By Alex Miarli:
Most business leaders want their brand to be in the news, whether national or trade, to convince their target audiences to invest. And as the communications world continues to evolve into a competitive and somewhat ruthless landscape, it's more important than ever for organisations to have a strong PR strategy.
If you're in the B2B space, you know that building and maintaining relationships with your customers as well as partners is vital to your success. Yet, generating press coverage or building those positive relationships with your target audience is not always the easiest of tasks and can even be a rather daunting process. That's where B2B PR agencies come in.
Partnering with a PR agency with B2B experience can be a wise investment to take your business to the next level, providing you with the communications expertise and resources you need to achieve your goals.
But what exactly is a PR agency and more importantly, how can one help you succeed and grow your business? Luckily, we’ve broken down all you need to know about the world of PR and how using an experienced PR agency (like Five not 10, obviously) can help launch your business to new heights.
What is a B2B PR agency?
PR is all about “earned” media coverage as opposed to “paid advertisements”. This includes stories appearing on websites, TV, newspapers, magazines and anywhere else in the world. The main difference is that PR offers validity to its coverage, by being placed in respected publications and engaging, informing and even educating audiences.
Put simply – and that’s kind of our thing around here – B2B PR agencies provide an array of services to businesses that sell products or services to other businesses. Most offer communications techniques that include:
Strategy development
Campaign planning
Content creation
Media relations (leading to press coverage)
Media training
Crisis communications and issues management
Social media marketing
PR and communications agencies can be a valuable asset for businesses looking to elevate their strategy and reach new markets. When working with a PR agency, businesses gain access to the media to tell their stories, which can be invaluable.
But it’s important to remember, each agency is different. Each have their own strengths. And each have their own unique way of working. For us, our unique way is working with you. We work with you to uncover valuable insights and come away with simple facts, distilled into simple ideas that get tangible results. We’re simply just a digital PR agency that will get to the point quickly and make a real lasting impact.
How can a PR agency help you succeed?
Now for the important question. How can a B2B PR agency actually help you succeed?
Agencies like ours help you to achieve your goals by building relationships with key media contacts relating to your industry, generating positive press coverage about you, your product or your services and developing content that truly resonates with your target audience.
PR agencies can analyse a business, identify and translate positive messages into positive news stories. In the event of bad news, an agency can mitigate the damage caused by bad news by developing a good response. We also have access to a wide range of communications resources that can help you reach your target audience, freeing up your time so that you can focus on other aspects of your business too – it’s a match made in heaven.
Not only that, but with a team of experienced and qualified professionals who can help you develop and execute a successful PR strategy, you’ll discover unique and creative angles to promote your brand.
You’re probably thinking by this point: “This all sounds too good to be true”. Well, here’s a positive news story for you… it isn’t!
Our job as a B2B PR agency is to promote our clients and portray them in the media as honest, fundamental, invigorating and relevant. It’s just what we do.
What to look for in an agency
When choosing a B2B PR agency, there are a few things you should first keep in mind:
The experience: make sure the agency has experience working with other businesses in your sector.
The culture: think about if they’ll understand your own culture and how their team and company culture blends with yours – in short, will you get on?
The process: ensure the agency has a clear process for working with clients and if it will get you the results you’re looking for.
The fees: ultimately, make sure you are comfortable with the agency’s fees.
Remember, working with a PR agency is more of a partnership, so consider other elements that you would also think about when working with others.
Tips for getting the most out of your partnership with Five not 10
Like any partnership, it takes two to tango and therefore the relationship between client and agency should not be passive.
If you’re considering working with us, well you’re in luck, as your business is now poised for success – we’ve been doing this dance for quite some time now. There are, however, a few tips that will help you achieve the best return on your investment and ensure that when we tango, it’s one smooth partnership.
Be clear about your goals
The clearer you are about your goals, the better we – and any other agency for that matter – will be able to help you achieve them. It’s also important to be realistic about what’s possible; we’re always here to offer advice if you need it.
Be prepared to provide feedback
Feedback is the best way to continually learn and develop. Constructive feedback is crucial in understanding that we’re hitting the right points to showcase your business and to ensure we’re on the right track.
Be patient
Unfortunately, it’s not an overnight thing. It takes time to see results. As with any marketing strategy, whether PR, advertising or SEO, it’s a long-term game. But as the saying goes: “You have to be in it to win it”.
Be willing to adapt
We’ve already said it, but the marketing landscape is constantly changing, so be prepared to adapt your PR strategy as needed and to make time where possible to listen to and discuss new alternatives.
A digital PR agency built for your success
If you’re looking to elevate your business to the next level, get in touch with our team to discuss a PR strategy that will get you results. Our expertise within the industry, partnered with our simple approach, will guarantee you the attention you deserve to get the right media exposure for your business.
Drop us an email at hello@fivenot10.co.uk or follow us on LinkedIn to find out how we can help you.
Comments