This week I came across the headline ‘PR scores itself poorly for creativity’ on website PR Moment and had to read more.
The survey by the Holmes Report and training specialist NowGoCreate questioned 650 professionals from 35 countries on how creative they think the industry currently is – the answer is not very much. More than 60% believed the industry was lacking BIG ideas.
The reasons for this included: lack of budgets, clear objectives and an understanding of clients’ businesses.
There’s a correlation here. If you don’t understand your what your client wants then the budgets to deliver BIG campaigns won’t materialise.
Obviously most PRs will find these survey findings insulting. I’ve been lucky enough to work on some great campaigns (Unilever Food Solutions’ ‘Ambu-lunch’ and British Roast Dinner Week) this year and be part of a wider agency that refuses for barriers to come between great projects (Make Decent Coffee skip idea and the first-ever chocolate hotel room). If the idea is there, it’s down to PRs to be brave and pitch it in – brief or no brief.
I agree that more can be done to bring out the creativity of PRs in the workplace – and small additions to brainstorms that I blogged on last week can make this happen. Get people engaged with the brief and set challenges to work together to polish the ideas once agreed.
Let’s go through some of the other reasons PRs felt were imposing on their creativity:
Lack of time
Brainstorming and scoping ideas is an investment – for business and personal development. Get involved and learn how it works.
Difference in opinion about what ‘creativity’ really is
If you’re questioning whether you are creative, you’re probably not.
Leadership don’t view it as important
Don’t expect your business to grow with this attitude.
We’re in a rut
Make an effort to get out – show your clients why they hired you.
How creative do you rate your agency?
Prime Time 