The 7 PR Tips Every Start-up Should Understand
With 25 to 40 start-ups in the United States valued at $1 billion or more, and an estimated 476,000 new businesses hitting the scene in 2013 alone, PR is becoming an even more important piece of the su ess puzzle. Co petitio is heati g up, a d the e’s o signs of it slowing down anytime soon – so understanding how to handle PR from the beginning will start your business off on the right foot. Preparation is Key While it is eas to get e ited a out a e e tu e, do ’t e gage i a PR ta ti s u til the product o se i e is ead fo it. If it’s ot the a solute est it a e, ou’ll u i to issues ith a la k of press coverage, or worse, negative press that can be difficult to impossible for a start-up to overcome. Build and Establish a Brand Identity Who are you? How are you different from the competition? What are your values? Answer those uestio s, a d eate a a d ide tit that e o passes all of that. If ou a ’t figu e it out alo e, enlist the help of others. Creating a consistent message across your brand identity everywhere your brand can be found is critical to building brand recognition and brand loyalty. Craft the Story To capture the attention of the press, investors, and customers, you must tell your story. Everyone will want to know more about you, where you came from, and how the idea for your company was born. Craft the narrative to help people learn more about you – and do it in such a way that it makes you hard to forget. Write as though every word could be a sound byte for a media plug. If you need help, hire a professional writer. Share the story across all platforms – anywhere your brand is active. Keep it consistent with your brand message and identity. Stay Visible at the Top of the Corporate Ladder You CEO a ’t hide. Make su e the CEO is visible everywhere and transparent about his or her involvement in your company. Your CEO needs a presence on social media channels and needs to be