By Julia Martyn
No one ever said understanding PR is easy. In fact, many business owners don’t understand the subtle difference between advertising and PR.
In the book, The Fall of Advertising and the Rise of PR, the authors drop many memorable one liners like: “Advertising cannot start a fire. It can only fan a fire after it has been started.” In their analogy, PR is the fire starter.
So how do CEOs or entrepreneurs go about setting fire to their business? The first step is to understand what PR is and if your business will benefit from the service.
What is PR and how does it work?
If you’re thinking about PR, you should probably ask yourself what are your business priorities? The more you understand your needs, the more your PR firm can give you guidance. PR at its root involves a lot of self reflection.
Many businesses and entrepreneurs approach a PR firm with minimal background information. They don’t research the PR firm or understand their approach. Often, their expectations are too high.
Macias PR was recently named one of the best PR firms in The PR App. The free mobile app helps connect businesses with the right PR firm. It does this by asking a few simple questions, like what is your budget? What is your industry?
The PR App actually gives guidance for finding a PR firm that fits your needs.
What is a good budget for PR?
When it comes to PR, industry can impact the cost of a PR budget. Some B2B campaigns are more complicated and require more resources. As a result, those types of campaigns can be more expensive to run.
You should also ask yourself how much are you willing to spend on a monthly basis for publicity. Telling a potential PR firm your goals as a business, as well as the audience you wish to reach, will help shape where your budget will lie.
It’s a PR Match!
Under the tab “Get Matched With the Best PR Firm” on The PR App you can reveal your PR goals and the app will match your business with three PR firms that align with your respective budget and industry.
It’s up to you to decide whether or not you’d like to reach out to your PR Matches. They will be more than happy to speak to you and build a campaign strategy customized for your business. Good luck and happy hunting.
Macias PR was named the 2015 and 2016 top PR Firm of the Year – USA by Finance Monthly. The founder – Mark Macias – is a former Executive Producer with NBC and Senior Producer with CBS in New York. He is also a PR contributor with CNBC, providing media analysis, insight and crisis advice on timely business topics.