Is PR worth the investment?

Whenever any business is looking towards the future, the question of public relations inevitably pops up. That being said, many hold back on the investment, putting it off for the future as they question the return of investment. Many follow a similar thought process - yes, PR can get my brand name out there, but what leads will head our way as a result?

Regardless of sector, the key to understanding PR is that it is a long game. Gain a good story and people will be talking about a brand for days, but you might not see thousands flooding to your site as a result. Instead, people will remember you and your services for their future needs, building your brand’s reputation.

It’s also important to have reasonable expectations and focus your time and energy on platforms that will reach the audience most interested in what you have to offer. The same goes for when PR is used as part of an SEO strategy – irrelevant sites won’t support your long-term search goals. 

Regardless of expectation, PR can still be a big investment for a small business to make, especially considering the difficulty in measuring a financial return.

So, what realistic gain can you expect to see as a result of your public relations activity?  

Generate high-intent leads

As touched upon previously, coverage will never equal hundreds of enquiries. Although it can put you at the forefront of your target audience’s mind.

Picture this: your ideal customer is reading their favourite magazine, considering how they need a certain service or product. They then stumble upon a feature or news piece all about your brand who just so happens to offer exactly what they need.

What are they going to do? Spend time Googling or trust a reliable news source? Inevitably, there will always be some internet searching, yet the likelihood is that your name will be at the top of their search list. And, if that research pulls up recent articles about your brand name, it will only prove your worth.

It is a bit of a waiting game with leads. Although you can guarantee that you will gain them, and when you do, they’ll be with high intent and of high quality.

Gain impressive third-party credibility

A favourable aspect of PR is the credibility it builds for any brand name. With people in your sector, your target audience and your investors, trust-building is a key step towards success. If respected publications are talking about you, it shows to your consumers that they should be too.

The important benefit of gaining this credibility is that you’ll be able to use it to your advantage. Quoting publications and sharing coverage is a great way to market your brand and its services, giving audiences a reliable testimonial to your great work – something that has much more value than just your word. 

Secure impressive search ranking for the future

Digital is rising in importance and traditional aspects of PR and marketing are slowly being overlooked. But PR shouldn’t be, and won’t be, pushed to the side in the digital age. Why? It can be an important tool in any SEO strategy.

It works simply in that a news outlet will cover your story and link back to your website to help their audience learn more. That backlink will help search bots crawl and rank your site, improving its position in the search results for certain keywords – again, useful for generating leads.

Improve employee engagement and attract new talent

PR isn’t necessarily all about making money and gaining leads though. It is also an investment in your workforce. It’s incredibly rewarding for anyone to get their work noticed, but it’s especially gratifying for staff members to see the fruits of their labour showcased in respectable publications. Your teams will be more engaged and inspired with new projects and innovative ideas.

In addition to this, new talent will have you in their sights. Getting that brand name out there alongside impressive work and positive news items will be a huge incentive for prospective recruits to get in touch and apply for roles.

Overall, yes, PR is a waiting game. But PR is an investment into your future, and if you want your business to have a strong future, it’s something you need to implement sooner rather than later.

Using public relations experts such as You Do Better PR can be key in repositioning your brand as leaders in the field, attracting new customers, investors and talent. And, by having access to our affordable pay as you go PR, you’ll be able to invest as little or as much as you want in getting your brand name out there each month.

Let us raise your profile and shape your story, getting the results you need to achieve your business goals.

You Do Better PR Agency | Pay as you go public relations | You simply pay an affordable hourly rate. Is your Marketing Manager going on leave? Do you have a project or campaign that needs managing? We specialise in interim cover and deliver public relations when you need it.

www.youdobetter.co.uk | [email protected] | 07891 777464