Tag Archive for: Los Angeles PR Agency

3 Tips for CPG Media Coverage

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There are lots of reasons to invest in CPG PR, but no matter the reason, PR is an investment, and you want your efforts to pay off, which is why you’re hiring a top-rated PR agency in the first place, right? Whether you’re trying to educate your customers about a distinctive ingredient, improve customer loyalty, invest in brand value or want a more straightforward approach to product inclusions in holiday gift guides, PR is not a set-and-forget it strategy, you can radically improve your outcomes with these three tips.

Maximize Your DTC or CPG PR with the 3 Tips for CPG Media Coverage

 

Multimedia for the Win

49% of journalists want pictures with the pitch. Owned media is an important tool for earned media. Having a variety of images of your CPG product images, both lifestyle, and product shots are helpful to busy journalists who don’t have time for multiple back and forth emails. Sometimes having the ideal lifestyle shot makes all the difference for busy editors who need a header shot for the story. In fact, journalists are 6X more likely to open pitches with multimedia, that’s a huge improvement when you consider that over half of journalists receive 50-100 pitches, PER DAY.

Images are the most common multimedia inclusions, but you can stand out with infographics, and social media posts too.

And data. Data is key. 39% of journalists want relevant data in the pitch. The funds for investigative polling are all but gone, if you conduct a consumer or industry poll and have fresh data, that’s news. And you can use that data in multiple ways, both for your own inside strategic planning and to secure media coverage.

Affiliate Links…For Journalists?

It’s not exactly news that media outlets are reshaping their revenue sources. Modern PR agencies understand the world is moving faster than ever and everyone in the media space is pressed for time and revenue.

For CPG or DTC products, having an affiliate program for media outlets increases the chances your product will get coverage in round-ups. Almost all media outlets are using affiliate links on their coverage, everyone from the Today Show to your local morning show. Being able to include an affiliate link in the coverage means your product may receive multiple pieces of coverage from one pitch.

 

Help Journalists Write Google-Friendly Reviews

When a journalist writes a review that Google loves, it’s good for you both. So why not do everything in your power to work with them? Google has very specific parameters around a quality product review, give journalists what they need and they’ll remember you next time.

Be Story Ready

When every company says it’s unique or revolutionary, it’s not eye-catching anymore. In fact, 100% of journalists roll their eyes when they see those words, because about .05% of the time, it’s true.

If you’re looking to leverage PR for things like features or newsjacking, be ready to help shape, inform and create the stories that will be attractive to the media. Even if you really DON’T have “any competitors,” you STILL need a story to get deeper more important coverage.

One PR professional said it best in an anonymous interview with Digiday: “It’s not enough to just be a disruptive DTC brand anymore. Brands need to figure out who they are, why they’re doing something so innovative and then work with us to tell that story.”

Your PR company needs to know that when they schedule a meeting with a journalist, you will respond promptly. 1 in 4 journalists will block a publicist who fails to respond within the same day or a given deadline. If you’re not able to be available for journalists, say that upfront, to save face with journalists.

 

In Conclusion:

Working with journalists is a lot like working with influencers. It’s important to treat the media with professionalism and humility and when you do so, tips for CPG media coverage will all converge into more media coverage of better quality.

 

All statistics are from Cision State of Media Report 2022, unless otherwise noted. 

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What is Healthtech PR?

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The emerging healthtech industry has increased in recent years due to several factors, including an aging population, increasing demand for personalized care, and the rising cost of healthcare facilities. However, the increasing competition has made it more challenging for healthtech firms to gain the desired attention for their products and services; this is where Healthtech PR can help.

What is Healthtech PR?

Healthtech PR refers to the activities focused on building and maintaining a favorable reputation for emerging technologies in healthcare. More precisely, it increases the visibility and credibility of technological innovations in the healthcare industry among healthcare providers, patients, investors, and media.

Some examples of Health tech PR activities include:

  • Developing communication strategies for business objectives such as attracting funding, acquiring competitive advantages, and creating marketplace trust for new technologies.
  • Creating thought leadership content like blog posts and white papers
  • Handling social media accounts
  • Securing media coverage for new product launches
  • Organizing events and webinars
  • Arranging collaborations with key influencers in the healthcare technology space

What Is The Need for Healthtech PR?

Although PR plays a vital role in the success of all kinds of businesses, it is significantly more crucial for the healthtech industry due to its complex and evolving nature. The challenges below illustrate why PR matters to the healthtech industry so much.

Technical Language in HealthTech

One of the primary jobs of HealthTech PR is to translate technical language in a way the general public and other stakeholders can understand. The healthcare industry is a complex and highly specialized field. It involves various technical terms and concepts specific to the industry. Meeting stakeholders where they are is vital, so using healthtech PR is essential.

Healthtech PR professionals are adept at simplifying the complex medical language used to describe various medical conditions, treatments, and procedures. They can convey the correct meaning to their target audience in clear, concise, and understandable terms.
Remember, your target audience can only trust a healthtech product or service if they fully understand its features, functions, and benefits.

Regulatory Hurdles

 

The healthcare industry is highly regulated; numerous laws and regulations govern the developing, testing, and marketing of healthcare products and services. Such regulatory hurdles can be difficult for healthtech companies to navigate. Plus, they can become a massive barrier to entry for new companies wanting to enter the industry.
Healthtech PR professionals are knowledgeable about the regulatory landscape of the healthcare industry. They can effectively understand and convey a product’s compliance with relevant laws, expediting the approval process and increasing the chances of acceptance by the public.
Conclusively, PR strategies are a great tool to build support for healthtech products and services amongst regulators and the public.

Privacy Concerns

Healthcare companies handle sensitive information about patients. Such data has to be protected to maintain regulatory compliance and patient trust. When developing and implementing new healthtech technologies, these companies must address all privacy concerns to earn the trust of patients and other stakeholders involved.
Healthtech PR strategies can help healthtech firms communicate how their innovations protect patient privacy. If a privacy breach occurs, these strategies also help healthcare firms transparently and effectively share how the incident happened and what steps they take to resolve the issue.

Building Trust

Healthtech firms may need help to build trust among their target audience for several reasons.
Patients often deal with life-changing health conditions, and they need to feel that they can trust the companies providing their care. Healthtech firms must demonstrate that they have the expertise, experience, and resources to provide high-quality care that meets the needs of patients.

The healthcare industry is highly complex. Besides patients, it involves many other stakeholders, like healthcare providers, regulators, insurers, and investors. This complexity makes it challenging for healthtech firms to navigate the industry and establish themselves as credible and trustworthy players.

The healthtech landscape has become significantly crowded, with numerous firms entering. Every firm has to work hard to obtain its target audience’s trust and stay ahead of the curve.
Healthtech PR can help firms build trust with their target audience by providing accurate information, demonstrating thought leadership, and showing a commitment to patient outcomes.

Rapid Innovation

The healthcare industry is evolving rapidly – new technologies and innovations continue to emerge. Rapid innovation makes it critical for healthtech firms to predict and follow recent trends and developments in the industry to promote their products and services effectively.
Healthtech PR strategies involving social media, networking events, and content creation can help firms gain and share quick insights about the latest developments in the industry.
The Core Benefits of Healthtech PR

Increased Brand Awareness

Implementing PR strategies can boost a healthtech firm’s visibility and increase awareness of their technological innovations among their target audience. These strategies focus on driving traffic to a company’s website, enhancing social media engagement, and generating more leads and sales.

Thought leadership Opportunities

Healthtech PR can also help healthtech companies establish themselves as thought leaders. Healthtech PR includes exploring valuable healthtech insights, posting thought leadership content and leading industry events.
Establishing their position as experts in the field allows healthtech firms to build credibility among key stakeholders. Increased credibility makes more people willingly try out your healthtech products or services.

Strong Investor Relations

Healthtech PR can help companies attract investors and build and maintain lucrative relationships. PR professionals in the healthcare industry know how to effectively communicate their vision, strategy, and progress to investors. They can help healthtech firms gather the funding required to grow and succeed through creating social media buzz, posting thought-provoking content on websites, and other techniques.

Reputation Management

Reputation management is one of the most critical functions of PR strategies. It is to promote the firm’s strengths, achievements, and contributions to the healthcare industry. It primarily involves creating a positive image of the healthtech firms via various channels, like social media, content marketing, media relations, etc.
In the event of negative publicity, a strong PR plan can help healthtech firms quickly address the issue, transparently interact with stakeholders, and take appropriate measures to mitigate the effects on the company’s reputation.
Healthtech PR also involves monitoring and analyzing the online presence and media coverage. It helps companies identify incorrect or damaging information that could harm their reputation. Moreover, it allows firms to make informed decisions about their PR strategy and identify opportunities to improve their standing.

Patient Engagement

Healthtech PR allows healthtech companies to build a loyal customer base by engaging with patients meaningfully. A good healthtech PR plan includes techniques like providing patients access to their medical records, creating patient-centric content, and leveraging social media to connect with patients.
It also involves enabling patients to schedule appointments online, building relationships with patient advocacy groups, offering telehealth and remote monitoring services, and providing educational resources to help them better understand their condition and treatment options. These techniques also allow companies to demonstrate their commitment to improving patient outcomes.

Effective Healthtech PR Strategies

Public relations strategies for healthtech companies are essential for building brand awareness, establishing credibility, and engaging with key stakeholders. Here are some PR strategies you can use to promote a healthtech brand.
Convey a Strong Brand Narrative
Healthtech PR helps brands convey their story that effectively explains their mission, values, products, and services. This story becomes a foundational pillar for further marketing efforts, including media pitches, content marketing, and press releases.
Collaborate with Industry Influencers
Collaborating with industry influencers enables healthtech companies to raise their credibility and exposure. Influencers may include patient advocates, industry analysts, healthcare professionals, etc. Such collaborations can lead to increased media coverage, social media exposure, and word-of-mouth recommendations.
Create Educational and Thought-Leadership Content
Creating educational content is another PR technique that helps healthtech firms provide value to their target audience. It involves blog posts, white papers, and e-books that highlight the benefits of their technology and provide unique perspectives on industry trends. Firms can share and promote content through various channels, like emails, social media, websites, etc. Executives who take the reins as active spokespersons can often increase credibility for the brand when employing thought leadership tactics.  Executive visibility is crucial for emerging industries and new brands, as public needs to see faces in order for trust to emerge.
Manage Social Media
Social media is a powerful tool for healthtech companies to connect with their audience and share their message. They can use social media to share educational content, engage with their audience, and promote the credibility of their brand.
Host Networking Events
Healthtech businesses can also host events to introduce and display their technology as a part of their PR strategy. Some examples of events include webinars, conferences, and networking events. Hosting such events presents an excellent opportunity to educate guests on the benefits of the technology and build relationships with key stakeholders.
Secure Media Coverage
Healthtech companies can also benefit by securing media coverage by pitching stories to relevant media outlets. They can approach industry publications, business publications, and mainstream media to build a strong narrative and tailor pitches to the interests of each media outlet.
Engage with Patient Communities
Healthtech companies can engage with patient communities to understand and anticipate their needs and develop practical solutions. They can do this through social media outreach, surveys, and patient focus groups.

Why Outsource Healthtech PR?

While healthtech firms may be able to handle some aspects of their PR themselves, there are several reasons hiring a PR agency can be beneficial.
PR Agencies Have Both Expertise and Experience
PR agencies are teams of professionals specializing in public relations with years of experience dealing with various industries. They deeply understand the media landscape and know how to build and execute successful PR campaigns.
Healthtech is a fast-paced industry, and you need a PR agency that can adapt to changing circumstances and respond quickly to emerging opportunities. When hiring a PR agency, look for one with a proven record of success in working with healthtech companies. Ensure they know the regulatory environment and vital healthcare industry stakeholders.
They Have an Extensive Network
PR agencies working with healthtech companies have strong connections with prime media outlets, influencers, and industry experts. They can help healthtech firms build relationships with the right people, opening doors that might be difficult for that firm to access otherwise. They can also secure media coverage to build a brand and drive business results.
They Offer An Objective, Unbiased Perspective
PR agencies can objectively evaluate a healthtech firm’s messaging and branding. They can help companies identify strengths and weaknesses and create a PR strategy that aligns with their goals.
They Save Time and Resources
Healthtech firms may need more time or resources for a comprehensive PR campaign. Hiring a PR agency allows them to focus on their core business activities while the agency handles their PR efforts.
They Help You Manage Crisis Effectively
In a crisis, a PR agency can provide guidance and support to help manage the situation. They have experience handling crises and can help healthtech firms navigate difficult situations with their reputation intact.
PR Agencies Provide Strategic Guidance
A good healthtech PR agency can provide strategic guidance to help you develop a comprehensive PR plan that perfectly fits your business objectives and is creative enough to stand out in a crowded industry. Look for an agency that has successfully captured the attention of a similar target audience in the past.
Metrics-Driven Approach
A good healthtech PR agency prioritizes driving and delivering fruitful results that align with your business goals. Look for an agency with a strong track record of delivering ROI for its clients.
In Conclusion
Effective PR strategies are essential for healthtech firms to succeed in today’s competitive market. By building solid relationships with key stakeholders, sharing compelling stories about their products and services, and leveraging the power of social media and digital marketing, healthtech firms can build a strong brand and reputation that will help them attract customers, investors, and talent.
However, handling public relations on top of other crucial tasks involved in a healthtech business can be overwhelming. An experienced healthtech PR agency can help healthtech firms make a real difference in the lives of patients and healthcare providers, driving innovation and growth in the industry without any hassle.

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6 Questions to Ask and What To Look For Before Hiring A PR Firm

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What Should You Really Be Look For In A PR Firm?

Whenever I talk to someone hiring a PR firm, I really have empathy. We know, hiring a PR firm can be daunting. With increasing frequency, we’re hearing stories from clients who have experienced “bad PR.” We hate to hear that, because we know it’s important for our entire professional to provide exceptional services. More importantly, we know it’s important to you when making a PR investment. What should you ask before hiring a modern PR firm?

We truly believe many of these stories are because of client and agency being a mismatch rather than a “bad PR firm.” Taking a deeper look at PR before hiring a PR firm can save you money, and time. We can attribute much of this to the vast distinctions between how PR agencies operate and handle their clients. The intention of this piece is to provide you with questions we would be asking OUR PR firm before we hired them, and why those questions are important. Also, consider these “6 great questions you can ask us before hiring Avvans PR”

6 Questions to Ask Before Hiring Your Next PR Firm

Do You Understand Our Product?

Ask yourself how important a baseline understanding of your product or industry is to your communications. We’ve heard story after story of people unhappy with their PR firm because their PR firm doesn’t understand an emerging industry’s regulations or technology. Understanding the industry isn’t just important from a regulatory and technical perspective, it’s also the ability to monitor relevant news, understand what’s relevant (and what isn’t) and move quickly. Now, that’s not to say that a beauty PR can’t handle B2B PR for the industry, but expect to educate your firm.

What tradeshows and conferences has your team attended?
Does your PR firm understand what makes your product distinct within your industry?
What publications are writing about your vertical?

Before Hiring a PR Firm, Establish Clearly Defined Ways of Measuring Success for PR

Most companies today want consistent placement, strategic oversight, and outstanding communication. But what else? In a mature, less regulated industry, a PR firm typically works with multiple other firms from branding to experiential to an ad agency.

PR is THE leading brand trust and awareness tool.

In addition to earned media, companies should be looking at additional metrics for PR, such as SEO value. Website traffic, brand mentions, brand name reach, and even share of voice are all KPIs that are relevant, depending on the overall strategy. Your PR firm should be ready and able to provide those kinds of metrics to you every month. Changes in public perception or decreased sales cycle are also metrics with which PR can support. If you’re measuring your PR firm against KPIs like this, work with your PR firm to set a baseline and a reasonable timeframe.

To really maximize your PR, look to incorporate your content, whether it’s through your PR agency’s content services, or your own, be sure to align the key messages and the topics.

Is the Fee Structure Fair & Does It Make Sense?

Most PR firms work on a retainer, so make sure you have an understanding of what’s included in your retainer?

Does the firm charge for wire releases?
Is branded content included, and if so, does that extend to graphic design?
Is there a markup on expenses incurred by the PR agency and if so, what is it?
Are off-site activations included?
How are hours tracked?

There’s no single way to manage a retainer, so asking questions like this upfront will give you a deeper understanding. Be fearless about asking these questions, after all, you’re the client. You should expect a rationale that isn’t arbitrary. While you may view this as a negotiation opportunity, be wary of cutting the budget to the point where your brand isn’t on the radar daily. You want your PR firm engaged with your brand on a daily basis – make sure you’re getting that because the alternative often provides unsatisfactory results. A great PR firm will be transparent about their billing methods.  Financial terms form the foundation of your relationship with your PR firm. Get that right and find a balance that works for you and your PR firm.

Look for Good Personal Chemistry in Your PR Firm

While this one is tough to put on a spreadsheet, asking some tough questions will often reveal the quality of the chemistry. As an engaged client, you should be working with your cannabis PR experts regularly and you REALLY want that process to be enjoyable. Make sure your company culture meshes well with your cannabis PR firm’s value system.  Teams who like one another, work better together. If you’re not gelling with someone in the first call, chances are, that’s not going to change.

Compatability breeds productivity and results.

Before Hiring Your Next PR Firm, Consider: Location, Location, Location

Before you start narrowing down your PR firms, decide how important location is to you. We think having account presence in major journalism markets, like Los Angeles and New York is a priority, but if you’re the person who needs to meet face-to-face once a week, acknowledge that and find a firm close to your base of operations and hire a PR firm that’s near by.

Flexibility AND Systems

Pay close attention to the systems your PR firm uses and also take notice of their flexibility.

For starters, there should also be a clearly defined exit clause in the contract.

Who owns content?
How will the PR firm handle future press inquires when/if the engagement ends?
What is the cancelation agreement?

Your PR should have systems and processes in place, but those systems and processes should also be nimble enough to manage the PR world. For example, getting a press release right is exceptionally important, but it shouldn’t take your PR firm a week to write it. You should be able to review the first draft within hours on an emergency or breaking news circumstance. On the other hand, there should be a consistent drum beat and strategy behind media relations.  Which bring us to:

A Strategic Approach That Makes Sense

Before hiring, your  PR firm should be able to articulate an approach and strategy that makes sense to you. While credible PR firms won’t reveal details about clients, they should be able to articulate some case studies of  PR strategies and why they worked. For example, provide an experience that required a decision to respond to industry news. When, where, and how you respond to breaking industry news is determined by your brand strategy, BUT your PR should be able to articulate a strategy and when/why it worked. Your PR firm should have some strategic storylines and outlines in mind for your brand, which proves they’ve done a little research. Even if they aren’t perfectly on-brand, at least you’re starting with a strategy that is better than starting from zero. Avaans takes a slightly different approach by providing strategic research and competitive analysis before you even work with us.

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9 Reasons Every Cannabis Company Needs PR

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Public relations isn’t new, but cannabis PR hasn’t been around very long, relative to PR. You’ve probably heard that PR is an excellent investment in your company, particularly because of limited advertising options. But maybe you’re still wondering what you should expect from cannabis PR.

Here are 9 reasons every cannabis company should invest in cannabis PR. 

  1. Great content inspires trust, creates credibility, and increases brand value. 
    There is no greater content than an unpaid third party. Cannabis consumers today are hip to the fact that influencers, affiliates, and advertising are all getting paid to say what you want them to say. But journalists remain independent and adhere to a code of ethics and that’s exactly what makes their content so trusted and valuable.
  2. Allows a company to own its own story.
    Cannabis companies who fail to invest in cannabis PR are basically allowing everyone else, from media to competitors to customers, to create your brand story. Why not author your own brand’s story? That’s what PR allows you to do.

    “PR is not something a CEO can do herself.  PR is a highly specialized vertical with a distinctive set of talents, relationships and experience, plus, it takes an exceptional amount of time away from running the company. An agency allows CEOs to get back to their highest and best use of time. – Tara Coomans, CEO, Avaans Media 

  3. Cannabis PR outlasts advertising and social media.
    Unlike advertising which turns off the minute you finish paying, PR sticks around indefinitely. We’ve placed pieces which continued to drive traffic and conversation 3-4 years later. What advertising or social media has that kind of longevity?
  4. Amplify and maximize your cannabis message.
    A strong cannabis PR program typically involves media relations. Media relations means your PR team is working with journalists who are interested in the verticals your brand best fits into. For example, if you’re a cannabis beauty brand, you’ll have stories you want to tell to each vertical.
  5. Building community capital. 
    As we’ve discussed previously, crisis and downturns happen. Having relationships in the media is particularly important when you need support. An ongoing media relations campaign provides trust both with journalists and the public which you can put in the bank and earn interest on for a rainy day. Plus, if you have a crisis, which is all too common in the cannabis industry, then you having a PR firm on retainer could save you hundreds of thousands of dollars in brand value, wasted time, and crisis PR fees. A PR agency you’re already working with knows you best, and knows how to handle your crisis in a brand consistent way.

    “When we discuss the value of PR, we often forget about the sales, M&A and partnerships that come more easily because PR drives trust and shortens the sales cycle,” – Tara Coomans, CEO Avaans Media 

  6. Compliments sales efforts. 
    Ask any salesperson, distributor, or business development executive what happens when they can reference a piece in major industry or national publications. Suddenly, people start paying attention. Adding your coverage on your website, sales materials, and other external communications amplify your cannabis PR.
  7. Creates an opportunity to consider your cannabis company’s impact.
    Ongoing PR makes a company and it’s stakeholders consistently aware of its impact on people. This is important because it’s those same people who have perceptions that shape the company’s values and builds (or damages) its reputation.
  8. PR IS content. Content is a big buzzword today, but PR has always been about content, the only thing that’s changed is that there are more avenues to share content. That’s why so many cannabis PR firms also offer social media and/or event marketing services. PR’s perspective provides a well-rounded point of view that makes content more accessible, shareable, and timely.
  9. Enhances digital efforts like SEO. 
    Online earned media is usually chock full of relevant keywords and known publications have strong SEO signals. Consistent media placement helps with organic search results and the best part is, the efforts pay increasing dividends over time.If you’re ready to invest in PR to get all these benefits and more, why not find out more about whether you’re a good fit for Primo PR’s services? 
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Questions to Ask Top Cannabis PR Firms

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You may be at the beginning of your search, or you may have narrowed down your choices, but wherever you are in your cannabis PR firm search, you should know that the top cannabis PR firms should all have these skills. Notice these skills may differ from PR services and that’s because what separates an outstanding PR firm from the average PR firm is the ability to understand how social, cultural, and business changes will affect their clients. We’re providing you with 3 questions to ask your top cannabis PR firms to help you differentiate them from one another.

Emotional Intelligence

We’re living in dynamic times. Top cannabis PR firms can understand your company, its goals, and how media shifts will change your reputation and media outreach strategies. That’s right, outstanding PR means you have a team who has their pulse on the big picture – they know when to raise the red flag and when to take a breath and let the moment pass. Emotional intelligence also means your PR team continues to learn from itself. You’ll find emotionally intelligent teams hold themselves accountable, they are solution-oriented, and they are easy to collaborate with. Emotional intelligence isn’t necessarily a feature of maturity, but the two do often go hand in hand. Be sure you meet your team and understand who you will be working with before you sign on the bottom line. To get a sense of your PR team’s emotional intelligence, ask your top cannabis PR firm: what advice would they give you at the beginning of the COVID pandemic? 

Digitally Forward Perspective

Social media has been a sub-section of PR for a decade, and yet, many PR professionals don’t consider social media part of the PR landscape. Ask yourself why you’d want a PR agency that doesn’t concern itself with your most visible and accessible communication channel? No doubt about it – social media is an important player in your cannabis company’s reputation. You may not choose to have your PR DO your social media, but a top cannabis PR firm should absolutely provide guidance and oversight. This is also true for choosing influencers. Ask your cannabis PR firm for their perspective on cannabis influencers. It will tell you something about how they approach your media strategy. Ask your top cannabis PR firm: what’s your perspective on social media for my cannabis company? 

Cannabis PR Specialty or Specialization?

The cannabis industry, though still an emerging industry, is past its most nascent stages. Cannabis PR firms that only work in cannabis have advantages and disadvantages. The advantage is extreme specialization; the disadvantage is their perspectives might be myopic. Ask yourself which is more important for your business objectives? You want a top cannabis PR firm that can provide content and insights into the industry, but is it also important that your strategy reflects audiences that aren’t specific to the cannabis industry? For example, if you’re looking to attract an untapped market of cannabis customers, then having a cannabis PR agency that has a broad perspective on consumer PR might be helpful. If you’re a cannabis B2B company, then you may want a PR agency that’s able to cross over into national media outlets, besides cannabis-focused publications for your cannabis business stories. A top cannabis PR firm should be able to review with you how your competitors are doing in the media and recommend some strategies to position your company based on your stated cannabis business goals. Ask your top cannabis PR agency: what advice do they have for a company at your stage of growth?

What Is Your PR Plan?

Every top PR cannabis agency has a distinct approach to achieving your business goals. It’s important for you to know whether that approach suits the rest of your overall strategy. Many PR firms provide you with a plan based on one or two conversations. But is that realistic? This is the exact reason Avaans Media offers a proprietary approach to working together. Ask us about our discovery process and what it means to your PR campaign.

Since 2015, Avaans Media is one of the top cannabis PR firms (previously Primo PR). We’re based in Los Angeles and we work with emerging industries like cannabis. If you’d like to ask US these questions, please reach out.

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What Does a Consumer PR Agency Do?

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With the abundance of information available online, consumers are more informed, and a single mistake can lead to a public relations disaster. Thus, to maintain a positive reputation, investing in a public relations agency may be helpful. These agencies can help manage the company’s image and prevent potential PR issues. So, if you’re considering hiring a PR agency for your consumer product, here’s your chance to learn more about what they do. Continue reading as we discuss DTC PR and CPG PR.

What is a Consumer PR Agency?

A consumer PR agency is a public relations firm specializing in consumer products or services. These agencies work with various clients, including retail companies, consumer goods manufacturers, and service providers, even app developers, intending to create a positive image for and increase sales by building consumer awareness and interest.

Types of Consumer PR Agencies

There are several types of consumer PR agencies, each with its own unique focus and approach:

  • Full-Service Agencies: These agencies offer a wide range of PR services, including media relations, event planning, and social media management. They typically work with clients in various industries and can handle all aspects of a company’s public relations needs.
  • Specialty Agencies: These agencies focus on specific areas of PR, such as crisis management, purpose driven PR, product launches, or sustainability. They may work with a range of clients within their area of expertise or specialize in serving a specific industry, such as automobile, construction, etc.
  • In-House Agencies: These agencies are not considered to be external agencies since they are owned and run by the corporation/organization that they represent. At the very least, they take care of their parent company’s public relations and communication requirements.
  • Boutique Agencies: These smaller, more specialized agencies often concentrate on serving a particular economy sector or audience, such as the cannabis industry or hyper-growth companies. They may only provide a limited variety of services but are very knowledgeable in that particular area/field.
  • Digital PR Agencies: Online public relations methods, such as social media management and influencer outreach, are the primary emphasis of digital PR agencies. They assist companies in developing and maintaining an online presence on the internet.
  • Integrated Agencies: These agencies provide PR services and a more comprehensive range of marketing and advertising solutions. They may take a comprehensive market and public relations approach while working with a diverse range of customers in different sectors.

Now that you know different agencies, know that no matter the type of support your company needs, there is an agency that can help you effectively manage your public image and reputation.

DTC PR vs. CPG PR vs. Consumer Tech PR

Your search for DTC PR vs. CPG PR ends here. Direct-to-consumer (DTC) PR and consumer packaged goods (CPG) PR are two types of public relations that focus on specific industries. DTC PR requires a special combination of media relations and digital savvy, while CPG PR requires a deep understanding of storytelling and consumer trends to differentiate brands. Consumer tech PR requires the ability to tell sometimes complicated and technical stories in a consumer-friendly way. 

The Role of a Consumer PR Agency

Consumer PR agencies take on a variety of functions for their clients. As the future is shaped and molded by technology, the roles will continue to evolve and change along with it. It’s incumbent on consumer PR agencies to stay plugged into trends and technologies that will change the day-to-day lives of consumers in the future. More importantly, though, consumer PR agencies need to have a deep knowledge of Google’s latest changes and how PR agencies can improve client SEO with premium product reviews. Consumer tech PR requires a digital forward approach. 

Reputation Management

The primary role of a consumer PR agency in reputation management is to safeguard and improve its client’s public image. This can be achieved through various tactics, such as monitoring the media for negative stories, managing a crisis to minimize damage, and proactively promoting the client’s positive image. Nevertheless, it is important for consumer PR agencies to prioritize their client’s reputations, as the success or failure of the client’s image can also impact the agency’s reputation.

Crisis Management

In the event of a scandal or other negative online or in-person publicity, or a product recall,  a company needs a team of skilled professionals who can help reduce harm and rebuild its reputation. Similarly, crisis management involves not only managing the aftermath of a crisis but also preventing it from occurring in the first place. Thus, the role of a PR agency is to work with its clients to prevent crises and use all of its resources to safeguard the client’s interests and manage the situation effectively.

Social Media

In the digital age, having a strong social media presence is crucial for all businesses to succeed. A consumer PR agency can assist in developing and implementing a successful social media and digital marketing strategy. They can monitor online conversations about a brand and address negative feedback before it worsens. A PR agency can also help increase your brand’s reach on social media and establish relationships with potential customers through promotional efforts.

Press Releases

The main goal of consumer PR agencies is to generate media coverage that creates a favorable public image for their clients. One way they do this is through press releases. A press release is a written statement provided to the media to generate news coverage, usually containing information about an exciting event, product launch, or other newsworthy technologies. Simply put, they collaborate with the clients to develop effective press releases that attract the attention of reporters and editors.

Media Relations

An effective media relations strategy can create positive press coverage to increase awareness, credibility, and potential leads. Thus, every competent consumer PR agency specializes in specific industries and has established relationships with important media members, such as directors, writers, and editors of famous magazines. They are knowledgeable enough to recognize journalists who cover the clients’ industries and pitch story ideas that interest the targeted audience.

Internal Communications

In today’s digital age, where anything can be shared or “leaked” publicly, businesses need to have strong, well-crafted internal and external communications. Consumer PR agencies not only help clients write speeches and develop internal communications, but they also ensure that these materials are well-written and effective. This includes ensuring that the language is clear, concise, and free of grammar mistakes and that the message is persuasively conveyed through storytelling techniques.

Event Planning

When a client is hosting an event that media members will attend, PR agencies often take on the role of an event planner. The goal is to make sure the event goes smoothly and presents the client in a positive light. To accomplish this, PR agencies handle all aspects of event planning, including booking venues, organizing press conferences, and coordinating travel and lodging for attendees. The PR agency may also use its marketing team to create content for the event before launch.

Market Research

Conducting market research is an essential element of any successful PR campaign. By thoroughly understanding the target audience, PR agencies create messaging that resonates with them and reaches through channels where they are most likely to encounter it. However, to develop an effective strategy, agencies invest their time and resources into market research to understand the needs and preferences of the target audience, enabling them to create relevant content.

Content Writing

PR agencies typically have experienced writers who can create compelling messaging that accurately reflects the brand’s essence. These writers are skilled at crafting captivating headlines and writing persuasive body copy. In addition to developing written content, a PR agency and its marketing team help generate ideas for creative marketing materials such as infographics and white papers. These materials can be useful for telling the brand’s story and engaging with its target audience.

Outreach

PR agencies work to establish beneficial relationships with media outlets and influencers to promote their clients’ messages to the public. The first step in this process is identifying the target audience and creating messaging that will appeal to them. Once the message is developed, the agency aims to get it in front of as many individuals as possible through paid advertising, earned media placements, and social media. By getting the message out to a wide audience, the agency’s goal is nearly achieved.

Media Training

Interacting with the press can be a daunting and challenging experience, even for those accustomed to the spotlight. Therefore, consumer PR agencies work with their clients to ensure they are prepared to handle any questions from the media. This may involve conducting role-playing exercises to help the client practice responding effectively and positively to various scenarios. The agency also guides what to say and what to avoid saying to the press to prevent potential PR disasters.

Influencer Management

Influencer management can be a powerful tool for a brand, allowing it to tap into the influence and reach of key individuals to promote its message and reach its goals, and this can only be done effectively through a consumer PR agency. It involves identifying, engaging with, and working with individuals who can influence public opinion and drive action. An effective influencer management strategy can help a brand reach its target audience and create long-term customer relationships.

How to Create a Consumer PR Strategy?

Don’t have the budget to hire a consumer PR agency? Don’t worry; you can make a strategy by yourself. All you need to do is follow these steps to the very end, and you’re good to go.

  • Define Your Target Audience: Who are you trying to reach with your PR efforts? Clearly defining your target audience will help guide all other aspects of your strategy.
  • Determine Your Objectives: Ask yourself: what do you hope to achieve with your PR campaign? Your objectives should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound.
  • Identify Key Messages: What do you want your target audience to know or think about your brand? Identify the key messages and ensure they are consistent with your brand’s image.
  • Choose Appropriate Tactics: Based on your target audience and objectives, determine the tactics that will be most effective for reaching and engaging them. These might include press releases, media relations, social media, events, influencer partnerships, or content marketing.
  • Create a Timeline: Develop a timeline for executing your tactics and consider how you will measure the success of your campaign (you can also invest in online tools to keep s track).
  • Implement and Monitor: Put your PR strategy into action and track its progress. Monitor the results and make any necessary adjustments to ensure that you meet your objectives.

Wrapping Up – What Does a Consumer PR Agency Do

One of the main tasks of a consumer PR agency is media relations. This involves building relationships with journalists, bloggers, and other media influencers and pitching story ideas to them to secure client coverage. At the very least, this can include distributing press releases, organizing media events and interviews, and providing background information and research to journalists.

Another important function of consumer electronics PR is social media management. This involves creating and managing the client’s social media accounts, developing strategies and campaigns, and engaging with followers and influencers. Moreover, PR agencies may also create and distribute content, such as blog posts, infographics, and videos, to promote the client’s products or services.

Overall, the role of a consumer PR agency is to help its clients build and maintain a positive image and increase sales by promoting their products or services to consumers through a variety of methods, including media relations, social media management, event planning, sponsorship, and market research. By effectively communicating the client’s message and building relationships with key influencers and media outlets, a consumer PR agency can help its clients achieve their goals.

Finally, this brings us to the end of this blog; now it’s time to hear from you. Questions or comments? Or maybe there’s something we missed? Either way, feel free to contact us. 

 

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