The Public Relations Blog

Why is being included in a news story so important for companies?

One reason is because positive news coverage improves your company’s reputation. Another is news stories about your company put it at the forefront of prospective customers’ minds.

As consumers are inundated with options, many may not know about your company and its offerings until they see your company included in a story as a thought leader.

So how do home service companies like plumbers, A/C repair companies, flooring, electricians, pool service providers, home warranty companies, and more get in the news?

In the world of public relations, things are always changing. New trends pop up and disappear every day. Information is constantly shared and as a PR professional, it's imperative to stay aware, act swiftly, and formulate subsequent steps wisely. In an industry that never sleeps, here are five tools every PR practitioner should use to stay ahead. 

The year 2020 started with a focus on the latest public relations trends. Niche targeting, live streaming, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Big Data integrations generated the most buzz, and they continue to do so. Although they haven’t faded in the background, the focus on how to use them has drastically shifted.

Brands have started to actively market to a niche audience through influencers, self-publishing platforms, social media, and informative content. The top players from brands have started to use live streaming to get in front of the audience. 

Artificial Intelligence and big data have become the go-to source for brands to monitor social media platforms, predict consumer needs, and develop targeted content based on causes impacting their audience. Handling it all from behind the curtain is an experienced public relations agency. 

Public relations agencies are well-aware of the changing times and have doubled down on their efforts to point brands in the right direction. We want to highlight how PR has changed in 2020 and what to do about it.

Over the years, I’ve heard many businesspeople say, “I’m not sure what PR is, but I know our company needs it.”

When people think of public relations, they tend to associate it with news coverage. This is what PR pros call “earned media.” The dictionary defines earned media as “publicity gained through promotional efforts other than paid media advertising.”

Explore the benefits of an outside PR agency versus managing an in-house PR department

Admit it. At some point over the years, you’ve received a proposal from a public relations agency and thought, “I can hire someone in-house for that!”

And even if you didn’t think that, someone else in your organization did. I often find this to be the case among junior level staff or even senior staff who don’t have access to the full operating costs of a company. In which case, it’s important to understand the true costs of employment and the value of outsourcing.

This is one story about PR and small businesses. Read How small companies do PR and what big companies can learn from them for more.

Our public relations agency specializes in helping regional and national companies with news, social, and web services to build awareness, consideration, and sales for their companies' experts, products, and services. This includes a special focus on construction, professional services, and consumer services companies as well as franchisors. 

Research shows that telecommuters can save at least $2K and often more than $7K

This is one story in our series on the benefits of working from home. Read about how remote employees can be more productive than office ones for more.

In addition to letting you avoid the stench of Payroll Stan’s microwaved fish, working remotely (like from home) can save employees a ton of time and money.

According to research from The Ladders, MarketWatch, and other sources, employees really want to work from home. In fact:

Developing a public relations or marketing plan can seem like a tedious, time-consuming task, but with the right planning and a map, you will save time, money and enjoy more success. 

This is one story in our series on the differences between public relations, advertising, and marketing. Read more about the differences between PR and marketing in particular.

Many people use the terms advertising, marketing, and public relations interchangeably; however, they aren’t the same thing. Here are some key differences between the three and why they matter. 

3 ways to protect against misinformation in a world of information overload

False claims and made-up stories have always been a thing, and since the internet arrived, it’s easier than ever to fall prey to them. One of the most recent false news stories is “the broom challenge.” On February 10, a Twitter user posted a video of herself balancing a broom on its own. She claimed that, according to NASA, this was the only day it was possible for the broom to stand on its own due to the Earth’s gravitational pull. The tweet quickly went viral and soon thousands of people were sharing and posting photos and videos of themselves balancing brooms. Several news agencies and celebrities joined in the fun.