Having good PR is one thing, but have a successful, long-term PR strategy is a completely different ball game. There are various things you need to keep on top of in order to ensure that it gets to that level.
At Prologue we may have a bit of a hard time now and again, but here are five tips from the experts in our office, to help you make sure your business is doing the best PR they can.
Your News = Your Business
There is no way to make sure everyone that is talking about your client’s business, is talking about the things they love. So, how do we fight this? By making sure you spread the news first. No matter what happens to your firm/company, the best thing to do is make sure you set the tone about how the news is coming out. Even if a journalist or reporter tried to spin the story, or make it seem worse than it is, more often than not readers are looking for the original story. So, when they find your statement, they’ll understand that the story was blown out of proportion, and you’ll be in the clear.
Creating Great Content
Putting out great content constantly will help prove to your audience that your brand is a subject matter expert and that it is to be trusted. For example, writing a fact-based press release while showing your expertise and that you’re a straight shooter in the subject matter, will help show your company to be a trusted source in the area. Not only would it show your current clients that you are an expert, but it’ll show potential clients that you are the number one company to come to, and therefore build up more of a following.
Honesty is the Best Policy
One of the most important things a company can do is have a comprehensive crisis communications plan in order to prepare for a situation that would require one. There are many reasons why your company could be under fire from the public, so having this plan would benefit you as you’ll be prepared with a message. Being honest is the number one thing that customers and clients appreciate between them and a company. You don’t have to discuss every detail of what happened, or stretch the truth either, but just letting your clients know that you are on top of things and are willing to give them the basics of what is happening, will help you be appreciated more. Hiding anything now will only lead to it getting ugly later.
Stay Trendy with Social Media
Having honest communication is brilliant when paired with having an online presence that the clients can trust. We all know that social media is practically the future. Without social media, how are your customers meant to know about the newest announcements you need to make? When it comes to PR, you are not a salesperson, you’re a storyteller. Not only do you need to make your story clear to the audience, but you also need to make sure that it reaches as many different audiences as possible. Along with social media channels, there are media houses that can also help you reach an even wider audience. Journalists and reporters more often than not follow the business social media accounts in order to stay informed, so you posting regular updates will help direct the message that journalists and reporters will have to write about.
Be Consistent
Having a solid PR strategy won’t lead you straight to success. Rome wasn’t built in a day. And neither can your company. You need to have a long-term plan that was made with the marketing department to ensure you are both aligned with the messaging being sent out. Remaining consistent across the different social media platforms will show your audience that you remain dedicated to them and want them to know what’s going on.
These aren’t the only ways to make your PR strategy better, but this is a start. Thank you for reading!