This week is National Storytelling week and whilst I am an avid reader I’m not here to tell you about my favourite story but to tell you story that I hear people telling themselves all the time. So get comfy and settle down.
Once upon a time.........
There was a small business owner. The product/service they were offering was amazing. People who brought from or worked with them raved about them but business still wasn’t where they wanted it to be. The business owner would look at their competitors on social and feel sad that they didn’t feel that they were doing as well. They’d spot similar businesses always getting mentions in local media and some of them had even been seen in the nationals sharing their expertise or products. At Christmas this small business owner felt frustrated seeing other businesses in all the Christmas gift guides and wondered what they could do about it.
One day the Fairy Godmother of the PR world Prunella visited the business owner and said: “I think if you want to raise awareness of your business, drive more traffic to your website, encourage people to see you as an expert or increase footfall into your premises you should invest in PR”
“PR?” the business owner said “Do you think I’m made of money?” “Ahhh but it doesn’t have to be costly” Prunella said “You could start by getting somebody to just find opportunities for you, that would be a low cost way to go or you could do a course to teach you how to do your own PR. I don’t even thinking hiring some regular help would be that expensive if you give the PR a set amount of time you want them to invest and work with them to create some goals”
The business owner looked upset and cried “But who would care about what I’m doing? I can’t compete with the big hitters for coverage. I don’t even know what my story is or why anybody would be interested. Plus where am I actually meant to find the time?”
Prunella shook her head as it was, dear reader a sorry tale that she had heard many times of wonderful businesses wanting to see change but telling themselves stories about the PR that could help them that just weren’t true. Prunella knew that until the business owner believed in what they were doing and stepped out of their comfort zone and at least started to speak to some PR people about potential stories, costs, their ideas then they would be forever stuck.
If this business owner sounds like you, stop telling yourself stories about PR and find out for yourself if there is an affordable way that PR could work for you and your business.
Rebecca Slater is a PR Consultant with more than 20 years public relations experience. She is based in Staffordshire and provides support to businesses all over the country.
Find out more at www.beckandcallpr.co.uk or email sayhello@beckandcallpr.co.uk