Make Your Business Grow Bigger Because Of Public Relations

By Author: Jo Alelsto
Total Articles: 405
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Like many corporate catch phrases, the term PR can be intimidating to small business owners. It is often perceived as being reserved for major corporations. Thus, many owners and operators of small businesses shy away from the subject. Unfortunately, in doing so they're missing out on the many opportunities to freely promote their business.

PR can refer to either Public Relations or Press Relations, or both. It is simply a matter of sharing a company's news with the community and media. When the business name is circulated in popular news, it creates goodwill in the community and name recognition among the business's audience. Using PR to promote business is easy and doesn't take much time. All it takes is an insight, a little leg work and a little time on a regular basis.

The humble Press Release is the center of the PR universe. It is a written story done in your own words and with your own "message of news" that's happening in, around, or involving you, your business, or your employees. Ideally, a Press Release should include a newsworthy angle. It should be something that makes it of interest to ...
... the community or audience. If the newsworthiness is minimal then you may not see any results at all. On the other hand, the more appealing the story is then the more interest you will see generated. The main goal of the Press Release is to see the story run in the news. In some situations, a newspaper or other outlet may ask to come and interview you and your staff and customers and write their own story.

Another excellent source of PR is to build a reputation as an expert and consultant in your field. This takes time and continuing efforts, but if you have commitment to the cause then your business will soon be the consultant-of-choice whenever there is news in your industry and you will build a solid reputation in your community. This is done over a long period of time by sending out Press Releases about news of your industry and not just news of your business. Also, by authoring and releasing general or specialty interest articles in your field, a reputation for expertise begins to mount.

What is news? Almost anything can be shaped for news presentation but there should be a special angle of interest if you really want to get in print. For example, an office may have to close one day to allow their employees to attend some training. This is news because the entire company is participating in a workshop that will enhance their skills. This is worthy of a Press Release. Other news-worthy items may include sponsorships or charitable events in which your company participates, new hires and promotions, new or enhanced facilities, anniversaries, and so on.

To launch a PR campaign, begin by collecting a number of contacts in the community and news outlets. A simple Excel spreadsheet will do. Populate it with newspaper reporters from every newspaper in your area, from small weekly or monthly papers to large daily papers. Be sure to include listings for each and every individual you can find and include the subject area that they cover. Also include websites that focus on your locale, community organizations, business directories and the like. Mastering mail-merge skills helps to blast out Press Releases quickly and easily. Along the way, keep and frame all of the articles that run, and post them for your customers to see. This lends visible credibility to people coming into your business.

The whole purpose of this is to acquire print and publicity. The more your company's name is out there circulating, the more recognizable your name becomes. This leads to greater confidence from the public and, consequently, more business in your door.
Jo is an author and publisher for 'Blah d Blah' (http://www.blahdblah.com), the foremost advertising agency in the UK with offices in Chester, London and North Wales. If you are looking for a qualified advertising agency that specializes on corporate identity London to help you accomplish business growth and make more revenue or wish to maintain your brand at the leading position of your future customer's minds then you ought to check out Blah d Blah.