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Digital PR · Published March 18, 2016

Ronn Torossian
Founder & Chairman, 5W

Sentiment Analysis is an Important PR Tool

sentiment analysis public relations strategy for brand reputation
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  In developing your public relations program, if you fail to include sentiment analysis, you have denied yourself a vital, dynamic metric to define and promote success. Why? Because you need to KNOW, not assume, the attitude of an individual after interacting with a situation or message. Sentiment analysis is the “process of computationally identifying and categorizing written opinions to determine the writer’s attitude toward a particular product, topic or situation. Do they view it positively, neutrally or negatively? While this may seem simple on the surface, assumption in this facet of analysis creates skewed data triggering incorrect PR responses. If you have been anywhere near conversation or a formal communication class, you know about the communication dynamic of sending and receiving messages. Sometimes the intent of those messages is clear in the words, expressions and tones. Other times, it can be less clear. The same can be said for text. When reading a text, applying sentiment analysis can break through the assumption to clarify exactly what the writer means and how they actually feel. In addition to offering meta insights about the mood and intent of the communication, sentiment analysis can provide the information you need to improve your campaign success, improve product messaging, escalate customer service outcomes, generate leads, and drill down to the best possible market strategy in any given situation. Ah, but there’s a catch. At this point, though it is improving, sentiment analysis algorithms are roughly 60 percent accurate. Some are basically a coin flip. So, it needs to be said loud and clear – Sentiment Analysis is a single tool in a wider PR arsenal. And it needs to be handled by pros, not by some add-on tool you found online. Yes, there are services out there that will be happy to run your numbers, but how accurate will they be? Are they just depending on a single algorithm or are they using sentiment analysis along with a set of additional, proven public relations protocols to develop the best, most accurate data? The best sentiment analysis tools will combine a series of factors to find the best results. These include but are not limited to human intention and keyword processing. The former is basically what we all do when we read something and hope we understand it, but taken to a professional level. It’s an industry expert reading a piece rather than a neophyte hoping to “get the gist.” The latter reviews the importance and order of specific keywords in the text to identify an emotional or relational aspect to these keywords. Is the writer happy about them, less than happy, noncommittal? Where do they actually stand? Bottom line, when it comes to what “they” are thinking. Don’t guess and don’t wonder. Use sentiment analysis as part of a larger public relations program to know better
Ronn Torossian

Written by

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 , 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. 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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