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Does IT come before PR?
Monday 19 November 2007, by : Alex Malouf
I doubt that even hardened journalists will have experienced the despair and torment of their Saudi counterparts when it comes to public relations in the Kingdom. Akin to a dying breed, good PR is admittedly hard to find in Saudi Arabia. However, there have been a number of eyeopeners over the past week or so as to the effect that PR can have on the business.
The first surprise came over two weeks ago with the publication of a press release by a partner of a major vendor publishing its growth figures over the past year.
Now, first question is how have these figures been obtained? If sales people are giving them out, are these sales people being disciplined for breaking corporate policies? I very much doubt it, for you don't want to lose your top sales guys do you? Have they even been given training on what to disclose and not to disclose? Is this 100 percent clean business? I doubt it, and anyone who says to the contrary really does need a cold shower.
Secondly, why did the partner not disclose that they were going to issue a press release to the vendor? Why didn't the vendor engage with the partner? I actually met the channel player in question the previous day, and was told in no uncertain terms that the vendor partner was arrogant. Public relations execs could have gone a long way to defuse any channel tensions, if they were allowed to do their jobs.
The other eye opener was last week. A major IT company, one of the largest in the world, was holding a press conference at an event. "Where's the agency," I inquired. "We don't have one any more," said the marketing manager.
I remember very clearly speaking to a PR manager responsible for EMEA who complained that vendors locally were focusing on the person rather than the company. While I replied that people in emerging markets needed to see a familiar face, I do understand the point. PR can seem to be all about personalities rather than ideas but when will PR be a discipline in its own right in Saudi? Sooner rather than later, this hardened journalist hopes.
Monday 19 November 2007, by : Alex Malouf
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 Do IT companies here understand public relations? |
The first surprise came over two weeks ago with the publication of a press release by a partner of a major vendor publishing its growth figures over the past year.
Now, first question is how have these figures been obtained? If sales people are giving them out, are these sales people being disciplined for breaking corporate policies? I very much doubt it, for you don't want to lose your top sales guys do you? Have they even been given training on what to disclose and not to disclose? Is this 100 percent clean business? I doubt it, and anyone who says to the contrary really does need a cold shower.
Secondly, why did the partner not disclose that they were going to issue a press release to the vendor? Why didn't the vendor engage with the partner? I actually met the channel player in question the previous day, and was told in no uncertain terms that the vendor partner was arrogant. Public relations execs could have gone a long way to defuse any channel tensions, if they were allowed to do their jobs.
The other eye opener was last week. A major IT company, one of the largest in the world, was holding a press conference at an event. "Where's the agency," I inquired. "We don't have one any more," said the marketing manager.
I remember very clearly speaking to a PR manager responsible for EMEA who complained that vendors locally were focusing on the person rather than the company. While I replied that people in emerging markets needed to see a familiar face, I do understand the point. PR can seem to be all about personalities rather than ideas but when will PR be a discipline in its own right in Saudi? Sooner rather than later, this hardened journalist hopes.
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Send to Friends |
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Zoom Text | Digg |