Have you been wondering how to take your business to the next level and reach new customers? If so, there’s a chance that you’ve been recommended to use a PR agency, but may not know entirely what that entails and whether it is worth it for your business. We’re here to tell you that a PR strategy can deliver fantastic results for relatively little investment, compared to marketing and other communication strategies.
But don’t just take our word for it. Read on to find out all the different ways that a PR strategy can help your business succeed and expand its reach. Without it you’ll be missing out on so much potential.
PR is cost-effective
We understand how tight budgets can be, especially for smaller businesses who don’t have huge marketing departments at their disposal. When you’re focused on all the day-to-day things you need to spend your money on, your outreach can be seen as a secondary priority. We believe that not only is your outreach a vital way to increase revenue (more on that later), but you also don’t need to break the bank on it if you invest in PR.
One of the reasons that makes PR so cost-effective is that it does not involve expensive advertising. Rather it seeks to grow coverage through outreach with journalists, bloggers, influencers and more, all without spending a penny. And the more these feature your brand, the more likely that others will talk about you as well, boosting your organic reach as news of your business spreads by word of mouth.
PR generates leads
Not only does PR require relatively little initial investment compared to marketing and advertising, but it is also proven that it actually brings in income when done effectively. It can get your brand name into places that normal advertising can’t, maximising your coverage.
For example, many savvy internet users have ad blockers to help filter out annoying and irrelevant advertising. This can make a huge dent in your advertising reach. Fortunately, organic PR that appears in articles, blogs and social posts cannot be blocked, so will always get through to the audience.
Additionally, organic coverage from PR is often seen as far more trustworthy by consumers compared to adverts. If positive coverage of your business’ products or services is genuinely earned, then those seeing it will view it as a much more respectable source than ad advert that you had to pay for. In fact, according to Nielsen, PR is 90% more effective than advertising. It’s the fact that PR helps to build trust between you and the customer that really gives it the edge over paid marketing methods.
PR makes your business responsive
One great feature of PR is its flexibility. Traditional marketing and advertising campaigns tend to involve long-term planning, as advertising needs to be booked well in advance. Of course, a good PR strategy does also need long-term planning, however it also gives the option of being able to respond to events quickly in real time.
For example, if you see a news story that is relevant to your business, or on a topic on which your spokespeople are expertly positioned to comment, then your PR team can get in touch with journalists immediately and secure coverage that very day. The media is a fast-paced world so you need to be adaptable and fast in order to do this, which traditional marketing just cannot do.
PR improves your brand reputation
Unlike advertising, PR isn’t just about selling your products and services: it’s so much more than that. Maintaining a consistent presence in the media is useful for a variety of reasons, not least that it helps you manage your brand reputation. A common use of PR is to promote your company’s expertise without actually having to mention any products. You can have articles bylined by your spokespeople, demonstrating their knowledge on a topic within your sector to show to consumers that you know your stuff.
PR is also a great way to keep people informed with other news about your company. This could include events, new business developments and charitable initiatives. It’s all about telling a story about your business for potential customers, so they don’t just see you as someone who only cares about selling things to them.
If you need PR, then get in touch today!
We think it’s clear how valuable PR is to any business and hope that we’ve demonstrated the many benefits it can bring. If you’d like to learn more then get in touch with us today to ask about the different PR services we can offer. From media relations, to brand management, to social media campaigns, there is plenty we can offer you!
Email our Director, Lydia Drukarz, on: lydia@wavelengthpr.com or call her on: 07977 454180.
Image by Thought Catalog at Unsplash.