By Chloe McCarthy
I recently had to interview a social media influencer for one of my COM classes. Her insights led me to further ponder upon the question of what makes a good story and its connection to PR. What compels people to listen to your message? The story behind your mission is crucial whether you are an influencer, PR professional, or simply someone recommending a movie, there is a story behind it. So why should people listen to what you have to say? It boils down to authenticity.
In the realm of PR and media influencers, the story behind your work is essential not just in effectively capturing the publics interest, but more importantly, maintaining these relationships. During our conversation, the influencer kept returning to the idea of being your most genuine and authentic self. She explained that people do not want to support someone that they do not feel is being real. This had me thinking: authenticity doesn't just matter for influencer, it's crucial for anyone involved in the PR industry.
PR professionals are responsible for building strong, long lasting relationships between organizations and their audiences. Being an authentic brand or person gives you immediate trust and credibility. A good PR story must be genuine -- it should showcase the brand's values, not just through words but through consistent actions. For example, many successful brands run campaigns with real people and highlight their real stories. This not only gains trust with the audience but also creates a human connection with the audience.
Thinking back to my internships, I saw firsthand how authenticity can transform client relationships. Even just building genuine and real connections with people I worked alongside made the environment so much better. When working on different campaigns, I watched my mentors truly resonate with their clients and I was able to watch them truly care. This authenticity made clients eager to collaborate, as they could feel a real commitment behind their work.
Ultimately, authenticity is the foundation for building trust and forming meaningful long-term relationships. The public is savvy; they can easily spot deceit. The story you tell has to be real. It has to align with who you are and what you stand for.
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