Contributed post.
The public relations (PR) industry has been under increasing pressure over the past few years. Consumers demand more from brands than ever before, and the rise of cancel culture means it’s more important than ever to avoid a PR scandal.
Improving your PR efforts and maintaining them at a high level requires paying close attention to the latest trends. Here are five important PR trends to watch in 2021.
1) Eliminating the spread of fake news
The PR industry will play a leading role in eliminating the spread of fake news. Misinformation can be incredibly harmful, and in the age of social media, PR professionals must lead to prevent widespread sharing of fake information. In 2021, the PR world will become more active in spotting false information and making moves to correct and clarify it.
2) More robust reputation management strategies
PR professionals will pay even more attention to reputation management trends, to design more robust strategies, for the brands they represent. A few reputation management areas to focus on include:
Online trolls: Online trolls often seek to damage a business’s reputation, spreading fake negative reviews and comments on social media. PR professionals need to become adept at discerning legitimate negative reviews from trolling.
Influencer marketing: With the right influencer marketing campaigns, PR experts can enhance reputation management strategies, creating positive buzz around the brands they work with.
3) Increased focus on corporate social responsibility (CSR)
In 2021, brands will be under increased pressure to improve their Corporate Social Responsibility strategies. Whether it’s a response to climate change, the pandemic, or political unrest, consumers expect brands to speak up about important issues.
In 2021, customers want brands to have a positive societal impact. In the corporate world, ethics is no longer considered a “nice to have.” A loud segment of the market dislikes brands who remain silent, instead of using their platform to be a part of positive change.
4) Importance of advanced PR platforms
Using advanced PR platforms and influencer marketing tools will become more important than ever before. One of the leading PR tools is Prowly. Using Prowly it’s simple to improve your PR strategies. Here you can access plenty of different features, whether it’s improving your press releases, or discovering new media contacts. With the help of Prowly, you can create online newsrooms, and share access to projects, to improve collaboration.
5) Virtual events become increasingly important
As businesses continue to recover from the effects of COVID-19, online events will retain a big role in marketing and communications. PR companies need to help brands produce engaging online events, to boost their online presence and attract new audiences. As the outlines of the “new normal” begin to take shape, PR pros and marketers need to adapt their processes and their campaigns.
Brands need to protect themselves in many different ways, whether it’s professional liability insurance, cyber security, or reputation management, and there are many elements to consider to keep your business safe. By paying attention to PR trends, businesses can ensure that they achieve a positive online brand image.