Bogues Group Owner and CEO Brittney Bogues and I had the pleasure of hosting our very first webinar last week on Public Relations Trends and No-Gos. A special thanks to all who joined us. In case you couldn’t join us, here’s what you missed!
To quote our friend DJ Khaled – Storytelling is a major key alert. How are consumers getting acquainted with your brand? PR storytelling should give your audience a glimpse of how your brand fits in the larger picture, provide a behind-the-scenes look into the journey and mission of your brand, and emphasize how it will help their life or the lives of someone they care about.
There is no longer a one-size-fits-all approach to where your content can live and breathe and thrive! If you are struggling to gain earned media for a pitch, think about how your story can gain traction through other channels. Owned media – including social media and blogs – is a great way to connect with your audience and tell your story without landing a placement in a media outlet. Podcasts are all the rage these days, too, so don’t forget to include voice content into your PR plan.
Speaking of earned media, how is that pitch coming along? Make sure it is short and concise, focused on the reporter at hand and tied to a relevant topic for today’s media landscape. Completely self-serving pitches are tacky and a sure-fire way to not cultivate relationships with journalists.
Impersonal bulk outreach is a big, ole no-go. With the evolution of the internet and vast PR tools to help aid in finding the optimal target outlet, researching the reporter and their interests and journalistic beat will prove critical in landing that earned media score.
Finally, focusing on proactive reputation management is becoming increasingly important. It’s not if your brand will endure a crisis, it’s when. Be prepared by proactively protecting your brand through strategic initiatives and making sure to be vocal about the positive things you are doing, even when no one is looking.
PR is a constantly-changing artform but with a strategic communications plan and a dash of tenacity, insight and patience, utilizing the trends above (and avoiding the no-go’s) will help leverage your organization’s profile and maximize publicity for your brand.