Is Writing the Most Important PR Skill?

Helpful resources for writers! especially Copywriting for social media is awesome! Thanks the useful resources Heather :)

Like Google Says. Content is a King ;)

I'm not sure it's the most important, but it has to be near the top.

The explosion of social networking has lead to an increase in low quality content so those capable of creating quality and engaging pros will find it easier to gain exposure to those who can't.

I'm with you Heather. Writing is PR's number one skill, no doubt in my mind. Considering the amount of writing we do vs verbal communication, not only does it dominate actual time/space, I think it dominates in influence, too.

Great post! I agree with tjpip that the key of what you mentioned is "clearly articulate ideas." I think the key to articulating clearly is being able to understand your audience. Who will they be? How might they perceive this message? Have I correctly identified my audience? So often I think we focus on our target audience without recognizing they might not be our actual audience. In terms of good writing skills (which I agree is an essential skill) I think it is about the right type of writing for the right audience. I try to keep my writing skills sharp by writing often and in different forms; blogging, letters, communication plans, emails, to practice putting together clear ideas for different mediums. =)

I think the internet and social media has caused writing to be more important in all facets of our lives. Everyone is not a broadcaster of information, and writing is the tool that is utilized to do so. A lack of practice after high school and college has left my skills a bit on the rusty side, but thanks to an internship at livefyre with excellent writers such as jmatthicks to help me along the way, I have resurrected something inside of me that was dying to come out. Writing is a great form of self-expression and an incredibly valuable trade in today's connected world.

As Public Relations major in college, I always thought that PR was all about public speaking and interpersonal interaction, so that's where I focused all of my time and energy.

Big mistake.

It took a long time for me to develop the ability to write clearly and concisely, and it's definitely a skill I'm still developing, but a skill that I don't think you can put a price on when executed effectively. I'd definitely put writing at or near the very top.

Good writing isn't just important in PR; it's important in any field. Good writing is definitely the most important skill in PR since it can be used across so many platforms.

Great post Heather! Thanks for bringing these resources into one post. Actually, I think you nailed it when you said what we as PR Pros do is "clearly articulate ideas." Being able to communicate ideas, whether in writing, through images, or spoken voice, is the key skill anyone in our profession should possess. Keep up the great work!