It's been a while since I sat in a newsroom of any description. It's not that I don't still write and submit articles, I do that all the time - it's just that since I moved across into PR - I've been able to be more creative in telling the stories of those brands and entrepreneurs that I work with.

So on Friday, I thought it would be a good idea to go along to a workshop to find out the current do's and don'ts in the Journalistic world.

And it turns out, they're much the same as they always were - but with one or two additions.

Nicola Rowley28 January 2020PR visibility, PR Strategy, PR for entrepreneurs, PR for Female Entrepreneurs, What Journalists Want, BBC, PR in 2020, PR reputation, NJRPR, Nicola J Rowley PR Comment

What Does A Magical Story Of A Cat, A Witch And A Spaceship Have To Do With PR?

When did you last write a story? Was it way back in school for your English exams or perhaps it was more recent than that.

Do you remember the first story you ever wrote?

For me, it's always been about storytelling. I was six-years-old when I first wrote a magical story about a cat, a witch and a spaceship.

In fairness, it probably didn't make too much sense…

Nicola Rowley22 October 2019PR Win, Know your story, PR Storytelling, NJRPR, PR for entrepreneurs, PR for brands in leisure, PR for entertainment brands, Nicola J Rowley, Nicola J Rowley PR, Surrey based PRComment

It's All About Relationships...

Do you remember the moment when you first met your best friend/friends?

I know I do - I'm lucky enough to have a few incredibly special ladies in my life who I would class as all being the best.

So why am I telling you this?

Well, when it comes to PR it's all about relationship building and getting to know Journalists and freelancers and bloggers. Because the more you get to know them, the more likely they are to want to pitch you in to their Editor or to help you by writing your story.

Nicola Rowley1 October 2019prwin, PR expertise, relationship building, media, marketing, Journalist, Journalists, What Journalists Want, cake, NJRPR, Nicola J Rowley PR Comment

Building Your PR Reputation...

If you’re just starting to secure some PR for you and your business the likelihood is that you will need to start small before you land some bigger coverage.

I often suggest for those at the start of their journey to aim for lesser known titles and then build up your body of work until you’re able to secure larger, national publications.

Nicola Rowley7 August 2019NJRPRpatience in PR, PR Storytelling, NJRPR, Nicola J Rowley PR, PR reputation, Journalists, Journalism, Media targets, Media messaging, national media, local media near me, Local mediaComment

To Press Release or Not - That Is The Question...

As a small business owner if you’re looking to leverage awareness around what you do - should you write and distribute a press release? My answer to this would be probably not.

A press release by its very nature is to announce news and unless you have a book coming out, or have won an award or something similar, it’s best to keep approaching Journalists separately with potential feature ideas.

Nicola Rowley18 July 2019press release, press release writing, writing press releases, PR practitioner, PR for Female Entrepreneurs, PR Storytelling, PR for small business owners, Fempreneur PR, NJRPR, Nicola J Rowley, Nicola J Rowley PR, Local media, national media, local media near me, media contacts near meComment

Why You Need To React Fast If You Want To Secure Coverage...

Journalists work to deadlines.

So if you get approached and asked for a comment and PR is part of your visibility strategy, please find a way to be able to write a quote or speak to them straight away.

I get that life can be busy, but getting yourself and your business known requires you to make the most of any opportunities that come your way.

Nicola Rowley27 June 2019Reactive PR, PR for small business owners, PR for Female Entrepreneurs, Reacting fast, News agenda PR, Fempreneur PR, NJRPR, Nicola J Rowley PR, Nicola J Rowley, Securing PR coverage Comment

How To Maximise Any PR That You Secure...

I get asked a lot what is the best way to maximise any PR opportunities that come your way.

There are the obvious things like posting on social media, but your audience and potential clients should be left in no doubt that you have secured coverage somewhere. Because let’s face it, you will have already done your research and know the media they like to consume, whether that be radio, podcasts, magazines, TV or online, or a combination of all of them.

Nicola Rowley18 June 2019PR Storytelling, PR for small business owners, PR for Female Entrepreneurs, NJRPR, Nicola J Rowley PR, Maximise your PR winsComment

What Journalists Are Looking For And How You Can Help Them...

Journalists get inundated with emails - some of them receive up to 800 a day, so if you really want to stand out from everyone else you need to think what would make them stop scrolling and click on yours. A catchy subject line is always a great starting point.

Then, instead of waffling about who you are and what you do - try and think about what they’re looking for. When I trained as a Journalist we were always told to write a story with the key components of Who, What, When, Why and to offer How further down if it was relevant.

Nicola Rowley12 June 2019Journalists, What Journalists Want, PR Storytelling, PR for Female Entrepreneurs, Understanding PR, PR for small business owners, Nicola J Rowley, Nicola J Rowley PR, NJRPRComment

Why Patience And Persistence Are Key To Securing Coverage...

There have been so many times over the years when I’ve been asked whether there would be a guarantee of coverage for a PR story that I’ve devised or overseen. The answer is always the same. There are never any guarantees, but when you get it right, the results can surpass even your own expectations.

PR expertiseNicola Rowley22 May 2019NJRPRpatience in PR, Persistence, Publicity, Journalists, Journalism, Red Magazine, Entrepreneur PR, PR for Female Entrepreneurs, Publicity for SME, PR for small business owners, NJRPR, Nicola J Rowley, Nicola J Rowley PRComment

Why Working With An Expert Makes Things Stress Free...

Since starting to work with us, our retained clients are seeing their businesses and themselves appearing in national and international titles.

Sometimes though, we might help someone with a PR Strategy Session and they decide they would like to look after their own PR. Armed with their story, which is written for them, and suggestions of feature ideas and top PR Tips, they’re in a great position to be able to do this.

We are, of course, always here afterwards to offer advice if they get stuck.

PR expertise, Your Own PRNicola Rowley13 May 2019NJRPRMedia messaging, PR expertise, PR Workshops, PR Courses, NJRPR, PR for Female Entrepreneurs, Empowering women with PR, Expert Communications specialist, Nicola J Rowley PR, Securing your own PRComment

How Prepared Do You Feel To Approach The Media?

The overwhelming feedback that we get here at NJRPR is that business owners like yourself, know they want more media presence but they don’t know where to begin.

What then happens is that they make an approach to a Journalist at a publication they would like to be featured in, and then they don’t hear back. So they give up trying.

What if I was to tell you that Journalists get hundreds, and I mean literally hundreds of emails every day?

PR expertise, Brand StorytellingNicola Rowley7 May 2019NJRPRJournalist, Journalists, Your story, Importance of Storytelling, Storytelling, NJRPR, Nicola J Rowley PR, Nicola J Rowley, PR Courses, PR Workshops, Julia EtheringtonComment

Why Knowing Your Key Messaging Can Be A Game Changer

Now that your website has been designed and you’re looking to become more visible, it’s worth taking a moment to think about your key messaging.

Why? Because knowing what you want to get across, means that every contact that a potential customer has with you has a consistent look and feel. It is also really helpful when it comes to media interviews.

Nicola Rowley24 April 2019NJRPRPR for Female Entrepreneurs, Key messaging for interviews, Securing your own PR, PR expertise, Empowering women with PR, Nicola J Rowley PR, Nicola J Rowley, Communications agency, Communications expert Comments

Who Is NJRPR?

Who is NJRPR? We are a Communications agency with a difference…

Blog, PR expertiseNicola Rowley31 March 2019NJRPRNJRPR, Nicola J Rowley PR, Nicola J Rowley, Journalist, Communications expert, Communications agency, PR practitioner, PR for Female EntrepreneursComment