We’ve cheered as businesses in Iowa, across the U.S. and around the world crawled out of the worst economic decline in 60 years, though American consumers remain nervous and unemployment high.  Good news locally: Iowa led the nation with the second largest percentage increase (behind Alaska) in non-farm employment, the U.S. Department of Labor announced Dec. 18, 2009.

Here’s how we view 2010 with gusto – not with a crystal ball, but with the knowledge of several trends already established in the business world:

Rebuilding Trust Post-Recession - Rebuilding of trust and confidence must continue for years after the shock of corporate and institutional blunders that brought the 2007-2009 recession. To rebuild trust or better yet, maintain it during “normal” times, first do the right thing and, then, talk about it.

Increasing use of PR Firms - This is not just our wishful thinking; we cite two sources:

- According to a survey of 157 PR firms in December 2009 by New York, NY-based StevensGouldPincus, management consultants to the communications industry, PR firms of all sizes across the United States said that their clients will spend more on PR services in 2010. In fact, 64 percent (67 percent in the Midwest) said clients would increase spending this year and 22 would remain the same; only 14 percent would spend less.

-  That’s in line with projections in Aug. 2009 by New York, NY-based Veronis Suhler Stevenson, an authority on North America’s media/communications industry.  VSS said that PR will emerge from the recession’s wreckage as one of the nation’s fastest growing industries. VSS projects that PR will be the number one growth segment in the communications field during the next five years; and social media and word of mouth will lead. 

Integrating Social Media in PR Programs - Social media strategy will continue to be an integrated part of smart public relations and marketing programs.  Beyond mainstream corporations’ use, hits continue, including NASA’s Tweet-up, The Bob Woodruff Foundation demonstrate Twitter fundraising, and sports teams and leagues are using more social media. See more in PR Week’s year-end summary. 

Questing for Effeciency - Some successful businesses, leveraging lessons learned during the recession, will continue budget cuts that could be downright severe. For example, research firm SNL Financial estimated last month  that Citigroup will trim almost $5 billion from its budget by the end of 2010, and SunTrust Banks will cut its operating expenses by 17 percent.

We’ll help you be ready…

Posted: January 5, 2010 at 2:02 pm by Ron