Public relations– is all about sending the right messages to the right places and people, to build your brand reputation. It’s about a story, relationships with real people, Brand Building and so on… The world of business is simply characterized by fierce competition; Reputation is the biggest asset of the company and public relations is all about reputation. We don’t believe in just getting attention but being relevant and stand out from the crowd.
I see most startups face major challenges when it comes to practicing public relations. Public Relations for Your Startup
They all know buzz needs to be created through PR campaigns, but they don’t always have the connections, networks, or manpower to stir up the good press. If you don’t take the right approach to Public Relations, Marketing, and Advertising, it won’t be long before you understand that the competition is passing you by. The right PR can help early-stage startups to develop user bases as well as drag interest from venture capitalists.
We live in a world where a one-man startup can compete with an industry’s “top dogs,” as long as they have a sound public relation strategy in place.
Startups usually launch public relations activities that are- seemingly- similar to those of established businesses. However, the fundamental differences between a startup and an established business require variations in strategies and execution. If you want to understand execute PR, you should hire the Best PR agency and PR consultants they can help you make this process easy and the right approach to PR.
Entrepreneurs cannot simply replicate Apple or Nike’s PR strategies and expect the same results for your business. And that’s not to say they can’t seek inspiration from how other organizations conduct their Public Relations, but it’s crucial for startups to specifically address the unique needs and challenges of being a new business while creating their PR strategy.
For starters, Startups begin with a clean slate and no brand awareness. Therefore, an entrepreneur’s focal point for generating PR will often focus on one or more startup-specific objectives, such as:
Start-up PR specialists at The Media Troop (PR agency in Pune) share important tips to practice public relations and win all-important media attention. Public Relations for Your Startup
Start early- The first requisite for successful start-up PR: Starting long before the product launch. We have seen Start-ups often delay PR until their product is ready for launch or at least out of beta testing. But Public Relations does more than support product launches. It’s a very valuable tool for gaining investor attention and support, a critical resource for start-ups, and for planning the marketplace. Public relations activities require three to six months of planning and executing.
Create a concise summary- Like the infamous “elevator pitch,” the media relations summary is a one or two-sentence explanation of what the company does and what makes it unique, without industry jargon, to help journalists understand and remember the company.
Prepare the start-up’s story- Relating the start-up’s trials and tribulations can win support and publicity for you. Reality music shows like X-Factor and America’s Got Talent follows this approach. Interview key people, including investors, separately. Then combine their answers to summarize the company history and explain its products.
“But remember — your story is not just a chronology of events that led you to where you’re today or a list of specs that make your product better than any other product in the market. Your STORY is the “WHY?” asserts Shekhar Wagh, a communications specialist at THE MEDIA TROOP, PR agencies in Pune. “Why did you start the company? Why is there a need for your product? How has your product helped early adopters?”
You must educate the customer base- Well before product launch, develop PR materials that inform the consumer base about the problem that the forthcoming product solves – without ever mentioning the product. Focusing on the consumer’s problem helps create a new product need.
Give thought to press releases- You’ll see many PR pros hold varying opinions of press releases: Some say they’re outdated. Although press releases have evolved, they remain a vital PR tool in certain situations. Well-crafted news releases or press releases can be especially effective for smaller businesses and local outfits that lack outsized marketing budgets. However, be sure to grab the key questions when planning a press release. To help you craft an authentic message that resonates with your target audience, you must consider consulting PR consultants or hire the Best PR Agency near you.
Feature the Founders and Key People- A charismatic founder attracts media attention. Realizing that, many PR pros now favour releasing news announcements through the founder’s blog post rather than a traditional press release. “For many startups, the founder is the most effective PR person on board. Due to a deep knowledge of, and keen enthusiasm for, the business, this is the person best situated to share the company’s story,” writes serial entrepreneur Jennifer Spencer for Entrepreneur.
Jumping on current news and trends- Newsjacking, the technique of injecting a brand into a breaking news story, can win publicity. When well-done, newsjacking wins the PR momentum from another news story to promote the brand’s visibility. Likewise, showing how the start-up’s products relate to an emerging trend or an increasingly common problem can help get publicity.
Keep at it- Focus on gaining more publicity instead of remaining content with publicity already gained. Apple founder Steve Jobs always urged entrepreneurs and companies never to be rest on past accomplishments, according to Pressfarm. He felt that too many businesses made the mistake of relying on previous success instead of pursuing even greater heights.
Bottom Line: Creating a groundbreaking product is not enough. A comprehensive public relations campaign that starts well before the product’s launch is essential for a start-up’s survival. A company must create a product need and publicize the product to attract customers and achieve quick and sustainable success. Public Relations for Your Startup.
This article was first published on- TheMediaTroop.com
