When it comes to working with a PR firm, it is essential to know that PR companies are designed differently and they have different things to offer. This means that some companies are good and others might not give you value for your money. It is therefore important to research and know some of the most common mistakes that PR companies make.
Misinformed spending
It is important to know your earned media needs and paid media needs. As a leader, you should do more than examine which areas of marketing benefit your business. You should explore how much you wish to spend on marketing. Do not spend where you do not need to but if you need public relations, you should allocate a budget. Whilst earned media is known to be cheaper than paid media, it still comes with expenses.
If you wish to execute an effective public relations strategy, money is required to create new product lines, cross-brand promotions, initiatives, or corporate responsibility work that leads to great public relations opportunities.
Misguided intuition
While intuition is valuable, expertise is crucial. Your knowledge of the market and business might outweigh that of others. However, if you have decided to work with a PR company, it is best to trust their expertise. Not every decision is intuitive so when industry leaders make public relations decisions without the right experience or they make decisions against the advice of professionals, their businesses could suffer a lot of consequences. It is therefore crucial to trust your PR agency.
Publicity overload
Whilst success is equated with a publication, audiences and journalists will not connect with stories that don’t have substance. Frequent features in the media might reflect poorly on companies without justification. The way to the hearts of the public is to be creative to uncover new stories that are worthy of media coverage and publication. Consistent media brings consistent stories. If you do not have the right stories to offer, do not push for publicity that you cannot handle.
Unrealistic expectations
Having unrealistically high expectations can jeopardise your PR decisions and strategies. PR will not make your company famous in a day but after a few months, you’ll slowly see the results. It takes time to build good stories and establish credibility. Patience and understanding are necessary to enhance a public image. Don’t give up on your public relations strategy too early. You should be persistent and develop new stories to share and you will form good relationships.
Priority misalignment
Public relations clients and professionals should have a clear understanding of the priorities and goals at hand. However, the main purpose behind public relations campaigns can be confused with the promotion of products, people or other aspects of an organization.
Non-new stories
Your PR firm should come up with new stories because non-new stories tie to publicity overload. To enhance a public image, you should share newsworthy stories and always remember that not everything can be newsworthy. It is important to tell stories that are worth telling to achieve the best results.