Public Relations (PR) is one of those topics, like Search Engine Optimization (SEO), that comes up in discussions with clients quite a bit. Not only do both of these topics come up a lot in discussions, but they are both topics that tend to carry lots of misconceptions and questions. I can’t tell you how many times PR has been brought up in a meeting with a new client and one of the first few things they say are, “I want a front page story in USA Today”, or “I want to be on Oprah.” These are great things to reach for and set goals against, but there is so much more to PR than the front page and Oprah.
I have found, over the years, that if I can explain to our clients what the advantages are of PR (or SEO, for that matter), it helps them understand the big picture a bit better. I show them the positives of PR and at the same time stay realistic.
I am not a PR person myself, but I work with many PR experts and have learned so much from them over the past few years. Below is a list of advantages to incorporating PR into your annual marketing plan that I have put together. These advantages are based on my own experiences with our clients, based on what I have learned from my colleagues, and based on what I have learned from reading. I am sure there are plenty more advantages (and there are also disadvantages), but this is my first stab at it. Please feel free to comment and tell me what you think are some other advantages to PR.
1. PR comes at a relatively low cost.
2. PR can be seen as unbiased and very credible.
3. A story picked up by one media outlet can be passed on spreading the story to many people and locations.
4. Good PR can set you up for good publicity.
5. With PR, your target audience can learn more about you than they would through traditional print advertising, very quickly.
6. Effective PR can help to develop a positive image for your business.
7. If something goes wrong, PR can many times help to smooth things out and clear things up with the public.
8. Effective and consistent PR creates the perception that the company is active – “on the move”.
9. PR provides companies that use it an advantage over companies that do not use it effectively.
10. Lastly, PR can increase search engine visibility and organic results.
Want to learn more about the advantages listed above? Contact Tarte Advertising, Inc. and set up a free consultation with them to find out how to use PR for your business.
