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Public relations

Media relations

One of the key aims of any PR campaign is to build relationships with your stakeholders, and media relations forms a major part of this.

Media relations is distinct from public relations – although there is a lot of crossover – and it’s something that should never be neglected. That’s because, although you’re building a relationship with the media in the first instance, it’s their relationship with their readers that will get the real results.

However, it’s not as easy as it sounds, and is one of the best reasons (aside from all the practical expertise) that there is for using an agency for your PR.

The importance of media relations

Journalists, whether at regional, national or trade publications, can reach thousands of people, many of which will be interested in what you’ve got to say or offer.

 

That’s why it’s important to get the press to tell your story on your behalf. Not only does it work out significantly cheaper than taking out an advert but it’s also more effective too.

 

That’s because a story in a local newspaper or trade magazine is seen as far more authentic and trustworthy than something that has been paid for.

 

However, journalists are busy people, receiving hundreds of emails a day, as well as sourcing their own stories.

 

Which means that simply having a good story isn’t always enough to gain coverage; to increase your chances, you need an existing relationship with some key people in your chosen media.

 

These relationships build trust, which means that, firstly, the journalist will be more inclined to feature your news as they know what to expect from you. Secondly, it means that if they ever need a comment on a particular industry story, they’ll turn to you.

media-relations-agency

Why work with a media relations agency?

As a business owner, you may not have the time or inclination to start building these relationships, and it can be hard to know where to start anyway.

 

That’s why working with an agency such as Harvey & Hugo is so beneficial; you can take advantage of the relationships and contacts we’ve spent years building.

 

We’ve been getting to know reporters across the region for more than a decade now, as well as nurturing our contacts across a wide range of trade media, from construction and utilities to finance and law.