Does use of public relations promote a higher growth rate in small firms? The case of Lincolnshire
Corporate Communications: An International Journal
ISSN: 1356-3289
Article publication date: 1 December 2004
Abstract
A survey was undertaken to identify the ways in which small businesses in Lincolnshire used public relations. For many of the 51 activities, techniques and skills examined, it is found that only a minority of small firms practise them. Analysis of the results of the survey highlight an interesting connection between those businesses with a high rate of growth and use of certain public relations activities and techniques. Specifically, based on Mann‐Whitney tests and using a restrictive level of significance (0.1 per cent), it is found that managing government relations (local or central), mounting exhibitions (consumer), providing media news releases, and writing letters to the media are associated with growth. As these four are not commonly used it is suggested that these, among other uses of PR, should be included in skills programmes for small business development.
Keywords
Citation
Gray, D., Davies, F. and Blanchard, K. (2004), "Does use of public relations promote a higher growth rate in small firms? The case of Lincolnshire", Corporate Communications: An International Journal, Vol. 9 No. 4, pp. 294-301. https://doi.org/10.1108/13563280410564039
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2004, Emerald Group Publishing Limited