Resume Writers Digest Resume Writers 7 Reasons to Feed the Media

Resume Writers' Digest Resume Writers 7 Reasons to Feed the Media Ive said it before, and Ill say it again: The media is hungry for career-related content to share with their readers, viewers, and listeners. Feed them! The benefits of public relations can be immense. My bachelors degree is in public relations, and I know how powerful PR can be for you individually and for the careers industry as a whole. Heres seven reasons why you should feed the media: 1. Credibility Getting a favorable mention of your business in the media holds far more value than a paid advertisement, because it has more credibility with the public. Nielsens 2015 Global Trust in Advertising poll showed that earned media sources including word of mouth, customer testimonials or editorial content such as newspaper editorials and articles, are more trusted than branded/owned vehicles such as ads. Press releases, media appearances, and other publicity-generating PR events help fuel editorial coverage and shape public opinion. 2. Control Providing your story to the media means you have more control over the message. Ideally, a media outlet will run your press release verbatim, but even if you cant control a reporters final version of the story, you have more influence when their starting point is your press release. Choosing the right outlet for your message is important choose media outlets that reach your target client. There are so many possible venues: newspapers, radio programs, podcasts, magazines, newsletters, blogs, etc. pick the ones that your ideal client is paying attention to. 3. Crisis Management A good PR plan isnt just about generating positive news coverage involving your company. Its also about avoiding and being prepared to handle bad publicity. Being ready with a plan before disaster strikes can save valuable time and face in the event of a crisis. Whether its a credit card breach leaking customers sensitive information or a scandal affecting the careers industry (bad actors in the recruiting world, resume writing firms falsely claiming Top 10 status to the detriment of the rest of us, etc.), your public relations strategy can help position a small business for the best possible outcome in a bad situation. While rare, preparation is the best defense. 4. Exposure People have many sources competing for their attention these days. Public relations offer another way to reach them another channel to build awareness and create a positive image. It can be leveraged and also supplement your other marketing efforts. Again, media mentions can significantly improve your know, like, and trust ratio with prospects, making your website and other marketing efforts much more effective. 5. Staying Power In the digital age, news stories no longer have a shelf life. Their visibility on search engines doesnt decline as time passes; instead, articles continue to gain exposure over time as they are linked by other sources, whether in a newer article, a blog post, a Yelp review, or elsewhere. Theres an article out there from the early 2000s that Im quoted in that I still see surface occasionally. Its almost 15 years old and its still getting traction! And heres a magazine profile of me from 2017 (see page 27) thats still generating client prospects! 6. SEO Benefits Making sure positive stories are told (both in earned and owned media, and across social media networks) and that your messaging is consistent, and your content timely and relevant, will keep your organization higher up in search engine rankings, bringing more customers to you and driving more growth for your resume writing business. 7. Value Because small businesses might not have access to the financial resources and large advertising budgets that big companies do, PR offers more bang for your buck. Establishing the right public image and communicating it via the news media is a cost-effective route to raising awareness and improving the perception of your business. Editorial coverage in particular can come at no cost to you, and it can greatly enhance and supplement the marketing youre doing elsewhere. Bill Gates famously said, If I was down to my last dollar, I would spend it on public relations. Gates understood the value of a good PR strategy, which is that it offers a cost-effective means to increase your long-term profit. Want to learn more about HOW to feed the media? Check out this special report: Feed the Media: How to Get Free Publicity for Your Resume Business or check out our 4-part training on the topic: Feed the Media: Webinar Series for Resume Writers and Career Coaches