Public Relations: What is PR?

We often are asked, “What makes Pierpont different?” And “How will your PR strategies work for my business?” These are some of our favorite questions and the answer is not one-size-fits-all.

From a 30,000-foot view, public relations positions a company executive or brand as a leader within their industry. This entails drafting and pitching press releases, securing earned media placements, facilitating one-on-one interviews with leading reporters, conducting spokesperson media training, garnering speaking and award opportunities, and so much more.

PR professionals wear many hats and can pivot at a moment’s notice as breaking news or a crisis could strike at any time. After all, building out a thought leadership campaign for an executive is vastly different than planning for a new product launch. Because public relations goes further than crafting and implementing strategic PR plans.

The role requires:

• Creative thinking, strong writing skills and the ability to collaborate.
• The ability to create a unique story angle that goes beyond the current conversation and can get the story placed with the right media outlet.

A critical part of our job is building out a successful PR campaign or strategy to align with business goals and yearly KPIs. Successful PR pros know that the strategies and tactics we employ are built on having an innate understanding of a client’s industry and knowing what moves the needle. After all, our work goes beyond cultivating conversations and relationships; we build legacies.

Here are three common myths about the world of PR:

1. Any Press is Good Press – Ah yes, the common myth that any news story, good or bad, can help enhance your reputation and awareness. In our world, it’s not the amount of coverage that moves the needle, it’s the type and reach that makes the impact. Our strategies and plans are designed to be proactive— not reactive—to ensure we’re avoiding any landmines or being associated with any negative trending stories.
2. PR Isn’t Worth the Financial Investment – PR is more than media coverage. Our work enhances reputation, shapes the narrative and cultivates relationships. PR is mostly planning and there’s a lot that goes into getting a PR strategy ready, including spokesperson training, crisis planning and messaging. It’s never too late to start planning and working with a PR firm helps provide an expert outside perspective.
3. PR Results Happen Overnight – Crafting and executing an effective PR strategy can take time. While crisis communications demand an immediate response, proactive attempts to garner positive coverage and partnerships have a longer lead time. For this reason, it’s vital for PR pros to manage expectations and remain open to adjusting plans as necessary.

There is no simple recipe to follow when crafting and implementing a PR plan. We often hear “where should I start?” Pierpont has prepared a free step-by-step walkthrough of how to write a press release at the bottom of this page. Click “Complete your download” to access the guide.

If you’d like to talk to one of our experts to see how Pierpont can help your business grow through proactive PR, contact us today.