Creating an Effective Public Relations Campaign

Define your goal* Letters to the Editor
The first step in creating your PR Campaign is deciding* Press Releases
what you want to achieve. It’s important to know* Articles
what you are working toward so that you know when* Newsletters
you’ve achieved it. Set deadlines and establish the* Blogs
criteria for measuring success so you know you've* Networking
reached it. As always your goal should be specific,* Speaking Engagements
measurable, attainable, and time-specific.* Tradeshow
Develop media database* Interviews
Your media database should include groups that have* Surveys
the potential to impact your ability to reach your goal.* Webinars/Seminars
Including:Create query/pitch letters
* InvestorsYour query letter should be one-page, explain why the
* Referral sourcestargeted media would be interested in your story. It
* Employeesshould include some details, and possible ways to
* Local government leadersapproach the story.
* Business leadersCreate a media/press kit
* Freelance writersYour media kit provides detail. It tells about your
* Industry analystscompany, your product and service, as well as your
* Newspapermessage. Your media kit should be sent to any one in
* Television stationsyour database who requests it, and anyone that can
* Radio stationsdeliver your message to your targeted media. Your
* News syndicatesmedia kit can include:
* Magazine* Press Releases
* Ezines* Articles you've written
In addition to contact information, your media database* Speeches you've given
should include deadline, preferred method of contact,* Company and product fact sheets
and frequency of publications.* Biographies of key people in your company
Develop your message* Testimonials and case studies
When developing your message, make sure it's* Photographs of key people in your company
newsworthy, contains phrases that you wantImplement the campaign & follow-up
repeated that describe your business and what youImplementing your campaign is the easy part. You just
want others to think about when they think about yourhave to follow your action plan, mail, emailing, post your
company. You want your message to be clear,messages as you planned in your strategy. Now
concise and to communicate the uniqueness of yourfollowing up, that's the hard part. But basically you just
business. You also want your message to becontact the person you sent your message to to
grounded in truth.confirm they received it, and occasionally send
Develop PR Strategy & Tacticsupdated and new information.
Your PR Strategy consists of the type activities,* Track the results
channels and actions you are going to implement to* Did you achieve your overall goal?
achieve your goal. Basically, this will be the details of* How many inquires did you receive? From media
the plan, dates the activities will be implemented, andtargets? From prospective clients?
by whom. Your strategy can include:* Number of unique visits to your website?