One of the most important parts of public relations involves staying in the top of your audience’s minds. Staying relevant for over 45 years is one thing that Sesame Street has done best. Public relations can take a few lessons from Sesame Street by applying some of the elements of its well-strategized evolution to important tenants of public relations. Here are 3 PR lessons you can take from PBS Kids’ Sesame Street and its characters.
Elmo, a character from Sesame Street.
- Capture the Attention of Your Audience
Sesame Street’s goal was to captivate the attention of children in order to teach them. The same is true for public relations. In order to teach your audience about your product or service, you need to hold their attention in a captivating way. Knowing your audience is the first step to being able to hold their attention and spread your message.
- Tell the Truth
An important lesson in public relations is to always be honest. A good public relations plan is built on credibility and this is where it differs from advertising. Sesame Street has evolved through the years to also encourage credibility and open lines of communication. In 1985, Sesame Street introduced Big Bird’s imaginary friend Aloysius Snuffleupagus to the rest of the cast and crew because the show’s producers wanted to encourage honest communication between parents and children. Before 1985, others never believed that Mr. Snuffleupagus existed.
- Keep it Relevant
Sesame Street has evolved through its 45 years to always stay relevant through the introduction of new characters and storylines. In 2002, Sesame Street introduced its first HIV positive character, Kami. Five-year-old Kami educates children in South Africa and Nigeria about the disease and how their sense of self is affected by it. This captivating story is just another way Sesame Street has earned its place as a top show for children’s education.
Throughout its 45 seasons, Sesame Street has kept itself relevant and informative. The producers’ abilities to see major trends and push boundaries of children’s education is one way it has been able to stay on top. By keeping up with current events and captivating your audience, your public relations plan is sure to succeed.
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Photo Courtesy of MIKI Yoshihito via Flickr