Head & Griffiths - Two press releases good to go!

First employee and new premises – two excellent PR opportunities.
You have a business plan – you must have a PR & Marketing strategy with budget. It doesn’t have to be expensive or expansive, just pro-active. Engage a PR professional and agree guidelines, then you can concentrate on the area of business you’re good at.
The move and new employee stories can be issued as releases to local and regional business media. Here’s a check list to get started or use as an aide to help secure the right PR

• Collate a database – personally telephone the business editor of local newspapers/business magazine/e-zine etc., Get them interested.  Note email/postal addresses and check deadlines.

• Send a photograph.  Be warned, anyone can use a camera, not everyone is a photographer. It ‘s a shame to have the media tell you the photograph is not of high enough quality. Book a professional photographer and take a whole library of shots for future use eg premises; personnel; teams to be used on the website, in advertising etc.,

• How to write it up? Who, what, why, where and when – the basis of any press release. Journos love an –est – the largest, biggest, most expensive – give your release an angle. Don’t ever use the word ‘unique’ if it isn’t! Something may be new, unusual or different, it’s rarely unique. Keep it short, it’s not an essay.

• Don’t chase – if the press release is of interest it will be used. If not, write another one.

• If it is used, email or telephone to thank the journalist – this goes down well and makes them receptive to further releases.

• Don’t underestimate the value of a reputable PR consultancy – journos will check press releases from PR’s they respect because they will only issue something worth printing.