The fast changing dynamics of the world economy is forcing organizations to fundamentally rethink the manner in which they have been communicating with their constituent communities and decision-makers. It is constantly being proven that conventional communication approaches that are designed to raise public awareness may often have the opposite effects of those intended. This is because they fail to take into account the public's profound resistance to the traditional communication stimuli.
Therefore, organizations are placing more emphasis on developing two-way and more open-ended methods of communication in their public advocacy strategies. This is in preference to the more traditional top-down methods based on elements of audience manipulation or persuasion. Attitudinal, behavioral and social changes are long-term processes. Research into modern communication methods indicate that it is imprudent to regard attitudinal change merely as a shift along a continuum, as it inevitably involves a reordering of individuals' cognitive structures.
To effect, then, any significant alterations in attitudes and values, or to explicitly form them, requires the identification of both cognitive and affective objectives and the examination and exposure of beliefs and prejudices. This cannot be achieved through the mere imparting of information. This implies that the following years will only reinforce the need for innovative approaches, for creativity and agility and communication agencies will be forced to restructure their strategies. Only those agencies that can keep pace with this transformation will succeed in this unforgiving world.
Quite a few agencies in India have shifted from their existing framework and are now focusing on niche areas of operation. It is becoming evident that increasing competition and the pressure to redesign strategies will force the agencies to identify and specify their particular areas of competence more clearly.
It does not come as a surprise, then, that some very prominent companies are revisiting the strategies presented by their communication partners. The clients' increasing preference for fast-footed, nimble and proactive agencies has shown dramatic change in their approach to communications.
Another interesting aspect of these changes has been the recent phenomenon of hiring prominent marketing professionals by agencies of all sizes even the mid-sized ones. The need to reorient communication strategies to the clients' business goals has fuelled such shifts. Soumitro Mukherji, an MBA from XLRI with over 18 years marketing and sales experience in giants like Asian Paints, HLL, Sony Entertainment Television, Pepsi and Airtel recently took over as COO of Blue Lotus Communications Consultancy, a mid-sized agency with capitalized billings of approximately Rs. 10 Crores. His move is demonstrative of the changing face of the mid-sized agency which is gearing up to meet the clients' imperative today. However, since the older agencies are too deeply rooted in traditional thinking, this trend is being witnessed in a mid-sized set up. The time has come that agencies look at the clients' brand from a marketing perspective and the migration of marketing professionals to agencies is definitely a sign of evolution in the communications industry. There are clear indications that creativity & results will drive the entire communications industry in the ensuing years.
N. Chandramouli is the CEO of Blue Lotus Communications Consultancy, a leading public relations agency in India. An engineer MBA with over 16 years of multi-functional experience, Chandramouli firmly believes in knowledge being a core driver for communications.
As eyes look forward to a new business year, many... Read More
I'm what we in the business (the "business" being journalism)... Read More
NUMBERS, NUMBERS EVERYWHEREYou just placed a terrific story on the... Read More
The most sensible way for business, non-profit or association managers... Read More
When a reporter is wowed, intrigued, surprised or captivated by... Read More
In these days of every increasing demand and competition, there... Read More
Successful buisnesses know that media attention reaches consumers better than... Read More
What is the one thing that all of the best... Read More
Everyone has an opinion on something, and you can leverage... Read More
Lots of theories out there about public relations.Everything from "publicity's... Read More
Business people often spend time and money trying to find... Read More
When special events and communications tactics rule the PR roost... Read More
The Today show? The New York Times? Vanity Fair? What's... Read More
You are a senior business, non-profit or association manager. So,... Read More
Relationships are based on trust-not just romantic relationships, or doctor/patient... Read More
Recently I had a craving for... Read More
As an owner of an independent record label, I often... Read More
About a year ago I read a feature story in... Read More
Once upon a time, there was a young, stressed out... Read More
Press releases are a useful tool for announcing news and... Read More
SORRY?WERE YOU SAYING SOMETHING?Many spokespeople approach media interviews the same... Read More
Do you have a great idea for a story, but... Read More
I don't know about you but I get really frustrated... Read More
You're trying to recruit a downline into your program, you've... Read More
The Internet may have opened worlds for businesses and consumers,... Read More
Sometimes a phone call isn't intimate or long enough to... Read More
The power of PassionPassion is an extraordinarily powerful spring. Without... Read More
In public relations, "junk" is more about attitude and lack... Read More
Public relations is a very important part of the marketing... Read More
You bet! And in three ways vital to you as... Read More
Community relations is one of those marketing strategies that isn't... Read More
Why You Should Write Press Releases: A press release is... Read More
Many of our clients are in service businesses, such as... Read More
One of the greatest ways to promote your product or... Read More
And not results you can measure only in terms of... Read More
A press release is often your only chance to make... Read More
What's a Capability Statement?As the name suggests, it tells potential... Read More
Media interviews are an important part of an overall public... Read More
Got a huge need for publicity and a tiny publicity... Read More
If you're like most publicity seekers, you probably think oneproject... Read More
"Advertising is what you pay for. Publicity is what you... Read More
Financial planners, the first thing to know about reporters is... Read More
New business owners often miss out on publicity opportunities because... Read More
Almost every day, I hear the same question, over and... Read More
Better check out the public relations fundamental premise, then take... Read More
The payoff for business, non-profit or association managers can be... Read More
As eyes look forward to a new business year, many... Read More
When you pay good money for public relations services, you... Read More
Talkback radio offers a fantastic opportunity to access thousands of... Read More
When properly applied by business, non-profit and association managers, public... Read More
I say public relations can be a matter of survival... Read More
Receiving free advertising is the dream of most business people.... Read More
Everyone has an opinion on something, and you can leverage... Read More
Recently, I told a friend (who's a business owner) that... Read More
As the kids say, how cool is this?You're a business,... Read More
And the best way to mind your own business is... Read More
Lights...camera...ACTION.That's what often happens when people think of using media... Read More
WHITE NOISEA client recently told me about a fascinating new... Read More
Publicity is obtaining editorial coverage or features for your business.... Read More
Mark Twain once said the rumors of his death had... Read More
It happens to business, non-profit and association managers when their... Read More
Think carefully! You're a department, division or subsidiary manager for... Read More
You worked hard to get a story on your business... Read More
Can you honestly say that your business, non-profit or association's... Read More
That's like asking if advertising is all about type faces... Read More
Can your PR do something positive about the behaviors of... Read More
Public Relations |