 PUBLIC
RELATIONS: HOLIDAY STYLE
By Jenny Fujita and Joy K. Miura, Fujita & Miura Public Relations,
LLC. The
holidays are not only a time for food and festivities, but
they also present
excellent public relations (PR) opportunities for businesses. Now is the perfect
time to focus on your business relationships with employees, customers, shareholders,
vendors, legislators or other local businesses; thank those who've helped your
business run smoothly throughout the year; and spread the holiday cheer. The
following are a few ways to put a little PR spice into your business' holiday
strategy: 1)
Send holiday cards or gifts to your main constituencies. 2)
Throw a holiday party for your employees to show them you appreciate their hard
work. 3)
Coordinate or sign up for a community service event, and recruit employees to
participate. 4)
Donate a portion of your annual profits to charity. 5)
Decorate your business for the holidays. 6)
Send a year-end letter to your shareholders to let them know what your business
accomplished in the past year, and what they can look forward to next year. 7)
Pitch a story to your local newspaper using a holiday angle. To
maximize these tactics, be sensitive to the fact that people celebrate different
holidays during this time. Steer clear of sending cards or gifts specifying any
one holiday. Instead, wish your recipients a "happy holiday season."
Also, invite the media to cover any community event that your business supports.
Finally, and as always, be sure that all your PR strategies, actions and communications
come from the heart. Here's
to a happy, safe and prosperous holiday season! |
