Why is PR taking a more central role in marketing these day?
Because rising media costs & sceptical consumers have forced companies to
seek the third party endorsement of editorial to get their message across. In a
word, they want credibility. In an age when many manufactured goods are very
similar, the difference is often good branding and clever P.R.
Fighting shy of the media?
More than ever, well-written and targeted press releases with great pictures
are an essential part of business communications. This is important for both
corporate P.R. (enhancing the name of the company and its brands) and marketing
P.R. (launching & supporting new products and services). Many companies
fight shy of the media but it is essential to maintain regular contact and
build up goodwill through customer service opportunities, awards/good practice,
new products, unique services and ongoing good news stories.
What’s the good news?
The Inkwell PR strike rate on press releases is excellent - this does not mean
to say we will achieve press coverage for every single story but with our own
background in journalism we do have an eye for what will 'run'. You will be
surprised how much good news there is in your company that news and features
editors are crying out for.
Help reporters?
Both print and broadcast reporters are endlessly racing to meet copy deadlines.
We intend to help them by offering topical and entertaining press releases
about your company that have impact. We will help you prepare for interviews by
predicting the motivations of questioning journalists (it’s their job!). We can
also advise on ways to make a happening into a story or a story into an event.
Timing is all
Timing is often a critical factor when looking for media coverage, so good stories should be saved for maximum impact while seasonal pieces can be planned in advance for best placement. Not every story from your company will have a celebrity, a cute kitten and a unique wow factor, so manifestly weak stories need careful planning to gain media coverage - very strong stories require even more planning to maximise impact and gain those extra column inches.
