US PR Industry Revenue $13.4 Billion by 2017

Edward Bernays

2012 promises to be a good year for American PR firms despite failings in the economic forecast. Companies employed to improve other bsinesses’ visibility and image, public relations firms like APCO Worldwide, Waggener Edstrom, and Edelman may well be the barometer of hope many people are looking for.

Marketing budgets have always been tied to corporate profits, PR and marketing firms getting their fair share only when the need or feasibility is justified. At least this is the case for a great many firms, but where effort to increase business goes PR is often used to leverage recovery too. A report from Companies and Markets dot com tells this and other tales of what could be recovery news.

A disastrous economic outlook has ended in slow revenue growth in PR and marketing over the last 5 years. However, many companies seem to have shifted from traditional media toward more direct media engagements over the more recent months. Those PR firms engaged in social media and blogging, mobile media and podcasts, appear to be leveraging more business and more effectively. At least this is what the report seems to reflect. At the end of the tape, for those companies so engaged, industry revenue 6.4% in 2012. And while this may not be an economic indicator of a general recovery, it may be significant for a segment coming out of the abyss.

We have been harping on the need for players in the niche to “go digital” for years. Only now, at a time when efficiency and effectiveness matter most, does it appear industry wide, sound advice to ramp up blogging and SM efforts. If the report findings hold true only those companies that extend digital offerings will benefit performance wise. And as we have seen these last 5 years performance is the only budgetary variable most companies are looking at. The bottom line is, if you aren’t digital now, you have better get that-away.

No matter if your agency is focused on the general public, corporate relations, or as analysts, adaptation and flexibility are the prime movers in today’s dynamic communications world. For the small firm, it is essential to emulate Waggener Edstrom and others of the world’s leading practitioners. Many were behind the learning curve early on, but as this report indicates – we are now in a game of follow the leaders again.

Interested readers can find this interesting report via this link, where you can either purchase the full document or request pages from therein.

Terror and Catastrophe Be Gone: Feeling Safe and Warm in Toasty Europe

This morning on the outskirts of Trier, Germany, we awoke positive and enthusiastic as ever. At noon, even despite the fact it is only 8 degrees Celsius, we still believe it when experts tells us Earth’s atmosphere and weather is just fine. The Gulf Stream is fine, we’re all just fine, and dandy too.

Eurovision 2013 and Why “What If” Won’t Ever Happen, Not Ever

This year’s Eurovision contest showed promise. Promise of human beings coming together in Europe, maybe across the world. Now, days after Denmark’s Emmelie de Forest, sanging the winning song in the finale, Only Teardrops the idea and ideology still enshrouds Europe. With Azerbaijan launching an investigation into its own voting schema, and an enrage Russian fan base, the Europe of medieval times just doesn’t seem so far off.

Jon Ola Sand, Executive Supervisor of the Eurovision Song Contest - Courtesy Eurovision

ZOA Calls for Israel Commentary on Netzarim Junction Affair

The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) is calling for the state of Israel to hold a press conference to address a new investigation into what they say is a libelous past report on a Palestinian youth shooting.

A world, a people, outraged by reporting of an incident - courtesy Al Durah Project

EXCLUSIVE: Columbia Sportswear Sends Out RFP

Just in, Columbia Sportswear has sent out a request for proposal (RFP) for entertainment marketing firms to attend a coming campaign to focus on the Columbia Sportswear target demographic. Columbia Sportswear Company owns Columbia, Mountain Hardwear, SOREL, Montrail and the Pacific Trail brands, but according to the request questionnaire the company sent out, the focus will be exclusively for the Columbia brand name.

Ronn Torossian on Brand Angelina Jolie

With Angelina Jolie being lauded as a hero worldwide for her valiant effort to have a preventative double mastectomy, there’s also the BRAND and PR story of Angelina Jolie. Even previous to this, Jolie’s brand has shined – Best-selling PR Book “For Immediate Release: Shape Minds, Build Brands, and Deliver Results with Game-Changing Public Relations” by CEO of 5WPR Ronn Torossian had a section on Jolie.