For those of you that haven’t heard, I’m currently pregnant. As it turns out, there are a lot of similarities between a successful public relations campaign and a pregnancy. Here are 4 PR lessons you can take away from the experience.
4 Public Relations Lessons from Pregnancy
Don’t miss these public relations lessons from pregnancy.
1. Results take time. If you’ve ever been pregnant, you know it takes time for the baby to grow. Just like a public relations campaign, you can’t rush the end result. You need to wait for everything to take its course.
2. Plan ahead, but be flexible. There is plenty you need to plan before the baby is born. From deciding who will deliver him or her to if you’ll use medication, you need to look ahead as you weigh your choices. Still, just like with a business’ public relations plan, sometimes things come up that force you to go in another direction. Whether you’re thrown a curve ball like your OB-GYN going on medical leave or your company facing production delays, it’s important you maintain some flexibility despite having a plan.
3. You will receive negative feedback. When you’re pregnant, this could be in the form of concerning test results or your partner disagreeing with a decision you want to make. In the public relations world, it could be a journalist telling you they don’t like your product or a social media user writing a negative comment. In both cases, it’s important to try to leave emotions out as much as possible. Try to really listen to the feedback and digest it as much as you can. Is this something you can use to improve your business? Then, develop and implement a plan to move forward however you truly think is best for your company in light of the feedback.
4. It’s not always easy. Of course there are benefits to being pregnant, but there are plenty of challenges that accompany the fun parts. The same is true with a comprehensive public relations strategy. Although some of it may come easily for you, there will be aspects you find challenging. Don’t avoid these areas! If it’s something you need help with, don’t be afraid to ask for assistance. In addition to PR firms that can help you out, there are a lot of helpful blogs (such as ours!) you can use as a resource for your business.
Just like a pregnancy, a successful public relations plan takes time, requires a flexible plan, includes negative feedback and isn’t always easy. Can you think of additional ways a PR strategy is like a pregnancy? Share them in the comments below!
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