The Public Relations Blog

3 ways your company can rise above the fray and maintain a positive image

According to the Knight Foundation, public trust in the media is at an all-time low. In a recent survey conducted with Gallup, the group dedicated to supporting quality journalism and engaging communities found some shocking facts. One surprising finding was that participants ranked newspaper and television news lowest, next to Congress, among major institutions they trust.

3 tips to improve your pitches

For more than 25 years, I worked as a journalist. During that time, I would pitch story ideas, while simultaneously learning the preferences of my editors. One time, an editor declined my offer to write about an emerging artist. "What will your second paragraph say?" he asked. He explained that he wanted human interest. So, I gave him plenty. I repitched the story, providing details about an 88-year-old dying artist, who was bedridden and painting with an easel sprawled out on his stomach. This time, my editor approved the story.

3 ways to shift the storyline and spotlight your company

Did you know that seasoned professional journalists use three independent sources when researching, interviewing, and compiling information for a typical news article? In an era of “fake news,” this approach ensures that information is accurate, unbiased, and fair when compared to one-sided narratives that clog newsfeeds. Yet, sensationalized stories are the ones that gain traction and viral exposure. How, then, can companies earn media coverage and rise above the fray? The answer is simply to be provocative.

Promote your company and its accomplishments

Congratulations on making it to the Inc. 5000 list! Whether your company is No. 1 or No. 5,000, it’s a tremendous honor to receive, and it’s time to spread the word of your company’s achievement. So, where should you start? There are thousands of ways for you to share with employees, customers, and the public that your hard work has paid off. OK, so we may not have 5,000 ideas. However, we do have 25 ways for your company to celebrate, in addition to our original 16 ways to promote your Inc. 5000 honor. Feel free to substitute the number 5,000 with your exact ranking number on the list.

4 things to consider before you send that press release

When you return to work from a week-long vacation, you probably find a plethora of emails awaiting your attention. For reporters, this is an everyday occurrence. Most of them receive more emails daily than they could ever get to in a single work day.

Our recommendations to make paid media your last resort

Companies sometimes get caught in a cycle of utilizing paid opportunities because they don’t fully understand what public relations is and how to use the power of PR to earn media coverage. Some outlets will even tell companies that if they advertise, the outlet will write more about the company. This isn’t right. In fact, your company should make paid media its last resort.

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.