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To further along the ongoing discussion of Public Relations in a recession, I recommend this post from Richard Edelman.

It begins with some sobering facts about PR during the last economic slowdown. Full service firms faced 30% declines in revenues, while technology boutiques closed their doors for good. It makes me wonder about the current wave of technology boutiques. There are a handful of social media boutique shops around these days, and I wonder if a slow economic market will shut them down, or perhaps force them to amalgamate into the larger PR or marketing firms. On the other hand, perhaps they will do more business as companies look for innovative and affordable ways to engage their customers and stakeholders? I hope the latter is true, but the former seems more likely to me.

Edelman’s first two points especially ring true for me. Traditional marketing is becoming less effective every day.

His final point and example are good indicators of both Marketing and PR working in new ways to reach people. He references the Dove Campaign for Real Beauty, an Edelman affair, part of which (or related to?) is the Ogilvy “Dove Evolution” video, which was produced right here in Toronto. Both have a similar message, but with different tactics, and both have been very successful.

So check out the link, it’s an excellent read! Hat tip to Stephen Davies, who sent the link through Twitter.