Tips for Public Relations Success

By TINA L. PUGLIESE, APR, Pugliese Public Relations

By now you should recognize the power of publicity and how positive media coverage can have an impact on your business.  However you may also think that you do not have the skills or knowledge to gain free publicity and maybe you are not (yet) in a financial position to hire a public relations firm.

But if you follow these steps that include some ideas previously mentioned, you will soon experience the power of the media.

Gain the appropriate skills and knowledge to become an expert in your field. Become a qualified member of your industry’s association, as this will give you credibility when the media choose to profile you.

Be clear on what your message is—know what you want to say. Understand that you need to have a point of difference or something interesting to say and that you need to get that across in an entertaining and informative way.

You need to have an audience to listen to your message—do some research on your ideal customer, perhaps a survey. Look at whom your competitors are talking.

Reach out to your target audience through the media. Research the most appropriate magazines, newspapers or TV shows for your story. Build a database of media contacts or buy a media directory.

Approach the media—send out a well-written news release, follow up with phone calls. Submit articles to magazines. Follow up again—make sure to be consistent with your media liaison.

Send out a professional and creative photograph with your release or call the media outlet and suggest a photo opportunity.

Be persistent. Keep submitting news releases and articles. But learn to take “no” for an answer and do not be pushy. You need to build good working relationships with journalists.

Be prepared for media interviews. Prepare beforehand possible questions and rehearse the answers. Prepare a few points you want to get across and stay on track.

Build up a portfolio of information about you—your media kit—to include on your Website as an online newsroom and for meetings with journalists.

Consolidate your expertise by publishing books, CDs and DVDs and reap the rewards of successful public relations.