Why PR is Crucial Right Now
Why PR now?
Public Relations is rooted in building and maintaining influential media relationships and cultivating a positive public perception. This is especially important in times of crisis, where brands want to be proactive in their answers to the public.
Not only are people spending more time watching and reading the news, but they are demanding responses from brands in light of COVID-19 and the Black Lives Matter movement. The last thing your brand should do is stay silent without managing the spread of information or addressing public concerns in an honest and transparent way.
Still not convinced? Here’s four reasons why PR is crucial to your brand right NOW:
1 - The public is overwhelmed with fake news
In the “fake news” era, it can be difficult for consumers to navigate the media landscape without knowing what’s the truth and what’s not, especially on social media. This is where PR comes in. As PR professionals, our aim is to help our clients share their unique stories. If used correctly, PR can be a powerful tool to communicate these stories with the public honestly. The key is to be an asset for journalists and provide credibility in your content.
2 - PR helps shape the narrative
You NEED to have a PR plan in place if you want to be ready to tackle the media before false information about your brand spirals. PR allows you to tell your brand story in your own unique way through the power of a third-party medium that can appeal to the masses or to your niche. By connecting with the media, you can influence the way your brand story is told and not only shape the narrative, but own it.
3 - Without PR, your brand can get lost in the noise
Consumers are bombarded with messages every day. You won’t grab the attention of your targeted consumer if you only rely on words. PR can help you build a strong relationship with your audience by creating a targeted, curated experience that illustrates your brand.
Emphasis on the targeted. For example, if your target audience is consumers interested in vegan hair care, you shouldn’t use a general hashtag like #haircare which has 8 million posts on it. Rather, you want to use a more targeted hashtag that is likely to reach your audience such as #veganhaircareproducts. By streamlining your social media and website content, you can use PR to reach your desired audience.
4 - People are interested in learning about new products in an organic way
It’s no doubt that advertising has dominated our society, but earned media is the tried and true solution for connecting with consumers. People today are wanting to learn about products in an authentic way. In fact, 25.8 of internet users installed ad-blocking software in 2019 and that number is only increasing each year.
People trust word of mouth or those who aren’t sponsoring a brand. PR can create positive word of mouth by reaching your target audience in an authentic way whether it be through an influencer on Instagram, a media placement in a magazine, or content posted on social media.
What has worked for your brand to reach audiences in the past probably won’t connect with your target today. PR is crucial if you want to harness the power of communicating with the masses and create ambassadors of your brand organically.