Not all news is news. In the fast-paced world of business, every milestone and achievement can feel like a reason to shout from the mountain tops. After all, your hard work and dedication should be celebrated, right? While it's essential to recognize your accomplishments, it's equally crucial to understand that not all news is newsworthy in the eyes of journalists and the … [Read more...]
Why You Should Start PR Now, Before a Crisis Hits
Effective crisis management communication is essential when something goes wrong – but it’s often the PR activity that takes place before a crisis hits that determines if and how well you and your business recover. Businesses that have a strong crisis communication plan prevent and lessen the damage a crisis may cause. Failure to effectively manage a crisis can seriously harm … [Read more...]
How to Get a Business Editor’s Attention
Getting an editor’s ear and eye is a skill PR companies spend years polishing, and the best ones manage it effortlessly. But what if you are a small business, with no budget? Do you stand a chance of getting free editorial coverage? The good news is, editors like to share news, and if it's a great story, it won't matter who sent it in. However, how you send in your story, … [Read more...]
6 Basics of Media Pitching
Public relations is not something that comes easy. It takes a lot of time, relationship building, and hard work. However, if your budget doesn’t allow you to hire a professional, there are a few simple things every business owner can do to build up their reputation through PR without much effort. 1. Build up Your Network Yes, I know it sounds easy enough, but so many miss the … [Read more...]
Top 5 Ways to Effectively Manage a Public Relations Crisis
Many of us are fascinated by the characters in television programs tasked with solving a crisis or protecting a reputation. Think Olivia Pope from “Scandal” or Eli Gold from “The Good Wife.” Some do it well; others, not so much. In real life, you want a crisis manager who can handle a sticky situation. Here are the top 5 tips for managing a public relations crisis … [Read more...]
4 Tips to Strategize a PR Plan
Public relations (PR) is one of the key elements of a strong business foundation. It is important because it helps send a clear message out in the media about what the organization stands for. As an entrepreneur, you shouldn’t underestimate the importance of having a strong PR strategy in place. Since the field of PR is extremely competitive and dynamic in nature, you have … [Read more...]
How to Get Your News Covered in a National Newspaper
So you have this awesome story that you think deserves to be included in a national paper like The Guardian or The New York Times. Whether it is a late-breaking piece of news about your business or you have the inside track on your niche like no one else, here is what you need to know (and do). 4 Tips for Pitching Your Story 1. Know the News Organizations, Their Editors and … [Read more...]
Help a Reporter Out And Everybody Wins
As you may know, journalists are seriously busy people. Between research, interviewing and writing multiple stories daily, they don’t have a lot of free time. And they certainly don’t want to spend their free time chasing down leads. In steps Help A Reporter Out, commonly known the industry as HARO. Founded in 2008 by Peter Shankman, HARO is a free online service that … [Read more...]
How to Do PR for Your Personal Brand
Whatever the cause – a new dream to pursue, a shift in direction or something else – you’ve decided that your future is in your own hands. Whether you’ve started your own business or are simply looking for new opportunities, building a personal brand that is recognizable and relate-able is critical for taking the next step in your personal career journey. Where do you start? … [Read more...]
3 Digital PR Tools Every Business Owner Should Use
Guest post by Kari DePhillips (learn more about the author at the end of the article): When it comes to maximizing your online marketing budget and getting the most out of every dollar spent, PR is almost always the way to go. A 3-minute segment on the Today show or a profile piece in a glossy magazine can be more effective at introducing new people to your brand and … [Read more...]