1) Do you NEED solid, consistant media exposure...week after week, or are you satisfied with "occasional" exposure? Now, this question alone is important... but not enough. The main component of this question is the IMPORTANCE of PR.
2) Do you have the internal staff and expertise to commit the internal resources to your PR efforts?
If you have the internal staff, and they understand Guerrilla PR principles, then there may be no reason to hire an outside agency.
Paradoxically, the busier you get, the easier it is to parlay, or "set aside" consistant, important PR activities. Don't get caught in that trap!
3) Finally, Public Relations is a craft that requires PASSION. You may need PR, and you may even have the people to conduct your PR campaigns, however, that's not enough.
In order to be truly effective, it's important that your PR campaigns are conducted with PASSIONATE CONSISTENCY.
Here's a quick "checklist" you can use to "size up" any PR firm you are considering to hire:
? Do you get along with the members of the firm? Hiring a PR agency is a collaboration that you can benefit from, month after month, year after year. Quality rapport is an essential ingredient.
? Are they realistic, in terms of managing your expectations, or do they promise you "pie in the sky"? It's one thing for a PR firm to promise you results. It's another thing for them to promise you "specific" results. Maybe you'd like to get on Oprah Winfrey from the start...so would everyone else.
Be prepared to take advantage of several secondary media opportunities before you get to the top tier.
Several base hits can score you more runs than going for grand slams every time.
? Is the PR firm creative? Creative PR people will be more likely to come up with more "angles" to test.
? Do they understand how to pitch your story? A progressive PR firm will be effective AND efficient at telling your story...thus, yielding you more media coverage.
? Do they listen to what you say? Let's face it...your PR needs are constantly evolving. Your PR firm should listen...and respond to your unique, evolving needs.
? Are they using a "hard sell" to get you to sign? A good PR firm is a busy PR firm. They don't need to sell you. Their track record will allow you to decide based on the evidence.
? Do they have local AND regional AND national media contacts? When you go to a great PR firm, they have cultivated several strategic media relationships, over many years of time. Are you confident that they have the necessary Rolodex? to place your story in front of the appropriate media?
? Did they outline a campaign game plan for you? You can predict the effectiveness of a PR firm by the soundness of their overall strategic approach.
? Have you seen samples of their work? Track record comes in the form of QUALITY of exposure, in addition to the QUANTITY of exposure.
? Do you believe they undersand your needs and goals?
? Do you feel that they will carry out your PR campaign with consistant PASSION?
Finally, ? Do you should feel comfortable with the fee and the contract? Getting good PR is a process. It requires well thought out plans, implemented with passion, and a focus on results in the form of getting your story told to the world.
So, whether you conduct your PR efforts from within your company, or whether you hire an outside PR firm...
If media exposure is valuable to you, then you will commit to PR as an ongoing, systematic part of your overall marketing mix.
Joe Nicassio designs marketing campaigns, and coaches entrepreneurs to improve their bottom-line profits. His website is http://rapidresultsmarketing.com.
To get your free CD "Joe Nicassio Reveals Marketing Philosophies And Secrets That Advertiser Don't Want You To Know" Send your snail mail address to http://rapidresultsmarketing.com
apartment cleaning near Highland Park ..Effective Media Relations Tips - What To Do After The... Read More
Although media relations is not all there is to PR,... Read More
PRESIDENT BUSH TELLS A STORYOn March 18, 2005, President Bush... Read More
Southern grandmothers have often said, "there are only three... Read More
At the core of any successful public relations campaign is... Read More
Don't assume that a reporter understands financial planning. If anything,... Read More
Financial planners, the first thing to know about reporters is... Read More
Are you working as hard as you can in your... Read More
Yes, and that pressure often comes from a CEO who... Read More
Simply that the behaviors of their most important outside audiences... Read More
Reporters, by nature, are curious people.If you can get them... Read More
The message is determined by analyzing the brand being marketed,... Read More
When your public relations results pretty much depend on whether... Read More
The reason might be this simple: as a business, non-profit... Read More
The most sensible way for business, non-profit or association managers... Read More
Because when it comes to public relations, non-believers can produce... Read More
Question: Why should your business issue a press release? Answer:... Read More
What may be the more appropriate question is: What makes... Read More
Did you Know That Even TV Remote Control Units... Read More
In my travels around the country while building my business... Read More
Small businesses have always known the importance of word of... Read More
Just happens to be public relations activity that alters individual... Read More
Many of my clients have had the misguided perception that... Read More
That big story the media pursue each day is what... Read More
If you're an online business using public relations (PR) to... Read More
cleaning lady near Arlington Heights ..Small businesses have always known the importance of word of... Read More
Always ask, "Is now a good time?"Deadlines in journalism are... Read More
Non-news professionals often have a hard time understanding why their... Read More
Tracking your correspondence with reporters, via phone or email, is... Read More
News releases (also called press releases) are an important part... Read More
I believe this about public relations.People act on their own... Read More
What do you do with junk mail? Are you like... Read More
A Press Release is a captive story that can be... Read More
You want to sell your products or services, and that... Read More
Public relations and news releases are synonymous in the minds... Read More
Most business, non-profit and association managers live to tell about... Read More
Public relations is a very important part of the marketing... Read More
And the best way to mind your own business is... Read More
The annual detailing of the Kentucky Derby Train is an... Read More
The public relations goal and strategy make sense; the message... Read More
Yes?Good!Still, as a business, non-profit or association manager, if you're... Read More
As the practice of public relations in China continues to... Read More
One portion of your marketing plan that you probably don't... Read More
PRESIDENT BUSH TELLS A STORYOn March 18, 2005, President Bush... Read More
It's hard to imagine a reporter working today who doesn't... Read More
Obviously, it hurts when a promising business project you backed... Read More
Because PR can be difficult to control, it is often... Read More
No comment. These are probably the two most damaging words... Read More
The right kind of PR, that is, the kind that... Read More
What's a Capability Statement?As the name suggests, it tells potential... Read More
Public Relations |