Programming Survey

1. Programming Survey December 2011

2. Executive Summary • Respondents • 48 people took the survey, 13% response rate • 35% were independent practitioners who tend to live in the suburbs • 23% each were corporate and agency • Reasons to belong to PRSA Boston • 50% said programs is the #1 reason • 38% said networking • Fewer said jobs or new client opportunities • Programming • Top three: 1) Social Media, 2) Rich Media, 3) Integrated Marketing • Sports was a dud • Location • 40% said that either Boston/Cambridge or along 128 are their preference • Time of Day • 49% prefer evening meetings; 27% prefer breakfast

3. 1. PRSA Boston would like to know what is important to you about being a chapter member. On a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being "very important" and 1 being "not at all important," please rate the following: 48 responses

4. 2. On a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being "would very much like to attend" and 1 being "no interest in this topic," please rate the following program ideas:

5. 3. What types of programming would you like to see in 2012? • Personal professional development, e.g. mentoring, conflict resolution, leadership, etc. • Meet with editors from region's business and news publications • Modify to incl pharma/device cos and how to translate B2B/C exp to work w/ them. Don't need healthcare 'pros' as in Dr.s per se, need marcom/corp comm decision makers. • Give attendees VIP tix for future visits • WordPress Masters/Intro classes • PR Marketplace: Mtgs should be venue for service providers-- if you come to pre-program trade fare your admission is discounted. Need more value to attract sponsors. Need to understand Media Map v Cision and services like that. • SEO Programming Realities w/ BizWire, Exclusive Concepts. Also programs about blogs. • Spanish/multicultural programs and opps (Kelley Chunn, PotterRuiz, others). Event Previews that show how to get involved, e.g. Boston Fashion Week, Martha's Vineyard Wine + Food Festival, etc. • Hot (Crisis)Topics: Dicey Issues that Can Torpedo a Reputation, e.g., Sustainable), CPSC/FDA Product Recalls, Water Purity/EPA/Enviro hot topics • AR/QR Codes: Engagement and Action (this is very hot issue and has implications for publishing, etc.) Sappi/Paper Specs did an amazing webinar earlier this month-- www.paperspecs.com/webinar. How about a Testimonial Town Meeting (could be online): 'people I want you to know about.. people introduce their go-to experts in various areas (photography, graphics, printing, SEO, websites, mobile promos • new innovative software • More on KPIs/metrics management/business outcomes linked to PR; and digital marketing/social media integration with PR • Webinars • Programs geared at the PR and social media challenges faced by educational institutions. • How marketing communications impacts business objectives and success? Marcom/PR needs to be more closely aligned with business and organizational objectives.

6. 3. What types of programming would you like to see in 2012? • Something different. Something new. All of these program ideas are great, but every one has been done before in some form. • More public affairs as there was in 2005-2006. More study of the relationship between business, government and the media and more on business communications • Another session on PR measurement. Also, perhaps an opportunity to see new event spaces in the city. • More corporate communications, public affairs and investor relations-related topics • Issues related to agency management, profitability • more opportunities for break out groups one measurement program a year • IPN meetings on best practices, maintaining client relationships, using social media. Boston section meetings on: a panel of different agency types, media, clients and IPN analyzing different prospective client requirements. • I'd like to see more programs in the suburbs. What about at companies or colleges? As one suggestion, Regis College would be willing to host events and they are right off 128 and the Mass Pike. Some other topics would be web marketing, list management, database management, graphic design, lead generation. • Would be interesting to have a panel of top journalists in a program moderated by a journalism professor talking about changes in the media, i.e. increased demands on print journalists, the push for higher ratings in tv, etc. • Best practices-- skills workshops. • metrics in PR - how PR pros are measuring results to justify ROI for clients (internal and external clients) • solid monthly programs • Social Media - anything!!! Planning, strategy

7. 4. Do you prefer that meetings be held:

8. 5. Do you prefer that meetings be held:

9. 6. Do you have any other suggestions or comments as to how PRSA Boston can provide better value to you? • Make more of an effort to engage members from Western MA with programs in Framingham or even Worcester and outreach to enroll members from the area to make networking more valuable. • Provide discounts/values for membership (Cision, Burrelle's, chambers/memberships, insurances, office tech services, Boston Chamber and SBANE memberships. We should do more to integrate topics/experts w weekly #PRChat on Twitter. Webinars (Cramer does great stuff, also Sappi/Paper Specs). No more 'what's new at the Boston Globe' (yawn-- big time waster). • Meeting recaps, insights from presenters, written materials, etc. • Many of PRSA's events are too expensive. How about more half-day or full day seminars that cost just $100?. Also more events North of Boston would be nice. • Offer some programs a bit further west so that Westen Mass members can also benefit. • More meetings, more choices, more often. What else does PRSA do? • It would be helpful to have some sort of refresher regarding social media and technology communication - or a sort of "begin at the beginning." To a lot of us in the Chapter who did not have a basis in hi-tech (I am from a journalism and - especially - local government communication background - going to some programs is like walking into a movie that is half over. Some of us could use some more background in this new world. • Pair IPN specialists (e.g. we do healthcare) with larger agencies that do same for discussion, exploration of outsourcing opportunities. In other words, more focused industry-specific networking • Discounts on services like Vocus/Cision, small agency management issues, interactive "tech tools" program to improve efficiency, measurement • this is a great start- more opportunities for communication and feedback: kudos • Put the IPN directory back on the site.

10. 6. Do you have any other suggestions or comments as to how PRSA Boston can provide better value to you? • My role is more marketing communications oriented, so I'd like some programs that are not focused so exclusively on PR, which is just one component of my job. • Promote pr more effectively, i.e. a program designed for small business owners, making it easier for prospective clients to find individuals/agencies on our website, promoting the website. • I would like to see a meeting that would be especially targeted to those of us who have been in PRSA and PR for many years -- one that would especially recognize past presidents, APRs, Silver Anvil and other award winners, etc. -- with a speaker NOT from the PR world but perhaps from public policy, health care, education, etc. We did this several years ago, with Tom Hoag as speaker, and it was very well received. I am suggesting this for an annual or bi-annual event. • If possible, can some sessions allow for access via Skype (or perhaps a trial session using Skype). I would also love to see best practices on reaching audiences through digital storytelling. • Webinars...but I think they will be included as part of PRSA national's membership

11. 7. Where do you work?

12. 8. Where is your office located?