What’s Your ‘Rule of Six’
In a nod to the fact that today sees the Rule of Six coming into play in England, we thought we’d offer you our own PR themed alternative.
If you’re going to implement a six-point plan for effective PR activity as you emerge from lockdown, what might look like?
Here’s our suggestion:
1
Stop second guessing your audience. Know who they really are
One of the biggest mistakes in PR and communications is assuming you know who your audience is and trying to tell the story which fits with that mythical target.
Carry out a stakeholder mapping exercise and truly understand who it is you’re reaching, who you ought to reach, and how they want to be communicated with.
2
Be clear and consistent about who you are and what you are
As important as knowing who your audience is, sits the issue of being crystal clear about your own values, purpose, objectives and unique features. Make sure that vision is conveyed in all your communications.
3
Understand the media landscape and your scope for storytelling
Get to really understand the various media channels available to you - from the digital to the traditional, the regional to the trade.
Understand that each one would have different desires from your PR material. Approach each with a thought-through strategy.
4
Make your content resonate
Anyone can tell the facts or relay an update or aim to target a customer, but what really gives you longevity and a relationship with your audience, is producing content which is relatable and which feels authentic. Work hard on developing that unique tone of voice.
5
Acknowledge that your communication activity should be planned, considered and ever evolving
Good PR doesn’t happen overnight, it shouldn’t be viewed as an ‘adhoc nice-to-have’ and your approach to it MUST be ever changing.
Always continue to consider the landscape of what’s happening in the world around you, in order to ensure your PR approaches remain fresh and 'topical’.
6
Get the strategic help and specialist support you need to make your PR even more effective
Don’t assume you need to tackle the vast world of PR, marketing and communications alone - or that it can just be picked up by someone as a ‘side role’ within your business.
Getting the right strategic help or guidance can prove invaluable, and will reap huge rewards quickly and cost effectively.
*If you’d like help with your future PR planning, email our director Debbie, on deborah@lexiaagency.co.uk