In The Thursday Three with Pushkin PR we share three news stories that captivated our attention during the week ranging from public relations and social media trend updates to relevant news in the industries we serve including healthcare, nonprofits, government, law firms, and festival clients.
Crisis Communications: Preparing a Crisis Communications Plan
PR Daily: The 3 biggest mistakes in most crisis comms plans
As PR pros specializing in crisis communications, we cannot stress enough how important it is to always have an up-to-date crisis communications plan ready to go in case disaster strikes. Whether the triggering event that necessitates the use of the plan is internal or external, every organization should be prepared to quickly activate their crisis communications plan when an issue arises to avoid permanent reputation damage.
We couldn’t agree more with the key points in this article; while having a phone tree and contact information for your core crisis management team is an essential component of any crisis plan, a well-prepared plan includes many additional elements. Key messaging for all stakeholder audiences, a sample holding statement and talking points are just a few of the templates we include in every crisis communications plan we prepare. Once you’ve compiled these items, be sure to take the time to review them with your crisis team every few months. Having a plan sitting on a shelf that your team does not know how to execute won’t help anyone if a crisis strikes.
Social Media: Instagram Offers Tips for Content Creators
This week has brought several Instagram updates, including the launch of Instagram Stories Create Mode, which makes accessing creative tools like stickers and gifs easier for users. As Instagram puts increased focus on helping creators develop content that will resonate with followers, the company has also launched a new account dedicated to providing tips and advice for influencers.
So far, the account has provided a series of tips and interviews with various influencers about how they utilize the platform. They have also posted a few question and answer stories addressing frequently asked questions like why the chronological feed won’t be coming back. The account has even promised to share advice about cracking the tricky Instagram algorithm. Even if you’re not an influencer, the account is worth following to stay up-to-date on the latest Instagram features and best practices.
Media Relations: Pitching Reporters the Right Way in 2019
Muck Rack Blog: When is the best time to pitch in 2019?
When we work with clients on public relations campaigns, selecting the date and time period during which we will pitch reporters involves more conversation than you might think. Timing a press release to the current news cycle in specific news markets and industries is essential to maximizing the likelihood that your news will be picked up.
Time of day is also important when pitching a press release to ensure that your story is timed to hit reporters’ inboxes with enough time for them to cover the story if they are interested. This excellent infographic from Muck Rack breaks down a few key statistics for pitching media including the best time of day to send out a pitch (if you said early to mid-morning, you’re right!), the platform most journalists prefer to be pitched on and the ideal pitch length.