If you’re in any type of public-facing profession, strong PR is an essential part of making yourself visible. Though you might associate PR with marketing, tech, or advertising, it applies to a much wider variety of vocations. Think of PR as the process of establishing and maintaining positive, long-lasting relationships. Wondering about methods of boosting your strategy? Read on for a rundown of helpful tips.
1. Operate with integrity
In addition to wellness, make integrity a foundation of your PR strategy. Integrity has to do with alignment between what you think, say, and do in every area of your life. Granted, human beings aren’t perfect. But the ability to self-reflect and course-correct is a skill that leads to positive results in the long term. All of the PR spin in the world won’t make up for deficits in this area.
2. Know your “why”
You probably already have a good grasp on your “what” — that is, the definition of the service or product you provide. But have you taken the time to identify your “why”? It has to do with the deep purpose behind your profession. Also, your “why” is what sets you apart from other service providers. Take the time to intentionally clarify this aspect of your business.
3. Establish a cohesive brand
Your PR strategy should organically flow from cohesive brand identity. There’s much more to brand identity than a logo or a color scheme, though visual imagery is important. It also has to do with the mood, flavor, and emotional tone of every touchpoint of interaction between your brand and your customers. If you’re not well-versed in this area, invest in the services of a professional brand strategist who’s a standout in your specialty.
4. Develop an effective brand voice
Think about how you naturally express yourself and how your customers communicate. Your brand voice should align with that, both in writing and speaking. Take a look at brands you admire (and that are similar), and examine how their brand voice saturates everything they say and do.
5. Prioritize character
When it comes to hiring and establishing long-term alliances, do it with people and organizations of impeccable character. While skill sets are important, it’s even more critical that your hires be honest and have a strong work ethic. While associating yourself with a well-known brand can bring your business valuable attention, do some vetting first to determine its track record.
6. Be human
Many people are starved for authentic human contact these days. Your honesty, authenticity, and willingness to be (appropriately!) a human with your audience will go a long way toward establishing trust and connection.
7. Be responsive
Listen to trusted mentors, associates, employees, and the public. Ask for feedback and advice, and be willing to apply it. Be sure that you’re accountable to those you serve; make yourself available to employees and customers to the degree that you can. Be willing to learn about and implement new processes that will make your product or services even better.
8. Adjust your strategy
As your enterprise changes, your PR strategy will evolve, too. Using this “inside-out” method will make the adjustment process more organic, as you’ll be using data and other types of actionable information from your business to drive your strategy. Instead of imposing a one-size-fits-all PR approach, the change process will be constructive and creative.
9. Optimize your self-care
Before you do anything else, it’s crucial to function from a healthy place both physically and emotionally. Put together a routine of self-care that deals with core areas of need. Not sure where to start? Try doing a search using terms such as a self care list to find helpful resources and tools. Once you’ve established a foundation of wellness, you’ll have the energy to devote to other tasks.
Boosting your PR strategy requires thinking deeply about the purpose and fundamentals of your business. Try these suggestions to develop a solid game plan.
