Remember the stress of writing the ideal pitch only to realize that the writer you targeted doesn’t cover your niche or hasn’t written an article in months? PR list applications can feel like a necessary evil, a time-consuming task with an unclear outcome. But what if I told you there is a method to turn your PR list applications into strategic networking opportunities?
Let’s look at the untapped potential of a PR list application to change you from a pitching beginner to a journalist-pitcher, enhancing your chances of acquiring that desired media placement.
What are PR Lists?
For those who don’t know, PR stands for public relations. This is managing relationships and communicating information from a brand or individual to the general audience. The primary goal of PR is to establish and maintain the ideal brand image.
PR lists are typically made up of prominent figures, celebrities, and influencers whom firms contact for assistance with their PR or marketing. When marketers send new products to influencers to test in YouTube videos, this is an excellent example of how PR lists work.
PR lists are often produced by invitations, however some corporations may enable members of the public to provide their information in the hopes of making the list. This completely depends on the size of the organization! A company’s PR lists may additionally have levels that indicate how many products are sent to specific influencers.
As a PR Specialist at Lamphills, I’ve seen several entrepreneurs and marketing professionals struggle with PR lists. A recent research by Cision indicated that over 60% of journalists receive more than 50 pitches each day. An effective PR list application can help you stand out from the crowd and gain significant media attention. So here I’ll be sharing some useful tips on how to make an application for a PR list.
Key Takeaways
- PR list applications provide critical insights that help public relations professionals identify the best times and methods to engage with journalists, significantly increasing the likelihood of media placement.
- While PR list applications are often seen merely as contact management tools, their real value lies in the strategic insights they offer—such as journalist behaviors and preferences—that go beyond mere list-keeping.
- The use of templates within PR list applications not only saves time but also ensures that communications are consistently professional and aligned with strategic objectives, making these tools indispensable for modern PR operations.
Tips on How to Create a PR List Application
If you’re a new influencer who doesn’t know how to maximize your potential, this is the section you’ve been waiting for: all you need to know about being on a brand’s PR list.
Here are some strategies to help you get on a PR list:
#1. Build a strong following
Building your following is the best place to begin. While you don’t need the strongest online presence to create social media content, you do need a somewhat strong presence to capture a brand’s attention.
What marketers genuinely want nowadays is someone who has a high level of engagement, as engagement increases the likelihood that consumers will notice and remember the brand.
To grow a strong following, you must establish and maintain a personality on your page, especially if you are in a highly competitive area. Establishing a solid profile entails demonstrating your knowledge and developing a distinctive approach to your material that makes it enjoyable, engaging, and memorable.
#2. Show brand loyalty
One of the most straightforward strategies to acquire PR packages is to demonstrate your brand devotion.
If a brand looks through your social media posts and notices that you mention them organically, they will be more likely to trust you and know that you are aligned. While this may require more effort, it is a simple method to establish a relationship with a brand. And, normally, you’d only rave about a brand or product if you loved it and used it regularly, so make sure you express your enthusiasm to your audience, and you might win a deal with a company you adore.
Targeting the brands you use is a critical component of being on a PR list. Using this strategy can increase the visibility of your material while also adding it to their PR list. For example, if you use skincare products, identify your favorite brand whenever you use them.
#3. Approach smaller businesses
People frequently make the same mistake when attempting to get on a PR list: they exclusively approach well-known brands. For the most part, starting with the top brands does not always work. It’s difficult to catch a big brand’s attention because they’ll already be working with influencers or looking for producers with a large following.
Start by targeting small businesses. Small firms or those just starting to start rarely have the finances to hire a full-fledged public relations staff, even though most organizations recognize the value of excellent PR.
Many small businesses regard handing out free samples as a low-cost approach to boost their industry presence. Influencers who approach small firms should always focus on companies in their industry, understand the company’s goals, use their goods, and use engagement rates to show possible benefits.
#4. Do your research
Once you’ve identified a brand that intrigues you, conduct considerable research before approaching them. Find influencers and other people who mention the brand you’re interested in, and learn what they have in common.
Pay special attention to the quality of the photographs or videos they publish, how frequently they mention the business, the size of their following, the material they produce, and the level of engagement they receive.
It’s also good to keep a list of similar brands to approach in case your target brand doesn’t bite.
#5. Create engaging contents
Social media platforms are crowded with people all attempting to do the same thing, and what distinguishes influencers is the quality of their content. Quality is a huge part of PR! If your social media profile produces low-quality content, brands will be much less likely to include you on their PR list and give you things.
For example, if you want to cover things that rely heavily on their appearance to sell, you must create high-quality images that show products exactly as they seem in real life. However, it is not just about photographs and videos; the material must also be of good quality. Try to create content that is engaging, fun, distinctive, and educational.
It also helps to use music that is popular and memorable; why not try some mainstream music by well-known artists? When you become known for using great music, you will increase your following, make your content more interesting, and eventually win over both brands and viewers!
#6. Approach the PR team
Most organizations have dedicated PR teams and managers that handle all of the heavy lifting in this area. Approaching the PR staff is another technique to be on a brand’s PR list, but proceed with caution.
If you have the means and expertise, contact corporations and PR agencies to suggest a PR listing. When employing this strategy, try not to come across as overly intense or as if you’re doing the brand a favor, since this may be incredibly offputting.
PR teams are often well-versed in the intricacies of social media and understand how to calculate the return on investment of influencer marketing. Show them your engagement data and explain your social media plan and how it will benefit them.
#7. Keep your content relevant
If your material isn’t relevant to a brand’s products or vision, they won’t see how collaborating with you might benefit them.
Stay up to date on the brand’s latest items and develop industry trends. If you share things from last year’s collection, make sure you offer value and use a relevant angle, such as comparing last year’s collection to the current one.
The Journalist’s Value Matrix
Early in my career, I applied to every PR list that came my way, pestering journalists with generic pitches. My response rate? Abysmal. Journalists were inundated with unnecessary requests, and my brand messaging became buried in the digital chaos.
This prompted me to create the Journalist Value Matrix. This methodology allows us to research journalist preferences and create pitches that show a thorough awareness of their beat and target audience.
Here’s the breakdown:
- Journalists Research: Consider a journalist’s most recent pieces, areas of expertise, and preferred pitch mediums (email, social media outreach, etc.).
- Content Alignment: Emphasize how your narrative or expertise directly relates to a journalist’s current coverage or upcoming editorial themes.
- Value Proposition: Clearly define the actual benefit your story provides to the journalist’s audience (for example, exclusive insights, data-driven trends, or unique interview possibilities).
Using the Journalist Value Matrix, you may create PR list applications that go beyond self-promotion. You portray yourself as a valued resource for the writer, enhancing your chances of starting a genuine conversation and getting media coverage. You can download the template below.
Assume you’re a sustainability specialist releasing a new study on environmentally responsible business methods. A basic application that highlights your report may be buried. A more effective strategy would be to send a tailored email noting a recent story the journalist published on the subject, recommending your research as a supplementary resource, and emphasizing specific data points important to their readership.
Effective PR list applications include more than just following a template. They’re out there exhibiting your awareness of the journalist’s demands and delivering them something useful.
When Should You Post About PR Samples?
Posting PR samples is largely determined by one of two factors: your relationship with a brand or your social media endeavors. If you have a brand contract, they may provide special posting requirements. However, if you have been sent PR samples, you are not required to post about them.
If you receive PR materials without requesting them, you can include them in your general schedule. However, if the product is still in development or has recently been introduced, it is in your best interests to post as quickly as possible to capitalize on the potential hype!
What Does a Public Relations Agency Do?
PR firms utilize a variety of communication tools to manage a brand’s reputation. People frequently confuse public relations firms with advertising firms, but they are not the same. PR firms concentrate on a brand’s reputation, whereas advertising firms develop activities to boost sales.
What is a Media List?
Media lists, often known as press lists or media contact lists, share many similarities with public relations lists. The list includes media contacts, journalists, bloggers, and influencers.
The distinction between media lists and PR lists is that media lists are typically used to compile a list of relevant individuals to whom a corporation can send a press release or story.
How Many Followers Do I Need To Get a Public Relations Package?
There is no definitive answer to how many followers you need to receive a PR package, as different brands have different requirements. Typically, it is determined by your niche, its size, and the influencers inside it.
To be considered a micro-influencer, you should always have at least 1,000 followers. But this differs by niche. Always undertake niche-specific research before attempting to be on a PR list!
Conclusion
In today’s fast-paced media landscape, a PR list application is important. It turns chaos into order, intuition into strategy, and effort into results. At Lamphills, using this tool has not only increased productivity but also broadened our understanding of media dynamics across industries. Adopting a PR list application is a step toward not only keeping up, but also staying ahead of the competition.
So, are you ready to use digital tools to transform your public relations issues into opportunities?
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- 7 Effective PR Strategies & How to Create One in 2024 (+ Template)
- The Best 10 Digital PR Services According to Research 2024 (Updated)
- PR BUSINESS: Shaping Perceptions and Building Brands Through Public Relations (The People’s Voice)
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