Stories by Amy Lecza, All Points Public Relations

Vero, the no-ad, no-algorithm social media app may go the way of Meerkat, Ping and Orkut. Time will tell. Still, brands can learn a few things about transparency, listening and authenticity from Vero’s early success. The bottom line: Customers across all industries value transparency in paid and organic messaging as well as increased attention to consumer insights.

In 2017 PR pros realized that the plethora of breaking political news has put the earned back into earned media. What’s a PR pro to do? The answer is to learn how you can conquer some of the new forces in earned media. Our author provides a series of tips and tactics rooted in the basics that will get your brand back in the media spotlight.

What? Another press release to write? Fine. Before you reach for the keyboard, however, think about journalists who must read scores of jargon-filled, dense releases that tired PR pros crank out on demand. With a little practice and a fresh red pen, though, any press release can be transformed from a total bore to a piece of messaging your brand (and the media) will appreciate.

The About page can be challenging for PR pros as it’s a mix of a professional bio and a compelling pitch. Whether it’s for a brand, an individual or even yourself, the About page is without doubt one of the most important components of a website. It’s the first place potential customers will go to get a good sense of you. Here are some tips to help you create or enhance the About Page for your brand’s site.

Does a day pass during your life as a PR pro when you don’t need to write? For those of us who do a lot of writing – and that’s most of us – we will, at one time or another, face an insurmountable case of writer’s block. One day you’re at the top of your game, pounding out pitches, speeches, tweets and press releases like a high-powered printing press, and the next moment you’re struggling to find anything to write. It happens to all of us, but there are always ways to jump-start your creativity. Here are four tips for getting out of a creative rut.

When political agenda masquerades as alternative facts and the lines of a free press become blurred, it’s crucial for PR pros to decide the role they play in balancing loyalties to the media and our clients. It’s a complicated issue – despite working for brands and clients, most PR pros have deep ties to journalism; many have years of work experience and the college degrees to prove it. In these uncertain times, here are a few ideas to help you strengthen relationships with media and the brand execs or clients you represent.

While the world of public relations is often fast-paced and exciting (what most of us love about it) there is plenty of maintenance work that goes into the job as well, and some of that includes taking very unsexy topics and turning them into something that people care about. Next time you’re faced with writing about something that may seem dry or uninteresting, be it a byline, press release or even a presentation, consider these tips to spice it up for your audience.

Succinct, well-written, properly formatted writing is important; not only does it mitigate any embarrassing errors that could cost your brand some dignity points, but it also will further endear you to your clients and professional contacts as someone who can produce work that won’t require more work.