It can be daunting to apply for public relations jobs that want more experience than you’ve got. If you are just entering the workforce, it seems like every company wants you to have experience. But just because you’re new to the PR world doesn’t mean you can’t be a qualified candidate. Take the initiative to learn the skills you’ll need at your next job, and beef up your resume…even if it’s on your own dime.
1. PRWeb
Sure, you know PRWeb as a resource for publishing press releases, but did you know it’s also got a great resource center? There you can find great articles and white papers on writing press releases, using social media and SEO for PR. You can watch videos and attend webinars led by industry experts like John Jantsch, founder of Duct Tape Marketing. They even offer free e-classes on all topics relating to PR.
2. Publicity Hound
Led by publicity expert Joan Stewart, Publicity Hound has some amazing resources. While some of her webinars, ebooks, reports and whitepapers have a fee, there’s still a slew of freebies on her site. Check out Joan’s blog to stay on top of industry news. If you want a PR mentor, Joan also offers mentoring services.
3. Press Releases
If you don’t have a ton of press releases under your belt, it can help you to read them online. Just check Google’s News feed or sites like PRWeb to get a sense for formatting, as well as headlines and content that appeal to readers.
4. Volunteer
Maybe you haven’t broken into the PR field just yet, but are ready to go. Consider volunteering for a charity or nonprofit to provide public relations services pro bono. It’s a great resume booster, and will give you a chance to get some real practice, get to know media contacts and try on the nonprofit industry for size. It might just lead to your first PR job!
5. Intern
We all start at the bottom and work our way up. Taking an internship, either through your college or on your own, gives you the chance to learn the ropes and build your portfolio. Let your employer know the skills you are interested in building, like writing or media relations. He’ll more than likely be willing to let you tag along while he works so you can learn from him if you have a clear focus to what you want to learn.
6. Hang with PR Pros on Twitter
On Twitter, there’s a ton of groups for public relations enthusiasts, like:
Participating in these scheduled group chats can give you valuable advice and provide you the chance to ask questions.
7. Network on LinkedIn Groups
There are many groups on LinkedIn catering to public relations experts, such as Public Relations and Communications Job Community (created by my search firm, Paradigm Staffing). Here, you’ll find links to quality PR content as well as discussions among people working in PR. It’s a great place to learn and network.
There’s so many ways you can teach yourself more about public relations and gear up for that next job interview!
If you’re looking for your next role in public relations, look beyond traditional PR/Media Relations roles. You may not have considered some of the specialty areas of PR open to you and those could be right up your alley. Here are a few areas to consider:
Investor Relations
Public companies have investor relations departments. Usually, these departments are a subset of corporate communications or report into the CFO. Earnings releases, earnings forecasts, annual and quarterly reports and press announcements all fall under the IR department. You will likely be involved in setting up roadshows, where company executives talk to analysts about the health of their company and its stock, conference calls, where executives discuss quarterly earnings, and press announcements.
While you may not need an MBA to work in investor relations, a solid understanding of stocks and finance will help you tremendously. Communication skills and the ability to work hard under pressure, in a regulated environment and with tight deadlines are a must.
Look for jobs in this field if…you enjoy talking finances, mergers and acquisitions, and options.
Corporate Communications
Every company needs someone to write both internal and external communications, including letters, emails, memos, newsletters and promotional material. These days, a Communications Specialist may even handle social media communications. The goal in this niche is to keep all company communications consistent and professional.
You tend to see most openings with larger organizations and companies that need more centralized communications and messaging. In this role, you may be responsible for not only drafting the messaging mentioned above, but also writing press releases and arranging speaking engagements and press conferences.
Most hiring managers look for candidates with 4-year degrees in a communications field, like PR, communications, marketing, or journalism, as well as heavy writing experience. Being creative, fast on your feet and a good decision maker will help you score the job as well.
Look for jobs in this field if…you love writing and working for a large organization.
Community Relations
Creating community awareness of your employer would be your role in the Community Relations niche of PR. Corporations, non-profits, and governmental agencies employ Community Relations Specialists. Building strong relationships with individuals, other business and organizations, the Chamber of Commerce, local media, and government officials is key for this role to generate community awareness.
You may be required to organize community events and develop community outreach programs, in addition to creating buzz about them. You may organize volunteer programs and other community activities that increase employee involvement in the local community and assist with the planning and decision-making for the organization’s charitable contributions in the community.
A degree in PR or Communications is helpful when applying for jobs in Community Relations, public speaking and a solid grasp of social media.
Look for jobs in this field if…you love interacting with people and planning events.
This is a post by PR columnist, Alison Kenney.
As the media around us continues to change and evolve, PR practitioners are adapting: we’re participating in social media, creating new content to appeal to many different audiences and using various new media formats in our efforts. So, is what we’re doing still “P.R.”? Or do we need a new name for this enhanced role we play?
Arik Hansen blogged recently that we PR pros are evolving into media producers and that “companies will be looking more and more for a professional with storytelling skills. And photography skills. And video producing and editing skills.”
Last year Eloqua was one of the companies that hired its own media producer. It brought Jesse Noyes (@noyesjesse) on board as a corporate reporter. I decided to follow up with Jesse on his experience over the past year and ask him if he has any advice to help PR pros develop skills for this new type of role. He was kind enough to take the time to answer my questions:
How is being a corporate reporter unique? How does it differ from traditional reporting? How does it differ from PR or other marketing functions?
Well, first, the role of an in-house reporter for any brand is not journalism in the traditional sense. Your role is not necessarily to break news, and I don’t think I’ll be hearing from the Pulitzer committee any time soon. You’re there to create editorial content, whether it’s articles, podcasts, videos, etc, that educate or inform or even entertain your audience. While many of the topics I explore might be pertinent to my company or my industry, I’m not here to tout a product or service specifically. Eloqua has charged me with creating stuff that will delight and engage people working at the cross roads of marketing, sales, social media, cloud computing and tech in general – not to sell.
In terms of PR, I have many former newsroom colleagues that have gone on to this field, with great success. But it was never for me. I don’t communicate with the media, pitch stories to news outlets or blogs, or work with analysts. I have great co-workers who do that. Honestly, if you’re calling me to arrange an interview or get a quote, you have the wrong guy.
That said, how does corporate reporting incorporate aspects of traditional journalism and aspects of marketing/PR?
There’s a new mantra within marketing: “Think like a publisher.” That’s all well and good, but I think brands need to take an even bigger step and think like an editor. The publisher at most outlets is supposed to have little involvement with the actual editorial content. In this day and age where publishing tools are cheap and easy, you need the professional skills of an editor and reporter to differentiate yourself. This requires some very basic, but hard-learned, lessons from journalism. Interviewing skills, research skills, proofreading, an ability to jump from subject to subject, even industry to industry, on any given day – these are the purview of the corporate reporter. My purpose is not only to produce great work, but to elevate the content of those working at every level of the company. Those skills are hard to come by, and why I think more brands will be pilfering from newsrooms in the future.
What skills do you think are most important to the corporate reporting role?
As I noted above, the ability to switch from subject to subject, solid editing chops, and expert interview skills are probably the most fundamental. When I started out in the newsroom, I had great editors who made me feel great about my work, even as they ripped it apart and showed me how to do it right. That kind of editing finesse is critical within organizations that want to act as publishers. I’d add an ability to tell a story, is something that can only be learned with time and a lot of tapping on the keyboard. It doesn’t come naturally all that often.
Can any size/type organization benefit from having a corporate reporter on staff?
Absolutely. Large companies benefit by having someone who can oversee the editorial quality of their content, and to push back when it sounds too much like marketing speak. Small companies benefit from someone who can help position them as market leaders, cutting through the noise without a huge budget on their side.
Do you employ different types of media in your reporting, e.g. video, audio, photos?
All of the above.
Who is your primary audience?
People who want to elevate their sales and marketing. This can range from those just starting out in their careers to those at the highest level within an organization. I have written about and interviewed people working at professional sports team to software-makers to business thought leaders.
What kind of response/feedback have you received from Eloqua’s customers/prospects?
By far, the feedback I get from our regular readers is the most encouraging. Often I meet people at conferences or other events, and when I say I work for Eloqua I hear, “I love the content you’re producing!” That’s the best feeling.
What is the hardest part of making a career change for those “old school” journalists who are adapting to market changes and leaving traditional journalism for corporate PR or marketing positions?
Honestly, I think it’s just wrapping your head around it. You work for a company that sells something to someone. Many journalists would struggle with that. But it’s not really that different. I worked for newspapers and ultimately those papers were a business with skin in the game. At the same time, if the company wants to keep a reporter on a short leash, they probably shouldn’t even make the hire. The relationship won’t work if some brand manager wants to control every period and comma.
For PR and marketing types, I think it’s realizing that writing, editing and narrative skills aren’t just polish. They’re critical to your success. And you can’t just take a night class and say you have “reporting skills now.” You have to find the right people and build a relationship with them internally. Luckily, at Eloqua I work with smart people who see the value in a sharp editorial product.
What lessons can PR and marketing types take from traditional journalism folk in this new world?
Interview people. Write everyday. Understand that people care about a good story, not your product. I was always baffled by PR people who would call me and expect me to just write an article about their company. My readers cared about wider trends and changes in the market, not just about some brand’s CEO. Do the work to find the bigger story, and you’ll have more success getting your brand’s own story told.
Alison Kenney an independent PR practitioner with more than 15 years of PR consulting experience. She is based on Boston’s North Shore and has worked with organizations in the technology, professional services and consumer industries. She writes a bi-monthly PR column on LindsayOlson.com. You can find her at www.kprcommunications.com. Learn more about Alison Kenney.
The public relations industry is constantly changing. It seems like every day there are new tools to master. How can you make sure you’re up to speed when it comes to your next job interview?
Get Smarter
Blogs
Industry learning opportunities are endless. One way to stay current about happenings in the public relations field is by reading blogs, both about public relations as well as the industry you want to work in.
How do you find the right blogs to read? Start with this list of the top 100 PR blogs and then choose the ones you like the best. Check out the links and blogrolls for each blog to find find other related sites and blogs to read.
Press releases
Searching for releases in your industry or areas of interest will give you topic ideas and domain knowledge to potentially share in an interview. By reading press releases, you can get ideas you can incorporate in the releases you write for your clients, too. While we’re on the subject, you should be reading all the recent releases from any agency or company you interview with before the interview.
Twitter
Follow both industry journalists and other PR folks on Twitter. Once you find someone to follow, check their Twitter Lists to see if they’ve categorized other industry people you should follow as well. Sites like Listorious and WeFollow allow you to search a category to follow new people. It’s a great place to start in following thought leaders.
What Hiring Managers Want You to Know
When you’re in your next job interview, what will the hiring manager want you to know?
They expect you to be up to speed on changes in both public relations and the industry you want to work in. That means if Obama passed an economic stimulus package that affects physicians moving to electronic medical records and you’re applying for a job at a healthcare company, you better know all about it!
They expect you to know about the them. If they have a tagline, memorize it. If they have posted their mission statement, read it thoroughly. If you have the job description, you should understand it and have your questions prepared. Read through all their press releases – you should know about the company’s latest news and management hires. If asked, you should be able to name their top five clients. You should also have a general knowledge of the hiring manager’s background by checking out LinkedIn or doing a bit of internet research prior to the interview.
Hiring managers also like you to have diverse interests that will help in coming up with creative ideas and story angles. And every hiring manager in the public relations industry will expect better than average writing skills. Before the interview, prepare a few samples of your work and make sure they are relevant for the position.
Knowing what the market pays in the PR industry can help you ensure that you receive the right package for the job you’re doing. Whether you already have a job or are applying for one, you should do your research beforehand and know the average salary for the position for which you are applying. It’s common to be asked about your salary expectations during a job interview, so you need be prepared to handle the question.
Without knowing this in advance, you’re putting yourself at a disadvantage. In an existing job, especially if you have long tenure with a company, this information can help position your discussion around a raise at review time.
Just what are PR professionals earning? Let’s take a look at some of the data available. The average salary for a public relations manager within the United States, according to Salary.com, is $85,761, but not surprisingly, the actual amount will vary drastically depending on which state/city you work in and the specific company, industry, and position.
Agency Positions
The figures below are all based on typical earnings from New York City and San Francisco. When it comes to agency positions, the following salaries are fairly common.
Account Coordinator: $35,000 – $45,000
Account Executive: $45,000 – $58,000
Senior Account Executive: $52,000 – $70,000
Account Manager/Account Supervisor: $65,000 – $95,000
Account Director: $80,000 – $120,000
Vice President: $100,000 -$150,000
Senior Vice President, Executive Vice President, General Manager: $150,000 – $250,000
(This information comes from the salary ranges my PR recruiting firm, Paradigm Staffing, sees for the positions we have worked on in 2011 and from the stated current salaries of the candidates we recruit for them.)
Keep in mind that all of these will depend entirely on the position and the structure of the agency. A VP in one agency may be the highest level next to the owner or the General Manager and require 15+ years experience. In another agency, there are still four or five more levels higher than a Vice President and the typical VP has half the years of experience. Other factors that could affect your salary include how many clients you manage, which clients you manage, your industry specialty, the agency size, and your previous salary history with your company or your previous employer.
Bonuses are another factor that are particularly common in smaller agencies that may struggle with offering the most industry competitive base salaries. Many do, however, offer bonuses annually or semi-annually. Some even offer new business commissions to employees who either win a new business pitch or bring in a viable lead to the agency which can significantly boost your income.
In-House Positions
Working in-house means you’ll have the opportunity to work on one brand or in a specific area of communications at the corporate level or within a division. Most larger companies have an in-house PR team and work with external agencies. The wages tend to a bit higher, especially at the junior and mid-levels and discretionary bonuses are common for managers and above, typically 10-20% of the base salary. Salaries tend to be as follows:
PR Specialist: $40,000 – $65,000
PR Manager and Corporate Communications Manager: $65,000 -$120,000
PR Director and Corporate Communications Director: $115,000 – $195,000
Vice President: $140,000 -$195,000+
Sr. Vice President, EVP, Chief Communications Officer – $175,000 to over $300,000
(This information comes from the salary ranges my PR recruiting firm, Paradigm Staffing, sees for the positions we have worked on in 2011 and from the stated current salaries of the candidates we recruit for them.)
Asking for a Raise
When asking for a raise in your current position, you should have a good reason behind asking. Simply telling your boss that you know other PR pros are earning more than you or that you have X amount of time with the company are not compelling enough reasons and you’ll likely annoy your manager more than help your cause. You can certainly arm yourself with information and a carefully thought out plan to present to your boss. When you offer good, quality reasons with plenty of data to back it up and examples of your increased responsibilities/contributions to the company, you’ll find that you have a better chance of getting a salary increase.
This is a post by PR columnist, Alison Kenney.
Like many people, when it comes to Google+ I’m wary of putting time and energy into another social media network, especially when there’s not a lot to be gained from doing so yet. Unlike the major social networks Google is trying to unseat with Plus (such as Facebook and Twitter), Google+ isn’t attracting the masses and the folks who are attracted are scratching their heads once they join.
So, what is one to do?
First, have some perspective –Google+ got an impressive jump out of the starting gate with 25 million people signing up for it in the first month. Technology “geeks” and social media experts rave about it. On the other hand, Google+ visitors have dropped 37 percent in the last few weeks, according to Alexa and plenty of “ordinary folk” who got into the beta have expressed backlash for Google+.
Give Google a chance – Google+ is currently in a closed beta testing phase but Google appears to be betting heavily on Plus with impressive marketing expenditures. Google has yet to introduce its Google+ pages for businesses, so it’s impossible to say what the business opportunity will be yet (though that isn’t stopping anyone from speculating)
Be patient – as Doug Haslam writes on the Voce Communications blog: “I ask the early adopters not to declare the service dead or the greatest thing ever- mere days into this limited launch. I share the naysayers’ concerns that it will be hard to move people off Facebook and/or Twitter, let alone other services we are used to using, to make Plus the center of our lives. We don’t even know what the services for businesses are going to be, so snap judgments on this new social network are meaningless. I also share the cheerleaders’ enthusiasm- for me, a hope, really- that Google Plus may actually take advantage of the fact many of use disparate Google services like Mail, Documents, even Buzz (guilty, and lonely).”
What do you think? Have you tried Google+? What do you think it’s chances are?
Alison Kenney an independent PR practitioner with more than 15 years of PR consulting experience. She is based on Boston’s North Shore and has worked with organizations in the technology, professional services and consumer industries. She writes a bi-monthly PR column on LindsayOlson.com. You can find her at www.kprcommunications.com. Learn more about Alison Kenney.
A post by PR columnist, Alison Kenney.
As a free service that lets its users set up an account in just a few seconds, Twitter has made it easy for people to take advantage of its system. Plenty of tweets come from assumed aliases or posers. Why would anyone do this? And what role do fake tweets play in PR?
First, fake tweets can be really entertaining. Many of the fake Twitter aliases dispense pretty hilarious and well-thought out tweets. Everyone from Forbes to Mashable has published a list of the best fake Twitter accounts. They range from crime bosses (there are about a dozen Whitey Bulgers on Twitter and even @Catherine_Greig is tweeting now) to celebrities(@FakeJeter) and from the cast of Star Wars to memes like @FakeAPStyleBook and@shitmydadsays, which seems to have spawned @oldmansearch. Often the entertainment value is in extending the life of a popular news topic, such as the creation of@Bronxzooscobra.
Faux tweets can also help brands engage with audiences in a new way and/or add a new dimension to the brand. For example, the Mad Men TV show characters who tweet in their fictional voices would seem to be a brilliant branding move on behalf of AMC, the show’s creators, and a smart way to extend the brand and keep audiences engaged even when the season is not airing on TV. (The real story is more complicated.)
Another benign reason for skirting total transparency on Twitter is to establish and build authority. For instance, Lindsay’s Twitter handle, @PRjobs, is an easy-to-remember and authoritative name for someone whose job is recruiting PR professionals. Similar to the practice of grabbing up popular web domain names, some Twitter names become sought-after. @Massachusetts isn’t a government agency; it’s the Twitter handle for Trazzler, a travel deal site co-founded by Biz Stone, one of Twitter’s founders.
Twitter is also used strategically to influence audiences or perhaps attack an opponent. This seems to be happening more and more in politics, with opponents creating fake Twitter names to tweet offensive comments about a candidate, as was the case for California State Senator and leading candidate for mayor of San Francisco Leland Yee says the New York Times. In an unusual example of Twitter impersonation, a faux Rahm Emanuel, who presumably sought to entertain when he began tweeting under the handle @MayorEmanuelduring Emanuel’s run for mayor of Chicago, identified himself to the real Rahm Emanuel in exchange for a donation to a local charity.
In typical fashion, campaign managers and PR strategists simultaneously deny involvement with fake Twitter accounts and discount any influence the fake tweets have.
Of course the most infamous fake tweeter so far is @BPGlobalPR, which took advantage of BP’s slow reaction and lack of communication in the wake of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill to generate negative attention for the BP brand. The creator of @BPGlobalPR shares his thoughts with PRSA in this interview.
Twitter doesn’t endorse phweeters (phony tweeters) or parodies but openly accepts their existence and attempts to help its users identify real versus phony accounts by verifying certain accounts and publishing these guidelines.
Alison Kenney an independent PR practitioner with more than 15 years of PR consulting experience. She is based on Boston’s North Shore and has worked with organizations in the technology, professional services and consumer industries. She writes a bi-monthly PR column on LindsayOlson.com. You can find her at www.kprcommunications.com. Learn more about Alison Kenney.
A post by PR columnist, Alison Kenney.
Speaking from a PR perspective (not necessarily my political point of view) I’ve found myself struck by Sarah Palin’s media presence this week. In fact, I can’t escape the media attention being paid to Sarah Palin lately. Although she is not officially running for office, does not currently hold public office (or any job) and is not starring in a reality TV show, she is all over the place. She is touring the country by bus, but in actuality I think she is filling a void and the media’s dreaded dead air time before Republican party candidates get serious. As much as they complain about and mock her, the media is following her every move.
Here’s how she gets their attention:
- Relying on the element of surprise – while other attention-seeking candidates share their every move with the media ahead of time, Palin does not. She even goes so far as to trick the media who are following her in order to slip away from them.
- Scorning the media (they’ll cover her anyway) – According to the New York Times, Palin used “her bus as a decoy at the back entrance of a hotel in Pennsylvania so she could slip out a side entrance” and “[used] a Sarah Palin impersonator in Boston and instruct[ed] her to ‘go talk to all these reporters’ on her behalf.” (Take note, Lindsay Lohan and Charlie Sheen.)
- Rather than rely on traditional media, become the media – As Michelle Cottle wrote about Palin in her piece in The New Republic last summer,
“She is a prolific and passionate tweeter. Her Facebook page overflows with thoughts on global events both past (DDay, Reagan’s Brandenburg Gate speech) and present (Israel, border security, the need to drill, baby, drill); Of course, unlike other categories of the rich and famous, political celebs (especially populist firebrands) cannot risk being seen as remote or out of touch. But here’s where Palin’s embrace of new media saves the day. Her perky, quirky tweets and chatty Facebook items make her fans feel as though they have a direct line to her—despite the oft-voiced assumption that Palin (like so many pols) does not write most (if any) of her own Facebook posts. Such is the beauty of social networking: It allows a public figure to avoid direct interaction with the public while promoting the illusion of personal connection and involvement.”
Cottle summarized Palin’s other PR strategies in last year’s article for The New Republic,
“Her byline pops up now and again in the opinion pages (supporting McCain, bashing enviros). She periodically hits the campaign trail with favored candidates. She is a prolific and passionate tweeter. Her Facebook page overflows with … news of upcoming appearances (a rally at the Lincoln Memorial with Glenn Beck, a possible U.K. jaunt to meet Margaret Thatcher); the latest media atrocities committed against her; and her rolling endorsements of “commonsense conservative” candidates who tickle her fancy. And, any day now, filming is scheduled to start on the docu-travelogue series in which Palin will “bring the wonder and majesty of Alaska” to TLC viewers.
- And, of course, avoiding “gotcha” interviews and remainig in control – Palin rarely sits down with non-conservative interviewers. (She seems to have BFF status with Greta Van Susteren of Fox News, with whom she frequently grants interviews.) And, according to Cottle, Palin “eschews mix-’em-up formats pitting her viewpoint against that of a more liberal counterpart.”
I’m not attempting to discount Palin’s own charisma and ambition, and I’m sure there are countless tactics in play that I’m not even aware of, but I find myself wondering if these PR strategies could serve as case studies for the rest of us?
Alison Kenney an independent PR practitioner with more than 15 years of PR consulting experience. She is based on Boston’s North Shore and has worked with organizations in the technology, professional services and consumer industries. She writes a bi-monthly PR column on LindsayOlson.com. You can find her at www.kprcommunications.com. Learn more about Alison Kenney.
This is a post by PR columnist, Alison Kenney.
I started my career at a PR agency and have yet to work “in-house,” so I’m a bit biased about this topic: the top reasons it’s beneficial to start your career at a PR agency:
- Agencies are great places to learn the ropes – The agency structure is very conducive to learning and growing. Although most employees work at essentially the same job, i.e. their clients’ PR programs, there are multiple levels on each account team. With frequent performance reviews, lots of mentor options and opportunities to hone skills, talented entry-level PR pros are constantly being groomed for the next level.
- Birds of a feather stick together – Unlike working in a corporate setting where you may be the only PR person or may be one part of a small marketing team or department, in a PR agency you’re surrounded by other PR people. This means you have access to plenty of folks who’ve experienced what you’re experiencing and can either help, cheer you on, or commiserate with you about your work.
- Careers really get launched – At an agency, most folks work typically work on multiple client accounts or projects at a time. During your tenure at an agency you will typically experience working for many clients, sometimes in multiple industries. Aside from keeping things interesting, this means you have an opportunity to learn a lot more in a shorter amount of time.
- Agencies are helpful for forging a professional network – I don’t have statistics on how long most agency staff stay at their firm, but from my experience it seems as though they move around quite a bit. After working at an agency, many people transition to in-house positions, move on to other agencies or to start new firms. That means they could be transitioning to new roles as your future client, boss or employee.
- It’s a good way to learn business basics – Not only are PR agencies great places to learn the craft of public relations, they are also good opportunities to learn how to run a service business. Most agencies involve employees at every level in the work of pitching new business, planning programs against a budget and managing accounts, clients and other staff.
- You get to see the forest, not just the trees – In an agency/client relationship, you’re one step removed from your client’s business, which of course has both pros and cons. On the plus side, you can view their business and its challenges and opportunities more objectively. You also gain perspective by being able to compare it with other clients.
- Taking an agency job allows you to keep your career options open – Although some of us study public relations in college, not many of us know exactly where, or in which industry, we want to practice PR in our careers. Working in a PR agency can be a good way to continue exploring your career opportunities because you’re exposed to different types of clients, different industries and sometimes different disciplines of PR.
Alison Kenney an independent PR practitioner with more than 15 years of PR consulting experience. She is based on Boston’s North Shore and has worked with organizations in the technology, professional services and consumer industries. She writes a bi-monthly PR column on LindsayOlson.com. You can find her at www.kprcommunications.com. Learn more about Alison Kenney.
This is a post by PR columnist, Alison Kenney.
As a P.R. pro you know the challenge of writing a successful email pitch that stands out and convinces its recipient to take action. The last thing you want is for your email to be ignored or labeled spam.
I’ve come up with 7 questions P.R. pros should ask themselves before hitting the send button on their next email pitch:
- Is this a job for PR? Sometimes P.R. is tasked with something – say, launching a new company — that requires involvement from many other departments. In these cases it’s important to consider what advertising and other marketing efforts are being done to support the P.R. effort as it can affect the angle and tone of your pitch and provide you with perspective to make the right “ask” in your pitch.
- Is email the best way to tell this story? The answer could be “yes” if you have a reasonable number of targets. Surveys of reporters have found that the media prefers email as the #1 way to communicate with P.R. but they are also sticklers for email that’s “on target.” Do you have the resources to draft well-researched, personalized email pitches to a wide number of media targets?If the answer to #2 is “no,” then is there a better way to “go wide” with this story? Alternatives to sending individual emails could be putting your story in press release form and using a wire service or using social media tools to tell your story.
- Do I need to create a relationship with the media to tell this story? The truth is that not every reporter wants a relationship – sometimes they just want to get that product snapshot for their spring column and be done with it. So…No, you don’t have to “build relationships” or know everything about a writer or follow them on social media before sending them an email pitch. Notice, however, I didn’t say that you get a pass on researching the media and targeting your pitch to the right audience. Especially if your story isn’t a no-brainer or if your client doesn’t have any brand recognition, then, yes, you really need to put in the effort to research and find an angle to tell and sell your story.
- How comfortable am I with the accuracy of my media list? How well do you know the contacts on your list – when was the last time you read their work? Did you research the names yourself? If you bought the list or built it from a database, did you verify the names, contact information and beats? Yes, this is time-consuming work, but it is critical to the success of your pitch.
- Will the recipient recognize me? Of course, sending email pitches “cold” can be tougher than reaching out to people who already know you or who are expecting to hear from you. Some P.R. pros publish an opt-in newsletter in which they provide insider tips, introduce relevant sources and plant seeds for stories to recipients interested in a specific industry. Others bring in partners with specific industry experience if they’re lacking it themselves.
- Will the recipient think this is spam? You’re not a mind-reader and can’t foresee every reaction but you can proof-read your pitch before sending it to gauge whether it’s personalized and relevant. You can also do small tests to see which messages resonate with particular audiences and create different versions of the pitch that highlight different key messages.
Alison Kenney an independent PR practitioner with more than 15 years of PR consulting experience. She is based on Boston’s North Shore and has worked with organizations in the technology, professional services and consumer industries. She writes a bi-monthly PR column on LindsayOlson.com. You can find her at www.kprcommunications.com. Learn more about Alison Kenney.
This blog is to share my recruiting experiences and discuss thoughts on the job market, PR industry and technology.
Alison Kenney is an independent PR practitioner with more than 15 years of PR consulting experience.
