In honor of the 110th Race to Mackinac, see how the Ballast Group connects many similarities between PR & sailing
As an integrated communications firm founded by an avid sailor, the Ballast Group team often finds inspiration in the strategy and tactics of planning, executing and measuring initiatives that have unpredictable forces like Mother Nature does. Like sailing, public relations requires the skilled management of many variables at once to take ideas to the next level. Using a balanced approach, we act as a boat’s ballast for clients, keeping their goals and objectives moving in the right direction. On July 20-21 sailors from across the world will set sail in the 110th Chicago Yacht Club...
Read MoreHealthcare reputation management in 2017
In 2017, we saw numerous large companies fall prey to poor reputation management and crisis communication preparation. The airline industry snagged a front seat for most damaging headlines. In an era dependent on transparency and trust, it is more important than ever to have the right systems and communication channels in place to maintain a company’s reputation with all stakeholders. As a company that works with many healthcare organizations, Ballast Group decided to take a closer look at reputation management in the healthcare space and why it is so important. In the beginning of 2017,...
Read MoreIs your team moving in the right direction? Understanding the similarities between sailing and PR & the meaning behind “ballast”
As another Chicago summer sets the tone for humid heat and warm winds, public relations firms and sailing teams prepare for a busy season. America’s Cup fanatics are watching the 35th Cup this week from Bermuda as Lake Michigan sailors get ready for Chicago Yacht Club’s 109th Race to Mackinac, taking off July 15 east of Navy Pier. Similarly, PR professionals are gearing up for a season of outdoor events, new seasonal products and holidays that celebrate the excitement of summer fun. Though it may seem strange to liken business to sailing, when you break it down, and look at how each team...
Read More12 Leads in 12 Minutes: Now What? Never Assume Your Client Defines PR the Same Way You Do
Every public relations professional and many CEOs know the power of earned media. A lead in a major metropolitan newspaper or an interview on a network station that gets syndicated — this type of exposure can lead to millions of impressions that increase a business’s revenue and reputation. While PR contributes to sales goals, sometimes different levels of leaders can misinterpret the role and responsibility of the PR function. Typically business leaders dictate the strategy for building the internal structure necessary for managing an influx in prospects and leads due to great PR...
Read MoreBuilt to Last: Why Honesty and Transparency Matter between Public Relations Professionals and Journalists
Behind every great story is a journalist. And behind every great journalist is a public relations professional offering ideas and sources for those stories. With increasing access to stories breaking around the globe, journalists no longer have time to develop a story the way they used to. When a PR professional does his or her job well, journalists are brought good stories to consider. Once these stories are told, PR professionals and journalists are launched into relationships built on mutual trust. According to The Ballast Group founder, Kellee Johnson, these symbiotic relationships are...
Read MoreDefine Success before a PR Engagement Begins
A question that I like to ask CEOs or sponsors at the beginning of any new project is: “How will you define success at the end of this project? If your definition was a news headline, what would it say?” A former Baxter executive founded a medical education start-up company that taught physicians how to practice a simulated procedure instead of practicing on a real patient. He answered my question with a commanding: “I want to be on the cover of Fortune magazine as the most feared man in medicine.” Alrighty I thought — a very articulate and focused leader. He continued, “If hospital...
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