How to Create a Media-Friendly Web Site

A Corporate Website is a single authoritative source of information centre online on behalf of the Company which dilates entire activities of the organization at one place. Website works as a communication center to convey the right message of the company to all. Be it the stake holders, Customers or media people every body rely on website what it briefs about and they look / surf for information of the company website online.

A Media friendly website is the one which does wonders in flow of communication to reach the right person in right time.

Corporates allocate lots of funds for image enhancement / reputation management as these are the key pillars on which an organization runs / stands. To stand out in the tough competition Corporates must count each campaign / activity that works for brand building as an important PR tool as the reputation becomes the decisive factors for customers to choose it. But many corporates pay less attention to the online communication that the flow the information through the “The Corporate Website”. Many Corporate websites lack proper maintenance giving an indication of the poor performance of the company.

Journalists have certain deadlines to meet and they like to search for relevant information online. While few of them don’t want to speak to the company people but like to take the info online from website. Few more show interest to search the same night time or in odd hours when a spokesperson may not available or Corporate Communication people won’t be working over night to contact. In situations like these Website replaces a Spokes Person and works as a PR person to pass on the right message to Media. If the Website is media friendly with all updates journo never takes a chance to divert his attention for more research.

Corporate Website – A Perfect PR tool:

It disseminates the information to its Stake Holders, Customers, Journalists, Employees etc.

It helps build Media Relations

Does Name of the website Matters: Yes it matters a lot. If some one needs to visit the website he will type in the name in web address and clicks it failing which he will open the google and do the search of company.If the Company name is XYZ and website address is ABC, hardly you get information online. So your website address must be your company and ensure your company key business initiatives must be covered in Home page.Use website url in all places where ever an official communication goes out.i.e Email Signatures etc.

PR Requirements:

Media Kit / Press Information: Must Contain

Ø Images of Spokesperson with good resolution
Ø Images of CEO / MD / Chairman with good resolution
Ø Images of products with good resolution
Ø Updates Press Release
Ø Case Studies
Ø Awards
Ø Media Clippings
Ø Media Registration Column
Ø Story Ideas for Media
Ø Corp Comm team Head Name /Email ID / Contact No.
Ø Profile of the Organization
Ø Profiles of CEO / MD / Chairman
Ø Event Calender / Up Coming Events
Ø White papers

PR Industry is expected to grow to Rs.15,000 Cr by the end of 2010?

PR Industry is expected to grow to Rs.15,000 Cr by the end of 2010 with more and more Corpoarets opting to chose PR Services for their image enhancement process now a days, as per the reports. Tough competition among Corporates for their brand salience and sales target set for the marketing teams prompting them choose a PR agency. It is a good indication to all the PR Professionals who want to build a career in PR.There is an increasing demand for skilled PR Professionals whose skills are worth enough to meet the desired expectations of the corporates.There are as many as some 50,000 PR Professionals working for various PR agency across nation as per Assocham and industry growth may pave way to new entrants to explore opportunities in the field. How ever the PR Industry is reeling under certain issues like employees demand for fat pays, consultants lacking in depth knowledge, quick Job shifts for better opportunity, poor Communication skills, looking for corporate exposure, no proper training for new entrants etc.PR Agencies sign the contract with Corporates amassing all its efforts but lose the same at the earliest with depletion i.e lack of Man power, Skilled Consultants, No proper PR Strategy Etc.Hence their retention rate is low. A consultant is the one who guides and shapes / enhance the corporate image with his PR Campaign / Strategy. He is the one who makes the client meet the targets. But many agencies lack the right PR persons resulting in deliver poor PR services thus losing the clients at a faster pace. Of course Client’s long pending dues can also be cited as one such cause for poor retention. Let us wish the industry develop at a faster pace in healthy environment providing opportunities to more and more in the days to come