PUBLIC RELATIONS 101

Have you ever wondered what PR could do for your personal brand or business?

?When implemented the right way, I’ve seen PR work wonders for some individuals and brands, and this got me thinking- How exactly does it work? And how can you make it work for you?

?I recently sat down with Lina Husri, the Owner and Founder of ThinkSmart PR to find out how you can build your business, get people talking and fast track your success using some innovative communication techniques.

Here’s what you should know in a nutshell:

WHAT IS PR:

PR is essentially the soul of your business. Every single person has a story to share, and PR allows you to share that story with the world. For PR to be truly successful, your publicist needs to believe in you and your talent. And in turn, you should be able to trust your PR agency to be able to represent you and everything that you stand for.

WHERE DO YOU START?

Think about what makes your business or brand different. What separates you from your competition, and what makes you unique or special? There’s more to public relations than just putting out press releases- it’s essentially about building a brand. After you’ve established your brand, your publicist will introduce you to the media by building your profile and sharing your story.

HOW DO YOU KNOW IF PR IS SUCCESSFUL:

PR is by no means a “get rich quick” ticket. It takes time to establish credibility with the media and the public. But if you consistently put out stories and if you’re consistently in the public eye, you’ll be established as the go-to person in your field and that, in itself is priceless.

DO YOU NEED PR OR CAN YOU JUST POST YOUR OWN CONTENT VIA SOCIAL MEDIA?

A lot of individuals and influencers may think that they don’t need the media or publicists to build their brand because they can self-publish via blogs and social media, but don’t underestimate the reach of traditional media channels. Traditional media and social media should work together.

While social media is great; it’s crucial to reach different audiences using different media channels. PR will allow you the opportunity to broaden your reach and maximize exposure by sharing your story via television, radio, magazines and newspapers. Then you can double this exposure by then resharing this content on your own channels. And trust me, when the media is on your side- your business will benefit!

*Should you want to know more about PR, click here to watch my full video on the topic.