In all likelihood, you haven't gathered data that tells you what most members of that key outside audience think about your organization. However, you would have these data if you had been regularly sampling those perceptions.

But now, in the absence of a large professional survey budget, you and your colleagues will have to monitor those perceptions yourselves. Meet with members of that outsi

Can your PR deliver external stakeholder behavior change -- the kind that leads directly to achieving your managerial objectives?

Can your PR persuade those important outside folks to your way of thinking, then move them to take actions that help your department, division or subsidiary succeed?

Or does the money you spend on public relations pretty much buy personnel mentions in the newspaper and product plugs on radio talk shows?

If you want the real thing - the public relations performance described above - start with this reality: people act on their own perception of the facts before them, which leads to predictable behaviors about which something can be done. When we create, change or reinforce that opinion by reaching, persuading and moving-to-desired-action the very people whose behaviors affect the organization the most, the public relations mission is accomplished.

First, look at the results that could come your way. Capital givers or specifying sources beginning to look your way; fresh proposals for strategic alliances and joint ventures; prospects interested in doing business with you; membership applications on the rise; customers starting to make repeat purchases; politicians and legislators starting to view you as a key member of the business, non-profit or association communities; welcome bounces in show room visits; higher employee retention rates, and even community leaders beginning to seek you out.

If you're a business, non-profit or association manager, and you're serious about wringing every last benefit out of your public relations budget, here, for starters, are two suggestions: list those outside audiences of yours who behave in ways that help or hinder you in achieving your objectives. Then prioritize them by impact severity. And let's address the target audience you decide is number one.

In all likelihood, you haven't gathered data that tells you what most members of that key outside audience think about your organization. However, you would have these data if you had been regularly sampling those perceptions.

But now, in the absence of a large professional survey budget, you and your colleagues will have to monitor those perceptions yourselves. Meet with members of that outsid

If you want the real thing - the public relations performance described above - start with this reality: people act on their own perception of the facts before them, which leads to predictable behaviors about which something can be done. When we create, change or reinforce that opinion by reaching, persuading and moving-to-desired-action the very people whose behaviors affect the organization the most, the public relations mission is accomplished.

First, look at the results that could come your way. Capital givers or specifying sources beginning to look your way; fresh proposals for strategic alliances and joint ventures; prospects interested in doing business with you; membership applications on the rise; customers starting to make repeat purchases; politicians and legislators starting to view you as a key member of the business, non-profit or association communities; welcome bounces in show room visits; higher employee retention rates, and even community leaders beginning to seek you out.

If you're a business, non-profit or association manager, and you're serious about wringing every last benefit out of your public relations budget, here, for starters, are two suggestions: list those outside audiences of yours who behave in ways that help or hinder you in achieving your objectives. Then prioritize them by impact severity. And let's address the target audience you decide is number one.

In all likelihood, you haven't gathered data that tells you what most members of that key outside audience think about your organization. However, you would have these data if you had been regularly sampling those perceptions.

But now, in the absence of a large professional survey budget, you and your colleagues will have to monitor those perceptions yourselves. Meet with members of that outsi

First, look at the results that could come your way. Capital givers or specifying sources beginning to look your way; fresh proposals for strategic alliances and joint ventures; prospects interested in doing business with you; membership applications on the rise; customers starting to make repeat purchases; politicians and legislators starting to view you as a key member of the business, non-profit or association communities; welcome bounces in show room visits; higher employee retention rates, and even community leaders beginning to seek you out.

If you're a business, non-profit or association manager, and you're serious about wringing every last benefit out of your public relations budget, here, for starters, are two suggestions: list those outside audiences of yours who behave in ways that help or hinder you in achieving your objectives. Then prioritize them by impact severity. And let's address the target audience you decide is number one.

In all likelihood, you haven't gathered data that tells you what most members of that key outside audience think about your organization. However, you would have these data if you had been regularly sampling those perceptions.

But now, in the absence of a large professional survey budget, you and your colleagues will have to monitor those perceptions yourselves. Meet with members of that outsi

If you're a business, non-profit or association manager, and you're serious about wringing every last benefit out of your public relations budget, here, for starters, are two suggestions: list those outside audiences of yours who behave in ways that help or hinder you in achieving your objectives. Then prioritize them by impact severity. And let's address the target audience you decide is number one.

In all likelihood, you haven't gathered data that tells you what most members of that key outside audience think about your organization. However, you would have these data if you had been regularly sampling those perceptions.

But now, in the absence of a large professional survey budget, you and your colleagues will have to monitor those perceptions yourselves. Meet with members of that outsi

In all likelihood, you haven't gathered data that tells you what most members of that key outside audience think about your organization. However, you would have these data if you had been regularly sampling those perceptions.

But now, in the absence of a large professional survey budget, you and your colleagues will have to monitor those perceptions yourselves. Meet with members of that outside audience and interact by asking questions like "Have you ever met anyone from our organization? Was it a satisfactory experience? How much do you know about our services or products?" Watch carefully for negative statements, especially evasive or hesitant replies. And stay alert for false assumptions, untruths, misconceptions, inaccuracies and potentially damaging rumors. You'll need to correct any that you discover because experience shows they usually lead to negative behaviors.

After correcting such aberrations before they morph into hurtful behaviors, you now select the specific perception to be altered, and that becomes your public relations goal.

As luck would have it, a PR goal without a strategy to show you how to get there, is like pasta without the meat sauce. That's why you must select one of three strategies especially designed to create perception or opinion where there may be none, or change existing perception, or reinforce it. And take care that your new goal and the new strategy match each other. After all, you wouldn't want to select "change existing perception" when current perception is just right suggesting a "reinforce" strategy.

Now here's where talent comes in. Your PR team must put those writing skills to work and prepare a compelling message carefully designed to alter your key target audience's perception, as called for by your public relations goal.

You might think about combining your corrective message with another newsworthy announcement of a new product, service or employee - or including it in another presentation -- thus lending credibility by downplaying the correction.

Still, the corrective message must possess clarity. It must be clear about what perception needs clarification or correction, and why. Your facts must be truthful and your position must be persuasive, logically explained and believable if it is to hold the attention of members of