Posts by Frank L. Williams
Owned Media: Don’t Put All of Your Eggs in a Basket Controlled by Someone Else
by Frank L. Williams When I first entered the public relations profession shortly after college, we typically heard about two types of media: earned media and paid media. Thanks to technology-driven changes, social media and owned media have become increasingly prevalent communication tools in recent years. Paid media refers to tools such as traditional advertising…
Read MoreIs the Written Word Becoming a Lost Art?
by Frank L. Williams When I was a college student at N.C. State University in the early 1990s, communication professor after communication professor emphasized that writing was the most important skill for an aspiring public relations professional to develop. I was fortunate that writing had always been one of my strong suits, and I’ve worked…
Read More2021 is Coming, and Not Soon Enough!
by Frank L. Williams It’s safe to say that 2020 has not been the year we hoped or expected. This year has thrown a bevy of curveballs at us, with the biggest of them being COVID-19. I’ve spoken with some who are excited that 2020 will soon come to an end, while others are concerned…
Read MoreThe “R” in RPIE
by Frank Williams During the course of my public relations training, I’ve studied a four-step process dubbed “RPIE.” The four steps are: R = Research P = Planning I = Implementation E = Evaluation. The research phase is intended to ensure that a client or organization builds its campaign based upon valid assumptions and informed…
Read MoreHow to Be a Good Client
by Frank Williams I’ve worked with a wide range of clients over the course of my more than 20 years in the public relations profession. We’ve been able to help many businesses, non-profits and individuals accomplish their communication goals. In other cases, however, I felt like something was missing. I get excited when I know…
Read MoreA Refresher in Media Relations
by Frank Williams Technology is transforming the world of public relations and strategic communication, and many now view the press release as a relic of ages past. At the start of my public relations career over two decades ago, much of my work revolved around traditional media relations. These days, more and more of our…
Read MoreWhen Tensions are High, Think Before You Speak, Post, or Send
by Frank L. Williams The events of 2020 have dramatically altered the communication landscape in which leaders must operate. This year has been so filled with crises that memes speculating on what could be next are a prevalent feature in my social media feeds. As leaders, we must understand that emotions run high during a…
Read MorePioneer Strategies promotes Zach Drennan to Account Executive
Pioneer Strategies has promoted Zach Drennan, a Scotland County native and graduate of the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW), to account executive. Drennan joined the company as an account coordinator in June 2019. “It’s hard to believe Zach has already been with us for a year,” said Frank Williams, President of Pioneer Strategies. “Our…
Read MoreMy first professional news release (before email was a thing)
by Frank L. Williams In November 1993, five short months after I graduated from the N.C. State University Department of Communication, I wrote and distributed my first press release for a paying client. The client was my pledge brother at Theta Chi Fraternity, Montie Roland, who had recently started a safety consulting business. We took…
Read MorePioneer Strategies launches new website for Brunswick County Association of REALTORS®
SHALLOTTE, N.C. – Pioneer Strategies, a public relations and strategic communication firm based in Leland, recently launched a new website for the Brunswick County Association of REALTORS®. “Designing the Brunswick County Association of REALTORS®’ new website was a complex project with a lot of moving parts,” said Frank Williams, founder and president of Pioneer Strategies.…
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