If you know us, you’ll know we’re not afraid to rock the boat or stir things up from time to time. People come to us because we tell it like it is…end of story.

Which is why for your entertainment and information, we thought we’d share with you a list of the most irritating habits and misconceptions clients routinely pose for PR teams like us. Consider it a purely informative piece, perhaps a little education on what to do and what not to do to strike the best possible relationship with your PR team:

1. Thinking that PR is free advertising. PR is not free (or cheap). Period.

2. Asking us to pitch an idea, then being unavailable for the interview. If you want press, you need to be able to speak to the media at a moment’s notice.

3. Insisting that we call the media. Most outlets hate this and specifically request that we only contact them via email.

4. Forgetting that what matters most to you may be utterly irrelevant to a journalist. What they think is important is what matters.

5. Not realising that publicists cannot control the end product. It is unethical for us to ask to see or proof a copy of the story beforehand, or dictate what the reporter can and can’t say. What we can do is forge the connection between you and them in the first place.

6. Ignoring the fact that social media is more than just Facebook and Twitter.

7. Expecting results from your social media strategy if you insist on running every tweet and post that we make past legal.

8. Not getting that when a journalist says they’re not interested in a story, they mean it. Persistent harassment will only annoy them and guarantee that we’ll be ignored next time.

9. You know who hits it big overnight with stories on front pages and front covers? Criminals, naughty celebrities and shark-attack victims. Do you want to be one of them? PR is a process.

10. Not understanding you can’t ‘make’ something go viral. That’s why it’s called ‘going viral.’

11. Thinking an ethical PR pro is a spin doctor. Do not ask us to lie, spin the truth, evade the press or hide your dirty laundry.

12. Presuming we love you. You’re our favourite client. You’re the only one we work on all day. We have no other clients and it’s all about you. 😉

P.S – We do love you really…if you’re exempt from this particular rant!