by Mike Swenson, Barkley Public Relations, Vollmer IPREX Partner
Yes. I know. You now are going to be humming that song the rest of the day. But the song is right. Our world grows ever smaller each and every day. And while all of us basically have access to the entire world via Google or other online resources, it is still nice to know that we can reach out to real people anywhere in the world to help us do our jobs.
That is where IPREX comes in for Vollmer, Barkley and the 80 other offices of our fellow IPREXers around the world. While our two firms have the staff and expertise to develop and execute any public relations program we can dream up, IPREX can be an asset for us.
It can begin right up front with research. IPREX members are only an email away from being able to participate in an online brainstorm to help identify that one, unique insight to build a program around. Or there may be a specific need to understand regional differences in the USA or cultural differences around the world. Again, IPREX members are ready to help us understand the nuances of their area that we might never interpret correctly on our own.
And even though our two firms are staffed to execute any program just about anywhere in the world, it is nice to know that we can tap into 80 offices worldwide and receive support from IPREX pros on the ground wherever we need them. In essence, IPREX makes us global.
IPREX can also be a new business asset. Everything described above in terms of client work can just as easily be applied to helping us win new business. Additional brains to offer strategic insights can be the difference between winning and losing a new business pitch. In some cases, it may be the simple fact that we have global partners that levels the playing field for us against the global holding companies. Or joining forces with fellow IPREX members to pitch a piece of business together can leverage all the advantages of the IPREX partnership and lead to new business for everyone.
The little things matter also. Any of us can pick up the phone, email or even text an IPREX partner with a quick question on day-to-day issues. Or maybe you just need a sympathetic ear on a bad day. These are the kind of relationships you can develop through IPREX.
Barkley has been a partner since the early 1990s. Vollmer was already in IPREX when we joined and Helen, Allen and Carolyn were among the first people I really got to know. It was a comfort to me as we were building the PR firm at Barkley to have people like them willing to listen to my concerns or ideas and receive honest feedback. IPREX also became a good measuring stick to see how we were progressing against some of the finest PR firms in the world.
As with any volunteer organization, your rewards are based on your investment. IPREX requires each of us to give a little so that we can all gain a lot. See how you can get involved with IPREX and I assure you it will be good for your own personal growth as well as for Vollmer.
Mike Swenson is Chief Marketing Officer of Barkley and founder of Barkley Public Relations in Kansas City. He was Global President of IPREX from 1999-2001.
Yes. I know. You now are going to be humming that song the rest of the day. But the song is right. Our world grows ever smaller each and every day. And while all of us basically have access to the entire world via Google or other online resources, it is still nice to know that we can reach out to real people anywhere in the world to help us do our jobs.
That is where IPREX comes in for Vollmer, Barkley and the 80 other offices of our fellow IPREXers around the world. While our two firms have the staff and expertise to develop and execute any public relations program we can dream up, IPREX can be an asset for us.
It can begin right up front with research. IPREX members are only an email away from being able to participate in an online brainstorm to help identify that one, unique insight to build a program around. Or there may be a specific need to understand regional differences in the USA or cultural differences around the world. Again, IPREX members are ready to help us understand the nuances of their area that we might never interpret correctly on our own.
And even though our two firms are staffed to execute any program just about anywhere in the world, it is nice to know that we can tap into 80 offices worldwide and receive support from IPREX pros on the ground wherever we need them. In essence, IPREX makes us global.
IPREX can also be a new business asset. Everything described above in terms of client work can just as easily be applied to helping us win new business. Additional brains to offer strategic insights can be the difference between winning and losing a new business pitch. In some cases, it may be the simple fact that we have global partners that levels the playing field for us against the global holding companies. Or joining forces with fellow IPREX members to pitch a piece of business together can leverage all the advantages of the IPREX partnership and lead to new business for everyone.
The little things matter also. Any of us can pick up the phone, email or even text an IPREX partner with a quick question on day-to-day issues. Or maybe you just need a sympathetic ear on a bad day. These are the kind of relationships you can develop through IPREX.
Barkley has been a partner since the early 1990s. Vollmer was already in IPREX when we joined and Helen, Allen and Carolyn were among the first people I really got to know. It was a comfort to me as we were building the PR firm at Barkley to have people like them willing to listen to my concerns or ideas and receive honest feedback. IPREX also became a good measuring stick to see how we were progressing against some of the finest PR firms in the world.
As with any volunteer organization, your rewards are based on your investment. IPREX requires each of us to give a little so that we can all gain a lot. See how you can get involved with IPREX and I assure you it will be good for your own personal growth as well as for Vollmer.
Mike Swenson is Chief Marketing Officer of Barkley and founder of Barkley Public Relations in Kansas City. He was Global President of IPREX from 1999-2001.
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