Exchanging gifts over the holidays is one of the best ways to show your friends and family you care about them. Gifts are exchanged and the thoughtfulness of the gift shows your appreciation and commitment to the friendship. Public relations and managing relationships is also based on reciprocity and mutual benefit. Here are 5 PR lessons from gift giving.
5 PR Lessons from Gift Giving
1. Build Relationships
Gift giving is based on relationships and reciprocity. Returning favors is just one of the things that friends do for each other, and building relationships in public relations is the same way. By working with others more and more, you’ll be opening up the opportunity to form solid relationships and make valuable contacts.
2. Timing is Everything
You wouldn’t show up on someone’s doorstep and immediately put a present into their hands. You’d wait for a holiday party or a casual hangout to give them your gift. The present also should represent the level of relationship you have with the other person. Like in public relations, you don’t want to offer favors to others or shower them with praise all the time, out of the blue. Time your conversations with your contacts so when a request for help comes up, you’ll sound genuine and patient. Your public and online presence sticks forever and you’ll want to look like a level-headed, professional person.
3. Personalize
Giving personalized gifts to your friends and family shows how much you care about them. It also makes gift giving more fun and satisfying. Making sure to personalize your pitches and communication to reporters is another one of the PR lessons from gift giving. Take the extra time to research what the journalist is working on, add their name and publication in your emails and get to know them better.
4. Presentation Matters
Wrapping paper makes every present look better. Presentation is an important part of gift giving and should always be top-of-mind in your public relations campaign. Review your online presence and make sure your content always matches your message.
5. Say Thank You
Remember the lost art of the thank you note. Taking the time to add a personal touch by sending a thank you card is a great way to stand out. Give back and thank you contacts when you are feeling grateful for them.
Three Girls Media wishes you a restful holiday season! Can you think of any other PR lessons from gift giving?
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