Stories by Jim Alkon

It’s no secret finding and retaining top public relations talent is one of the biggest challenges for agencies and corporate PR departments. It’s okay to breathe a sigh of relief after landing a plum prospect, but don’t fool yourself: hiring is a big and painstaking step, but it is only the first in many steps for the company and the employee to realize mutual satisfaction and value, and build a long-term relationship.

Crisis is going to strike your clients. This is just reality. So not preparing in advance for a crisis means exposing your clients to potential disaster. In an age when bad news and missteps become public and go viral at the speed of social media, it is absolutely essential to have a concrete crisis prevention and response plan in place. Here are four tried-and-true steps to keep your clients’ reputations safe.

Many communicators know blockchain is a technology mostly with electronic cash or cyptocurrency. They also may know Facebook plans to unveil a cryptocurrency, Global Coin , later this year. In fact, there’s a lot more senior communicators should be aware of regarding blockchain and trust could be a big factor.

Communicators need to take a different approach to crisis management, three senior executives from APCO Worldwide argue. They must utilize research capabilities to constantly monitor the opinions and expectations of key stakeholders. This information will prove invaluable when a crisis hits.

A career in PR can be wonderful. But it’s also regularly associated with high levels of stress, which can lead to mental health problems. A modest proposal urges PR leaders to provide a supportive culture and resources to employees to recognize and treat mental health issues.

What should you be charging clients for your work? There is no definitive answer, but either coming in too low or too high can cost you.

There’s something to be said for structure, for generally knowing what the day is going to be bring and what is expected from you at work. But is there any kind of typical day for a chief communications officer?

Let’s face it. We are all busy! Trying to get your content in front of a reporter can be challenging and at times, downright impossible. These quick tips will load your toolbox, broaden your reach, and limit your frustrations. Read on as George Matysek Jr., digital editor of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, shares what captures his attention and gets your message noticed.

Getting a negative review, let alone one that goes viral, is a moment every PR pro dreads. But if a business provides a product or service, it’s unlikely they’ll completely avoid ever getting a bad review from an unsatisfied customer. In today’s click-happy environment and the ease with which people can post opinions online, ire is often taken out in words and on reputation. But there are some things you can do to control the situation and mitigate the damage.

Call it a target market, tribe, or online community: In all cases, building and maintaining an audience for your products or services is now key to maintaining a competitive edge. What’s more, with the amount of time that audiences spend online rising, even as attention spans are declining, it’s more imperative than ever for businesses to find clever ways to engage end users.