Stories by Mike Samec

During the past year and a half, Google has undergone a significant transformation to its search algorithm through its Penguin, Panda and Hummingbird updates. The primary focus has been to reduce or completely eliminate the influence of low-quality websites and “SEO’d” content.

British Columbia has long been a hot spot for tourists throughout the world, but local tourism officials wanted to boost BC’s appeal to consumers in two of their key markets.

It’s not pretty earnings-wise for PR agencies right now. Operating profit this year fell to an average of 16.1%, from 18.8% last year, according to an exclusive report produced by StevensGouldPincus on behalf of PR News.

The International Public Relations Research Conference (IPRRC), better known as “The Miami Conference,” gathers academics and PR professionals for three intense days that offer the opportunity to hear more than 100 research papers presented by the world’s leading thinkers in public relations.

New business is the lifeblood of any communications agency. While the added income an agency can generate from existing clients is the best and most profitable type, obtaining new clients is critical, because there’s generally a limit to how much additional income even the most satisfied clients will give its agency in a given year.

Videos on landing pages spike conversions by 86%, according to a recent report covering online marketing. It’s just one trend for PR pros to consider amidst an ever-changing media landscape.

As PR executives and communicators play an increasingly important role in creating social media strategies, they need to be careful to first cultivate their audiences—and make sure they’re fully engaged and their interest isn’t half-baked—before they start to seriously ramp up social media spending.

What’s a parent who wants to maintain a successful public relations career to do?

Any thought leadership program should begin with a strategic positioning audit that determines exactly what separates your agency from the competition.

A rapidly changing talent pool is just one of several key trends in PR and communications.