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June 2010

The power of social media when it comes to PR

You won’t have failed to notice the fact that social media is incredibly important these days and a very powerful tool when it comes to PR. So you won’t come across many companies that don’t have a Facebook page or a Twitter account. It’s easy to get carried away with social media as most people are very comfortable with the concept these days, but for anyone updating their Facebook or Twitter account on behalf of their company, it’s imperative to stop and think about what you are writing and how this may be perceived.

Choosing the right PR agency for you

It’s important to remember that when you employ a PR agency, you will be working very closely with them. The relationship between a public relations agency and their client can be a really powerful one because the two sides are able to swap knowledge and specialities to create a really influential team. The PR agency will have the creativity as well as the expertise on marketing and communications to perfectly complement your industry knowledge.

Do I need a Large or Small PR agency?

People sometimes use their PR budget as a driver for what kind of PR agency to look for. Unfortunately the choice of a large, medium or small public relations consultancy is a little more complex than that. Here are a few things that might be helpful to keep in mind:

A PR agency provides the perfect link

Not only will a PR agency know all there is to know about you and your company, but they will also know all there is to know about the media and what they want. And it is this knowledge that sets a PR consultancy apart from an in house team. Because of their expertise in the field, a PR agency will know what makes a newsworthy story for a press release. You may think that the whole world wants to know about your new shop sign, but a PR agency will know not to waste a press release on this.

What is involved in PR?

There are many misconceptions when it comes to PR and that is why a lot of people and businesses tend to struggle when they attempt to fulfil their PR needs in house. Often, it is beneficial to employ a PR agency that can work alongside your in house PR team in order to achieve the right results. If you do not have an in house team, then a PR company can work alone on your PR strategy using their creativity and their contacts to fulfil your needs. But what does PR involve?

3 reasons to submit to a media grilling – and how not to get roasted

Media relations expert Ann Wright gives three very good reasons why you should submit to a media grilling when you get the chance

The benefits of a PR campaign

While some companies seem to put all their focus on their PR strategy, there are others that fail to see what the benefits of PR are. If you approach a PR agency, they will often tell you what they can do for you, but they won’t always tell you why this is good for your company. Here are some of the benefits to launching a PR campaign: • Using a PR campaign, you can reach a huge audience very quickly. This method of reaching people is far more economical than spending money on advertising.

Setting a PR budget

[caption id="attachment_105" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Asking for a PR budget is not hanging you out to dry!"][/caption] “How much should I spend on public relations?” is a tough question, especially for those contemplating using PR for the first time but also, if they are honest, for corporate marketers.

Do you need a PR agency?

A lot of companies choose to do their PR and marketing in house as a way of saving money. If you are one of these companies and you are finding that your PR strategy is not as effective as you would hope, there are some questions you should ask yourself: Do you have time to do your PR in house? Your company PR is vital because it is the way your company is portrayed and the message that is associated with it that can really have an impact on how successful you are. That is why a PR strategy needs the right amount of time spent on it.

Public relations agencies can offer honest and independent guidance

Often, when discussing ideas in a meeting with your colleagues, you will notice that a lot of the time, everyone will agree on one idea and you will go ahead with it even though it may not necessarily be the best option for your business. When you’re working within a business, it is often very difficult to remove yourself from it and think in the same way as an outsider would and it is this problem that leads to ineffective strategies; particularly when it comes to things like PR and marketing. That is why a lot of businesses these days will employ a PR consultancy to take on their PR an