WHY PUBLIC RELATIONS?
The days of magazine ads and inflated marketing budgets are fleeting. Public Relations is the new wave of advertising – effective and economic. With the increasing presence of online and social media networks, traditional advertising is taking a back seat to cost-effective public relations campaigns.
Why pay hundreds of thousands of dollars for a glossy ad spread in a magazine that many readers flip past without a second look? My thoughts exactly. A consumer is much more apt to purchase a product if an editor of a magazine, newspaper, blog or television show mentions it than from seeing something in a paid advertisement. What does an ad say about the quality of a product or service? Certainly not as much as the word of a trusted media resource who is not getting paid for their opinion.
A mention on a network news show, a placement in a magazine, a mention in a newspaper article, or a feature on a blog can generate a dizzying amount of business or traffic for a client. Compare the cost-effectiveness of this strategy with that of a traditional ad campaign and the answer is clear. PR offers much more bang for the buck!
Today’s generation expects instant gratification and with the strength of the internet and social networking, instant gratification is becoming quicker everyday. It’s increasingly important for PR professionals to stay on top of the trends, spread the word about their clients, and keep their target audience engaged and interested.
Along with increasing speed of campaigns comes an increasing database. New blogs are added everyday and, while some may have a small target readership – that readership may be the exact niche that your client is looking for. Constantly researching new websites, new social networking sites, and building relationships with up-and-coming bloggers is a steadfast way to create – and maintain – a buzz. But keep it short – this tech-savvy, instant gratification generation doesn’t have time to read your cute gimmicky release. Short, sweet and to the point will get you farther than you think.
Goodbye to gimmicks and glossy ads. Public Relations is here to stay.
