Your brand image is a prerequisite for success in the realms of digital marketing and PR. However, it’s not always easy to create or nurture an ideal brand image. That’s why it’s a good idea to hire a public relations agency – but what exactly can this entity help with? And how can they support your brand image into the future?
What a Public Relations Agency Does
When you hire a PR agency, you’ll likely get access to services like the following:
- Audits/analysis. A public relations agency will likely start by conducting some kind of audit or analysis related to your current brand and your previous PR efforts. This is to establish a baseline for the PR and marketing efforts you’ve already initiated and to determine the best course of action moving forward. It’s a great learning opportunity, and a great foundation for your forthcoming approach.
- Strategizing.A public relations agency will also help you with high-level strategizing. It’s not always clear what the main things holding your brand back are, nor is it clear what the best ways to transform your brand will be. A PR agency can help you figure out how to reframe or better promote your brand at the conceptual level.
- Media relations.Naturally, public relations agencies also help you with media relations. They can help you get more visibility for your press releases, publish you in more diverse publications, and ultimately feature your brand across more channels. At larger scales, this can help you get millions of impressions and reach people more consistently.
- Content creation.Many PR agencies can also assist with content creation, especially if you already have a content strategy in place. Producing, publishing, and distributing better content is exceptionally effective in showcasing your authority and making your brand more visible.
- Event planning.It may also be valuable to contract with a public relations agency if you’re interested in event planning. PR agencies can help ensure that your events are planned efficiently and that they are executed without a hitch.
- Social media management.Your public relations agency may also assist with your social media management. They can promote the visibility and reputation of your brand across a multitude of social media channels, and post as often or as infrequently as you would like.
That said, each PR agency operates a little differently, so you may get a different combination of services or a slightly different strategic approach.
A Better Brand Image
In any case, your PR agency can help you improve your brand image in several respects, including:
- Recognition. One of the most important ways a PR agency can support your brand image is by increasing its recognizability and memorability. When your brand is showcased across more media channels and in more impressive ways, more people are going to recognize it and remember it.
- Trust. Brand trust is huge for supporting and growing your business. With better media relations and supportive strategies in place, people are going to have greater trust in your brand overall. It’s going to make your messaging more persuasive and your brand more likable.
- Value.In total, all these effects will help people see your brand as inherently more valuable. They’re going to see your business as more competent, more trustworthy, and more worth whatever money they would spend on your products and services.
The Long-Term Benefits
Ultimately, this leads to a combination of long-term benefits that include:
- More customers. With more people recognizing, trusting, and valuing your brand, it’s only natural that you’re going to attract more customers. This is especially important for growing businesses.
- Greater loyalty.The customers you do have will likely become more loyal the more they see your brand and the more they come to trust and value it.
- Brand differentiation.If you want your brand to stand out in a crowded market, you need to be able to distinguish it. A public relations agency can help you do this, setting you apart from even your toughest and most competent rivals.
- Better marketing and advertising.Because your brand image will naturally be stronger and more appealing, you’ll also benefit from more impactful marketing and advertising strategies.
- More sales.Ultimately, the combination of all of these effects should lead to more sales revenue, both in the short term and in the long term.
Working with a PR agency could be the best move your organization makes with respect to its brand image. With more recognition, more trust, and more perceived value, you’re going to win more customers and earn greater loyalty from the customers you already have.
