“Can you get me on Oprah?”
If we had a dollar for every time we got asked that question, we’d close up shop and sip daiquiris on a beach somewhere. So often people don’t understand what Public Relations is, what a publicist does, and some of the challenges PR entails. It’s not as simple as waving a magic wand and *POOF* you’re in several magazine spreads, endless radio interviews or TV guest appearances. And in the days of D.I.Y and Youtube, it’s easy to believe that PR can be done on your own.
To help you understand PR, and why it’s beneficial to hire a Publicist for your business/brand instead of tackling it on your own, here are Four Things You Need to Know About PR:
- No one cares. What you care about is not what the media cares about. Publicists help you focus. They narrow down what to say in a way that grabs attention and brings value.
- Following up takes time. It’s not as simple as sending out a pitch and waiting. Often we’re following up, calling contacts (actually picking up the phone) and making sure that a pitch has landed in the right hands. This takes up time that you can spend elsewhere on your business.
- Don’t take it personally. The media is blunt when saying no. It’s hard when you’ve poured your blood, sweat, tears and money into business, only to be told no. Or worse – ghosted. As professionals, we don’t take it personally. We save you from heartbreak.
- Relationships are important. 20+ years of relationships with the media means something. We’ve cultivated relationships with journalists and producers. They’re the ones who have the power to bring your story to life. It can mean the difference between your pitch being read, versus being deleted.
We hope these four points help you realize that PR is a lot of work. It’s more than just sending out a pitch, or getting on Oprah (which, p.s., had its final episode in 2011). PR is a lot of time, effort and years of experience that you can’t learn from watching a 10 minute Youtube tutorial.
It’s time for YOU to invest in PR.
Want more tips and trick of the PR business from professionals? Check out more FDPR Blog posts here.
Ready to start your PR journey and have a professional one your story? Learn about our services and offerings!
