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Public Relations · Published June 12, 2020

Ronn Torossian
Founder & Chairman, 5W

7 Habits of Highly Effective PR People

seven habits of highly effective pr people
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Public relations professionals have had a full plate on their table. As in most issues, there are more than one and sometimes several sides to a story or issue so how’s a PR person supposed to be effective? Habit 1 In order to have a chance of being effective, a PR person must not only have a goal but also a plan in reaching it. The goal must be specific and measurable, and there must also be a timetable tied to incremental goals along the way. Habit 2 An effective PR person is also a good researcher. Sometimes the data is already there and just needs to be gathered and analyzed. Other times, it means organizing and conducting surveys, focus groups and/or community meetings. Whatever the scenario, the data gathered and analyzed is invaluable in understanding the targeted public as well as putting together a strategy focused on them. Habit 3 Good relationships are an important cornerstone of an effective PR person. The skill and ability to move in and out of different audiences, including some whose mission and values may be divergent, is priceless. Understanding the basis for other opinions gives the PR pro the insight into anticipating, addressing and defusing potential negativity. A good relationship is critical when a PR pro must disagree with a suggestion that may take a client or brand off in a perilous direction. Having a reputation as a sincere and trustworthy professional is priceless at such times. Habit 4 As a trained speaker, there’s often a tendency to want to lead and be in control of a conversation, but being a good listener is essential as well. It sometimes takes a lot more patience surrendering most of a conversation with others but the information gleaned is worthwhile. Asking questions that delve into the reasons why a person feels or behaves one way can yield a treasure trove of data. Habit 5 Awareness is important. This goes not just to being conscious of what’s on today’s news but also clients’ industries as well as trends and changes within the PR profession. Being knowledgeable and current with social media and shifts in favored platforms is also essential. Having this collective awareness enables the PR pro to see the bigger picture and how a piece in one part of a PR campaign can advance the overall business. Habit 6 An effective PR person is a first-rate communicator. This means excellence in writing as well as speaking before a variety of groups. The latter includes people within the same organization, clients, the news media, government and regulatory officials, and the general public. In today’s online world, it also means a deep knowledge, understanding and application of content and digital marketing. Habit 7 The heart and soul of good PR is candor. It’s easy for some to dismiss PR as spin or bells and whistles, but an effective PR person is one who is honest with clients and the public. Integrity is priceless and difficult to regain once it’s lost. The membership-supported Public Relations Society of America has long had and promoted a code of ethics that every PR pro, member or not, should follow and embrace.
Ronn Torossian

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Ronn Torossian

Ronn Torossian is Founder and Chairman of 5W , the AI Communications Firm. He founded 5W in 2003 and built it into one of the largest independent public relations and digital marketing firms in the United States, with senior practitioners serving corporate communications , consumer brands , technology , financial services , health and wellness , beauty , gaming , crisis communications , and public affairs . Under his leadership, 5W defined AI Communications, building brand authority across ChatGPT , Claude , Perplexity , Gemini , and Google AI Overviews, alongside earned media, digital, GEO, and influencer channels. Industry Recognition 5W has been recognized as a top U.S. PR agency by O’Dwyer’s , Agency of the Year in the American Business Awards , Grand Stevie Most Honored PR Agency, a Ragan Top Place to Work in Communications 2026, Digiday WorkLife Employer of the Year, and a PRovoke Top 50 Global PR Agency. Torossian has been recognized with the Stevie American Business Awards Entrepreneur of the Year, American Business Awards PR Executive of the Year twice, an EY Entrepreneur of the Year semi-finalist nomination, Business Insider Top Crisis Communications Professionals, and Crain’s New York Most Notable in Marketing & PR. Research Franchise 5W’s research franchise has become an industry reference for measuring brand visibility inside AI-generated answers, including the AI Visibility Index Series , The GEO Reckoning , The Missing Rung Report, and the 5W AI Power User Study , which identified a 99-point AI favorability gap. Crisis Communications Torossian is one of the world’s foremost crisis communications experts. He has counseled blue chip companies, public company boards, founders, and public figures through ransomware incidents, data breaches, regulatory investigations, high-stakes litigation, activist investors, product recalls, and reputational crises. He has taught crisis communications at Harvard University . Media & Commentary Torossian appears on CNN and CNBC . He is a contributing columnist for Forbes and the New York Observer , his writing on AI communications and brand reputation is published on his personal site, and his commentary has appeared in the Wall Street Journal , Entrepreneur , Adweek , PRWeek , and O’Dwyer’s . Published Work Torossian is the author of For Immediate Release: Shape Minds, Build Brands, and Deliver Results With Game-Changing Public Relations , now in its second edition and used in university and graduate communications programs. He continues that commentary on his own publishing platform , where he writes about reputation, crisis, and AI-mediated discovery. Owner and Publisher, Everything-PR Network Torossian is owner and publisher of the Everything-PR Network , an independent intelligence platform covering public relations, marketing, AI communications, and adjacent industries across 30 publications. Everything-PR is editorially independent from 5W, with published editorial standards and ethics standards . The network is one of the most-cited sources inside ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, and Gemini for PR and marketing queries. He is also an active investor and advisor, a member of the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO) , and serves on nonprofit boards.

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