While PR stands for public relations, some people also understand it to refer to press releases. This is very apt considering that press releases are one of the most effective tools used to help promote your Company to the right audience.

Good public relations are encouraged when positive stories about businesses are told through the press. And these positive stories can ultimately lead to a significant increase in business and profit.

Additional benefits of a PR campaign:

• It increases awareness of your company
• Promotes understanding between business and its stakeholders. E.g. Workforce motivation, incentives and benefits
• Builds trust and confidence with opinion formers. Media is the most powerful developer of opinions and once trust is gained with the likes of journalists and share-holders, you then have the power to influence and change opinions
• Stimulates debate and encourages changes in behaviour, attitudes and perceptions
• It can mobilise opinion and overcome apathy
• It is the most cost effective marketing vehicle. A press release is a fraction of the cost of advertising and also adds to credibility through positive endorsement from a third party.
• Improves online presence. PR is becoming increasingly important to websites and search engine optimization (SEO). Articles can now be posted online on a newspaper website, which can in turn drive more traffic to your website, due to the respected nature of their web pages.
• Can lead to other opportunities not just sales. It can boost your profile, leading to better opportunities in recruitment, sponsorship, affiliate marketing other companies becoming aware of your products and services.

Press releases are the most effective and economical way of getting your name in the public eye. It is a way of promoting your Company, products and services to your target audience without paying for an expensive advert which is unlikely to achieve the same results.

A strong press release often comes from events such as, or similar to, the following:

• A new business start-up
• Staff expansion
• Company expansion
• Award wins
• Business contract wins
• Involvement in fund-raising events or activities

If any of the above apply to you or your Company, then all you need to do is tell us about it. We will then contact you with some questions – either by phone or e-mail, depending on your preference – in order to acquire as much information concerning your story as possible.

Once we have all your answers and any extra information we need, we undertake the following steps to ensure that your story gets noticed by the press:

• Find the strongest angle for your press release
• Write the release using the information provided by you and anyone else concerned
• E-mail it to you – and anyone else concerned – for approval
• Distribute the release depending on where your Company is based
• Follow it up with journalists

With our proactive media relations, we ensure that your story is always followed up regularly, and we also handle any resulting media enquiries. We then send you regular updates on where and when your press release is published, so that you know who your story has reached.

Depending on your chosen PR package, we also upload your press release onto the Harvey & Hugo website and blog and promote the story through our well-followed social media accounts. We can also send your story to relevant trade magazines and, if appropriate, local radio and television news channels – anything to maximise your chances of raising your Company profile and generating more business as a result.