JUNE 2017 NIPR PROFESSIONAL EXAM IN PUBLIC RELATIONS.

Enhance your career with a professional certificate in PUBLIC RELATIONS!

Lectures for Diploma/Certificate exams are in progress evry Saturday-Sunday at Sunjem school, barracks bstp, Ifako-Gbagada.

Menimum qualification for enrollment; SSCE/GCE.

Updated materials/pstquestions are available.

Call:08139458588,
08053408939.

PR is evolving.

PR case studies now available...
Place your orders now!

*PR CASE STUDIES*

*How a Swiss Co. Doubled US Sales by Convincing Consumers That Its Product Is Hip and Worth a Premium*

In mid-2005, feeling that Americans were ready to embrace an environmentally friendly product, SIGG formed a US subsidiary to take over distribution of its bottles and get closer to its US customers.

*Market research:*

SIGG USA made some surprising discoveries about American consumers:

They were worried that their water would taste like the metal container they carried it in, and they didn't fully appreciate the variety of bottle designs.

*Objective:*

To increase awareness of the usefulness of its product and to make consumers believe it was worth the premium they would pay.


*The Challenge:*

SIGG Switzerland had been selling its aluminum fuel bottles to the US outdoor market for about 30 years and added a line of aluminum water bottles in 2003.

The reusable water bottles came in a variety of colorful designs, and sales took off in Europe, where consumers were more familiar with the company's name.

In the US, too, the company depended on the Swiss reputation for quality to drive sales, but a rival product that cost half as much was leading the market.

"We had to convince the retailers and then ultimately the consumers that there could be a premium-priced bottle in the market," said Steve Wasik, who was hired in 2005 as president of SIGG USA. "My goal was to convince them that this was a premium brand."



*The Campaign:*

1. SIGG USA launched My Sigg.com, where consumers could choose from more than 100 bottle designs and read about the company's commitment to the environment.

2. An online contest that allowed customers to submit a new bottle design via My Sigg.com.

3. A commitment to work with environmentally focused bloggers, asking them to mention SIGG bottles.

4. The SIGGART promoted the contest on key Web sites and blogs.

5. At the same time, the Gold Group issued online press releases about the contest to Google and Yahoo news sites.


*The Results:*

The contest drew a highly engaged niche audience: the average visit length of the 8,000 consumers who visited the site was 17 minutes, an incredible length of time vs. Nielsen's benchmark of 49 seconds per visit (US average).

It also helped convert the image of SIGG bottles from being a practical product to being a fashionable one.

The contest got mentions on several key blogs, including Treehugger.com, which has 1.4 million visitors a month. This multiple mentions raised MySIGG's search engine ranking and gave the company a higher profile among retailers and consumers.

The campaign drew more than 12,000 visits, and 170 bottle designs were submitted.

The winning bottle design was showcased at the Patagonia sporting goods chain for the 2006 holiday season.

US sales doubled in 2006 from the year before, and the bottles are now available in hundreds of more mainstream retail outlets, including Whole Foods Markets.

Perhaps the biggest accomplishment of SIGG's new, hip image has been to help convince a wider range of retailers to sell the bottles. Just in the past year, SIGG bottles have become widely available at L.L. Bean and on the shelves of Whole Foods Markets.

*Lessons Learned:*

1. Do market research when entering a new market.

As basic as this advice seems, not all companies follow it: SIGG hadn't researched the US market before it hired Wasik in Sept. 2005. "We discovered key information from the research, namely that consumers liked it when someone came up to them and complimented them on their colorful water bottle," Wasik recalled. "It made us realize right away that we could market these as a fashion accessory."

2. Getting your product before the right eyeballs can be more important than getting it before a large audience.

SIGG reached out to a niche online audience already concerned about the environment, and hence already likely to use a reusable water bottle. That in turn drove consumer demand for broader-based retailers to carry the product.

3. If you plan to price your product at the high end, be prepared to justify that pricing.
"Give your consumers a reason to be ready to pay more—wrap some emotion around your product," Wasik advised. SIGG USA's ads and Web site now remind consumers that there are 144 bottle designs with 22 interchangeable lids, allowing plenty of personalization.

*"Educators have said that professionals learn faster from case studies"* Segun McMedal (Veteran PR Consultant and Chairman Lagos Nipr)

PR CASE STUDIES

*Community Relations:*

How Starbucks help a community created thousands of jobs.

*Objective:*

To teamed up with 'Create Jobs for USA' in an effort to improve community relations.

*Strategy:*

Starbucks PR firm Edelman activated a hyperlocal storytelling plan to put a face to the economic crisis and those benefiting from the initiative.

To guarantee a successful campaign, Starbucks sparked dialogue on the jobs crisis and positioned Create Jobs for USA as a way for the community to take action.

*Key elements:*

1. Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz sent letters to Washington policymakers and
Starbucks partners and customers, and appeared on prominent news outlets.

2. Shared personal stories of those affected by the economic crisis, highlighting Create Jobs for USA’s impact.

3. Made “Indivisible” wristbands that were sold at Starbucks stores nationwide and
sent to program supporters.

*Results:*

Raised more than $15 million with an estimated 5,000 jobs created or retained.

Starbucks’ social networks saw record engagement, and Schultz was named Fortune Businessperson of the Year for 2011.

Starbucks' image and reputation was also boosted.

IMPORTANT INFO.

Updated NIPR exam study materials and past questions for DIPLOMA and CERTIFICATE stages are currently available at Symmetric communications.

Contact: Mr. Ernest, MNIPR, M.Sc. (Mass Comm.) UNILAG.
08139458588,
08053408939.

PR CASE STUDIES

How a loyalty app for a footwear retailer drives over $55 million in sales


*Situation*

• A nationwide branded footwear retail chain was looking for ways to enhance its
existing loyalty program.

• The program was largely transactional, with over 10 million active members
receiving discounts and/or monetary certificates.

*Challenge*

• The retailer wanted to make the program easier to use and more rewarding, with
a goal of increasing both loyalty and sales.
*Strategy*

• OgilvyOne identified white space in the marketplace: a lack of mobile solutions
to help customers manage and claim rewards.

• To fill the gap, we worked with the client to build an app for the loyalty program
that delivered not only incentives, but also personalized information on new
products and styles.

*Results*
• The app rapidly exceeded initial goals and has brought in over $55 million in
revenue to date.

• Over a million downloads were reached within a year of launch, and the number
continues to grow.

To get a compilation of the most successful and failed PR case Studies contact me on 08077932282.

*"An investment in knowledge pays the best dividends"* Benjamin Franklin

Congratulations on your success in the just released NIPR results.

Lectures for Diploma/ certificate exams in progress @Sunjem schools, barracks bstp, Ifako-Gbagada.

Time: 2pm, Saturday-Sunday.08139458588

PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATE IN PUBLIC RELATIONS.
This is to formally inform you that the orientation/lectures for June 2017, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations professional exam starts today.

Venue: Sunjem schools, 6 Oladejo close, barracks bus-stop, Ifako-Gbagada.

Time: 1pm prompt. Enquiries: 08139458588.

*PR CASE STUDIES 2017*

*No Communication is really internal*

In 1994, Intel scientists discovered an infinitesimal fault in its Pentium 4 chip it has shipped to different part of the world.

This fault is not likely to affect the operation of the computer system.

So, this information was only shared among their scientists while rigorously pursuing a solution to this fault.

Few weeks later, this news broke on CNN. CNN reported that the new Pentium 4 chip is faulty. This news created panic in the public.

Suddenly, IBM which is Intel's major customer returned their order and refused to order any order chip. Intel who has not been used to dealing with computer users was bombarded with customers returning their computer systems for chip replacement.

This crisis cost Intel up to *$475 million*

Off course the CNN reporter doesn't know the nature of the fault and had no idea the impact this fault will have on computer systems.

The fault in the Intel chip will only affect the computer operation once every 27,000 years. Yes, you will only experience any difficulty in running your computer system after *27,000*.
Thus, in actual fact you cannot experience any fault in this chip in life time, not even your great grandchildren.
Yet this negligible fault cost Intel *$475 million*

PR lessons

1) No information is internal in the real sense of it. Whatever is said can be heard even by audience that it was not meant for.

2) Always Structure your communication (even internal) in such a way that it is in congruent with your communication to the general public to avoid discrepancy that may be misinterpreted by other public.

3) Communication is part of the business. Tell your own story first and tell it all. This will make you the source of authentic information. If Intel had told the story they would have been able to tell it the way it is. They would have been able to educate the public that they can never experience any difficulties in their live time. Thus would have given the public the confidence to continue using their system without returning their chip.

According to Prof. Fred Helio Garcia, *"Communication is a continuation of business in another form".*

Communication has become even more imperative in this web 2.0 era where information move at the speed of light.

Enhance Your Career with A Professional Certificate in PUBLIC RELATIONS.

This is to formally inform you that registration & lectures are ongoing for June 2017 NIPR professional exams in Public relations.

BENEFITS OF THE PROGRAMME/CERTIFICATE
(i) B.Sc Equivalent.
(ii) NYSC Exemption Letter.
(iii) Further Studies in Nigerian/Foreign Universities.
(iv) Exhibition of New PR Competences.
(v) Ability to Work in any Industry
(vi) In-depth Understanding of The PR Function.
(vii) Qualifies You For B.Sc, PGD, M.Sc admission

EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
Candidates with SSCE / GCE / OND / NCE / HND / BSC or other qualifications are encouraged to enroll for this course.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Interested candidates should contact: 08139458588, 08053408939

ENQUIRIES
Tel: 08139458588, 08053408939

CHOOSE A CAREER IN PUBLIC RELATIONS TODAY!

Lectures for June 2017, professional PR(public relations) exams start next weekend, Saturday, 14th January, @Sunjem schools, Ifako-Gbagada, Lagos.

Time: 1pm prompt.

Guest lecture: Mr. Ernest Nwafor, MNIPR, M.Sc. (mass comm). Unilag.
CEO/Founder, SYMMETRIC COMMUNICATIONS.
freemacx78@yahoo.com
www.symmetriccommunications.com
08139458588, 08053408939.

ISSUES IN PUBLIC RELATIONS IN NIGERIA.

By Emeka Okpara, Director of corporate communication, AIRTEL Nigeria.

Two unrelated incidents conspired to compel me to eventually make this intervention, which I have been planning forever. One was a personal experience a professional colleague shared with me, recently-a story that touches the heart, in a manner of speaking. After a recent event, he lamented, his Managing Director received a Google Alert barely an hour after, showing a report of the event by an online publication generously illustrated with photographs, but rather than compliment his effort, the boss derided and dismissed the report saying he would rather it appeared “on the front page of the prominent national dailies than be hidden in an obscure publication online.” Wow!

The other incident was the launch by BlackHouse Media, a Public Relations company, of the first ever Nigeria PR Report inspired by the founder and CEO of BHM, Ayeni Adekunle. At the BHM event, the panelists and indeed the audience raised several issues of interest, which I solemnly believe were (are) crucial, if not everything, to the practice of Public Relations. I will return to these events presently, as I seek to highlight some of the key issues that are driving the new paradigm in public relations practice in Nigeria, from my perspective as a practitioner in one of the more active sectors of the economy, Telecommunications.

Identity crises: I am of the opinion that Public Relations industry in Nigeria is facing an identity crisis, and this hasn’t got everything to do with the moribund existence of the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), but with the obvious lack of certainty of what professionally constitutes Public Relations. At the BHM event, Mr. Yomi Badejo-Okusanya, Chief Executive Officer of CMC-Connect and one of the more successful practitioners in the industry, decried how Experiential Marketing, Below the Line (BTL) Activations and Events Management were painfully excised from their business. Badejo-Okusanya’s lamentation lent credence to my position that the industry needs to define or redefine the content or components of the business. We cannot be into everything and still expect to be accorded respect as professionals.

Public Relations, based on my experience, should focus on communication, perception and reputation management without dabbling into the more mundane details of organizing events and producing calendars, diaries, Christmas hampers and “killing” stories in the media (a task made extremely difficult, if not impossible with social media and citizen journalism). The question here really is: What is PR and what is NOT. Or who are we and what do we really do? When will the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) cease to be an arm of the Federal Ministry of Information? Can PRCAN and IABC jointly champion the birthing of another institute that will be truly professional and devoid of government inference and control?

Content creation and Story-telling: These are two important elements of Public Relations, which seem to have climbed out of the back burner, perhaps with a gentle nudge from the burgeoning advent of social media. The communication aspect of Public Relations is purposive, that is, communication with a purpose. There might be no communication without a purpose, but the true defining characteristic of this form is the clear objectification, which is pursued logically and then measured, at the end of the day. Story-telling simply means bringing the functionality of your product or service or even idea to the consumer in a tangible, demonstrative manner. For instance, a video or article on how a customer has used and benefitted from Airtel’s SmartTrybe detailing the functionalities and benefits is a good story to tell, and should be told often by PR practitioner managing Airtel Nigeria. In other words, the PR practitioner, and not the media, should lead and drive the narrative of every sensible organization.

There are, however, some lamentable limitations, which are militating against the creation of good quality content and effective use of story-telling as PR tools. One, lamentably, is the paucity of skills, good writing skills on the part of the practitioners, and the other is a lack of interest in reading by customers as against the keen interest in deals, promos and freebies (which, on face value, are by no means illegal). The solutions are as simple as the problems are complex. Practitioners must go back to the basics. One of the core competencies of a good PR professional is good writing skills, which is powered by reading and a sharp analytical mind. You cannot give what you do not have. Consequently, the customers or the audience, if you like, can then easily be segmented by an intelligent practitioner and messages designed and targeted to appeal to them, in their comfort zones.

Communication has long evolved from the Hypodermic Needle Theory, where every message, like an injection or the traffic light is supposed to elicit similar reactions, to Berelson’s Catch All Law, where some kinds of communication, when brought to the attention of some people through some kinds of mediums will elicit some kinds of responses. Enter social media.

Digital and Social Media: I cannot resist the temptation of saying that my friend’s boss, whom I mentioned in my opening lines, is not in tune with current trends. He is still analogue and needs to be converted very quickly. The conundrum in his ignorant comment was that the online publication rather than his old school hard copy newspaper will give him the mileage he has spent the organization’s scarce resources for.

There are few questions to be asked here. How many people buy the so called newspapers? What are the print run or circulation figures of the newspapers? What is the pass on rate of those publications? In other words, how many people read the newspapers as against the millions who own smart phones and are more often than not connected to the internet and, therefore, follow online publications? You cannot compare the potentials inherent in the 94m internet subscribers for mobile GSM (according to the latest Nigeria Communications Commission figures) to those of the paltry 1m (or even less) aggregate circulation of the traditional publications. The latter is even less, if you discount for unsold copies. As a matter of fact, many would rather invest in buying more gigabytes to browse the internet and consume the social media than buy a hardcopy publication. Now, this is not to say that those hardcopy publications are not relevant, but they offer far less eye balls than the social media and are, therefore, more effective.

Talking about digital and social media, the number of subscribers to Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp and Instagram, to mention a few, are growing exponentially. When you juxtapose these numbers with the massive demographics of an active youth population, which accounts for over 60 per cent of the population or more, then you will understand why you can only ignore the social media at your own peril. Perhaps, the crucial thing here is developing a strategy for engaging the over 150m Nigerians, especially the youth segment, via social media. In my former life at Cadbury Nigeria, we got occasional feedback from customers through letters from the post office, face-to-face encounters during market visits and complaints by customers who graciously take the pain to return bad products. I used the word graciously instructively because I believe that in those days of zero or little feedback, it took serious effort and customer loyalty to bring a defective product to the notice of a manufacturer. Today, a customer with access to data will share the experience plus photos on social media and allow the manufacturer to do the chasing. I should know this!

I must hasten to add that most of the traditional media, including television and radio stations have also established online presence, with varying degrees of perfection. So, there you have it; some extra opportunities for telling your stories and driving your narrative. Have you checked the volume of feedback that come with online stories, especially with the traditional media, say The Punch, ThisDay, The Guardian, Vanguard, Channels TV and AIT? Massive! And massive communication opportunities too! It is such a conundrum that a platform which gives us so much opportunity to tell our story and sell our products is equally a veritable weapon of mass destruction. Talk about the law of unity and conflict of opposites!

PR as a Management Function: Most definitions of Public Relations enthusiastically claim it is a Management Function. Perhaps, this is only practiced in the breach. But for a few organizations like mine, the Public Relations functions are sequestered in either the Legal or Human Resources or Marketing Departments. Let me share a personal story: When GSM was launched back in 2001, I hoped and prayed to be part of the revolution. So, it was with open hands I accepted invitations to interview at both MTN and Econet, as it used to be known then. When I checked, the PR department at MTN was a part of the Marketing function, while that of Econet was part of the Executive (CEO’s). I prayed more for the latter – for two reasons. That was the model I was used to from Cadbury Nigeria, where I worked, and, secondly, it was in synch with the textbook definition of PR as a management function. You cannot be a management function, when you are not part of senior management or executive management, as the case may be.

Thankfully, my prayer was answered. MTN rejected me (in a manner of speaking) and Econet hired me, and the rest, as they say, is now history. Today, as Director of Corporate Communications & CSR, I sit in the Executive Management of the organization, where I participate actively in the leadership roles and responsibilities-looking after Public Relations (including online PR), Internal Communications and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Now, that is the classical model and indeed the way it should be. Here, like other leaders in the organization, you get a helicopter view of the business and contribute from your perspective as a business executive managing communication and reputation.

Budgets: Corollary to being a management function is having a budget line strictly dedicated to Public Relations. In most organizations, the budget still sits elsewhere leaving the function at the mercy or whims and caprices of the budget owner. As a matter of fact, most organizations see Public Relations as a cost centre and not revenue centre-understandably. I say understandably because PR doesn’t generate funds directly. Even in our line of business, we struggle to bring in customers, even if we try. However, the impact of what we do helps to not only retain the customer we have but also encourage new ones to come on board. This is what most PR practitioners have failed woefully to demonstrate to their employers or clients. How do we justify the meager budget we get? And indeed the budgets are meager compared to Marketing, for instance. After all, they will tell you, PR is prayed for and not paid for. Well, that is not exactly the case in reality. Many things are certainly paid for in PR but not news-and that is a subject I want to deal with presently.

Data and Measurement: I call him “Ayeni The Great” and indeed Adekunle Ayeni is a great man. He is bold and courageous, and regardless of the limitations and imperfections of his Nigeria PR Report, he has clearly set the agenda for record-keeping, data collection and impact assessment of PR activities. This has been a huge lacuna in the industry. How do we justify our budget? How do we even justify our work and the attendant pay? How do we demonstrate the impact of our work? How do we measure our work? The first lesson in Research Methodology is: What cannot be measured should not be done. One of the banes of PR practice globally is the proclivity to compare its work and effect with marketing. That is clearly defeatist, firstly, and downright laziness, secondly. Public Relations must do away with comparing its output with advertising column inches. In fact, it must move from output to outcome. Several research methodologies are available to serious-minded professional to demonstrate outcome and impact.

Additionally, Public Relations practitioners should start making informed commentary and intellectual interventions through lectures, presentations and publications to deepen the knowledge base and provide ready resources for reference by professionals and intending practitioners. Ayeni, with his book, has broken the jinx, which, hopefully, will spurn a rack of other similar, even better interventions.

Brown Envelope: As far as I am concerned, this is a most embarrassing topic to discuss, but I will discuss it. An age-long practice of inducing journalists to report an organization or client positively or to use its press releases, it has regrettably defined the relationship between Public Relations practitioners and their friends in the media. So, the question one is compelled to ask is: Where is the love? Where is the so called goodwill which PR practitioners seek to “build and sustain” between their organizations and stakeholders? There are serious ethical issues surrounding this behavior and any dialogue on the legality or illegality of it confers a status of importance to the aberration. My position is NO! It is unprofessional to give an envelope, whether brown or white to a journalist-and I am sad some practitioners stood up to defend or justify it and described it as transport facilitation, etc. NO sir! Even the use of phone recharge cards, airtime or other products, which some of us in the telecommunications industry (and even some outside of it) is unethical, because the objective is to “induce” or “motivate” journalist to report your activity or use your material. Why would I be bothered about whether a journalist made a call or not, sent an email or not or posted a photo or not, if it is not inducement? In the civilized world, samples are returned after the trial period for products like mobile phones, laptops, televisions, cars, etc, or the reporters are made to pay a book value for them.
In Nigeria, it is seen as a right, which unfortunately reflects the Entitlement Culture prevalent in Nigeria.

To me, Brown Envelope is ethically, legally and morally wrong. Journalists are paid to do the job they do. I can even tolerate Christmas, wedding, birthday and anniversary gifts (which, inexplicably, disappear once a journalist leaves a relevant beat), but to assure journalists of “transport facilitation” or to encourage the use of a report by any other means than a good copy is reprehensible both for the giver and the taker. This is an issue the Institute should be punishing people for, were it really in existence.

The Future of PR: Regardless of the sustained efforts of charlatans and the inclement economic environment, Public Relations still boast a bright future. The rise in consumerism with the full complement of social media has opened a new vista for PR to flourish. People or organizations, who have products, services or ideas to sell to an increasingly incredulous, highly fastidious and very vocal and technologically empowered population surely need astute public relations people to help them tell their stories and manage their narratives strategically. We have gone past wondering what people were doing with their feedback and opinions before now. They are really dishing them out now, and whether you like it or not, the behavior is fast assuming the attributes of a culture, a culture of social protest, vehemence or retort, if you will. For instance, managing the reputation of the leading opposition party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), will be one hell of a job and very rewarding too-probably not in pecuniary terms, but who knows! The 2015 presidential election clearly illustrates how much public relations can influence social conversation which in turn influences behavior change-as exemplified by the change of the Buhari narrative from pre-2014 to what it became from late 2014 to the time he was ultimately elected in April 2015.

If there was ever a time public relations should get its mojo back, it is now with the growing social disquiet, confounding economic uncertainty and complicated political manipulations-all needing the professional intervention of PR practitioners, not charlatans.

Follow us on twitter @symmetricPR

The biggest PUBLIC RELATIONS Mistake You Could Be Making.

PR mistakes are made every day. If you don't believe me, just check out a few of the major PR disasters in recent years. Of course, you probably don't need to worry about facing a PR disaster of that magnitude, but you can still make costly mistakes that can cause serious damage to your brand.

Today, I want to talk about a PR mistake that doesn't get much attention. And if you ask me, it just might be the most prevalent PR mistake out there. In fact, there's a good chance you've made (or are still making) this very mistake.

What is it? Not saying "thank you" often enough. Now, you might think that I'm exaggerating, but I'm serious. Not thanking others can lead to some serious consequences, including:

Causing friction with reporters, making loyal customers feel unvalued, leading to a drop in employee morale.

Thanking Reporters Who Give You Coverage

Let's get one thing straight: Reporters don't owe you anything. They don't have to cover your story if they don't want to. They have hundreds (even thousands) of other stories they could cover. So, when they cover your story, they are doing you a favor.

Now, that's not to say you should pucker up to kiss their butt, because you're also helping them out by giving them a story their readers will be interested in. However, when a reporter gives you coverage-whether it be in a major newspaper or a small blog-you should always extend the common courtesy of thanking them. And don't make it a "Thanks ... but" either, because it makes you sound ungrateful and reporters get way too many of those (e.g. "Thanks for the coverage, but I thought the article was going to discuss bla bla bla ... "

Thanking Customers for Their Loyalty


You probably already know that it's far more expensive to acquire new customers than it is to keep existing ones. That means customer retention should always be a priority.

One of the most effective ways to keep customers coming back for more is to show them how much you appreciate your business. There are several simple ways to thank your customers, including:

Train employees to thank customers: 

The simplest thing you can do is to train your employees to be friendly and to thank your customers. As consumers, we've all come across disgruntled employees before, and it leaves a bad taste in our mouths. A smiling employee who thanks customers for their business really can go a long way to keeping customers happy.

Send a "thank you" note:

 A handwritten "thank you" note is more effective than an email or a phone call because it tends to last longer. A phone call is over as soon as you hang up. Emails get deleted or pushed to the bottom of the inbox. Handwritten notes, on the other hand, tend to get held onto, and they show you put in the extra time to write and mail the note.

Offer special discounts to loyal customers:

 This is a win-win. When a customer gets rewarded with an exclusive discount, they feel like you appreciate their business, and it encourages them to make another purchase so they can use that discount, giving you more business.

Thanking Employees for Their Hard Work


Happy employees make for a more productive and successful business.

Thanking your employees improves your relationships with them, and it makes them more eager to do the best job possible.
 
A few simple ways to thank your employees include: 

Giving out awards (e.g. Employee of the Month)Offering bonuses for a job well done. Accommodating time-off requests whenever possible writing personalized "thank you" notes that tell each employee what you appreciate about them

From this day forward, let's all strive to say "thank you" a little more often.

Thank You!

*PR CASE STUDIES

*Nikon takes media outlets on field trip to promote new camera*

The media field trip to Palm Springs, California gave attendees hands-on experience with the Nikon D500, prior to worldwide availability.

Nikon used an immersive media field trip to engage key media editors and help drive conversation about its new flagship DSLR camera: Nikon D500.

Since the introduction of the Nikon D300S in 2009, photography buffs have eagerly awaited its successor – another enthusiast-level camera stacked with pro-level features at an affordable price point.

In May 2016, Nikon released the new flagship DX-format DSLR D500. The campaign team created an experiential media trip that provided an exclusive, hands-on experience for editors with the new camera. The program was designed to showcase product benefits and demonstrate the capabilities of the camera through challenging activities.


*Strategy*

MWW was tasked with creating and maintaining buzz for the product from its announcement at CES 2016 in January to retail availability in May.

Through Nikon's research and conversations with key media, the campaign team learned that consumers looking to buy a DSLR camera often read reviews from a number of different outlets. Their final choice, however, is based on sample images and visual content made available to them.

The challenge was that even positive of reviews of DSLR cameras often showcase generic studio images or lackluster content that can fail to "wow" a reader or inspire potential buyers to purchase a camera.

"Our main goal was to generate widespread media coverage from key outlets that influence consumer purchasing," said Lisa Baxt, associate general manager, communications, Nikon. "We wanted an engaging experience for editors to have fun, test the camera, and become educated about product benefits and Nikon’s commitment to bringing a great product to market."

Additionally, the campaign team aimed to spur positive product reviews, highlight key differentiating features, and position the D500 as a worthy successor to the D300S.


*Tactics*

I. MWW and Nikon organized a fully immersive media field trip program to Palm Springs, California that gave attendees hands-on experience with the Nikon D500 prior to worldwide availability.

II. The program was designed to showcase the key strengths and specifications of the camera, while engaging editors in photo trade, technology, and consumer lifestyle verticals.

Activities included
1) A trip to the The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens to highlight image quality and a variety of Nikkor lenses;

2) A Jeep tour of the San Andreas fault; skateboarding and polo demonstrations that put the camera’s speed and autofocus ability to the test;

3) Astrophotography at Joshua Tree National Park, as well as panning and continuous shooting practice at BMW M School.


*Results*

1) MWW and Nikon secured 14 media attendees, ranging from a wide variety of media outlets, including: Popular Photography , Digital Photography Review, Imaging-Resource , Outdoor Photographer, Shutterbug , Steve’s Digicams, Rangefinder , PC Magazine , Digital Trends , Resource Magazine , Conde Nast Traveler , Backpacker , Outside Magazine , and Cool Hunting .

2) Coverage surpassed expectations, with the camera earning editorial accolades including:

*DP Review Gold Award: 91% rating the highest ever for a Nikon camera*

*PC Magazine Editors’ Choice Award: 4.5/5 – "Excellent" Rating.*

*Digital Trends Editors’ Choice Award: 9/10 Rating*

*The highest score given to any product ever by Resource Magazine : 9.7/10*

IMPORTANT INFO.

NIPR past questions, study materials and revision classes available @Symmetric Communications.

Contact: Mr. Ernest, MNIPR, M.Sc. (Mass Comm.) UNILAG.
08139458588,
08053408939.

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REFLECTION :

Take time to think, it is the source of power, take time to play, it is the secret of perpetual youth, take time to read, it is the foundation of wisdom, take time to pray, it is the greatest power on earth, take time to love and be loved, it is God given privilege. He who kills time injures eternity......Good day.

Food for thought.

*World Speech Day*

Join a global movement that is dramatically changing the world on World Speech Day Lagos, 15th March, 2017, @ The Manifold Place, 85 Ikorodu Road, opposite Fidelity Bank, Lagos... 10am - 1pm.

(1) Be immersed in a cloud of inspiration that triggers the flow of ideas.
(2) Be empowered by carefully-crafted, wilfully-woven, and skillfully-spoken words to accomplish unimaginable things.
(3) Be ravished by rigorous, intelligent discourse and superior arguments.
(4) Increase your capacity to become more from... impassioned conversations and extraordinary thinking.
(5) Broaden your mind from an array of multidisciplinary speeches.
(6) Refill your well of knowledge.
(7) Expand your personal, professional, and business network.

*Attendance is Free but you must register*

Registration at: /wsdlagosticket. Like our Facebook page - www.facebook.com/World Speech Day Lagos; follow us on Twitter - @WorldSpeechLag; follow us on Instagram - lagosworldspeechday; visit the website - www.worldspeechday.com

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Is PR for you?

First of all it is important to establish what your expectations of public relations are. Reading through the careers information on this page will give you an idea of what working in PR involves. Despite popular media representations of the industry, PR isn't all glamour and long, boozy lunches – it can involve a lot of hard work and long hours. That's not to say there aren't perks to the job of course! Essentially, public relations can offer an incredibly varied and challenging career, encompassing many different activities. As with many jobs, the proof is in the pudding and you will only find out if you are suited to PR through experience in the field.

Some questions to ask yourself when considering PR as a career…

Do I have an interest in what's going on around me?

PR practitioners need to be aware of current trends and issues. Keeping up to date with the world around you is vital when advising clients or brainstorming campaign ideas. See Be news aware below.

Do I have good communication skills?

PR practitioners must be confident talking to a wide range of people – for example, your role may involve presenting to clients, dealing with journalists and meeting with groups of people important to your organisation or client. You also need to have excellent writing skills as you could be producing press releases, annual reports, articles and newsletters.

There are certain essential qualities and skills that you will need to get ahead in PR. These include:

Good verbal and written communication skills
An ability to multi task and manage your time effectively
A good level of organisation and planning
An interest in all forms of media
Flexibility
Do I cope well under pressure?

PR roles can be incredibly varied so you will need to be able to organise your workload in order to meet strict deadlines. The ability to multi task is essential, and a flexible attitude important. If you are looking for a 9-5 job, then PR is probably not for you – your position may involve early starts, late finishes or time at the weekend.

According to a survey undertaken by Cranfield School of Management and the CIPR, the following skills and qualities are important if you are considering working in public relations:

Ability to:

analyse management needs
counsel management
identify causes of problems, analyse future trends and predict their consequences
research into public opinion, attitudes and expectations and advise on necessary action
plan, organise and co-ordinate tasks
monitor and follow up
set goals and objectives
motivate and influence others
communicate effectively with individuals and groups in meetings and through presentations
write and edit press releases and reports
work effectively with journalists
identify major social issues affecting organisations
establish financial control.

CIPR Foundation Award.

Registration and lectures for July 2017, NIPR professional exams in public relations is still on call: 08139458588, 08053408939.

Check this out:

Enhance Your Career with A Professional Certificate in PUBLIC RELATIONS from NIPR.

This is to formally inform you that registration & lectures are ongoing for July 2017 NIPR professional exams in Public relations.

BENEFITS OF THE PROGRAMME/CERTIFICATE
(i) B.Sc Equivalent.
(ii) NYSC Exemption Letter.
(iii) Further Studies in Nigerian/Foreign Universities.
(iv) Exhibition of New PR Competences.
(v) Ability to Work in any Industry
(vi) In-depth Understanding of The PR Function.
(vii) Qualifies You For B.Sc, PGD, M.Sc admission

EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
Candidates with SSCE / GCE / OND / NCE / HND / BSC or other qualifications are encouraged to enroll for this course.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Interested candidates should contact: 08139458588, 08053408939

ENQUIRIES
Tel: 08139458588, 08053408939

Registration and lectures for July 2017, NIPR professional exams in public relations is still on.

call/WhatsApp: Symmetric Communications: 08139458588, 08053408939.

Registration and lectures in progress..

Enhance your career with a professional certificate in PUBLIC RELATIONS...Call/WhatsApp: 08139458588

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Add a professional value to your career