We all know that generating leads is paramount to the survival of your brand and business, and that lead generation is the key way to build that business. But how do you get new customers coming consistently through your door, onto your website or calling you without a massive marketing budget - the answer is PR.

Public relations or PR, as it is more commonly known, is one element in a well rounded marketing plan that can be a great way of getting new leads. A good PR campaign can effectively target your particular market or potential customers, give your business or product a credible and reliable image, all leading to an increase of positive interest in your business or product by interested customers ready to buy.

Target your market

PR allows you to target a particular segment of people who will be receptive to your business or product. Whether it’s through a well planned event or effective media relations, it is possible to send a positive message to your potential customers. Print media especially is full of magazines and publications dedicated to particular lifestyles, parenting, hobbies and audiences. Just think of the magazines you enjoy and types of articles you like to read, somewhere there is someone waiting to read about your business or product.

Credible coverage

Journalists use press releases from PR professionals for ideas and inspiration for stories their audiences would like to read. When these stories appear in magazines or publications, more often than not they carry the journalist’s by-line or appear in the editorial section. The fact that your business or product can feature in an article or story, gives it a level of credibility that advertising alone can not achieve. Immediately your business or product becomes reliable as it comes with the unofficial endorsement from the journalist and the publication. You know yourself that when a friend recommends something to you, you are likely to trust their judgement enough to investigate.

For example

Even the smallest appearance in a major publication can mean more leads for your business. Recently children’s clothing label Sudo appeared in Woman’s Day, it was a tiny piece taking up no more than one sixth of the page space at the bottom of the page, but they received a massive influx of hits on their website. From a half page advertisement, Sudo usually expects a couple of hundred hits, after their small appearance in Woman’s Day, they had over 2,000 hits on the website in a week. Similarly, when Mums in Business appeared on A Current Affair earlier this year, the response was outstanding with many hits on their website and phone enquiries from all over Australia.

Having an effective PR plan enables you to promote your business or product to potential customers in a positive way that enhances your awareness and credibility. From this activity you should see an increase in the level of interest and leads to your business, by customers that are interested and most importantly, ready to buy!

For more information about obtaining some PR for your business, contact Gina at Savage Public Relations
on 07 5452 6231 or email or visit www.savagepr.com.au