6 Must-Know Rules for Quick and Easy PR
There are certain do's and don'ts of online PR. For example; it is not recommended to write a PR piece that is promotional and blatant advertising. It is recommended however, to engage the consumer by stating how your product/service can help them, be it save money or time.
You don’t need to be an expert at public relations to achieve success. By having the right tools and advice, you can boost your brand’s awareness on the World Wide Web. It really is that simple.
Want to know more? Here are 6 rules for quick and easy PR:
1. Know your market
What community do you want to target? Who uses your product/service? Do you want to reach mummy bloggers, professional male business men, or the young generation that is social savvy?
Not knowing your market can have serious consequences. It will be a waste of time, effort but most importantly, money.
2. Target the right outlets
After understanding who your market is, you can target your media to the right outlets. Think of your average consumer; where do they go to read, listen and view news? Are they more likely to pick up a local newspaper, listen to the radio or read online?
3. Be different
Journalists receive hundreds of press releases a week. With so many press releases landing in their inboxes, makes yours stand out. This can be achieved either with the press release structure, your introduction email, or with a bold and eye-catchy headline.
4. What makes you unique?
You may think that your product is the best on the market, but chances all your competitors think the exact same thing about their goods. What makes your product/service unique?
Take for example a hairdryer. All hairdryers pretty much do the same thing; the technology allows the consumer to dry their hair effectively. What makes your hairdryer different? Is it made out of completely recycle materials? Does it produce zero carbon emissions? Does it have anti-frizz technology? These are the facts which you need to emphasise.
5. Follow up
Too many businesses distribute their press releases to hundreds of media outlets, and then sit and wait for an outcome. Sorry to burst your bubble, but no-one got anywhere in life by waiting for things to happen.
Grab the bull by the horns and follow up your contacts. Did they receive your press release? What were there thoughts? Do they need any more information? Be persistent but not pushy. Use social media and send them a tweet saying; ‘Hi I just sent you a PR, hope you like it!’
6. Make it visually appealing
Pictures tell a thousand words. Make your press release stand out and look great with an interesting image. Don’t just feature a picture of the product but put it into context , and being used by a consumer. Media outlets are picture led; so ensure your release is visually-appealing.
There you have it; 6 simple rules for quick and easy PR. Got any tactics that you do yourself that are successful? Share them below!
This article was written by Lauren Grice on behalf of PR Fire, the leading UK online news distribution service. To distribute your business news to over 50,000 journalists, bloggers & social media site, speak to the experts today.