The Business Exchange Swindon & Wiltshire Edition 45: Oct/Nov 2019 | Page 20

DO YOU ’REALLY’ KNOW WHAT PR MEANS? This is a question I often ask when I’m with new business owners or sole traders – or anyone who says “I don’t need PR in my business” when they think I’m going to start selling to them. Really? Do you have a website? Do you have signage on your office building? Do you attend networking events? Give talks? Is your business using the tool of social media? All of this is PR. I happen to specialise in just one aspect of PR – media relations – however I have an eye to all of the other activity inside a business. I’ll know very quickly if a business is missing a trick or its marketing in other areas is not up to scratch. This could be as simple as an out-of-date website which doesn’t match the quality of the business offering or worn-out branded clothing through to rusty old vans with a company logo plastered all over them. I’ll notice and I’ll definitely notice if the only place where anyone says your company is any good is on your own website or social media sites. The power of media relations is that other people – on or offline – are talking about you and sharing your news, hopefully in a very positive way. If they are not, or that chatter is not positive, then you need some media support. Why? Public relations is about maintaining consistent relationships and a positive reputation with all of your audiences. The more visible you are in a positive way the more business will come, it’s inevitable. Yet not everyone can afford to work with someone like me – or they are worried about the financial cost or they may want to give that task to someone inhouse. I get a lot of people who say to me ‘can I just pick your brains for a couple of hours?’. If we’re together at an event I’ll often say ‘of course let’s sit down a while’. However I’m too busy now to just take a morning or afternoon out of my working week to help people who: *genuinely need help as they are starting out in business yet have no budget. *genuinely want to learn, even if their business is established, yet don’t want to outsource yet. *genuinely want to absorb my knowledge without ever intending to pay a penny for it How do I help those who genuinely want to learn more yet have perfectly legitimate business reasons for being cautious? After about a year in development I’ve come up with a solution. My very first online PR Toolbox Course to give anyone the basics in media relations. It’s a six-module course based around a video or animation per module to take anyone in business through the steps needed to do consistent media relations. The cost of the course for this year is £147 (including VAT). I’ve designed it for sole traders, start ups, small business owners who want to educate themselves about PR before making further commitments, those who work in the charity or not-for-profit sectors or marketing executives who are aware they know nothing useful about media relations. If you are interested visit: courses.fionascottmediaconsultancy.co.uk “The more visible you are in a positive way the more business will come, it’s inevitable” For more info: www.fionascottmediaconsultancy.co.uk Brochures Leaflets Posters Business cards Newsletters Merchandise Clothing Signage Exhibitions Banners (you name it, we design and print it) Your single source, multi-channel, marketing solutions provider 01793 336 004 20 www.tbeswindonandwilts.co.uk [email protected] www.studio-cs.co.uk