Promoting Inward Investment - PR Campaign
The success of a new or regenerated region for exploration may well depend on the industry perception of that region. Having built a geological story through an in-depth analysis of the Play Fairway, and developed an exploration strategy, it is often necessary to mount a PR campaign to generate interest in what may be considered high risk exploration.
Objectives
A successful PR Campaign would have three objectives:
1. Build public support for gas exploration and development activity
2. Allow the controlled release of information to the public that anticipates oil industry events and actions
3. Reduce the perception of exploration risk to the international oil community
Paras has wide experience in creating a campaign. We can work either with a country’s design company of choice, or alternatively provide the services of a proven designer in this field. Paras is skilled in articulating “the message” to be submitted to the press and public, a message evolved from experience and deep knowledge of both the media and the E&P world.
Key Events
The key objective in a PR campaign would be to promote the hydrocarbon prospectivity to the international oil industry to attract maximum participation in forthcoming licensing rounds. Within the industry there are a vast number of conferences and symposiums, and part of any campaign would involve choosing the most relevant showcases for any province. Furthermore, our involvement with any event might include exhibition management, to involve such elements as selection of stand location, appearance of the stand and then coordinating and the event management. In this activity, Paras can either take the lead or coach and assist staff to do with work.
Direct Contact
Paras would also draw on their knowledge of the industry to create a target list of companies that we feel would be likely to invest. We would manage the process for contacting these companies and the appropriate follow up activity, ensuring that every company is ‘hit’ and taken to an answer to the question ‘Are you going to participate in the next licensing round?’ Any conference would require both pre-conference promotion activity to ensure maximum visibility at the conferences, and management of conference follow up:
Paras also see the following key elements as vital to a successful investment opportunity:
• Promotion of the sale of the data packs to the industry
• Manage a central Customer Relationship management system to coordinate the various channels of communications that are released to individuals in companies
• Design and execute an advertising campaign to promote any licensing rounds and the availability of data sets
• Coordinate the preparation and placement of news and technical articles in the industry press
Into the Future
Paras is known for skills in process and people management in all areas of the business. Initially, we would expect to carry the majority of the work required in creating a successful campaign. However, there will be an emphasis on coaching and direct introduction at all stages of the campaign, with the ultimate aim of enabling a country to continue into future licensing rounds with less and less support. In our experience we can generate considerable excitement both internally and in the market on a given exploration opportunity.