2012 – The Year of Tally PR?
January 3rd, 2012 // 5:16 pm @ natalie
At Tally PR we are kicking off 2012 with some very happy retained clients as well as a few fantastic new ones too!
This is great, but isn’t as a result of luck and being in the right place at the right time, but about dedication and hard work as well as self promotion and networking.
For me, each client, however big or small, is important and I really value their business and the faith they put in me and my abilities. I use my experience, expertise and contacts to do a great job for each and every one of them and in-turn hope they will be impressed enough to spread the word about Tally PR.
How Do I Do It?
Know Their Business
PR strategies can be taught at courses and seminars but they are just the basic tools that then need to be put into practise. Being ‘business savvy’ is what you need to succeed.
I cannot stress enough how vital it is to understand a client’s business and what they want to achieve. To do an effective job, and not just create a pretty cuttings book, you have to get under the skin of their business and use your PR skills to help meet their business objectives.
My job is to be a part of the team and really ‘get’ the bigger business picture on a regional, national or even international scale. I encourage clients to understand that they aren’t an island and that as well as engaging with their direct target audience, they also need to comment on their industry agenda to put them ahead of the competition and get seen as experts.
Know the Market!
I make sure that I do my homework and make the effort to research any potential clients before I make any contact – that first impression counts every time in business.
Before striking out on my own, I often used freelancers for a variety of PR roles, especially when working on pan-European projects. I was astounded that when I asked simple questions to test their knowledge about the company, many replied that they didn’t know but would pick it up once they got in the driving seat, not good enough.
In tough times clients want to know they are investing in the right people and I want them to feel confident about my abilities, passion and desire to work with them from the start!
Make Love Not War with the Press
By this I don’t mean endless ‘Ab Fab’ lunches and drunken parties but instead getting to know the press that are key to your client’s success, who they are, what they want and how they work.
As a PR in charge of writing and sending press releases I avoid a coarse, obvious sales pitch and refrain from making claims that aren’t backed up by facts. I make sure all copy is signed off by both my client and any 3rd parties and that it is sent to journalists I think will be interested. Journalists want press releases and news that is relevant to their readers, they dislike attachments they haven’t asked for but they do want, and need, high res images!
I try to know when their deadlines are, when print days are happening and if they prefer email or phone calls – sounds obvious but it really can make all the difference between a happy yes or gruff NO!!
Be Trendy!
As much as I can I keep up with the latest musings and movements in PR. I may work for myself but I pride myself at being at the top of my game. It is vital that as a PR freelancer I know which skills are in-demand, when the market is likely to be hot, what the big boys are running with and where the work is.
One of the biggest requests from clients is for social media. I know my Tweets from my pokes and my links from my likes. I practice what I preach and can be found on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. I use Google alerts to track coverage and MySpace to show off my kids. Clients know this and can tap into these skills too as the automatically come as part of the Tally package.
I Don’t Need My Hand Held
Whatever the PR service, I love the challenge of a new client and am more than happy to “hit the ground running ad get on with the job but with the client knowing they are in safe hands.
So, let’s put this in practice and get Tally PR on the road for 2012 – want to come along for the ride then get in touch – www.tallypr.co.uk
Category: Blog
