Australia is coming down from what seemed like the longest election campaign ever. Whether you are happy or not with the result, there are some PR lessons we can take from this political event.
Even if you got sick of the campaign itself, these points still shone through loud and clear. Use them to single your product or service out as the solution for the disillusioned, and ensure your business generates great PR when you share your story.
1. A unified front makes you stronger.
Whether you’re dealing with some staffing problems in the office, struggling with a difficult client or disciplining the kids with your partner, unity makes all the difference.
Personal issues often flow into your professional domain, but don’t let it get the better of you and affect your reputation. Labor suffered due to when its internal infighting became public. While the same may have been happening in the Liberal camp, we didn’t know about it so that party seemed like the more stable option.
PR lesson: Present the best image of yourself when selling your business.
2. Lack of detail leads to more questions.
The Liberal Party’s decision to delay the announcements of some policies and costings until the last days of the campaign made people question what they were hiding.
When you’re telling your business story or selling your product, customers (both current and prospective) need to feel they can trust you. You never want them questioning whether they have all the facts.
PR lesson: Be honest, tell the whole story and customers will trust you.
3. Too much choice can be bad.
The electorate’s lack of confidence in both major parties meant more parties were trying to get in on the action and offer their candidates as a better option. While anecdotally I think more people voted below the line in the senate than ever before, researching all the candidates and numbering all the boxes on the white “tablecloth” senate paper was seen as too much hassle by many.
When you want to cut through the noise and have your message heard by your audience, it helps to have one clear statement that gets attention.
PR lesson: Don’t try to be everything to everyone; stick with your niche and be really good at it. Then people will want to ask you about your story, rather than you selling it to them.
What did you learn from the 2013 election that you can use in business?
