Public Relations (PR) activities can be a powerful tool for organizations. Yet, few understand the value PR brings. From media relations to reputation management to social media, PR activities can benefit an organization in a number of ways.
Here are 7 ways that PR can enhance your organization:
1. Increase Visibility
PR activities such as publicity (media relations), social media, e-newsletters, special events, print collateral and others get your business’ name in front of the groups of people that matter most.
2. Enhance Name and Brand Recognition
When your business uses PR activities to consistently get your name in front of these audiences, and that message is in line with what you want people to know about your company, it enhances brand recognition.
3. Build Credibility
Editorial news coverage, speaking engagements and industry involvement are all great ways to position yourself or your company as a subject matter expert and build credibility in your field. Posting blogs and white papers that discuss timely industry topics also demonstrates expertise.
4. Create Brand Ambassadors
PR activities can help create “brand ambassadors” or “raving fans” that are so loyal to your organization that they get others excited about your products or services. It can also be leveraged to create positive employee or volunteer morale, which in turn creates more brand ambassadors.
5. Prevent and Manage Issues and Crises
Do you have a plan-of-action in the event that a crisis occurs? PR can help manage crises after they hit, but more importantly, it can oftentimes keep them from happening in the first place.
6. Help Organizations Evolve
PR is about communication, and a key component of communication is listening. What you learn from these activities may help you identify areas of improvement, add product or service offerings, or shape the direction of your business.
7. Support Marketing Initiatives
While PR doesn’t always generate direct sales, it does help the lead-to-sales ratio through the above benefits. If an individual is interested in your product or services, they want to know that you are a credible, reputable organization, and PR can help build that perception in ways that marketing will not.
