What Your Dog Can Teach You About Ad/PR
October 31, 2013
Guest post by Alicia Lawrence
Your canine may be one of your most loyal friends and able to instantly brighten your day, but have you ever thought carefully about how your dog’s behavior could educate you about the advertising and public relations industries? Read on to see why Fido may be able to help bring out your inner advertising superstar.
Simple Language Speaks Volumes
Regardless if your dog is extremely well trained or still a little rough around the edges, you probably already realize how straightforward commands are the only route to take when you want your dog to understand you. It might be tempting to launch into a diatribe about how angry you are that your pooch decided to dig through your freshly planted flowers, but it’ll probably be more effective to simply say “Bad!” in a firm voice. The same is true if you’re trying to teach your dog basic commands like sitting or staying near your heel during a walk.
Using Repetition for Results
Repetition is the
best teacher. We had a motion sensor
sprinkler in our yard and every time Merlin, our schnauzer, got to a
certain part of the yard it would spray him. He quickly learned not to go over
to that section. Even after we removed the sprinkler, he still stayed clear of
that area.
Though we don’t like to admit it, the same goes for humans. Repeat a message enough and we’ll start to believe it. For most companies, it’s a mistake to change your slogan every six months for a different campaign. McDonalds has stuck to their I’m Lovin’ It motto for 10 years!
Be a Friend to Everyone
Dogs, especially puppies, break the awkward silence
between people. Dogs bring people together, makes them smile and get in a
better mood. As a PR professional, you really have to do the same. Being that
person that’s easy to get along will help you in developing relationships with
investors, media and customers.
Of course, there are some people who’ve had bad experiences with dogs and, therefore, will stay away. Don’t force yourself on them but instead be a shining example of what a PR pro should be.
Clearly, your dog can be much more than an enjoyable companion, and may even serve as an inspiration for your career efforts. The next time you’re hard at work on a campaign and feeling like you’ve hit a plateau, look to your dog to get out of the slump.
Bio: Alicia Lawrence is a content coordinator for WebpageFX and blogs in her free time at MarCom Land. Her work has been published by the Association for Business Communication, Business Insider, and Spin Sucks.
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