Attention-Seeking

So much of our world these days is defined by the great use of social media by millions of people. People text, tweet, post, announce, share, etc. on a daily basis; even multiple times per day. Social media has become the modern way for much of the population of all ages to let others know "Here I am!"......."I count!"........."My existence makes a difference!" While some view this as a sad turn, I do not necessarily agree. The technology that enables them to do this is actually pretty awesome. Given that people since their beginning days have always sough ways to make themselves known, it is not surprising that they have gravitated big-time toward the tool that enables them to gain the attention of others more quickly and powerfully than others before it.

With the world population hovering around eight billion, that is a lot of attention-seeking that occurs most every day. The odds of anyone actually gaining the attention of others in a significant way are very small, of course, but that does not mean people do not try. Within all this global outreach exists the world of public relations, a profession designed to do what people do most every day: seek attention. One key difference is that true public relations efforts or campaigns are based on research, fact-finding, pre and post-post testing, analysis, and the production of high quality material and well-crafted copy or text.

Professional public relations practitioners would have us believe that their ways are the best. Their efforts are more sophisticated and strategic, they say. I do not doubt them. But what we "amateurs" have to remember is that the odds of P.R. efforts, generally, are not all that great either. This is why repetition is a vital element in all campaigns. It is also why savvy public relations practitioners set modest goals. They know the competition is enormous. The know for true attention to have impact, then it must be generated again and again and again.