Are you guilty of investing all your PR and Marketing budget on social media, but still find you’re not getting anything but vanity metrics? There’s no doubt social media is a powerful tool for promoting your business, but there are many other PR tactics that are effective in boosting your brand image, increasing your foot traffic and attracting sales, and many don’t come even close to the investment in time and money as social media. We’re not saying it’s time to ditch your socials – they’re crucial to engaging your audience – but it is time to get smarter when allocating your budget and choosing your PR tactics.
Here are 6 PR tactics aside from social media that you’re probably overlooking:
1. Grow your email list and communicate regularly with your audience
One of the most overlooked PR tactics is email marketing. Many businesses have a ‘sign up to our e-news prompt’ only to never communicate with their community again. Think about it: this is a group of people who *want* to hear from you, so make sure they do! If you have a new product or menu item you want to push or exciting news to share, a monthly email is the quickest way to get in front of your audience. And if you’re using paid ads, make sure you’re encouraging sign-ups. Keep building that list.
2. Build relationships with local media
Work with a PR agency to increase your chances of getting featured in news stories and articles. Offer yourself as a resource for topics related to your industry, share interesting stories from your business and invite writers to experience your offering firsthand. A good PR agency can develop a story that can entice journalists to write about you, potentially featuring you in places that get widespread attention, helping to lift your profile.
3. Host events and collaborate with influencers
Organise special events or collaborate with influencers to create unique experiences that generate buzz. Invite local bloggers, vloggers and well-known personalities to visit your venue and share their experience with their followers. This can create valuable word-of-mouth promotion as well as standout content that you can repurpose on your own channels.
4. Establish partnerships with local businesses
Team up with local like-minded businesses to offer cross-promotional campaigns, new hybrid products and services or special offers. By collaborating with other brands, you’ll expand your reach and attract customers who may not have otherwise discovered you – plus, with some help from a PR agency, you might even get some great media attention too!
5. Leverage user-generated content
Encourage your customers to share their experiences and reviews through online review platforms like Google. Highlight positive reviews and user-generated content on your website, in brochures or on your socials. This demonstrates the authenticity and quality of your business.
6. Engage with your local community
Become actively involved in local events, charities or initiatives that align with your brand values. Not only does this give you the opportunity to expand your network and give back, but it will talso position you as a supportive member of the community, strengthening your reputation and potentially attracting customers who value community involvement.
The takeaway?
Stop looking at social media as your number one sales too. Consider a more sophisticated, well-rounded strategy utilising a range of tactics to get your brand in front of the right audience.
Need a hand putting together a PR + Marketing strategy? Get in touch.
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