72% Experience Increase in PR Business in Last Six Months
“The results of a recent survey to take the pulse of the PR business showed a degree of confidence not seen in our industry for some time with 72% of respondents experiencing an increase in business in the last six months, while more than half of respondents reported an improvement in the demand for PR services compared to this time last year,” according to PRCA Ireland Chairman and Director, H+A Marketing + PR, Ann-Marie O’Sullivan.
O’Sullivan was speaking at the 17th annual Awards in Excellence in PR held at the Conrad Hotel in Dublin on Thursday, June 24th, 2010. “The last two years have been challenging in every business sector and the PR community is no different in that regard,” according to the PRCA Ireland Chairman who was re-elected to the position for a second term earlier this year. “However, the more challenging the environment, the more valuable PR becomes. As an industry we need to stop undervaluing what we do – this is our challenge. As PR practitioners we must be confident about the quality and the value of the strategic advice we provide to clients. We must not be afraid to stand over the quality of what we do.”
Other positive indicators from the survey included the fact that approximately 39% of respondents are considering hiring additional staff over the next six months, while in the last six months respondents have attended an average of six new business pitches.
“The awards provide an important benchmark in recognising the excellence of what do,” according to O’Sullivan. “Some excellent strategic and creative work has taken place over the last year and this is reflected in the standard of the award winners.”
The full version of Ann-Marie’s keynote address at the awards ceremony can be viewed here
