By Tarek Sakik (Hadath CEO)
Public relations industry is certainly not what it used to be ten or fifteen years ago. Times have changed, and PR communication has come a long way since the first press release was sent out more than a century back. But where are we headed to? This is the question I keep asking myself.
It was a few years back that social media appeared on the scene and everyone jumped on the new bandwagon. And just when we thought the action has shifted to the digital PR world of bloggers and influencers, we hear technology has opened up new possibilities in visual communication.
Understandably, videos are set to dominate communication in the coming years. With time becoming a rarer commodity, consumers would rather watch a video than read a press release. The smartphone in your hand has made it all the more easier.
Mobile content consumption is growing as people increasingly prefer to read and watch on their mobile. Google research estimates that in a typical day, 98 percent of 18- to 34-year-olds reported using smartphones to watch video content.
So are we done with the age of traditional PR? As far as I can see it’s still very much alive and kicking, blending seamlessly with new age communication in various ways. Perhaps it is more about making use of existing efficiencies to tap into new opportunities. What do you think? Share with us your thoughts.
- Tarek is the CEO of Hadath
