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Category: PR

There are 2 posts published under PR.

Tips to Write an Amazing Press Kit/ Press Release for Startups

Startups need press coverage. There are so many examples of how one good exposure in the media has sparked a viral story across the internet. It sounds easy, but a lot of legwork goes on in the background to make this happen. And that’s if you’ve even got the time/resources to spend ‘doing’ PR for your startup. In most cases, a bootstrapping startup’s team members will be wearing every hat in the book; coding, marketing, funding - media relations and PR can easily be pushed aside. People will tell you PR doesn’t work for startups and it’s low priority. You do need to make sure you’re laser focused on building a good, solid product/service - but keep PR in mind. It is possible to be smart about Startup PR.

Here’s how to build a great press kit that will do a lot of the work for you. (Click the image below to expand)

Also check out the PPLCONNECT Media Kit to refer to as an example.

pplconnect_mediakit_StartHere

Infographic messages expanded:

What is a Media Kit? A media kit contains resources that members of the media would need to run a story on your startup.
-Logos: be sure to include both web and print appropriate files
-Screenshots (if applicable): web and print appropriate files
-Press Releases: add these as you release them, be consistent
-Backgrounder: 1-3 page summary document (preferably PDF) with extra background information about company history & other useful information
-Awards & previous media recognition: this is the place to holla freely about your awards and media coverage to date
-Contact details for further information: writers need to know who to contact for interviews or product demonstrations. Make it easy for them!

1-2 Formula to Get it Done
1. Spend a week collating the pieces of the kit & getting them live on your website. We know your time is valuable in a startup, so grab a co-worker or a friend who might be in the PR field and some coffee and get cracking.
2. Dedicate an hour each day that week, and by Friday polish & publish the kit. That five hours will pay you back five-fold by acting as your new 24-hour PR pitch-deck. Once it’s done you’ll have a great base that will only need updates and tweaks when things change.
Tip: Find yourself an enthusiastic public or media relations student in 3rd year at a local university and get them to intern on this as a summer project #GiveAndTake #WinWin

Add your flavour. Tech companies may need a heavy & technical review guide as part of their Media Kit… If you’ve had a particularly good run with awards or previous media coverage, it’s easy to see how things can start to get long and (potentially) boring. Keep it fun where possible by adding your unique flavour to how you present and write the entire kit. The more engaging it is, the more likely viewers will spend more time there.

Edit, Edit, Edit! Have someone with a keen eye for design and proofreading take a look at the kit. Check that presentation is uniform where necessary, fix any typos and refine the layout.

Final Advice. The important thing is to have a bare minimum press kit available at least. Right now you can start by putting a contact email address on the website for media enquiries. After that work towards getting at the very least some press releases & useful graphics that the media can use in a story. Don’t feel like you have to have the whole kit ready before uploading. When we began working on our press kit we came up with two lists, one short and one long:
1. All the press kit elements we are happy to start with (shorter list)
2. All the press kit elements we would love to have (longer list)
Get started with the first and work slowly towards the second over time.

Click here to download PPLCONNECT + also share your advice in the comments on creating a media kit!

 

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PR Sucks Because You’re Doing It Wrong

It’s no secret that PR has a bad rap – and rightfully so. For the majority of companies, it’s a huge (note: colossal) waste of money and time. From spray-and-prey journalist outreach emails to over-the-top sales-y press releases, the PR industry is broken.

 

Where some folks see a mess-hits-the-fan disaster, I see an opportunity to outrun and outsmart the crowd.

 

Talking smack is the easy way out. But that’s the precise problem that broke PR in the first place – a whole lot of talking and a lot less doing. PR isn’t noise. It’s a high-yield, low-cost marketing channel. Like anything else in business, you need to outsmart the BS to make it work.

 

Instead of rolling your eyes at PR, redefine what makes it suck. Here’s what to do:

 

1. Stop Glamorizing Press Releases

 

There are some companies that send press releases every time that they do anything. These are sales pitches cloaked as news, and journalists can smell the inauthenticity from miles away.

 

When you finally have something newsworthy to share? Nobody’s listening.

 

Press releases are just fine for distributing information, but don’t spam people. Be selective in who receives the information you’re sending, and send a personalized note. Automation may be efficient, but it’s infinitely weaker than a personal rapport.

 

Remember that there’s a real person on the other side of the computer screen. People want stories, not boring press releases.

 

2. Chill Out — Put the Megaphone Down

 

Stop blasting journalists with automated media messages. They’re extremely pressed for time, under tight deadlines, and on the hunt for stories – not generic sales pitches.

 

Journalists don’t want to be sold. They want relationships with interesting people and reliable sources. Find out who’s writing about your industry. Get to know these writers. Listen more than you talk, and don’t be an obnoxious vulture. If there isn’t a story opportunity now, there may be one later.

 

3. Assume that Nobody Cares

 

Far too often, PR people will act like they’re king of the world. Nothing will annoy a journalist more. A little humility will go a long way – focus on the substance of your story instead of the president of your company’s resume.

 

The more compelling you are, the more journalists will care. Be emotional. Share your weaknesses. Represent the humanity behind your brand. Convince your readers to care as much as you do.

 

4. Stop Vomiting Essays

 

Journalists aren’t always at the computer. They’re on the go – being productive on their iPhones and tablets. They’re more likely to read your pitches when your messages are easy to digest.

 

Lead with your core value proposition, and eliminate the fluff. Write out your pitch, trim it in half, and then trim it in half again. If you have more details to include, host files on a tool like Dropbox and send links, not attachments.

 

Final Thoughts: Get Your Story Straight

 

Here is where media training can help. The ability to craft and perfect a compelling story is priceless. Media training can help you stay focused on the core story that’s driving your brand.

 

Transparency is a startup’s secret weapon. Honesty means ownership. It means we’re human, and it’s an amazing story to tell. Journalists can smell murky waters from miles away. That’s their job.

 

What motivates your team to come to work every day? What’s your vision? How is your product a game changer, and what inspires your people to build it? Humanity is the heart of PR. Use it wisely.

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