The POWER of PR with Danae Jones
When speaking to the media, creating a positive image for you and your company is essential.  A positive image doesn’t arise out of thin air though, it takes a lot of hard work and effective planning on your part to be portrayed in a positive light.
Some people are naturally likeable and always know the right thing to say, but then there are those people who are a little more reserved and can often be misunderstood or perceived in a negative light, purely because they don’t have that outgoing personality.
No matter what your personality or background, all people can create a positive image for themselves it’s just a matter of harnessing the skill over time. Â
Good body language is the number one rule. Â
Good presentation is essential.  In business you need to always make sure you’re looking good when appearing in the media or at functions, the way a person dresses and looks says a lot about them.  First impressions are everything.
Choose the subjects your willing to talk about in the public arena carefully. Â
Don’t lie.  It can be so obvious when someone is lying, especially in front of a camera or in a group situation – remember the camera never lies and body language tells all!
Try to be natural, don’t fear the media or your audience.
Don’t raise negative issues about other people, companies or organisations unless you can back it up and you’re willing to be in the debate for the long haul.  Controversy and Conflict sells news stories across all mediums much more than the fluffy good news stories.  Gossip about someone also spreads like wild fire, so if you don’t want to get in a public slanging match, then don’t open your mouth on the issue or the person.
Don’t be seen to be speaking on negative issues only, people will start to think you’re a whinger and the media may also start to portray you in this way.  Remember, no-one likes to be around a negative nelly – they are one of life’s biggest energy drainers!
Word of mouth is the biggest sales tool for not only companies but individuals, so be good to people and do the right thing by them and the positive word will soon spread about you and your business. Â Â
If you own a business, make sure you give outstanding customer service and people will start to talk.  They’ll also continue to use you and they may even bring friends, family and colleagues to you as well.
Don’t be afraid to show emotion on topics that are close to your heart or that you feel strongly about when speaking in the public arena.  There is nothing more appealing than someone speaking authentically from the heart.
Even if you do have a very good public image, that doesn’t mean you won’t be spoken about in a negative light at any stage, but it will mean that you’ll recover from the negative exposure much quicker.
Danae Jones is Principal of PR & Marketing firm Danae Jones Consulting