Guest Column: 5 PR trend predictions for 2015
No plan should be deployed without taking into account some crucial changes that are taking place in the social media and technology space, says Nitin Mantri, CEO, Avian Media

Few months into the New Year, public relations professionals are busy brainstorming new strategies and plans for clients and new businesses. However, no plan should be deployed without taking into account some crucial changes that are taking place in the social media and technology space. Here are my five trend predictions for 2015 that will impact the industry.
Big data
PR has always incorporated data in its scope of work. This year, however, data will play a critical role in the success of our campaigns. For an industry that still battles the perception of being all fluff, to be driven by data is a much-needed change. There are some who feel that an over-dependence on data analytics will kill creativity. But I think there is a lot of useful data there and if we continue to run our business on intuition we will fail in today’s world. Also, clients will demand more accountability from PR agencies as with the availability of data everything can be measured. Hence, PR professionals, who have learned to use data, will excel. But those who continue to rely on follower counts, media hits, reach, and other such frivolous metrics will suffer.
Visual Story-telling
I am not saying the press release will be dead, but it has to evolve in order to remain relevant. People are so busy these days that they don’t have time for even a 30-second commercial. PR agencies will have to make their content more visual by using videos, photographs and infographics. According to a PR News/PR Newswire survey, 51% of professional communicators said their video budget will increase in 2015. Also, there will be a stress on educational video content. Blatant advertising won’t work as the audience is far more informed these days.
Security will continue to be an issue.
A series of hacks in 2014 – from Sony to Snapchat to iCloud to Heartbleed - served as a grim reminder of how dangerous a connected world is for our business. Hence, security will be a primary concern as social media will expose our clients on various digital channels. PR agencies will have to be prepared to protect their clients’ interests and reputation from such external threats. This will require heightened vigilance as social media is a necessary evil. Also, with campaigns like the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge showing how brand awareness can be increased with the involvement of the crowd, attempts will be made to replicate the success. The flip side of this phenomenon will be increased exposure of our clients to external threats.
Change your social media strategy
Digital channels like Instagram will take centre stage with the demand for visual story telling gaining momentum. Instagram has reached 300 million users and launched the Instagram for Business blog, which clearly indicates parent company Facebook’s desire for increase engagement. PR agencies will also have rethink their clients’ Facebook strategy as organic reach for business pages has hit a low. While larger companies have the means to support consistent native advertising, small businesses don’t. The year will witness a small business exodus on Facebook. Agencies will need to find alternatives like Pinterest and LinkedIn for clients with low PR budgets. Also, like last year and the year before that, 2015 will be the year of mobile. The number of smartphone users will continue to grow. Plan accordingly.
Greater integration
Greater integration will be the order of the day. PR is now on equal footing with other marketing disciplines. The days of PR versus advertising versus marketing versus digital are over. Digital and PR, paid, owned and earned media will all come together to create a 360-degree integrated approach. The focus will be on synergistic effect and bringing optimal results. Also, for effective public affairs the integration of all of the tools of modern communications is of utmost importance. Agencies that use the full array of modern communications tools—earned media, targeted digital advertising, social media engagement and content - will succeed in influencing policy outcomes in 2015. Although PA advice necessarily has to focus on the local situation, the impact travels globally. So, agencies will need to communicate consistently at all levels, domestic, regional, global.
These were my predictions for this year. PR is an instinctive business. So, follow your instincts and modify these trends to suit your business needs.
The author is CEO, Avian Media.
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E4M Our strategy is to target younger audiences through Sports: Rajiv Dubey, Dabur
The Head of Media at Dabur India spoke exclusively to exchange4media on the World Cup, associating with Indian Idol, the company’s digital spending and much more
With quirky campaigns, memes and moment marketing, timed with the ongoing World Cup and particularly the India-Pakistan matches, Dabur India has got considerable consumer attention for its popular brands – Red Paste, Cool King Hair Oil, Chyawanprash, Dabur Vita and the recently launched Bae Fresh Gel toothpaste.
The 140-year-old company is going big on key sporting events, World Television Premiere (WTP) movies and reality shows. It is now gearing up to become the title sponsor of popular talent show ‘Indian Idol’ on Sony TV for the first time, shared Rajiv Dubey, who leads the media strategy at Dabur.
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Swapan Seth's new book 'COOL' is out
The book is a reflection of the author's 'eclectic taste across categories'
Advertising professional and art collector Swapan Seth has announced the launch of his new book COOL. The book is described as "a ready reckoner to the hip and the happening, of the known and the very unknown."
The book is a reflection of the author's "eclectic taste across categories: from boltholes to exotic hideaways."
COOL has been published by Simon & Schuster India and is available on Amazon.
Seth is an ad veteran with a long and illustrious career in the industry. He became the youngest-ever Creative Director at Clarion at age 24. He was VP at 26 at Trikaya Grey. Two years later, he started his agency Equus.
He writes for publications such as The Economic Times, Hindustan Times and India Today. This is his second book and he has previously published THIS IS ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
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Disney Star signs 9 sponsors for Asia Cup PAK
Charged by Thums Up, Nerolac Paint+, Amazon Pay, Jindal Panther, My11Circle, MRF, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5, Wild Stone and Thums Up come on board
e4m Staff Disney Star has signed nine broadcast and digital streaming sponsors for the upcoming Asia Cup.
Charged by Thums Up, Nerolac Paint+, Amazon Pay, Jindal Panther, My11Circle, MRF, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5, Wild Stone and Thums Up have come on board for the upcoming tournament.
As reported earlier by exchange4media, Disney Star has sought Rs 26 crore for the co-presenting sponsorship on TV and Rs 30 crore for Disney+ Hotstar.
According to industry sources, the associate sponsorship on Star Sports has been priced at Rs 19.66 crore, whereas for the ‘powered by’ sponsorship on Disney+ Hotstar, the broadcaster is seeking Rs 18 crore.
As per the information available with exchange4media, Disney+ Hotstar has three sponsorship tiers-- co-presenting (Rs 30 crore), powered by (Rs 18 crore) and associate sponsorship (Rs 12 crore). The broadcaster is offering an estimated reach of 120-140 million for co-presenting sponsors, 90-100 million for powered by and 60-70 million for associate sponsorship.
A spot buy for 10 seconds has been priced at Rs 25 lakh for the India vs Pakistan matches, while for the non-India matches, the ad rate for 10 second is Rs 2.3 lakh. The India matches plus the final for ODIs has been priced at Rs 17 lakh per 10 seconds.
Asia Cup is scheduled to be held from 30 August, 2023, to September 17, 2023.
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Sorted 360 wins creative & social media mandate of Reliance Mall
The agency will manage offline and online campaigns for Reliance Mall
Sorted 360, an integrated creative and social media agency, has won the mandate to providing brand solutions for Reliance Malls across India.
“Sorted 360 is set to enhance Reliance Malls' market presence with their unparalleled creative prowess and strategic thinking,” read a press release.
“Sorted 360's commitment to pushing the boundaries of creative communication aligns perfectly with Reliance Malls' ethos. With a pan-India presence spanning across 19 cities and growing, Reliance Malls has consistently captivated customers by offering an array of Reliance brands and third-party fashion & lifestyle brands. The mall has established an unparalleled connection with its patrons through superior quality, a remarkable value proposition, and an unmatched shopping experience,” it read further.
"We are thrilled to welcome Sorted 360 as our trusted partner in advancing our brand presence across the nation," said the Head of Marketing at Relaice Malls. "Their proven expertise in retail, shopping center management, and innovative creative strategies make them the perfect fit for our vision."
"Partnering with Reliance Malls is a testament to our commitment to shaping extraordinary brand experiences," remarked Prerana Anatharam, Co-founder of Sorted 360. "We are excited to leverage our strategic and creative acumen to further elevate Reliance Malls as the epitome of convenience, choice, and excellence."
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KlugKlug onboards Hemang Mehta as Country Manager for Indias
Mehta was most recently Head of Agency Relationships at Network 18 Media & Investments
KlugKlug has appointed Hemang Mehta as its Country Manager for India.
Mehta will play a pivotal role in driving KlugKlug's growth and expansion within the Indian market and be responsible for Sales & GTM Strategy
Prior to that, he has also represented organisations like Exponential (now VDX.tv), India Today Digital and Rediff.com. His expertise spans various domains including digital media sales, mobile marketing, media planning, and buying, social media marketing, and more.
Hemang Mehta expressed his enthusiasm about joining KlugKlug, saying, "I am thrilled to be a part of KlugKlug, a forward-thinking platform that is reshaping the influencer marketing landscape. As much as I look forward to collaborating with the exuberant team at KlugKlug, I am super excited to interact with the brands to deliver powerful data-backed Influencer solutions that will guarantee business outcomes."
Commenting on the appointment, Kalyan Kumar, Co-Founder and CEO of KlugKlug, stated, "We are excited to welcome Hemang Mehta to our team as the Country Manager for India. His extensive experience in digital media sales and marketing will be instrumental in driving our efforts to provide influencer marketing solutions to our clients. We believe Hemang's leadership will be key in scaling our operations and expanding our reach within the Indian market."
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