Piaras Kelly PR - Public Relations in Ireland

The Internet offers a cost effective solution for engaging with the general public. By incorporating tools like blogs into a company’s website, it can transform their online offering into a focus group. For example, last week I posted about MPs in Britain calling for an enquiry into phone firms who are alleged to be targeting children under five years of age with phone covers and wallpapers featuring popular cartoon characters.

Not everyone agreed with me. My argument is that parents have to play a greater role in policing what their children are exposed to because there are too many outlets to regulate. However, a comment from Breffni Conaty illustrated the benefits of getting feedback from your website visitors.

Breffni commented, “I think mobile phone networks should introduce a policy where children under 12/ until 12, can make free calls to 10 numbers e.g. family & close friends. Its quite simple, just release a special sim with every contract an adult signs up for. That way, they can’t be charged by other companies for CRAZEE FROG or whatever garbage is out now!”

This is a product which every mobile phone company should be offering. Not only would it show them to be acting with social responsibility, but as Tom, a fellow Irish PR practitioner with O’Sullivan PR, points out, “it presents an opportunity for good PR“. All this from a simple discussion on a website. Imagine if mobile phone companies were actively engaging with their customers and the general public like this.

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