5 PR tools every entrepreneur needs

If you are an entrepreneur, one of the most important business strategies you should have in place is the right PR.

You may think that promoting yourself is a little vain or perhaps egotistical, however if you want to be seen as an expert in your field then using these PR tips will help you build your reputation and set you up as a successful entrepreneur.

1. Good bio

At the top of the list is having a great bio. It’s crucial! A bio is just one tool you can use to showcase your experience and expertise. A good bio is not simply a resume – it should describe and showcase your career, highlight the fields you’re an expert in, and sell you in a genuine way.

To write a winning bio, start by using the inverted pyramid, where the most important information is at the start. Make sure you include your area of expertise, your background and experience, your qualifications and examples of your successes.

It is also a great idea to create multiple versions of your bio for certain situations. For example, a short bio (100 words) is great for media opportunities, a longer bio is suitable for websites and conferences (1 page) and a micro bio (1 or 2 sentences) is perfect for social media or adding on the bottom of articles.

2. Networking

Connecting with people is the best way of building your reputation and getting your name out there. When people know you, and know what you can offer, they are more likely to do business with you or recommend you to other people.

Remember, networking isn’t about selling; in fact it’s not about talking. Networking is about listening. The best networkers are the ones who are able to build relationships and invest time finding out about others. Read more networking tips here.

3. PR (& social media) strategy

Creating a plan about how you are going to build your reputation is vital for your success. Take the time to understand how you can successfully pitch your professional knowledge to a journalist.

To help you develop compelling story angles worthy of the media’s interest, you should:

Read the newspaper daily
Read publications you want to appear in
Listen to questions your clients and customers ask you
Read industry publications and spot industry trends

A personal website can also provide you with an online platform where you can promote yourself, be easily found and can act as a hub for all your information.

To help you create your PR Strategy, download our free 101 PR and Social Media Tips eBook.

4. Know how to write a media pitch

A media release is a great way of communicating with the media and building your reputation. However, you need to be strategic in how you structure and draft the announcement, or you will find your media release in the trash within seconds.

When you sit down to right a media release you need to keep in mind the publication you will be sending it to. Your overall goal for sending out a media release is to communicate your messages to your target audience.

To help you craft a winning media release, download our free media release template.

5. Media list

A media list documents the key media contacts in your industry who you want to build your reputation with. They will be the ones who write stories on key issues in your industry, and can include journalists, producers, bloggers, freelancers and editors.

A good media list is created by:

Finding your audience – what are the publications your target audience use or view?
Identifying contacts – the appropriate person who will read your pitch or media release
Creating a database – sort contact details into a spreadsheet with different names for the publication, contact person, job title, email and phone number
Categorise your list – sort contacts by topics or areas of interest
Most importantly, make sure you update your list regularly

Need help with your PR? We build brand reputation and offer real solutions to business challenges, and do whatever it takes to get the results you deserve. We’d love to hear from you.