FAQ

Your PR Firmfor Small Businesses

Here are answers to frequently asked questions about public relations and Your PR Firm. Please check back regularly for updates.

Due to its all-encompassing nature, it’s difficult to attach a comprehensive definition to public relations. But simply put, it’s a promotion intended to create publicity or goodwill for a person, organization or company. Public relations professionals manage the communication between an organization and its public. The ultimate goal is to expose an audience or potential consumer to the organization by using topics of public interest and news.

What is the difference between public relations and advertising?

Public relations (or “earned media coverage”) is earned. Advertising (or “paid media coverage” is bought. Earned media coverage offers additional visibility and credibility with less control. Advertising is very expensive, but offers significant control. For example, you control the size/length, tone, format, placement, frequency, color and wording. Earned media coverage depends on the interest, availability of space and interest of the editor and the newsroom. Audiences more widely read and believe earned media coverage.

What is media relations?

Media relations involves working with news outlets to inform the public of an organization’s mission, policies and practices. The goal is to maximize positive publicity in the mass media through earned media coverage.

What is social media?

Social media is one of the newest venues for interacting with potential customers and the public. Using social, Web-based technologies, clients can reach out to a broader, younger target audience. Twitter, Facebook and blogs are outlets for immediately informing potential customers about news and current events. Your PR Firm offers the Socialized℠ service. We will format your news/press release into a social media release format, specifically for social networking outlets and platforms.

How often should I issue news/press releases?

We suggest that companies and organizations issue at least one news/press release per quarter and often at least one per month. However, any newsworthy event deserves its own release. For non-business owners, it’s best to distribute a news/press release when you want to mark a special occasion, such as an award. See our news/press release topics and suggestions below.

Can a home-based business benefit from Your PR Firm’s public relations services?

Any business can benefit from public relations as an alternative to traditional advertising. When turning to public relations professionals, you’re seizing an opportunity to potentially reach thousands of local and national customers and gain the attention that your business deserves.

Who owns Your PR Firm?

Your PR Firm is owned by a group of private investors. Our management team includes professionals representing a variety of industries, including executives from national public relations firms. Although we have worked with some of the world’s largest corporations, we realize that there’s an underserved market of hard-working small business owners. Your PR Firm is our way of giving back to these companies – the lifeblood of our economy and our thriving nation!

How does the Your PR Firm process work?

After you place your order, we’ll interview you by phone or you can complete our online intake form. Once we have all the background information we need, we’ll draft a corresponding news/press release for your review and approval. We’ll also copy edit the release. Once we have your final approval, we will distribute it to target news reporters, editors and producers who are interested in stories like yours. As appropriate, they will write, publish and broadcast such news items on the Web, in print and on TV and radio. You can then place your news/press release on your website and e-mail or mail it to your customers.

How closely will I work with Your PR Firm?

All of Your PR Firm’s public relations specialists and editors are professionally trained and were educated at top universities. They are ready to assist you with all of your needs. Ideally, you will work with the same representative over time. However, if that representative isn’t available, we always have a team of Your PR Firm professionals available to assist with your every need.

Does your fee include buying advertising space where my news story will appear?

No. We do not buy advertising or provide advertorial services. We write your news/press release and position you and your company, products and services to the newsroom to interest them in telling your story to their customers (who are also your customers).

Do you distribute submitted news/press releases?

No. We do not distribute submitted releases. Our company name and reputation are invaluable. If we send out an unprofessional news/press release, it devalues our reputation and our customer’s brand. We only distribute our first-class professional news/press releases that have been reviewed and approved by our CopyExcellence℠ copy editors.

What type of news/press releases are a good fit for Your PR Firm?

We are available to produce news/press releases that will benefit your company or organization and interest target news outlets.

Here are examples of the types of news/press releases we develop regularly for our valued clients:

– New auto parts store opens

– Bookstore adds coffee shop

– New chef joins locally owned restaurant

– Investment seminar held for free

– Chamber hosts webinar on selling your business

– Travel agent receives professional certification

– Sales executive purchases local franchise

– Insurance agency moves and expands headquarters

Other than a tool to earn media coverage, how else can we use our Your PR Firm’s news/press release?

In addition to news coverage, a news/press release provides:

– Instant credibility

– Positive positioning

– Web content

– Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

– Organic distribution through social media

– Direct marketing

– A sales piece

– Key message reinforcement to target audiences

– Time capsule

– Wire placements

– Link-backs

– And more

Why does our news/press release need to be less than 475 words?

The best news/press releases, in our opinion, are typically less than 500 words. Additionally, all Your PR Firm news releases must be less than 475 words to meet the standards set by our news partners, wire services and distribution partners, who need up to 25 words for category and tracking codes.

If you think the release needs additional content, we suggest editing it to keep the release within 475 words. If needed, you may include up to 100 additional words for an additional $100. Additional sets of 100 words are available for $100 each.

What is the full scope of your CopyExcellence℠ copy editing services?

Upon your approval of the news/press release draft, one of our staff copy editors will review, revise and approve release.

Our CopyExcellenceSM copy editors are the best in the business. They are professionally trained and typically possess journalism degrees with an emphasis in copy editing. All of our copy editors have experience as full-time copy editors in newsrooms. Therefore, they are experts on American English grammar and Associated Press style and continue to stay abreast of industry standards.

During the copy editing process, Your PR Firm copy editors will ensure document clarity, while eliminating errors in typography and grammar. They ensure consistent use of punctuation, capitalization, numbering, typeface and spacing, as well as verifying all links and conforming to your company’s style sheet (when appropriate and provided). In addition to improving the flow and impact of the news/press release, our copy editors ensure that the release delivers a clear and cohesive message.

Once our copy editors approve your news/press release, you’ll have one final opportunity to review their work and you’ll have an opportunity to ask about or confirm their revisions.

What is AP style?

All Your PR Firm news/press releases follow AP Style. “The Associated Press Stylebook and Briefing on Media Law,” usually called the AP Stylebook, is a style and usage guide used in the news industry in the United States. Annually updated by Associated Press editors, news professionals use the AP Stylebook as a guide for grammar, punctuation and principles. It includes guidance on capitalization, abbreviation, spelling, numerals and usage. Although some publications use a different style guide, the AP Stylebook is considered a newspaper industry standard and is also used by broadcasters, magazines and public relations firms.

Do you offer a (performance) guarantee?

Yes, we offer a guarantee. If you aren’t satisfied with our service, we’ll do a (free) consultation to determine what went wrong and what we can do to fix it. We’ll make it right, even if we have to rewrite the press release, refine the media list and restart the campaign once more. This may include updating the press release, the media distribution plan and recirculating the press release and re-pitching it for an additional five days.

What’s the point?

We’re going to show you the power of PR. Our small business public relations campaigns should give your business additional and highly efficient publicity, credibility, awareness and sales.