PR: The Wind Beneath Your Startup’s Wings
April 11, 2018
Investing in public relations during a company’s early stages may seem daunting, but it ultimately helps a company to build a foundation of good public standing, quality news coverage, successful funding efforts and more. PR is the stepping stones to these results. It’s more than a mere “add-on” once a company gains traction. In fact, PR is one of the main tools to achieving and continuing that traction. Here are a few PR tips for startups:
It Takes a Village
Getting the most out of public relations efforts means working together to achieve accurate messaging and ideal results. Whether you’ve outsourced and currently work with an agency or have an in-house communications specialist, the principle remains that neither can be successful without the backing of the internal team.
As an agency, we’ve seen some companies become complacent once a contract is signed. That’s just the opposite of what should happen. You’ve gone to the effort of hiring a top-notch agency, so it’s imperative that as a client you are also thoroughly engaged, offering regular insight and feedback to your firm on the messaging, campaigns and opportunities they put in front of you. It’s critically important to have a CEO or spokesperson who is also fully committed to their part in the process. Yes, the PR team or specialist can handle the bulk of the work and the heavy lifting, but it still requires a valiant team effort to reap the rewards of exceptional PR. These combined efforts will bring about clear key messages and thoroughly-planned steps to success.
Extra, Extra – Read All About it!
Startups have never had to fight harder for media coverage than they do today. With an overwhelming amount of information available at the click of a button, it can be difficult to produce news that will see the light of publication. Here are some things to keep in mind:
First, consider if your announcement can be made stronger. When you have two or three small announcements that are newsworthy on their own, bundle them. There’s strength in numbers for smaller announcements. Have a big, exciting announcement coming up? If the announcement is substantial, capitalize on it by pitching as an exclusive to a relevant journalist at a top tier media outlet – or consider pitching the news under embargo to a targeted group of journalists that span tech and trade media to try and secure more opportunities for press coverage.
Second, remember that not everything you might think is newsworthy is actually newsworthy. It can be tempting to turn every partnership, product release or upgrade into a news announcement, but not everything is deserving of coverage.
Do your best to think like a journalist. If you were sitting at your desk with ten deadlines quickly approaching, what would you want to write about? What would your readers and editor find interesting? Do your research on the journalist, what their newsbeat is, what they’ve written about recently, and then position your news in a way that will be most beneficial to them as they work to create quality stories and articles.
Another option is to take an interesting new approach on the subject as there may be room in a news cycle for a thoughtful new angle on your subject.
Have an announcement you think is newsworthy, but aren’t really sure? It’s worth checking in and asking your PR team for guidance – or if you have a journalist friend, run it by them. Your PR team has their finger on the pulse of the market and daily access to many journalists. A good PR firm will push back on you if want to publish a story that isn’t really newsworthy – or make a recommendation that you place soft news on your blog and social channels.
3… 2… 1…. Launch!
You only get the opportunity to launch a product once and it’s now time to get out your metaphorical bullhorn. After pouring blood, sweat and tears into laying the groundwork for your startup, it’s mission critical that you have a highly strategic PR plan designed to make the most of your launch. We recommend engaging with and bringing in a PR team to allow your startup the best possible launch experience. Work with your PR and internal teams to ensure alignment and incorporate a strong PR launch plan that includes integrated PR and social media to achieve outstanding media coverage. Make a splash on social media and tease your audience with engaging content about your upcoming launch.
Your product or company launch can be hugely successful with the right planning and the help of strategic and skilled PR efforts.
To learn how Mercury Global Partners can help you achieve your PR goals, click here.
Tara Hill
Account Coordinator
PR: The Wind Beneath Your Startup’s Wings
April 11, 2018
Investing in public relations during a company’s early stages may seem daunting, but it ultimately helps a company to build a foundation of good public standing, quality news coverage, successful funding efforts and more. PR is the stepping stones to these results. It’s more than a mere “add-on” once a company gains traction. In fact, PR is one of the main tools to achieving and continuing that traction. Here are a few PR tips for startups:
It Takes a Village
Getting the most out of public relations efforts means working together to achieve accurate messaging and ideal results. Whether you’ve outsourced and currently work with an agency or have an in-house communications specialist, the principle remains that neither can be successful without the backing of the internal team.
As an agency, we’ve seen some companies become complacent once a contract is signed. That’s just the opposite of what should happen. You’ve gone to the effort of hiring a top-notch agency, so it’s imperative that as a client you are also thoroughly engaged, offering regular insight and feedback to your firm on the messaging, campaigns and opportunities they put in front of you. It’s critically important to have a CEO or spokesperson who is also fully committed to their part in the process. Yes, the PR team or specialist can handle the bulk of the work and the heavy lifting, but it still requires a valiant team effort to reap the rewards of exceptional PR. These combined efforts will bring about clear key messages and thoroughly-planned steps to success.
Extra, Extra – Read All About it!
Startups have never had to fight harder for media coverage than they do today. With an overwhelming amount of information available at the click of a button, it can be difficult to produce news that will see the light of publication. Here are some things to keep in mind:
First, consider if your announcement can be made stronger. When you have two or three small announcements that are newsworthy on their own, bundle them. There’s strength in numbers for smaller announcements. Have a big, exciting announcement coming up? If the announcement is substantial, capitalize on it by pitching as an exclusive to a relevant journalist at a top tier media outlet – or consider pitching the news under embargo to a targeted group of journalists that span tech and trade media to try and secure more opportunities for press coverage.
Second, remember that not everything you might think is newsworthy is actually newsworthy. It can be tempting to turn every partnership, product release or upgrade into a news announcement, but not everything is deserving of coverage.
Do your best to think like a journalist. If you were sitting at your desk with ten deadlines quickly approaching, what would you want to write about? What would your readers and editor find interesting? Do your research on the journalist, what their newsbeat is, what they’ve written about recently, and then position your news in a way that will be most beneficial to them as they work to create quality stories and articles.
Another option is to take an interesting new approach on the subject as there may be room in a news cycle for a thoughtful new angle on your subject.
Have an announcement you think is newsworthy, but aren’t really sure? It’s worth checking in and asking your PR team for guidance – or if you have a journalist friend, run it by them. Your PR team has their finger on the pulse of the market and daily access to many journalists. A good PR firm will push back on you if want to publish a story that isn’t really newsworthy – or make a recommendation that you place soft news on your blog and social channels.
3… 2… 1…. Launch!
You only get the opportunity to launch a product once and it’s now time to get out your metaphorical bullhorn. After pouring blood, sweat and tears into laying the groundwork for your startup, it’s mission critical that you have a highly strategic PR plan designed to make the most of your launch. We recommend engaging with and bringing in a PR team to allow your startup the best possible launch experience. Work with your PR and internal teams to ensure alignment and incorporate a strong PR launch plan that includes integrated PR and social media to achieve outstanding media coverage. Make a splash on social media and tease your audience with engaging content about your upcoming launch.
Your product or company launch can be hugely successful with the right planning and the help of strategic and skilled PR efforts.
To learn how Mercury Global Partners can help you achieve your PR goals, click here.
