As we enter 2023, it’s important for public relations professionals to stay up-to-date on the latest trends in order to effectively communicate with their audiences and achieve their goals. Here are a few key trends that are likely to shape the PR landscape in the coming year.
People trust people, especially in times of increasing technological reliance. Hence, in PR the importance of building connections with media, the public, potential and existing stakeholders beyond just screen and paper becomes amplified.
PR is always the first to identify and incorporate new trends in this constantly changing world. Support from PR enables a brand to adapt and stay on top of trends in its target market.
The Five PR trends for 2023 are as follows:
1. COLLABORATION
As an innate part of socializing and connecting for PR, collaboration does not come as a surprise. Bringing two like-minded brands, groups, or individuals to one place will be seen a lot in the coming year.
Collaboration is a strategy to combine two different markets for a single cause. It is an opportunity to find new concepts and easily gain consumer interest. It also helps the brands to access greater market-reach without physically establishing themselves in those markets.
For example, an organic coffee brand collaborating with a sustainable skincare brand allows both companies to tap into the consumer base of one another without further investment.
PRO TIP: Resist the temptation to ‘force-fit’ brands that you have easy access to.
2. PODCASTS
Essentially the new and more handy radios of modern times. With the lure of easy access to extensive global content, podcasts are the one-stop platforms for all industry interests across all age groups.
The ease and functionality of podcasts are bound to make it the next leading space for innovative conversations. The reliable aspect of podcasts is how they run on the merit of a good story rather than the influence of money.
PR agencies can leverage this for industry marketing and thinking outside the box. This provides the company spokespersons with the opportunity to discuss their business and industry experiences through this platform.
Associating a story or a shared experience through these conversations can set the brand apart from its numerous competitors in the industry – highlighting its brand values and industrial stance.
PRO TIP: Have a specific plan to make the podcast interesting in – the beginning, middle & in the end.
3. INFLUENCERS
This concept is not new, but its presence will hike in the coming years. PR can even look into monetization to achieve higher results from this partnership between brands and select influencers.
Influencers can earn a certain amount or percentage from the sale (per sale/lead etc) that comes from their followership. This trend will help the brand target a niche consumer base that is generally difficult for large companies to reach.
Partnering with influencers can provide companies access to those influencers’ niche following, allowing the companies to extend their consumer base.
PR would be the perfect tool for choosing influencers to represent the brand because of its understanding of the brand image, voice, and the way they would like to be perceived.
PRO TIP: Check the engagement rate & content affinity of the influencers.
4. TECHNOLOGY
Pairing Technology with PR to achieve the perfect outcome. AI and data analytics can provide loads of data, but PR is what weaves the data into stories.
PR makes the data relevant and easy to comprehend for the public.
PR can support brands by compiling and analyzing data to find influencers that accurately represent the brand by using different factors.
PR today is set to upgrade to deliver better results. PR’s tech base would be able to analyze reach, interactions, brand activity, and content production more efficiently.
PRO TIP: If you are over 40 or have spent 15+ years in PR, you are most likely to have inertia in adopting tech. Nobody but you will have to kick yourself out of this because in 2023, the winner TECHS it all.
5. GREATER FOCUS ON SUSTAINABILITY
With climate change and environmental concerns at the forefront of many people’s minds, organizations are under increasing pressure to prioritize sustainability in their operations and messaging.
PR professionals will need to consider their campaigns’ environmental impact and communicate their organization’s sustainability efforts.
PRO TIP: Make sure you are doing actual GreenPR and not just Green-wash.
CONCLUSION: Overall, the PR landscape in 2023 will be marked by a focus on collaboration, podcasts, Influencer marketing, new technology use, authenticity, transparency, and sustainability. By staying attuned to these trends, PR professionals can effectively communicate with their audiences and achieve their goals in the coming year.
How does your PR campaigns look like in 2023? What do you think are the trends? Is there any trend that’s missing in the list?
Share your thoughts in the comments section.