Public Relations & The Media: Understanding the Reporter's Mindset

Chicago PR Firm

National Media Coverage with All Points PR

I tuned in to CNN the other night to find myself once again captivated by the storm Penn State University officials have created for themselves.

What caught my attention this time though was the reporter in the field relaying her perspective back to the anchor in the studio. The journalist in the segment was on Penn State's campus. It was Sara Ganim, the local newspaper crime beat reporter who broke the story.

She's now become a contributing reporter for CNN. A small market newspaper reporter in central Pennsylvania is on CNN in just her mid-20s, leading the coverage of one of the year's biggest stories. It honestly elicits a rage of goose bumps.

The Future Buzz: Proactive PR Reviewed

Proactive Public Relations Firm

I recently read a story on The Future Buzz, a great source for PR and Marketing news, about how Public Relations Firms should be more proactive rather than reactive, and I couldn't agree more. Public Relations is mainly about how the public 'relates' to your clients, and knowing the exact (or approximate) strategies that will garner a positive reaction to their business or event. The story went in depth on percentages and how only a certain percentage of PR firms actually practice proactive strategy and tend to simply react to the current market, and it's true. A lot of current PR is based around crisis communications and gaining control over something a company has done and painting it in a better light or doing damage control. But what the article didn't go into is this: what exactly IS proactive public relations?

Digging Deep with Grassroots PR Strategies

Chicago Grassroots PR

KFC has a secret chicken recipe. McDonald's claims possession of a secret sauce for its Big Macs. And, All Points PR has its secrets to Public Relations success as well.

We usually don't share them, but I can't hold this one in any longer.

Granted, this is just one of the many strategic PR tactics we put to use, but few people know or associate this with public relations. However, time and time again it has worked.

At All Points we call it Grassroots PR. This Grassroots effort entails All Points "digging" deep beneath the foundation of communities to "plant the seeds" for growth.

Instead of talking in broad terms, let me give you a real world example.

A client of mine seeks to expand his franchise's footprint into a new market, Springfield. One way All Points PR could tackle that for this client would be to employ a Grassroots PR approach.

Here's what it would entail:

• Researching the community-based economic and business leaders in the area
• Connecting with them to set up in-person or phone meetings between their organizations (Chambers of Commerce, economic development offices in the city and/or county) and my client
• Coaching the client to convey the right messages for that meeting, as to elicit a response from the organizations that will help share the franchise investment opportunity with their close contacts in the community

Increase Company Exposure with PR!

There are a few easy ways to start getting your business noticed: Social Media, Networking, Blogging and more. You'll increase exposure and be on your way to success.

How to Increase Company Exposure

There are several large to small scale businesses trying to brand themselves through exposure through media, social media and other PR tactics. As a Public Relations Specialist in Chicago, we help our local and national clients through special events, public press releases, getting stories published in high profile publications, local market promotions and more. For truly successful business, it is recommended that you hire a professional public relations agency or specialist. In the meantime - here are a few ideas to get you started!

Simple, but Helpful ways to reach customers:
1. Use Google Places
2. Create a Facebook or Twitter Following and link your pages
3. Write short articles (how to, expertise in an area) and publish them on article websites.
4. Create Video How-tos on Youtube
5. Develop a Blog!
6. Have well designed flyers made and distribute them to local businesses, campuses or areas that may need your specific type of service.

If you'd like assistance with your local or national Public Relations strategies, call All Points Public Relations today at 847.580.4233.