How you can use PR to grow your business
Public Relations, better known as PR, is an excellent channel to use when communicating to the world about the credibility of a brand. Notably, PR is one of the most cost-effective methods for raising brand awareness of a business. Consequently, it also leads to increased sales. Placement of products and services in popular magazines, TV stations and newspapers is a good PR strategy that helps cement brands as trusted authorities.
A simple positive comment on social media about your product can add an extra layer of trust and credibility to your brand. This translates to gained competitiveness in wooing and winning over potential customers. The impact of a positive mention from an influential, respected third-party media house can mean all the difference to an emerging brand.
What is public relations?
Public Relations is a practice of managing the propagation of information between an individual or an organization, and the public. Sometimes, it may include an organization or individual gaining coverage to their audiences using topics of public interest. In addition, one may use news items that do not require direct payment.
How do you use PR to boost your business? Every entrepreneur is asking this common question on a day-to-day basis. To answer this question, Mount Bonnel Advisors come up with a practical approach to how you can use PR to grow your business.
Below are tips for applying PR to grow your business.
Create excellent content
It is essential to keep the content succinct and solution-oriented when putting together a pitch or press release. Focus on problems facing the readers to garner their favor and interest. Take an extra step and offer viable solutions and describe in-depth how your company is involved. This will create a good impression of your company and in turn market your business. Well-curated content is what magazines and newspapers look to publish.
Be honest
Never stretch the truth about the company. When releasing company information, be honest and avoid hiding anything that may bounce back with a negative impact. Always recall that an authentic story well-narrated makes the most successful brand. It would be best to give honest information about a product or service. Otherwise, you will only be hurting your brand.
Keep up with trends
Nowadays, it is essential to be familiar with the latest trends in your industry. This is the beginning of being valued and seen as a reliable source of information. You quickly become a leader within the space; therefore, keep up with the prevailing occurrences.
Keep an eye on trends through sources like Google Trends, social media, news, forums and industry reports. Know what the burning issues, become an authority on it and create relevant topics to make an impact on the audience. Our specialists at Mount Bonnell Advisors believe that you will gain great ideas to pitch publications if you practice this regularly. Within a short while, you start to score more citations and publicized press releases.
Build your media network
Work towards creating a good relationship with reporters and journalists in your area of specialization. You will be more successful if you become a trusted source of information. Building a good reputation requires you to be a source of great and valid info. With time, you and your business will enjoy quality media attention complete with a mutually beneficial relationship. As a PR firm, you should have learned by now that strong and amicable relationships with the media are a pillar for the success of any public relations firm.
Be your news source
As a business, it is important to be in control of the press associated with your brand. Avoid the risk of someone else impeding on your own brand identity against your company’s ethos and values. Come up with a “News” or “Media” page on your website where people can go to fetch positive press. Ensure that you proactively distribute the news through several sources both online and offline.
Incorporate social media in your PR strategy
Social media has grown into a great receptacle for public relations. It is not wise to focus all your PR efforts on media houses only. Share the company information via your social media channels. Always attend to any negative feedback given on social media. This lets potential consumers know that you care about not only providing a quality product but also providing room to grow. You may want to provide an apologetic reply with confirmation that their issues are promptly being resolved. On the other hand, you can contact them privately and address their concern.
Consistency is key
It is imperative to note that no one can become an expert public relations specialist overnight. It takes times to know what does and doesn’t work for your specific brand and the best ways to execute PR campaigns. It is good to have a long-term PR plan mapped out with time and consistent efforts. With a perfect implementation of these factors, your company will distinguish itself and attain the desired recognition.
If you still do not get good results after applying all viable options, hire a PR firm for help. Mount Bonnell Advisors can help in using PR to grow your business. Get in touch with us for more information!
