Getting Started With Your PR...

You already know that PR can help improve your brand’s awareness levels, attract more opportunities and if done correctly, can get you in front of your ideal clients. But knowing where to start and how, can often be a real stumbling block.

It can also be a really big thing to even contemplate putting yourself ‘out there’ and trying to get your story featured.

So many of my clients tell me the same thing, they would like to be more visible, but fear has held them back until now. Fear of how others might react when they share what they have to say, or fear around how they will be seen or judged.

But if you look at it this way - you are there to help your clients and it is wrong for you not to share your knowledge and expertise because you could make a big difference to them. So why would you want to hide yourself away and not be visible so they can find you, connect with you and get to know, like and trust you?

When you look at it like this ie it’s not about you, it’s about them and helping others who need the expertise that you can offer, it takes the pressure off.

The thing is, not everyone will like you just the same as not everyone will like me. But that’s a good thing because your ideal clients will be drawn to what you have to say. But first you have to put yourself out there and let them know what you do and why they should work with you.

I always think a great starting point with any PR is to have a toolkit so you’re fully ready before you make any approaches or pitches to Journalists. By this I mean, having your story well crafted and well thought through, completing your research around the media targets that could work well for you and any regular slots that you think you might be able to help with or provide expert comment on. Think especially about your ideal clients. What media do they consume? Is it mainly online or do they still love to have a glossy magazine once a month, and if so, which one do they gravitate towards? Where else could you be seen/heard talking about a subject that’s relevant to them?

For working mums for instance, they are more likely to consume media on the go so are more likely to be reading online versions of their favourite magazines or sites such as Mail Online (they might not fully admit to it, but I bet for a high percentage it’s their guilty pleasure).

Then think about photographs and have a place where you can pull all of these together. Make sure you don’t just have headshots, lots of publications prefer to see you actually working or doing something relevant to your role. Do you already have these? If not, you will need to get some.

In addition to your story, it’s also worth having a biography already written too. It will save you so much time scrabbling around at the last minute trying to pull something together.

Now you have all of the above, you’re ready to make your first approach, bearing in mind the research you have already done about the media target you’re looking to reach. Often, with magazines and online sites in particular, you can see the name of the Journalist who’s written about a similar subject before. A quick google search should help provide you with an example email from the publication, and with many of the glossy magazines, they still have a page dedicated to contact information.

I hope this helps get you feeling more PR ready.

Let me know how you get on and if you need anything further in terms of taking that all-important first step.

Nicola x

PS Don’t forget if you’re stuck on knowing how to write your story, I have limited availability for June and July for Strategy Sessions, where I’ll deep-dive into your business, write your story for you, provide you with feature ideas tied to key dates in the media calendar as well as your key messaging and a series of top PR tips. Just contact me HERE for more details and availability… x