Don't believe your own publicity
By Tina L. Pugliese, APR, Pugliese Public Relations
One of my former clients owned a multi-office real estate firm in Washington, D.C. After creating a public relations program that began with a local blitz, we decided that we would attempt to get some national coverage for her. I submitted a story about her to a national woman’s magazine, suggesting that she be named one of the “Top 10 Women Entrepreneurs” of the year.
The magazine accepted our nomination and featured her in the article. When the story appeared, it was a major coup for the realtor. Her phone began ringing off the hook, with congratulations from the local community as well as from business people around the country. I began booking her on local radio and TV talk shows, and articles about her appeared in local newspapers and business magazines.
A few months later, at a chamber of commerce meeting, I received feedback about my client. She was not returning business phone calls, she was missing appointments, and she was being rude to her colleagues and business associates.
At one of my weekly meeting with the client, I mentioned the negative feedback that I had heard. I told her that it was canceling all of the good public relations efforts we had worked so hard on for the past year. She became arrogant, and I later resigned the account.
About six months later, I saw her at a business luncheon, and she confided to me that her business was suffering. I asked why she thought that was occurring and she said that she make the mistake of believing her own publicity! She thought she was more important than she was, and this had a negative effect on her relationships with her clients and business associates. It was a difficult, painful, and financially devastating lession learned.
Keep a level head, stay humble, and don’t believe your own publicity!
Tina L. Pugliese, APR is an executive coach and counselor for Pugliese Public Relations, a communications firm in Boynton Beach, Florida. Pugliese is an accredited member of the Public Relations Society of America, and is the author of the book, Public Relations for Pharmacists, and e-books, Marketing Your Business for Success, How To Work With The Media, and Public Relations Manual — A Guide for Entrepreneurs. She can be reached at (561) 889-3575 and by email at Tina@PugliesePR.com. Her web site is www.PugliesePR.com.
Article excerpted from e-book, Public Relations Manual — A Guide for Entrepreneurs, by Tina L. Pugliese, APR.
