As the world of PR steps further into the fascinating world of social media, Tribe has decided to launch our Top 50 PR Tips using our fast-growing Twitter account.
On
Tribe’s Twitter page we are sharing our tips, which cover everything from press release writing to effective team working, every week day for ten weeks.
You will also be able to keep track of the tips on
Tribe's Facebook group - Tribe Pow-Wow, where comments and more tips will be welcomed.
Tribe's Top 50 PR Tips:
PRTip#1: Media train spokespeople. Prepare for worst case scenarios so they can respond quickly & honestly; crucial for managing reputation
PRTip#2: Your PR agency should be an extension to your in-house team. Make time to bring the two teams together - be friends!
PRTip#3: Press call? Check the background... check the background and... check the background!
http://tiny.cc/lkD0I
PRTip#4: Make sure your music on hold reflects your brand – when was the last time someone said they enjoyed being kept waiting?
PRTip#5: Great brainstorms need 4 things – sugar, sparky people from left field (not just the usual suspects), openness to any idea and pace
PRTip#6: Make an effort to pick up the phone or to meet clients face to face more often – don’t hide behind email
PRTip#7 Don’t ever stop asking questions – of your clients, of your team and of yourself
PRTip#8: Whenever you’re travelling, see if you can make time for coffee with a journalist from a target media title – half hour well spent
PRTip# 9: Show press releases to a colleague who doesn’t know that client well – they’ll know if it will make sense to the man on the street
PRTip#10: Google News Alerts are great for keeping tabs on keywords relevant to clients and competitors
PRTip#11: Tell your client if you don't think a story is a story - your reputation will suffer if you fail to get coverage
PRTip#12: Tidy desk, tidy mind – the saying really works
PRTip#13: Ignore, at your peril, the influence of the receptionist and the P.A.
PRTip#14: Invest in great photography. It can make or break your media coverage
PRTip#15: Prove yourself through problems. Things do go wrong… it’s how you’re seen to react that lingers
PRTip#16: Get your clients to meet their political reps, from District Councillors to Ministers & MEPs
PRTip#17: Ask your clients for a testimonial. The best PR is the stuff others do for you
PRTip#18: Don’t try to bury bad news if a major news story or disaster has struck. You’ll get found out. It’s just not good PR
PRTip#19: Always use plain English avoiding jargon, technical terminology and abbreviations which the audience is unlikely to understand
PRTip#20: Working with a team you get on with is invaluable – take time to get to know your colleagues, over a meal, drink or karaoke!
PRTip#21: Ask for feedback from journalists. If your story wasn’t well received – why not?
PRTip#22: Want to get others’ views to help you make a decision? Use Facebook or SurveyMonkey to get advice and opinions
PRTip#23: Ask to spend a day in a new client’s office to get to know them better – and return the offer by inviting them into your agency
PRTip#24: Always proof-read your work thoroughly and ask for a second opinion to spot any mistakes
PRTip#25: PR stunts work best if you leave people guessing for a while
PRTip#26: Remember in presentations that body language and tone is all important – 55% body language, 38% tone and 7% content
PRTip#27: The best business leaders are those who listen
PRTip#28: Tune in to the Today programme on Radio 4. It sets the news agenda for the day
PRTip#29: Make a calendar of news hooks; popular TV shows, sporting events, films - anything to piggy back & capture public imagination
PRTip#30: Change the format of meetings on a regular basis – it keeps things fresh and people interested
PRTip#31: Evaluate throughout. Is your PR campaign meeting objectives? No? Then re-work your tactics and keep on track
PRTip#32: Keep ‘excellent’ coverage. Remember why this got a double page spread or a great piece on TV or radio so you can do it again!
PRTip#33: Make a point of keeping in touch with useful contacts you make throughout your career – you never know when you’ll need them
PRTip#34: Use video! It's accessible, instant and legally allowed to work for you 24 hours a day!
PRTip#35: Turn your emails off occasionally – they can be a real distraction and interruption when trying to get a job done
PRTip#36: Talk to your client - the more you know them, the more angles you'll have to sell their business
PRTip#37: Loosen up. A sense of humour can be essential, especially in social media
PRTip#38: Don’t ever say “no comment” to the media– it looks like you have something to hide; if you really can’t comment, explain why
PRTip#39: Always have a wash up meeting after a project to discuss successes, challenges and learnings
PRTip#40: For us, work experience works best when we bring in graduates for a structured programme of 1-2 weeks following a proper interview
PRTip#41: Remember the birthdays, anniversaries and other special dates of colleagues and clients – it is really appreciated
PRTip#42: The logo is badging; what your company believes in is branding
PRTip#43: Meetings last an average of 10 minutes for each person in the room. If you want a shorter meeting, invite fewer people
PRTip#44: To do lists are your friend! Also take time to look back and appreciate what you've achieved at the end of each day
PRTip#45: Sell the story on the story, not on your client's name (unless that IS the story!)
PRTip#46: Take time each week to briefly update everyone about your work
PRTip#47: In a crisis don’t hide – it’s an incentive for people to seek. And there’s no guaranteeing where they’ll find you
PRTip#48: Make your press releases so good they can be copied and pasted by time-pressured reporters
PRTip#49: Evaluation should be around outcomes as well as outputs
PRTip#50: Invest in market research at the outset. Knowing your position at the beginning will prove how far you’ve come at the end
Posted: 31/08/2009