RQ creates helpful HR publication on Succession Planning

Here's our partner Kamea Zelisko with one of the latest HR publications from the Government of Alberta. We are very proud to say RQ researched, wrote and designed this magazine which will undoubtedly help businesses of all sizes get started in their Succession Planning efforts. It offers some great info and useful tips. If you'd like to see more download Succession Planning: Retaining Skills and Knowledge in Your Workforce.

Top 4 marketing tips from the 2012 presidential debate

By Kamea Zelisko

I’m not going to lie – as a marketing/communications professional I’m a bit jaded. I see marketing in everything – from the food I buy at the supermarket to the current Gagnam Style music/dance fad.

But at no point in time were my marketing ears more perked than during America’s first 2012 presidential debate. While many of us want to believe the candidates at the event were just speaking from the heart, the reality is they have probably the world’s best crack team of public relations/marketing professionals behind them. So I figure why not take this opportunity to learn from them? With that, here are some of the main marketing tips you can take away from the 2012 presidential debate:

1. Key messaging. In public relations and marketing it’s crucial to know what your key messages are and how to effectively communicate them to your audience. Both of the candidates related their key messages well. Mitt Romney’s was “Create Jobs,” while Obama’s was “Balanced Approach.” While you may not know these are called key messages, you know that’s the overall feeling you got from their debate points, right? Well, that’s the point of key messages. But I have to say, all politics aside, Romney did a better job at pushing his key message, at times just adding the words “create jobs” when it wasn’t even appropriate to the topic (i.e. when discussing housing). Understand your target market, find out what key messages they respond to and just repeat them as many times as possible (without being too redundant) in your public relations and marketing efforts.
2. The psychology behind PR/marketing. Did you see the way Romney smiled (also referred to as the “debate smile” by www.urbandictionary.com)? How about the way Obama appeared to speak thoughtfully by slowing down his speech? These and more are all part of PR/marketing. Marketing is selling, and selling includes creating a great first impression in all you do. That includes body language, facial expressions, tone of your voice and your messaging. Understand the psychology behind your target market and adjust all your public relations and marketing efforts (e.g. sales pitches, website content, advertising, etc.) accordingly.
3. Know your facts. The last thing you want to do is look like you don’t know what you’re talking about when selling or pitching to your clients. During the presidential debate both candidates were able to conjure up important facts and numbers to reinforce their points. Take the time to know as much about your industry as you possibly can so you’re prepared to relay those facts to your clients when the time comes. This is an ongoing process as things constantly evolve, and although it can be time consuming it’s time well spent. I recommend putting aside a few hours a week to read news articles, etc. so you can stay caught up on the latest in your industry.
4. Be confident. No one wants to work with someone who seems unsure of what he or she is doing. Did you see the way the candidates spoke to each other? The air of charisma and leadership they put forward? Try to emulate that yourself. Remember, you are an expert in your field – if you weren’t you wouldn’t have gotten this far in your career. Take your experience and education and put your best foot forward in your public relations and marketing efforts!