4 Signs You’re Ready to Hire a PR Firm

4 Signs You’re Ready to Hire a PR Firm

When you’re a small business owner, public relations can be an attractive component to add to the marketing mix. Just as you hire specialists to design a website, create an advertisement or conduct email marketing, PR practitioners are expert communicators that can help reach and engage with your target audiences. An agency relationship can help secure earned media exposure, develop collateral materials, lend event support, boost social media impact, provide strategic counsel and much more. So how do you know if you’re ready to make that leap? In honor of National Small Business Week, we’re outlining surefire ways to know that you’re ready to hire a PR agency and get the support your business needs.

1.  You are looking to bolster visibility for your brand.

Whether you have a brick and mortar location or an ecommerce business model, a small new product launch or a huge push for the summer season, you recognize an opportunity to build awareness and drive customers your way. Depending on your business challenge, there are specific PR strategies and tactics to apply for a short-term blitz or an ongoing drumbeat, which should all ladder up to a cohesive brand voice. PR pros will help focus your energies and aid these efforts.

2.  You know what sets you apart from your competitors.

Why is your business unique? This may seem like a simple question, but it can unearth several opportunities to distinguish your business. PR practitioners can help you hone in and message to the most compelling differentiators while determining the best newsworthy storylines from a media perspective.

3.  You understand the role of PR.

By definition, “public relations is a strategic communication process that builds mutually beneficial relationships between organizations and their publics.” PR reps are not salespeople, but they do work to strategically align with business goals. Identify the things you hope you accomplish with a PR program, outline realistic expectations and do your research on the firms you’re considering to make sure it’s a good fit. It’s totally fine to outline stretch goals, but it’s important to ask specific questions and work collaboratively in advance to define reasonable metrics for success.

4.  You have defined resources to allocate towards PR.

Along with outlining your target audiences and what success looks like, it’s important to allocate specific resources from your marketing spend for PR programming. A PR agency can help frame the right scope of work that fits within your budget, as long as you provide that context upfront. Have a discussion with your agency partner to see whether your objectives can be accomplished within your budget, and whether a retainer or project makes the most sense for your business.

Does the above align with your current situation? If so, it might be time to tap into the power of PR. 

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Posted By Jen Caro

Obsessed with entertainment news, Jen frequently visits industry sites and her favorite Instagram accounts for the latest happenings. She also reguarly surfs Pinterest for ambitious new recipes. Once her online routine is complete, you can find Jen sipping a hot cup of coffee, listening to new music or dancing away in a Zumba class.