Is Your Brand Ready for PR? Think Again!
Your simple company is finally gaining traction, and sales are beginning to flow in. You’ve reached the point where you need to start growing your customer base and scaling your business. While muting the competition, an intelligent PR plan may optimize your exposure, construct a reputable foundation, boost long-term ROI, educate the consumer, and create continuous trust.
You might be eager to get the word out about your firm, but how can you determine if it’s ready for publicity?
Many firms believe they are ready for the press and want to boost sales and overall buzz, so PR is the logical next step. However, it is vital that you manage expectations and approach the PR investment with caution. Use this fast checklist to see if your business is ready to take on the world.
A Story Worth Telling
While some brands are fortunate enough to receive media coverage without doing any work, the vast majority of businesses must work extremely hard to earn coverage. If you want to be mentioned in the press, your company must do more than merely fulfil orders.
What distinguishes your business? What distinguishes your company from others? Journalists adore an excellent product line, but if you also have a juicy and newsworthy story to share, your pitch will be prioritized.
If you have the appropriate narrative on your side, even the most basic facts may become a thrilling antidote. Perhaps you’re introducing a new line, have an exciting business story to tell, or are starting a relationship with another well-known company. Your PR goal is to present a tale that no one else has heard before and keep people interested.
Your Company’s Image Is Consistent
Even if you have the most gripping tale, you’ll need a way to transmit it to the rest of the world. Journalists will not give your brand a second look if it has a defined statement, style, mission, or values.
Is It Possible to Reform the Federal Student Loan Program?
You can feel more secure in a successful PR plan when your message is strong and you have a clear direction for your company. Do you have objectives for your company? Do you have a specific goal in mind?
A PR plan that lacks consistency may be difficult to come by. Before pitching journalists, make sure you delve in and perform some branding work.
You’ve devised a financial strategy.
It’s great to have big ideas, but do you know how you’ll pay for them if they come to fruition? You’ll be dissatisfied with your public relations efforts if you don’t have any funding.
On average, it takes more than a month to get your first media feature (even if a journalist accepts your pitch on the first day), and it could take even longer if product samples are delayed or need to be tested over time. Because journalists and editors work on their schedules, you must ensure that the financial commitment can be sustained over time. Quality results from your PR strategy take time to develop; nevertheless, as momentum begins to build (usually between months 3-6), it can be one of the most satisfying and exciting business decisions you can make.
You’re All Set to Scale
Let’s pretend you get a prominent feature and become a viral phenomenon the next day. That’s the PR jackpot, and it does happen, albeit infrequently.
Before you invest in public relations, consider whether your company can take the implications of recognition. Media features are fantastic, but you’ll need to keep up with the extra attention because of the greater visibility.
Ensure you have enough time, money, employees, and resources to deal with a potential traffic surge.
Have the Correct Motives
What makes you want to work in public relations in the first place? There are numerous compelling reasons for you to begin marketing your company.
With that said, keep in mind that the primary purpose of public relations is to raise brand recognition and establish credibility; anything else is icing on the cake. Although brand recognition can increase sales (no one can invest if they don’t know you exist), you shouldn’t measure your PR success in terms of sales. The number of organic news mentions your business obtains should be your primary KPI.
By incorporating your media success into your website, social media platforms, and marketing materials, you can ensure that your accomplishments pay off long after they’ve gone live. Earned media is one of the few marketing strategies that, when used properly, can help your brand last a lifetime.