“Everything you do or say is public relations.” - Unknown

Public relations (PR) is vital to the success of any company – including yours. 

Small businesses and entrepreneurs need to be conscious of their reputation while communicating with both external and internal stakeholders. Your PR plan and desired outcomes should be linked to your business plan; PR is a strategic tool to achieve your goals and objectives. 

What is public relations?

Public relations is the practice of establishing and maintaining a positive image and reputation for a company. Its main goal is to create a favourable relationship between an organisation and its stakeholders. PR is not only about getting in the media, but also about building relationships with journalists, influencers, customers and other stakeholders, and is also important when managing crises. 

PR and your business plan

PR should be linked to your business plan and have a distinct strategy. In today's world, where people have access to information 24/7, companies need to be proactive in communicating with stakeholders. PR should not be treated as an afterthought or separate from the overall business strategy.

When PR is linked to your business plan, it will help in achieving your company's goals and objectives. A good PR strategy is tailored to your brand’s needs and objectives, and it should be integrated with your marketing and social media. PR can help create brand awareness, generate leads, drive sales, attract investors and improve the company's reputation.

The benefits of having a PR strategy

1. Increased brand awareness

A good PR strategy will increase brand awareness and create a positive image of your company. It can help our business stand out from the competition and attract new customers.

2. Crisis management

A crisis can happen at any time, and having a well-planned PR strategy can help manage the situation. A PR team can respond quickly to a crisis, limiting its impact on the company's reputation.  Watch out for The PR Club’s crisis management training.

3. Improved relationships with stakeholders

PR can also help improve the relationships between the company and its stakeholders. By communicating with stakeholders regularly, a company can build trust and loyalty. There are some simple exercises you can do to map out your stakeholders and understand the they ones you should be engaging with.

4. Increased investor confidence

I know, you are likely to be a small business and may not have an investor, but think about how much time and effort, and probably money, you have invested in your own business.  Investors are always looking for companies with a positive reputation. A well-planned PR strategy can increase investor confidence, which can lead to future investments. It will also give you confidence, as a self-investor, that you are on the right track.

In summary

Public relations is essential for any business – large or small - that wants to succeed in today's world. Your PR plan should be linked to your business plan and used as a strategic tool to achieve your company's goals and objectives.

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It’s never too early to do PR for your business.  Hello! I’m Sara, founder of The PR Club to give you the skills and tools you need to transform your business using PR Power.

 Want to learn how to write a press release? Then look no further than my low-cost training course PR Made easy: how to write a press release available now at https://theprclub.co.uk/howtowriteapressrelease