The Public Relations Blog

And what you should ask your PR firm before finalizing your PR plan

If you’re new to using public relations to build your brand, then starting a PR program can seem daunting. Luckily, it’s easier with the help of a trusted PR firm and a PR plan. A PR plan should be the road map that your PR firm (and your team) uses to create a successful PR program. If your firm doesn’t utilize a PR plan, it’s difficult to evaluate its success and to know that your company and your PR partner are on the same page. Don’t blindly follow your PR firm. Educate yourself on the elements of a PR plan and know the questions that you should be asking to create a successful PR program.

The term earned media describes news content featuring or sourcing your brand, products, or services. It is not paid media or advertising.

Earned media coverage comes from media relations and media outreach also known as media pitching. When successful, it leads to a news outlet including your company, product, service, expert, opinion, or ideas in a news story (print, radio, TV, web, podcast, etc.). This includes newspapers or industry trade publications (blogs, magazines, or websites) featuring, quoting, or mentioning your organization or experts. It’s appearing on a TV morning show or the evening news. It’s what most people think of when they think of PR. Some might call it “publicity.”

Traditional public relations isn’t working anymore. Fewer Americans rely on TV news, while nearly half of all U.S. adults get their news from Facebook, according to surveys conducted by Pew Research Center. PR professionals must adapt to the ever-changing social and digital age. Here’s the opportunity most PR pros and their PR agencies are missing: the social media news desk.

3 tools we recommend to create the content you’ll use to pitch

Most news outlets have a social media or digital desk, and they’re always looking for great content to publish. Turn a news release into a short video or infographic – or grab the reporter’s attention with a corresponding GIF. News outlets are more likely to publish high-quality content on their social media platforms, and the results are often even greater than TV or newspaper (earned media) coverage. Think about it: Social media coverage has the potential of reaching thousands and even millions of people. Your local TV station’s 6 p.m. segment might not.

What you should know

Recently, journalists from the print, TV, radio, and magazine world attended a “media mashup” professional development event for those in the PR industry, which the Florida Public Relations Association hosted. These professionals all understand that getting the media’s attention isn’t as easy as one may think.

Download a complimentary template to help plan your public relations campaign

Identifying all your organization’s target audiences is a key step during communication planning. Target audiences are part of your PR plan’s inputs. You can use this tool for communication, marketing, and PR strategies because it identifies what specific audiences need and improves your company’s communication methods.

It’s not good enough to have a public relations campaign. You must have a goal for your campaign and metrics to prove how it will benefit your bottom line. Measuring the success of your PR campaign proves the worth of the campaign and why it matters. However, measuring incorrectly could really do some damage, so make sure to avoid the three biggest measurement mistakes made in the PR industry.

How to recycle your media coverage to gain more visibility

Congratulations! Your company received great media coverage. And now you’re left wondering, what next? Keep the momentum going with these nine suggestions.

In order to earn media coverage for your company, it’s important to have good relationships with reporters. Axia Public Relations compiled 15 insider tips for earning media coverage for your company, and engaging a reporter on social media is tip No. 2. Engagement is key in establishing and building working relationships with journalists.

Confessions from a daily newspaper editor

Pitching major news outlets requires skill and finesse. A poorly constructed pitch can really harm your company’s reputation. To effectively pitch a major media outlet, it’s important to put yourself in the journalist’s shoes. Here are 10 tips from the newsroom for getting noticed and earning that coveted major media outlet coverage for your company.