Why Isn’t Your Publicity Working?

Yesterday afternoon, I received another call from a small business owner who hired a publicist and received little to no results. And another entrepreneur e-mailed me to tell me that his press release didn’t capture any media attention…so with this in mind, what happened?

What Makes Public Relations Work?

If your PR activities are not working, ask yourself these questions:

1. Am I just sending out press releases and waiting for the phone to ring?

Obtaining media attention is much more than announcing a press release. After all, reporters receive hundreds of these each day. To obtain media coverage, it takes time and effort. You need to pursue specific media members with targeted story ideas they will care about.

Now, you can still use press releases, but think of them as ways to boost search engine optimization (SEO) online and stay current in front of your key customers.

2. Is my story idea interesting and newsworthy?

Does your news or story angle revolve around your products and service features? If so, not many people are going to care.

It’s essential to talk about what your business can do for others and the BENEFITS you offer. How do you help others? What problems does your business solve? How do your products and services relate to a current industry trend or news item?

3. What are my goals?

Have you set overall goals for your PR campaign, or are you just sending out messages hoping to get results? Before starting, it’s essential to set your goals and the tactics you are going to use to meet those goals. Then, you can follow a set schedule, monitor results and make changes as needed.

As you can see, for PR to work, it takes time and effort. And if your current activities aren’t producing results, it’s time for a full stop. Look at your processes and see what’s working and what’s not.

And if you are still bewildered at what’s happening, conduct some research and find an experienced expert to help you. It may cost some money, but a good publicist can obtain third-party credibility that you cannot purchase any other way.

Do you need help with your public relations and SEO copywriting to boost sales, awareness and credibility? Please see my free newsletter and information at www.rembrandtwrites.com, or feel free to contact me directly. I’d love to hear from you! Thanks.