Today is the perfect day to create your own public relations campaign. It can be as simple as sending a postcard to your local media contacts, visiting media websites and making online connections, reaching out in the social networking world and introducing yourself or picking up the phone and offering your services as a resource to the media.
With do it yourself pr your goal should be to build awareness of your company through the media—online, offline and social media. The exposure gained from mainstream and online media channels can create public recognition that builds trust and adds to your bottom line.
Step One: Create a Compelling Story - tell a story that will resonate with your intended audience. Include examples and when possible people. Human interest will grab your audience and keep their attention long enough to know who you are. McDonalds started out by showing how families could save time preparing the meal and have more time to spend together during the meal with their original “fast-food” messages.
Do Something Newsworthy that will get the media’s attention. And make sure the RIGHT media knows about it.
Step Two: Identify Your Stakeholders - those stakeholders include current customers and potential customers (prospects). When identifying stakeholders, look beyond your own backyard. Look at other industries or media or groups of people who might be likely customers that you may not have thought of. Is there an industry or profession you would like to tap into for market share? Now is a good time to test your DIY PR campaign on them. Start small and as you see positive results expand to other markets.
Step Three: Solicit Feedback from Stakeholders – how would they like to receive information? Do they prefer social media such as blogs, social networking, etc.) or is their mode of publicity delivery print media, television or radio?
Dell Computers created its own feedback tool in the form of a social networking site called IdeaStorm.com. Visitors to the social site can submit ideas for computer and technology development, which are then voted on and commented on by other users. Dell can use this information to get inside its customers heads, improve products and create products based upon user feedback. IdeaStorm.com has become an effective and inexpensive PR tool for them.
You can do the same with a blog once you find a way to get group interaction and feedback. You can also participate in social networks where your customers and prospects “hang out” and offer tips, advice, ask questions and solicit feedback.
Feedback will help make your do-it-yourself PR Day Campaign a greater success.
Today is also:
Make a Hat Day
While you are thinking about ways to promote your business, check out Quirky Marketing Calendar ~ How to Use Zany and Non-traditional Holidays to Promote Your Business 365 Days a Year for More GREAT Marketing Ideas.
*NEW
