PR - Hire an Agency or DIY?

[AStyle]

Since I started my business (online retail in very niche sector)8 months ago I have agonised over the PR. It's an area where I have little expertise and I am torn as to how to approach it. I am in dire need of mainstream press...

Should I write my own press release or pay an agency to do it, distribute it and follow up?

I am wary of doing it myself as, during my day job with a client, I see what amazing results their head of PR gets with her contacts (and in a very short period of time).


What have you done when it comes to PR? Any advice?
(If you used an agency/consultant, how much did it cost you. ballpark obv...?)

 

[GreatSEO]

10yetis.co.uk

Regards

Dave

 

[AStyle]

Thanks Dave... 10 Yetis are already on my list to call altho' I am unsure as to the viability. I expect them to be prohibitively expensive..

 

[GreatSEO]

Sometimes expectations can be wrong and is it not all about the coverage you get and of course the return on investment.

Best person to speak to is probably Rich Leigh although I may be wrong. They come 10/10 for what they do and have achieved - A great PR company.

Regards

Dave

 

[CSRhopefulpro]

Why not get in touch with a university and see if any student would be willing to write press releases any for you. You could then check with an agency a couple of times to see if they are good. You would be giving someone experience and at the same time getting the work you need done for a fraction of the price...

 

[AStyle]

Why not get in touch with a university and see if any student would be willing to write press releases any for you. You could then check with an agency a couple of times to see if they are good. You would be giving someone experience and at the same time getting the work you need done for a fraction of the price...

Thanks for the suggestion but I wouldn't be happy having a student do this - I'd do a better job than a student! I regularly use student graphic designers and photographers but they wouldn't be right for this..Hence my point about hiring professional PR...

 

[Deleted member 6464]

Hi,

I think it is better to go DIY first then professional.

I went DIY for two years and now I am with a pr company.

No one knows your business better than you.

And it also puts you in a better position to tell the professional what you want and what you don't as if you have worked on your pr yourself , you will know the magazines or newspapers that bring a ROI for your efforts , what time of the year e.t.c.

And sentences like "cast your net wide that some pr people use " would not tempt you.



Best wishes,


funmi

 

[Call Tracker]

time constraints often prohibit the diy pr campaign, so i would compromise; get a pr freelancer or agency to draft you a release and in the meantime collate a list of targets or alternatively use response source which costs about £40ish to send one release.

I get the best results after researching the targets and finding out what features are forthcoming and emailing the feat ed with ideas. This is a bit more time consuming but works better than sending out loads of press releases.

 

[maria102]

There was a section on 10 Yetis website for tips on writing your own press release, but I can't seem to find it now. I think I remember Andy saying that if you only need local coverage you could easily do it yourself. It was a bit of a hammer to crack a nut with me and their services, but Andy was very useful.

FOUND THE LINK: http://www.10yetis.co.uk/newsletters/tips-writing-press-release.html

 

[LighthouseDM]

Hey,

It depends on the level of exposure you want. If you're looking for some local or regional coverage, you may be able to do it for yourself. However, anything more than this and I would use a PR consultancy or freelancer.

Writing a press release is just part of PR. It has to be a good press release, well written with exclusive content. Another big part is following up your press release and to do this you need the journalists/editors contact details. You also need something you cannot buy and find on the internet...a relationship with them. This can only be built up by dealing with them constantly and PR agencies/freelancers are the only ones who do this.

We have worked with Alex Broad Associates. Alex is very good and specialises in homes and interiors so has good contacts and knowledge of the media in this area. However she does a considerable amount of cross-over. I have worked with her on play equipment and holiday cottages.

What product/service do you offer?

Andy

 

[10Yetis]

Thanks for all the kind comments everyone, checks duly in the post

I always say that PR aint rocket science, so why not have a go at doing it yourself to start with and go from there. It is all about building relationships with journos and finding stories that they will be interested in.

There are loads of quality PR's on here and I am sure you would get heaps of free advice and tips from the forum itself.

The toughest thing about PR, of should I say the bit that most people are worried about, is the vital element of the ring around to chase and follow up a release. Always make sure you chase up the release on the phone. Even if the journo does not think it is for them, it is sometimes a good way to find out what other stories they are working on and see if you can help them with anything.

Hope this helps.

 

[AStyle]

Hey,

It depends on the level of exposure you want. If you're looking for some local or regional coverage, you may be able to do it for yourself. However, anything more than this and I would use a PR consultancy or freelancer.

Writing a press release is just part of PR. It has to be a good press release, well written with exclusive content. Another big part is following up your press release and to do this you need the journalists/editors contact details. You also need something you cannot buy and find on the internet...a relationship with them. This can only be built up by dealing with them constantly and PR agencies/freelancers are the only ones who do this.

We have worked with Alex Broad Associates. Alex is very good and specialises in homes and interiors so has good contacts and knowledge of the media in this area. However she does a considerable amount of cross-over. I have worked with her on play equipment and holiday cottages.

What product/service do you offer?

Andy

Hey Andy,

I specialise in Designer Shoes for women in Large Sizes.

I'm really not looking for local or regional press, or I would do it myself -it's National I need far, far more.

After paying for some PR already and getting no results, I'm hesitant about paying another PR and getting nothing in return..plus I'm not sure whether most agencies/freelancers might be prohibitively expensive at the moment.

Mind you, 10 Yeti's seem to get masses of supporters so maybe I'll give them a yell after all...

 

[AStyle]

Thanks for all the kind comments everyone, checks duly in the post

I always say that PR aint rocket science, so why not have a go at doing it yourself to start with and go from there. It is all about building relationships with journos and finding stories that they will be interested in.

There are loads of quality PR's on here and I am sure you would get heaps of free advice and tips from the forum itself.

The toughest thing about PR, of should I say the bit that most people are worried about, is the vital element of the ring around to chase and follow up a release. Always make sure you chase up the release on the phone. Even if the journo does not think it is for them, it is sometimes a good way to find out what other stories they are working on and see if you can help them with anything.

Hope this helps.

Ha ha ha .. I hadn't got round to page 2 of the replies yet when I responded to Andy just now (don't go getting too big headed 10 Yeti's!! hahaha )

 

[Loppy42]

Personally I would recommend getting a professional to write the press releases and help/direct you but you could do the donkey work.

I have PR professionals on my database who would be able to help you, from around £20 per hour, perhaps with some writing and suggestions as to how to proceed. Do have a look at my site flexibleskillsbank.co.uk.

I think I could find you someone with the right skills who is flexible as to how you use them depending on your budget. I wouldn't use an agency at this stage.