Nowadays most managers seek a complete picture when it comes to return on investment and this applies to PR too. Despite this, and the developments in measurement tools for marketing and advertising, PR has lagged behind and different professionals have favoured different models. Ralf Leinemann and Elena Baikaltseva's book brings together the range of models for evaluating PR effectiveness and develops them into a series of appropriate tools for business use. Basic concepts such as balanced scorecards, business fundamentals and planning processes are all covered. The authors also introduce their own theory of PR evaluation and apply it to five different types of activity: interviews, press conferences, generic campaigns, crisis PR and long-term projects. In addition, the book contains many valuable tips and real-life examples throughout. Written for corporate PR practitioners and marketing/communications specialists, this book brings together business objectives and the evaluation of company impact in terms of media, reputation, visibility of the company and its competitors. In total, more than 60 different methods of evaluation are discussed, providing readers with an indispensable toolkit for mapping each PR task or project by selecting the appropriate method from the menu provided.

Despite the ubiquity of new forms of communication technology, press conferences remain a vital way for companies to share news. One size or message does not fit all and the content showcased must be of interest to every member of the audience. This book highlights the importance of understanding the needs of those who will attend; an ever-more critical skill as stretched editorial teams make it increasingly difficult to lure journalists from their desks. In the international press arena, journalists from different countries have particular needs and can react differently to the same situation. The authors show that to ensure success, PR professionals need to take account of the event, speakers, style, content and tone; and follow through to the all-important tasks of obtaining feedback and analysing results. How to Manage a Successful Press Conference is essential reading for PR teams working in a national or, particularly, an international environment and enables you to address the whole range of activities necessary for success, from the basics through to advanced issues such as managing press expectations across borders and cultures.