Serving over 2 Million visitors each year

Search
Comprehensive Online Business Insurance
Tailored PI, Office, Public & Employers' Liability Insurance
Are you covered? Read our Essential PI Guide
Get a Quote and buy online in minutes

Small companies urged to harness power of media to battle recession

print  e-mail 

A rallying cry is being issued to the UK’s 4 million small firms to harness the power of the media to protect and grow their business in 2010.

That is the plea of leading North West based SME specialist public relations firm Artemis Media. Director Ben Pinnington said with an estimated 26,000 small firms due to go bust in 2010 owner managers needed to grasp how the media can help them battle through the recession and beyond.

Harness the power of the media

“2009 was a bloodbath for the private sector,” he said. “I see many small businesses and am concerned that too many shun the media without grasping how it works or how interested it is in them. Bosses can worry that any investment in media relations is a waste of valuable resources. However astute businesses respect the media and its ability to inform opinions, for better or worse. Look around you and see how the media is crammed with organisations and products promoting themselves. Harnessing the media's power to communicate to mass audiences is hugely valuable. Just as good publicity is essential to the careers of big businesses, Hollywood actors, rock stars and politicians, so it is to a small firm. Tell the media about your successes, your new clients, deals, products, services and staff. A well organised PR firm will be able to prepare press releases which communicate this information in a news format that journalists will expect and respect. Critically providing you target the media your customers and clients consume you will win business and grow your reputation – and that's definitely good news.”

Pinnington urged small firms to see how interested the media is in them.

“Your local and sectoral trade media are geared up, ready and waiting to hear from your business and how you are performing,” he said. “It really is an open goal ready and waiting to blasted home. Using the media immediately enables you to communicate directly to your target customers. If you have something new and interesting to say you should promote it and shout it from the rooftops. The media is the most powerful influence on the public today and critically one of the most cost effective ways of promoting a small firm.”

Make sure you manage the media

Pinnington said knowing how to manage the media is vital particularly if your firm is hit with negative news.

“Having in-house or out sourced PR support could be absolutely indispensible if you firm is hit with bad news such as accidents, job losses or customer dissatisfaction,” he said. “Being able to communicate your side of the story is vital in crisis management. Moreover issuing consistent good news helps build a solid reputation for the business to act as a defence against bad news. But the key point is that PR can pay handsome dividends on investment for small firms. How much business does the PR campaign need to generate to pay for itself? Moreover having a consistently high media profile will make you more competitive with your rivals. And you can use a pr campaign to give your target customers a clearer idea of who you are and what you do. Furthermore don’t underestimate the morale boosting, motivational value of PR. When I visit small firms I frequently see media coverage pinned up around offices giving staff pride and prestige. You and your staff may really enjoy promoting the business in the media.”

Useful PR articles on Bytestart

Latest articles in PR Guides
 
21 killer ideas to get free publicity
Here are 21 ideas you can use to get free publicity. With these PR tips you'll be able to make publicity a major part of your marketing mix. [August 23, 2010]
 
Top tips for getting a press release noticed
We receive hundreds of press releases each week in the Bytestart email box. Many relate to small business issues, and plenty of others do not. Out of one hundred, we typically might use just five. So, why do some releases hit the mark, and others don't? [August 10, 2010]
 
How small businesses can do their own PR
PR is a powerful weapon. It separates your business from the pack, demonstrates your expertise and showcases your products and services to a massive audience that you might otherwise never reach. How a small company can do its own PR. [January 8, 2010]
 
Small companies urged to harness power of media to battle recession
A rallying cry is being issued to the UK’s 4 million small firms to harness the power of the media to protect and grow their business in 2010. [January 7, 2010]
 
Public relations - what is PR and how would it benefit a small company?
In this article, Ben Pinnington gives Bytestart readers some introductory tips to the world of public relations, and how it may benefit small businesses. [November 23, 2009]
 
The 5 Unbreakable rules of free publicity
Good publicity can help to propel your small business to another level. Contrary to popular opinion, it's not that hard to generate free press coverage if you follow these five powerful and unbreakable rules on getting free publicity for your business. [September 3, 2009]
 
How to pull off a successful publicity stunt
A publicity stunt can be a great way of drawing serious amounts of attention to your business. Done properly, a publicity stunt can easily generate tens of thousands of pounds worth of free publicity for your business. Here's how to organise a successful publicity stunt for your business. [August 12, 2009]
 
5 easy ways to generate PR stories for your business
Free publicity is a valuable credible way to promote your business. And the hardest thing about getting it is coming up with a great idea in the first place. [July 28, 2009]
 
How to deal with bad publicity during a recession
Good news is good, bad news is infinitely better. No business can escape the threat of negative publicity. How small business owners can protect their reputations when the media comes calling. [May 11, 2009]
 
PR on a shoestring – pay per hit can work for you
Traditionally, the phrase 'pay per hit PR' has sent shivers down the spines of both business owners and PR consultants. However it is a method growing in popularity and should be a serious consideration for small businesses during the recession. [April 7, 2009]
 
Don't cut back on PR spend during tough times
An industry expert tells us why depriving your business of the oxygen of publicity at a time of recession is like switching off the lights and closing the door. [November 25, 2008]
 
How to raise the profile of your business in the press
Kelly Davis has provided some helpful tips on how to raise the profile of your small business in the press. [November 10, 2008]
 
How to write an eye-catching press release
How to write the perfect press release - the correct format to use, and how to make your piece appeal to journalists and site editors [June 19, 2008]
 
How to Sell Online - Business Guide
Setting up an online shop is simple and cheap. Here are the main areas you need to look at to get your online shop up and running. [December 11, 2007]
 
How to protect your company reputation during a crisis
Corporate reputation is a delicate thing, with even the slightest tarnish affecting customer and stakeholder perception, sales and share price. But how can you protect that reputation and, if the worst happens, defend it? [July 19, 2007]
 

Click Here





Our Partners
Key Services
Key Services
Useful Guides

© Bytestart Limited 2005-2010 - All Rights Reserved | Terms of Use | Site List | Website Feeds | Rss Feed RSS Feed

Business Insurance, Business Bank Accounts, Public Liability Insurance, Professional Indemnity, Startups, Limited Company, Sole Trader