Project
Public Relations: Strategies and Tactics
11th Edition
Dennis L. Wilcox Glen T. Cameron Bryan H. Reber
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Chapter 6
Program Planning
Chapter 6 Objectives
Understand the value of the planning process Identify the elements of a plan Describe two approaches to planning Provide a rationale for including each
element of a plan Describe the essentials of each element
of a plan
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The Value of Planning
The second step in the public relations process is planning
The organization starts making plans to do something about an issue or situation
Public relations planning should be strategic It sets the organization’s direction proactively,
avoiding ‘drift’ and routine repetition of activities
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Approaches to Planning
2 main approaches Management by
Objective (MBO) Agency Planning
Model Both approaches
emphasize asking and answering questions to generate a roadmap for success
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Management by Objective
Client/employer objectives Audience/publics Audience objectives Media channels Media channel objective Sources and questions Communication strategies Essence of the message Nonverbal support
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Agency Planning Model
Facts Category facts Product/service issues Competitive facts Customer facts
Goals Business objectives Role of public relations Sources of new
business
Audience Target audience Current mindset Desired mindset
Key message Main point
Elements of a Program Plan Identifies what is to be done, why, and how
to accomplish it The plan accounts for 8 basic elements Situation Objectives Audience Strategy Tactics Calendar/timetable Budget Evaluation
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Situation
3 traditional situations often prompt a public relations program To overcome a problem or negative situation; To conduct a specific, one-time project to
launch a new product or service To reinforce an ongoing effort to preserve its
reputation and public support
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Objectives
A stated objective should be evaluated by asking Does it really address the situation? Is it realistic and achievable? Can success be measured in meaningful terms?
2 categories Informal Objectives Motivational Objectives
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Audience
Programs should be directed toward defined audiences/publics
Market research can identify key publics by demographics
Many campaigns have multiple audiences In general, mass media outlets are channels to
reach defined audiences
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Strategy
Provides guidelines and key message themes for the overall program
Offers rationale for planned actions and program components
Defines key messages
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Tactics
The nuts-and-bolts or tactical part of the plan Describe the specific activities that put each
strategy into operation and help to achieve the stated objectives
Most visible part of any plan Involves using various methods to reach target
audiences with key messages
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Categorizing Tactics
Table 6.1 Tactics by Media Category
A useful way to categorize tactics for disseminating messages is the four categories of media that can be used – paid, Earned, shared, or owned. Given here is a simplified version of the planning matrix used by Fleishman Hillard.
TECHNIQUE AUDIENCE INFLUENCE DESIRED ACTION
Paid Purchase ads to reach millions Large media audiences Ads often discounted as biased sales pitches
Remember message when voting or joining or buying
Earned Pitch news stories to traditional media Readers and viewers of news content
Credible coverage, but of both sides of a story
Change or reinforce position on an issue or event
Shared Participate in social media Other tweeters, bloggers, Facebookers, etc. Engaging and personal, but preaching to a choir
Consider input from virtual friends and colleagues
Owned Mount content on yourown websites Visitors to your websites Satisfies information needs but pushes your view
Reinforce or even act on prior view of your organization
Calendar/Timetable
The timing of a campaign Scheduling of tactics Compiling a calendar
Figure 6.1 A typical Gantt Chart
Basic Gantt charts can depict work flow. But tend to be spare in detail. An alternative is a more detailed timeline that includes key action items by month to accomplish the strategy and achieve basic objectives. A good example is an excerpt from Ketchum’s DoubleTree Cookie CAREavan.
• IIT PR Timeline • Activity for Product Launch
• Planning – February • News releases – March • Contact key bloggers – March • Promotional events – March through April • Social media outreach – March through April • Major trade show – April • Advertising placements – April through May • Analysis of results - June
Budget
Divided into two categories Staff time Out-of-pocket (OPP) expenses
Staff and administrative time takes as much as 70% of budget
OOP expenses include collateral materials Allow 10% of budget for unexpected costs
Evaluation
Relates directly back to the stated objectives of the program
Evaluation criteria should be realistic, credible, and specific
A plan’s evaluation section should restate the objectives and then name the evaluation methods to be used
- Public Relations:�Strategies and Tactics�11th Edition
- Chapter 6
- Chapter 6 Objectives
- The Value of Planning
- Approaches to Planning
- Management by Objective
- Agency Planning Model
- Elements of a Program Plan
- Situation
- Objectives
- Audience
- Strategy
- Tactics
- Categorizing Tactics
- Calendar/Timetable
- Budget
- Evaluation