Professional Training is Effective Way to Retain Employees, says New York Times

Now, North Florida companies seeking to retain top-level corporate communications and marketing staff have an attractive professional development option. Strategy-LINK has announced the rollout of its newest service, Power PR, a one-on-one training and coaching program that helps marketing executives enhance their efficiency and credibility by integrating the public relations functions of strategic planning, developing key messages and learning the secrets of delivering those messages for best impact.

For Immediate Release

Contact: Laura Link, 904-886-1785

A recent New York Times Job Market survey of hiring managers in the New York metro area determined that 14% of respondents have found training programs, not bonuses, to be the most effective way to retain employees.

According to the latest report from The New York Times Job Market, 14% of hiring managers in the New York metro area say professional training programs are the most effective way to retain employees, while the exact same amount says the same about bonuses. Only 8% cite 401(k) plans and a mere 6% cite internal promotions as the best way to keep employees," writes e-marketer.com in its May 9 issue.

Now, North Florida companies seeking to retain top-level corporate communications and marketing staff have an attractive professional development option. Strategy-LINK has announced the rollout of its newest service, Power PR, a one-on-one training and coaching program that helps marketing executives enhance their efficiency and credibility by integrating the public relations functions of strategic planning, developing key messages and learning the secrets of delivering those messages for best impact.

Its not, as they say, rocket science, but effective communication does require a lot of the right kind of strategic thinking and learning to ask the right questions," said Strategy-LINK president, Laura L. Link, APR. As a 16-year veteran of journalism and public relations, I packed the Power PR coaching program with all my secrets for PR success. The program is ideal for the marketing executive whos job entails some level of public relations, media relations or spokesperson duties, but who wasnt trained in the difference between these duties and marketing. Its also perfect for smaller companies or non-profits bringing the PR duties in-house or any company that needs to start a PR department from scratch."

Link has placed articles in top national papers including: USA Today, Los Angeles Times, Tampa Tribune, The Cincinnati Enquirer, The Florida Times-Union, San Francisco Chronicle, Oakland Tribune, Washington Post, Orlando Sentinel, AP, and syndicated columnists. She has also placed hundreds of stories in regional newspapers.

The Job Market commissioned Beta Research Corporation to survey 250 hiring managers and 200 job seekers in the New York metropolitan area. The study also determined that over one-half of hiring managers say their companies sales departments have the highest turnover rates. Tech positions follow in second place, cited as high-turnover jobs by 32% of hiring managers.

About Laura L. Link, APR

Ms. Links career spans more than 16 years with extensive experience in both the agency and journalism worlds. She founded Strategy-LINK Public Relations in 1999 to provide consulting and training to help connect executive communicators with audiences through the use of strategically targeted messages delivered at the right time through the most effective channels.

In her career, she has worked with Citibank Merchant Services, Merrill Lynch, Barnett Banks (now Bank of America), Hibernia National Bank, First Guaranty Bank, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida, Crawford Homes, Technology Point International, Arthur Treachers Fish n Chips, First Coast Oncology and Southeast Gynecologic Oncology Associates, among others.

Ms. Link served as the Public Relations Society of America, North Florida chapters President in 2000, and is now the Ethics Officer.