4 Ways to Know You Need to Hire a Publicist NOW
Do you want to amplify your business or brand to new and larger audiences? So do we! But, before we get ahead of ourselves, let’s consider when the right time to hire a public relations agency is. (If you don't know what public relations is, you’ll definitely want to read this first!)
If you can say YES to all four areas listed below, you're ready to work with a PR Agency!
1. Your Brand is Cohesive
Do you have a logo? Have you updated your website in the last two years? Do you have new content to share with your target audience? Does your brand match your philosophy? Are you presenting yourself in a consistent way in everything you do?
Even if you don’t have your entire story perfectly crafted and ready to go, it’s important to remember that you are trying to present yourself as an expert in your field. You want people to know who you are and what you stand for. What do you want to be associated with? Having an outdated website, a pixilated logo, and two-year-old photos of your work probably isn’t going to give you much to work with.
Focus on collecting all of your content and rebranding yourself. Don’t know where to start? Download our free guide on “Setting Your Brand up for Media Exposure” and learn the ins and outs of setting up your business/content to receive the recognition it deserves. A PR agency can offer branding management services that will help you elevate your brand which could be useful if there is a lot of work that needs to be done.
2. You Have Content to Promote
If you had launched something already within the past three months for your brand or business, it may be too late. When you’re ready to announce some news, an upcoming event or a new product, that is the ideal time to run a PR campaign. Before contacting a public relations specialist (aka a publicist), ask yourself, “What new projects or content do I have to offer to my target audience?”
The time to promote new content is ideally 4-6 months before it drops. If you want our opinion, the sooner the better! Please keep in mind that different clients have different needs, so times may vary. Try contacting a publicist at least 6-12 months ahead of your planned launch date to be safe.
Keep an organized schedule of when you plan to release content or events at least a year in advance. Plan well ahead and allow you and your publicist plenty of time to focus on a strategy.
3. You Have a Budget in Place
One of the most important things to have ready in mind when considering a publicist is having a specific budget to work with.
PR companies know that creating your content, photo shoots, and being you costs a fortune, and with being an emerging entrepreneur comes small budgets. However, keep in mind that if you want to get the most successful release possible, you are going to need to hire a publicist. What’s the point of having all of this great content if no one is going to see it?
A good sign for a professional PR agency is scheduling an introduction call to talk services and details about you and your company's needs. Discuss and make sure that they align with your values and goals. Hiring a PR agency is an investment for your brand, like hiring a coach or a consultant.
4. You are Ready to Work with a Team
You’ve devoted yourself to your brand, so there’s no turning back now!
There is this misconception that once you hire a publicist, you can sit back and relax while all the media just rolls in... Yikes! We have some news for you!
The most successful PR campaigns are the ones in which the client and publicist work together to collaborate. They draw off of each other’s ideas and inspire new strategies. It is the client’s responsibility to update their public relations agency on any new developments; and the publicist’s job to properly incorporate those elements into the campaign.
Your publicist should keep you informed of the entire campaign's progress. The more you work with your PR agency, the more successful your campaign will be.
