Whether you are a start-up or heritage outdoor brand, you should make public relations, or just PR, an integral part of your company’s overall business plan.
To better understand the importance of this vital component of your marketing strategy, it’s vital to learn exactly what public relations is and how it is essential to a brand’s overall efforts.
Public relations entails utilizing the broad range of media channels to promote your organization, products or your entire brand. An effective PR strategy can also help with how the public perceives your brand.
Unlike a few decades ago, the range of outlets to effectively promote your brand has grown exponentially.
Regardless of the industry or the company’s size, all businesses need public relations.
So why is this important?
Unlike some components of social media, potential consumers look to respected media outlets for information that can affect their purchasing decisions. Respected media outlets in the outdoor industry have built a reputation on providing quality content that their readers and viewers have come to trust.
With an array of digital, print and broadcast options available, it’s important to explore the range of editorial opportunities.
Here are seven benefits of utilizing an agency to handle your outdoor brand’s public relations efforts.
1. Leverage Existing Media Relationships
Public relations, often called media relations, is about relationships. PR pros spend years building relationships with media outlets and journalists. They often know when a writer or editor is moving to a different outlet. It’s important to select an agency that has relationships for your particular industry. For the outdoor industry, there is a particular lingo that separates it from other industries.
2. Consistent Communication
Having continuity when it comes to your brand is essential. Utilizing an agency allows your team to focus on other efforts while the PR professionals are engaging with media, creating a consistent voice for your brand.
3. More Visibility
Starting a grassroots movement in regards to PR can be challenging. Leveraging the relationships that PR professionals have can often fast-track efforts toward increasing visibility.
4. The Right Tools
PR Agencies use numerous tools that can be an expensive endeavor. Agencies spread these tools to multiple clients, making it a more cost-effective investment. These tools include a paid media database and media monitoring.
5. Crisis Management
Regardless of the company’s size, a PR crisis can inevitably occur. Having a team that is capable of handling this type of scenario can be a game changer should and/or when this moment arises.
6. Outside Perspective
There’s a saying that goes, “you can’t see the forest for the trees.” It’s often hard to see the bigger picture when you’re standing in the middle. Engaging with an agency allows for a brand to get a fresh perspective.
7. Cost-Effectiveness
In addition to the expense of investing in all of the necessary tools to effectively engage in a PR strategy, a brand would also need to invest in hiring an individual to oversee these efforts. After considering all of the required needs, hiring an agency can not only provide you with expert service but can deliver it for a fraction of the cost of handling this necessary service in-house.
Are you looking to improve your brand’s presence in an ever-competitive market? As a fully integrated marketing firm, TBA Outdoors can cover these bases — and lots more — for your brand. Reach out to our team of marketing professionals today to see how we can help your outdoor brand with its marketing campaigns and more.
