Tag: violet pr

Learn how companies can benefit from working with a boutique PR firm.

Bigger isn’t always better. Today, we have seemingly infinite options when it comes to choosing a PR firm when launching a brand or company. But if you’re not promoting the next superhero franchise or publicizing a global company, do you really need to put down the money for a large firm?

For most organizations, a boutique PR firm with the ability to develop creative campaigns for each client is often a stronger option. Boutique PR firms tend to have smaller teams so they can be more personal and adaptable—something a larger firm may not be capable of.

What makes a boutique firm different?

1. ACCESSIBLE LEADERSHIP

Do you know the CEO of your current PR firm? With an exceptional boutique firm, you will. A smaller company means a more personal connection, including with the executive team. When a campaign is pitched to you, the team who pitched it will be the team who executes it. In larger firms, it’s common to “bait and switch” clients—you may have no idea who will be working on your campaign until it begins. A smaller firm will be present and accessible in a way that a larger firm could only dream of. Check out what can be offered by a boutique firm.

2. ADAPTABLE AND FLEXIBLE

The larger the company, the slower it can be to adapt. The more people involved in your campaign, the more minds need to be made up when something changes, and that can be to your detriment when a new idea comes to the surface. With a smaller firm, you’re dealing directly with the people in charge, and they can quickly turn around a new idea. They will also be able to rapidly develop skills or knowledge needed to execute new initiatives, whereas larger firms can have significant issues doing the same. Smaller firms are also less risk averse, so you’re more likely to end up with a campaign that is unexpected, surprising, and most importantly, cool.

3. COST EFFECTIVE

A common issue when starting a new company or attempting to scale up for the first time is that budgeting for a PR firm can be a huge barrier to entry. The initial retainer can be $10,000-$20,000 a month (and up) for large firms, and if you add more services such as social media, you will be paying more. Of course, there are great reasons to go with a big firm, but if you do not need the full force of a large PR firm behind you, why pay more? A boutique firm’s retainer will likely be less than half of that of a large firm, and you will receive full, attentive service by a team you will come to know well.

FINDING THE RIGHT FIT

Choosing the right type of PR firm to work with becomes much easier when you can see the specific differences between a boutique PR firm and a larger one. At the end of the day, the most important thing is your alignment with the firm you hire and how they go about doing their work for you. If you feel you need personal attention, faster turnaround, and a reasonable budget, a boutique PR firm may be the strongest choice for you. Still not sure? Let’s chat.

Want to get a favorable news story about your organization in your local business journal, industry trade magazine, or national news outlet—but don’t know where to start? A good public relations agency will understand how to initiate, build and nurture relationships with reporters so that your company or organization can get featured regularly in the news.

Here are six tips that we rely on to build trust with reporters:

1. Identify the right media outlets for your message

The first step is to carefully identify which media outlets will be likely to have interest in your company’s story. If you have a story about a new green real estate development, for example, then identify journalists and news outlets that cover sustainability projects. The Internet makes it easier than ever to ensure that you don’t reach out to the wrong reporter and waste their time.

2. Brevity is key – especially for online news

Particularly when working with digital reporters, keep in mind that online articles are written for a diminished attention span. When readers consume a digital article, they can lose interest quickly, and many may never finish an article. This means that the articles are typically succinct and need a compelling lead in order to resonate. Your pitches should be written in a similar fashion—brief, with bullet points.

3. Be persistent, but not pushy

PR professionals know that we need to be persistent to cut through the clutter (many journalists receive hundreds of emails each day), but never too pushy. We typically send emails, with the occasional phone call, when suggesting story ideas to reporters. Follow up is essential, but when a journalist says “no” – then it’s time to politely move on.

4. Be aware of deadlines

Be aware of a journalist’s deadline and respect it. In today’s digital landscape, journalists are under more pressure than ever to produce stories quickly – and will expect sources to respond as soon as they reach out. Often the experts quoted in news stories are the ones that can call a reporter back immediately with an “on the record” comment. And of course, be upfront if you can’t get a reporter answers before their deadline.

5. Never mislead a journalist

This may seem obvious, but if you don’t know the answer to a reporter’s question, don’t make it up! Misleading a journalist can result in inaccurate reporting – which, ultimately, is a blight on the reporter’s reputation. Further, the more facts and figures you can provide about your industry, trends and projects—the better. Journalists love to cite data in their news stories.

6. Help a reporter when you can

A relationship with a reporter should be a two-way street. As such, when a reporter reaches out for a quote or statement about a trend in your industry, supply it without delay—even if it won’t necessarily benefit you immediately. If you are uncomfortable being quoted about a sensitive subject, you can ask to speak “on background” and provide context around an issue.

In short, taking time to form relationships with reporters will absolutely help your company earn more (and better) news coverage. This will not be an overnight process, but with a concerted effort (often alongside a leading PR firm), strong reporter relationships can be built and sustained.