail CEO relates to 200k+ employees by talking about coming from frontline through the ranks and doing every job along the way… knows and understands your struggles. Authentic communication is your greatest tool as a leader. Keep it real, keep it human, and watch your influence and relationships grow. >>> What real examples would you add?

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Let’s dive into this week’s Association Insights video, tackling one of the evergreen questions association communicators always have: How do I get more reporters to attend our event? 🎤 Make It Newsworthy: Highlight unique angles, exclusive access or significant industry developments that resonate with your audience. The more relevant your event, the more likely reporters will see value in attending. 📧 Personalize Your Outreach: Skip the generic press releases. Tailor your invitations to individual reporters, referencing their past work and explaining why your event is relevant to them. ⏰ Time It Right: Send out invitations well in advance, but not too early. Follow up closer to the event with additional details or exclusive opportunities. 🎁 Offer Unique Incentives: Consider one-on-one interviews with key speakers, access to exclusive content or behind-the-scenes tours. Unique offerings can make your event more appealing. 🤝 Build Relationships: Share valuable insights and be a reliable resource year-round. Strong relationships increase the likelihood that reporters will prioritize your event. By focusing on these strategies, you can boost your chances of getting reporters to attend and cover your event. 💬 How do you get reporters to attend your events? Share your tips in the comments! #AssociationInsights #EventPR #MediaRelations #OnWrdUpWrd #Communications

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Grateful to Agility PR Solutions for featuring my brand new book, 𝐁2𝐁 𝐏𝐑 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐆𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐬! "New Book from Influential PR Vet Michelle Garrett, B2B PR That Gets Results, Just Released" "I felt there was a need for this type of book that explains—in a straightforward fashion—the work of PR professionals and the challenges they face so that companies can get the most out of engaging with a PR consultant or agency and achieve their public relations goals." #B2BPRbook #newauthor #publicrelations

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Let's keep learning! So many lessons came out of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the importance of clear communication about what we know and what we DON'T know about emerging infections. I'm happy to be part of the Council for Quality Health Communication: a group working to improve the quality of health information and increase trust among the public. New article by founding members Ken Rabin and Scott C. Ratzan on H5N1 in MedPage Today.

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When does PR go too far? What is "astroturfing" and is it ever okay? These are questions crisis comms pros are asking after Blake Lively's complaint against Justin Baldino. Jason Guerrasio explores, on Business Insider. https://lnkd.in/eHx3FfGx

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"To write better, read more" This isn't advice just for novelists. I've found this to be quite the helpful tip when it comes to business writing too. And nowhere is this more important when it comes to news releases. To write better news releases, reading the news releases of your closest peers is crucial. Knowing how they position themselves helps you better position your company. Seeing how they discuss the overall market helps you better discuss the overall market. And that outlook statement is a gold mine. 💡

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