PR = Sales
It's Sunday, and like most Australians, I am enjoying the day, relaxing, reading the papers and eating with friends and family.
Reading The Sunday Age is always a treat, especially when I get through the paper, start to finish. It is full of interesting stories on people, places and world affairs.
For some light reading, I often pick up the Sunday Life Magazine, and flick through. Having Gwyneth Paltrow on the cover helps, as I am a BIG fan of her acting, singing and sense of style.
As I started to read about her new cookbook, Notes From My Kitchen Table, I immediately felt like I needed to see this cookbook.
With a click of the button on my computer, I opened up www.bookdepository.com and began looking for Notes From My Kitchen Table. For just $22.95, I was able to purchase it within a minute, no fuss.
As I am not an lover of the cooking experience, it is remarkable that from reading a story, I was compelled to buy a cookbook.
It's the power of PR!
Public relations that is well-placed at the right time with the right audience is one of the best ways to get your brand out there.
I remember in the earlier years of my career, being featured in Wealth Creator Magazine and within days of release, I had signed up a number of clients who had read the story.
Another time, I was in BRW, and the same experience occured.
What is important though, is that people don't focus on getting PR for PR's sake. Make sure it is strategic and that you are able to communicate key messages that ignite something in the people who would be reading the editorial.
How To Get PR
There are many ways to get PR.
1. You can hire a PR agency
2. You may know a journalist in a key editorial that you can ring up
3. You can learn how to do it yourself by reading books, blogs, and websites on tips of how to best get PR for your business
4. Subscribe to PR platforms like www.sourcebottle.com.au
5. Attend a seminar or webinar that teachers you how to get PR.
Public relations is the cheapest way to get your company profiled. If you are small business, there are lots of editorials you can focus on like the Small Business Sections in metropolitan newspapers like Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, Daily Telegraph, Courier Mail, Herald Sun and more.
As well, you may choose to focus on magazines like Dynamic Small Business, My Business and even BRW has an emerging companies section.
What you might like to do is:
1. Brainstorm what is unique and different about your company
2. Draft a press release or use a platform that drafts press releases online. Marketing Eye does it for just $299 which is very affordable and distributes for $99.
3. Get someone to proof read it - a person who is good at English is preferrable
4. Check out competitors press releases online to see how they are written, just to make sure that you have written it in the right format and that it is just as professional as theirs which may have been done by an agency.
5. Find editorials and platforms to send it out to journalists. Margaret Gee writes a good book that is worthwhile for any small business owner or just try google and ring them up and find out who is the right person to speak to.
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comments ( 5 )
Sarah-Jo
19 Jun 2011Interesting article, thanks for a thought-provoking read! From what I've been taught, it's important for large companies to be consistent in endeavouring to continually be engaging in PR and trying to get (good) publicity, staying "in people's faces" so to speak. Does this apply to small businesses? If so are the guidelines slightly different? How so?
ReplyPooja
09 Jun 2011Well-said! I especially love your neat advice about how to go about a PR. You make it sound easy for a non-marketing background person even.
ReplyThanks for the share!
Pooja
09 Jun 2011Well-said! I especially love your neat advice about how to go about a PR. You make it sound easy for a non-marketing background person even.
ReplyThanks for the share!
Andrea
05 Jun 2011The same experience occurred to my sister and I on Sunday morning. After spotting the weekly insert we found ourselves in a discussion about Gwyneth Paltrow, which lead us to then search her book and find out more on what it offered. The piece was well situated and worth every penny, PR can be a magical thing when performed correctly.
ReplyAndrea
05 Jun 2011The same experience occurred to my sister and I on Sunday morning. After spotting the weekly insert we found ourselves in a discussion about Gwyneth Paltrow, which lead us to then search her book and find out more on what it offered. The piece was well situated and worth every penny, PR can be a magical thing when performed correctly.
Reply