The 5 Unbreakable Rules of Public Relations

by / ⠀Startup Advice / January 23, 2013

Press ReleasePublic relations is one of the most important aspects of corporate brand management that a company will ever engage in. When things are going great, you can use good public relations to build up a positive reputation for your company. If something goes wrong, then you call on that reputation to help prevent customers from abandoning you in droves.

When it comes to good public relations, there are five rules that a company must never break. If you try to carry on a public relations campaign without sticking to these basic rules, then your plan will be in trouble.

Put Yourself in the Public’s Shoes

One of the biggest challenges in public relations is trying to create good PR based on the public’s perception. Your company knows the information that it wants the public to see, but the public may not buy your side of the story. When you are developing a PR campaign, always see things from the public’s perspective.

Be Consistent with Information Release

When you are releasing a press release to your distribution service, you also need to make sure that the press release is on your website as well as your social networking presence. Remaining consistent with how, where and when you release information will reduce the possibility of misinterpretation.

Make It Searchable

When people want information these days, they head to the Internet. If you want people to see your press release and get your information, then you need to optimize every press release for pertinent keyword searches. It is the new wave of public relations and it is essential in getting your point across.

Be Straightforward

Too many companies try to hide disparaging information in press releases that are filled with overly-complicated phrases. When you write a press release, present your information in a straightforward manner so that the public can easily understand it. If you try and dazzle the public with big words, you will lose credibility.

Know Your Audience

One thing that most companies do not do is put out press releases that are optimized for a particular target audience. If you have a new product that you want to introduce, then the engineers will need different information than the average consumer. Develop multiple press releases to reach a wider audience.

Public relations can be a powerful tool for any company if it is used properly. As long as you start each PR campaign with the five unbreakable rules in mind, you are off to a good start.

Jennie is an online marketing specialist located in Utah.  She recommends the services of Epic Marketing, a premier ad agency in Utah, for those looking to maximize their marketing efforts.

Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

About The Author

Matt Wilson

Matt Wilson is Co-Founder of Under30Experiences, a travel company for young people ages 21-35. He is the original Co-founder of Under30CEO (Acquired 2016). Matt is the Host of the Live Different Podcast and has 50+ Five Star iTunes Ratings on Health, Fitness, Business and Travel. He brings a unique, uncensored approach to his interviews and writing. His work is published on Under30CEO.com, Forbes, Inc. Magazine, Huffington Post, Reuters, and many others. Matt hosts yoga and fitness retreats in his free time and buys all his food from an organic farm in the jungle of Costa Rica where he lives. He is a shareholder of the Green Bay Packers.

x