How many public relations spokespersons does your firm or company have? The answer is not one or perhaps two, but instead the correct answer is it’s as many employees as you have. Communicating with your internal “clients” (e.g., employees, boards of directors and vendors) is as, if not more, important than external audiences (e.g., firm clients or customers), and yet those who are charged with the responsibility of public relations, marketing or communications often give the least consideration to these integral stakeholders. This may be a result of leaders taking for granted or not fully appreciating that their staff and board are already “in the know” of what is happening in the organization, or a lack of appreciation for the role they can play in meeting your business and communications objectives.
Your employees and other internal clients are important for several reasons. First, every day they talk, text or email about work with their families, friends and cohorts. An impression of your firm or organization is left after each conversation. And there’s no more trusted source than a friend or family member. Second, the impression their friends and family have is further amplified when these secondary audiences have reason to discuss your firm or organization in even further company. Third, your employees and other internal clients take on the role of the media, too, because anyone can publish or blog his or her thoughts to the world with the simple click of a mouse or push on a mobile phone. Finally, employees and boards of directors can serve as easy-to-organize focus groups. For example, they can be a sounding board to evaluate your new website layout, brochure and advertising copy. And they cost a lot less than the professionals you may eventually need to retain to conduct the exercise in a professional capacity.
This content has been archived. It is available through our partners, LexisNexis® and Bloomberg Law.
To view this content, please continue to their sites.
Not a Lexis Subscriber?
Subscribe Now
Not a Bloomberg Law Subscriber?
Subscribe Now
LexisNexis® and Bloomberg Law are third party online distributors of the broad collection of current and archived versions of ALM's legal news publications. LexisNexis® and Bloomberg Law customers are able to access and use ALM's content, including content from the National Law Journal, The American Lawyer, Legaltech News, The New York Law Journal, and Corporate Counsel, as well as other sources of legal information.
For questions call 1-877-256-2472 or contact us at [email protected]
