Should my startup hire the services of a PR agency?

“No. You are the founder of your brand;

Its greatest ambassador, its most eloquent evangelist.

Why entrust your baby’s reputation to someone external,

When your own channels and networks, may well be sufficient to getting the word out?’’

Or, so you think.

Here is the true story:

Great communications can be the difference between the rapid acquisition of customers and eventual fast growth, or the slow death of a business idea as it is perked to extinction by more agile competition.

Great communications can help your business establish itself as a top player in your sector, and place your products and services in the trend-setting position you think they deserve.

Then, hiring a PR agency that’d ensure this communication for your brand, will be well worth it.

So, here are the 4 actual reasons to use a PR agency:

1. You Need to Tell Your Brand Story and Build a Go-to Pitch

Your company’s brand story should address the problem that you’re aiming to solve, and explaining why it matters. It should include where the idea first came from too. If your business is selling a wristband that predicts when seizures may occur because the founder’s spouse is epileptic, you’ll want to talk about that.

Pull on some heartstrings. Expose the problem or opportunity for an improved life that your audience may not realize, it needed.

Now if you don’t already have this, you need it, and PR agencies can be helpful in identifying and building a captivating brand story.

2. Helping You Identify the Hooks within Your Core Story

Startups tend to know they’re doing something worth caring about, or else they wouldn’t care about it themselves. This thinking often leads to the assumption that it’s obvious to potential customers why they should care, too.

But sadly, it’s a no. Customers don’t always understand at the flash of the lightning, that way 🙁

PR firms can help in teasing out the “hook” of your company’s story.

Great PR agencies can help your startup move from “We know we’re amazing,” to “This is why people should care that we’re here.”

3. Opening the Door for Beneficial Connections

Your own networks and channels should form the foundation of a community around your business. But when that network reaches its capacity to deliver your business needs:  customer acquisition, finding talent, differentiating yourself in a noisy marketplace; the right agency is then the answer.

What you are buying is a network of quality relationships in a sector that extends beyond your own, and strategic expertise on how to make the most of them.

A good communications agency is a brokerage between your brand and the media.

It understands the needs of the online audience as well as knows your objectives towards them. The PR agency’s job is then, to spend its time working out how to bring the needs and objectives together, in lucrative ways that is beneficial to both parties.

A great PR agency can offer a suite of services including media relations, social strategy, content strategy and engagement – often described as ‘below the line’ marketing, or earned media.

Broadly, it’s about getting influence and recommendation for your brand, from a respected third party: in the news, on the web, from the podium at an event…

The alternative is paid media, ‘above the line’ marketing which is traditional advertising: in-person pitches, outdoor, etc.

And your business may well need a mix of both.

4. Writing on Your Behalf

For stellar writing that will capture your brand’s voice, a dependable PR agency with copywriting services is going to be a way better (and much less expensive) ongoing option.

The growth of your brand can very well be accelerated through marketing and compelling content.

And getting a PR agency to do justice to this, shouldn’t be negotiated.

Sounds good? What’s next?

Rethink your engagement with Phyllion.

Corporate Relations is at the very core of our business. We help you identify your communication objectives, stratify your audiences, and together we determine the best way to speak directly to them, the way they want to hear from you.

We invite you to explore more about our services. See what we do best HERE.

 

Thanks for stopping by! If you were inspired by this post, you can let us know in the comments section.