A public relations plan is essential for any successful business. Your brand’s image is intertwined with your marketing efforts, and in today’s digital marketplace, it may make or break a customer’s choice to do business with you.
Yet public relations in 2023 is not the same as it was in the past. A social media-driven strategy has replaced conventional public relations tactics, giving companies more say over their products’ perception in the marketplace. How, therefore, can you make use of social media to boost your public relations efforts?
Have live discussions via social media
Managing PR in the modern day requires constant attention. Maintaining a high level of preparedness can help you manage your public image and head off any potential PR disasters.
Just sending a tweet into the void and crossing your fingers that it gets seen isn’t enough when social media is at the forefront of your PR plan. The PR personnel should instead be present on social media, either starting or contributing to conversations as they unfold.
The secret lies in the use of hashtags. They bring everything in social media together by collecting posts and allowing companies to react in real time to trends. Other than using hashtags, staying current on Twitter may be achieved through participating in ongoing conversations, sharing and reposting engaging content, and following accounts in your niche.
These strategies will get your brand noticeable, organic coverage in social media. Your internet reputation will improve as a result of the increased exposure and esteem you receive.
Craft media alerts with a social media focus
Public relations specialists rely heavily on press releases because they allow them to disseminate key brand information to the media and the general public in an easily consumable way. It’s a win-win situation for both parties involved: the business receives much-needed publicity and the journalist is able to quickly complete their report.
But, reporters’ inboxes fill up with hundreds of press releases every day. Rather of dealing with that hassle, why not just make some press releases and share them on your social media accounts? Journalists frequently visit this area in search of sources, therefore you should participate actively.
So that your clients, fans, and journalists can simply cascade your press releases over various social media, you should prominently display social share icons on each one.
But you can take this a step further by writing press releases that are optimised for a single social media site and thereby reach a highly particular demographic. It’s important to choose appropriate material for each bespoke release. If you’re releasing a new product, for instance, you might promote it with an Instagram post that features an attractive photograph and a catchy caption.
More brand updates may be shared on Twitter now that the character limit has been increased. Journalists can easily follow your brand’s latest developments because to the platform’s ubiquity, the prevalence of hashtags, and the frequency with which content is updated.
Collaborate with others through online networking
Relationships are the focus of public relations professionals. On the other hand, the days of brands and journalists exchanging emails to keep in touch are long gone.
You’re already using social media to enhance your community and serve your customers well. Nevertheless, given the widespread nature of social media, it’s the ideal place to cultivate long-term (and mutually advantageous) relationships with PR and journalism professionals.
To a greater or lesser extent, virtually every journalist nowadays relies heavily on Twitter for their daily work. The journalists’ Twitter handles are frequently featured in the byline, and they frequently use social media in search of story ideas and sources.
Follow journalists who cover your field on social media. Contribute your thoughts and questions to the pieces they publish, but remember to keep it social and not sales-focused. With such an open and honest attitude, people will listen to what you have to say and take note of your brand.
By expanding your circle of contacts beyond the typical corporate realm, you’ll be able to take advantage of more press exposure possibilities.
Public relations experts have been replaced by influencers
Historically, journalists were in the forefront of generating favourable press, but in recent years, social media influencers have made significant strides. In fact, influencers are basically journalists in the digital era, as social media is increasingly recognised as a news source comparable to conventional news sources.
Social influencers not only attract massive audiences, but also exert substantial control over those viewers. Their influence in the online community is undeniable, as their opinions carry weight with their followers. This makes them an excellent ambassador for your company.
Connect with a well-known figure in your field whose audience has some similarity with yours. Just like any other form of outreach, it’s best to aim for a long-term partnership rather than a one-time sale.
When used effectively, influencers may counteract unfavourable headlines and bring in new customers. They give significant social proof by openly recommending you, which greatly aids in bolstering your brand’s reputation in online circles. What can we say but that it’s organic crisis management in action?
Use social media to become a news source for your field
I’ve already stated how social media is quickly overtaking traditional media as a trusted source of news and information. Having a content plan for your own social feed is the first step in this direction.
A comprehensive content plan will include both evergreen resources and internal revisions. Yet, it is equally important to aim for thought leadership material that offers original, useful insight to your target audience.
By providing insightful, interesting news that your demographic is interested in reading, this type of material distinguishes your company from the competition. Then, turn your social media feed into a newswire for your sector by cascading this material to your consumers.