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Be a leader not a follower
Adding value to your brand through public relations is about more than raising awareness of your products and services. Sometimes you need to set the agenda, stimulate thought or create debate among your peers. Demonstrating that you know what the hot topics are affecting your industry or sector, and having clear and concise opinions on these, can establish a platform of perceived authority among your stakeholders. It sets you apart from your competitors, establishes your credentials to a wide audience and it can position you as a leading voice. This is thought leadership.
At Fifth Ring we have extensive experience of involvement in thought leadership campaigns for our clients. As an example, our public relations team was tasked by leading international private equity company 3i to promote the launch of three of its thought leadership reports on the state of the oil, gas and power industries in the North Sea and Europe. We also took part in a debate on the subject with some of the leading international figures in the oil and gas industry in Vienna.
But we’ve also used thought leadership to raise awareness of our own brand.
We organised a major thought leadership debate in Inverness focusing on the growing renewables industry. In advance, we surveyed 300 key players in northern Scotland, asking their views on the main issues. A major finding was the widespread belief that the renewable energy industry could lead the country out of the current economic downturn.
We titled the event “The Power to Change” and handpicked just 12 leading and highly influential leaders, from politicians to representatives from the public and private sector, to attend. We invited Jeremy Cresswell, editor of the Press & Journal’s Energy publication and chairman of Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group as guest speaker and we generated an excellent high quality debate – with much of it focused on a commitment to revitalise a defunct fabrication yard in the area for renewables.
The event received extensive coverage in local and national print media and radio, and put the fabrication yard back on the news agenda – so much so that the Scottish Secretary visited the site. It also aligned us with the energy industry in that area and resulted in us securing new business.
At Fifth Ring we have extensive experience of involvement in thought leadership campaigns for our clients. As an example, our public relations team was tasked by leading international private equity company 3i to promote the launch of three of its thought leadership reports on the state of the oil, gas and power industries in the North Sea and Europe. We also took part in a debate on the subject with some of the leading international figures in the oil and gas industry in Vienna.
But we’ve also used thought leadership to raise awareness of our own brand.
We organised a major thought leadership debate in Inverness focusing on the growing renewables industry. In advance, we surveyed 300 key players in northern Scotland, asking their views on the main issues. A major finding was the widespread belief that the renewable energy industry could lead the country out of the current economic downturn.
We titled the event “The Power to Change” and handpicked just 12 leading and highly influential leaders, from politicians to representatives from the public and private sector, to attend. We invited Jeremy Cresswell, editor of the Press & Journal’s Energy publication and chairman of Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group as guest speaker and we generated an excellent high quality debate – with much of it focused on a commitment to revitalise a defunct fabrication yard in the area for renewables.
The event received extensive coverage in local and national print media and radio, and put the fabrication yard back on the news agenda – so much so that the Scottish Secretary visited the site. It also aligned us with the energy industry in that area and resulted in us securing new business.