Sometimes it’s nice to read the business news in your local paper both for information and with an eye on the question - “Did the organization being mentioned work to obtain this editorial printed about them in the paper?” In certain cases, it is blatantly clear that the organization went to vast lengths to become seen. Many organizations actually employ Philadelphia Public Relations and advertising professionals to tailor how they will be viewed in the press and to court public favor by romancing the right kind of press coverage for the firm.
There are some concrete corporation motives behind such aggressive work being done by the business community to have high-quality press coverage. On the exterior, it might seem like the intent of managing community approval for a establishment is just a desire to be a respectable resident and so that public judgment is good and everyone thinks of that enterprise as a bunch of “good guys”. But the motivations for courting public goodwill for a organization are far more difficult and entrepreneurial than that.
A good reputation means superior sales. Public opinion is a funny thing. If a retail company gets a bad reputation in a community, it will have a large impact on their bottom line. But the company that is well regarded at the neighborhood level will be one that sees deep customer loyalty.
A strong reputation makes for better business transactions. Managing a venture means entering into dozens of business relationships, making deals and drafting contracts with other firms in town. If your company is well regarded in the public eye, that will reflect positively when you need a deal to fall your way at the negotiating table.
Investors like to observe a superior community representation in a firm. Investors like to be acquainted with that the company they are concerned in partnering with will be able to complete its venture goals and tolerate year in and year out. Part of that stability means that the organization can exist up to its mission statement and its statement of values. When the organization the investor is interested in has a strong public image, that reflects that this is a company that conducts itself with integrity, is interested in the public good as well as private profit and is looking for the long-term reward as well as the short-term profitability. These values translate directly into dollars in an investor situation.
A strong relationship with city and state government is significant to long-term business health. Many businesses seek concessions or to enter into a relationship with local government so they can have a clear path to get construction permits or carry out other business that impacts the public good. A local or state government can be a companies best friend or discontinue your projects in their tracks and keep them blocked. But the thing that pleases the political world is public opinion and the public good. So if your enterprise has a good public profile, that translates to votes for the politically minded people at city hall. And that means influence which can help a company go a long way toward completing its long-range plans.
A excellent public image impacts recruitment. When you put an advertisement in the neighborhood paper to recruit expertise, how you are viewed by those searching for jobs will directly influence if they will reply to your recruitment efforts. Many a business got a awful reputation locally and saw dismal responses to recruitment efforts which can mean a less talented staff and poor performance of the organization in general.
These are solid reasons for a enterprise to put some energy and capital into courting a respectable reputation in town. If that means a strong representation on United Way weekend or holding blood drives once a month, the company that has a reputation for reaching out to the community will be a organization that prospers.