Launching your public relations strategy would be amazing. Sit back, relax, sip on a glass of wine, and watch the results pouring in. But, sadly, that will never happen.

Every brand must learn to develop a PR strategy that delivers results. However, not every organization knows how to do this the right way. In this post, I’ll walk you through creating a strategic PR strategy for your business. I’ll start by laying out your media relations goals and objectives, developing critical messaging, and identifying your target audience. Finally, we’ll outline some tips for implementing your public relations plan and improving your PR media strategy.

What is a PR Strategy?

Before diving into public relations strategies, defining PR for those new to the industry is important. A public relations (PR) strategy is a planned, proactive approach to managing and controlling a brand’s reputation and perception. It involves developing positive relationships with media, stakeholders, and the general public through strategic messaging and communication tactics.

The primary objectives of a PR strategy are to:

• Build brand awareness and favorable visibility through earned media placements and audience engagement.
• Establish thought leadership and credibility by positioning company spokespeople as trusted industry experts.
• Promote positive brand narratives and strategic messaging across owned, earned, and social channels.
• Monitor public opinion of the brand and address issues or controversies with appropriate responses.
• Develop and protect the brand’s reputation and relationships with key audiences.

While the goal is to garner positive coverage, preparing for negative press is also critical. An effective PR strategy considers potential risks and crises, outlines quick response processes, and mitigates damages. This crisis readiness is just as important as promotion — a strong PR strategy balances proactive offense and vigilant defense.

A comprehensive PR plan requires in-depth research, clear goals, audience understanding, stakeholder mapping, crisis preparation, metrics/tracking, and adaptable strategies to meet evolving needs. With smart PR foundations, brands can build goodwill, trust, and lasting connections vital for long-term success.

The folks at Easy Marketing produce these really simple videos that can help make sense of PR strategy.

Public Relations vs. Marketing

Brands use public relations and marketing strategies to promote their products and services. Public relations is more about the general philosophy and approach for communicating company and business values to various stakeholders. A PR strategy enables brands to reach their target audience using key messages and PR tactics. Marketing is more about customer acquisition and retention. However, having strong public relations and marketing are equally important and should always work together. Many PR pros are using the PESO model for public relations, which helps ensure that communications and marketing are integrated and working together.

Public relations is a strategic communication process that builds mutually beneficial relationships between brands and their publics. It manages brand reputation by influencing opinion and perception through earned media, word-of-mouth, events, and other communications tactics. A core component is cultivating strong relationships with media, influencers, and other key stakeholders to grow brand awareness and shape positive narratives about the business.

In contrast, marketing deals with promoting products, services and ideas through paid advertising and customer engagement strategies. It utilizes channels like social media, email, digital ads, content, and influencer partnerships to reach and convert potential customers. While PR and marketing have distinct approaches, they share the goal of brand visibility and should be tightly aligned for maximum impact.

An integrated strategy ensures that PR and marketing efforts work synergistically to expand reach, drive engagement, and acquire and retain customers. PR provides credibility and reputation management, while marketing activates conversations and conversions. Blending earned, owned, social, and paid (PESO model) allows brands to coordinate messaging across channels and deliver consistent experiences that resonate. With team alignment, PR and marketing combine to pack a powerful punch.

Public Relations Explained

Marketing Explained

The 4 Pillars for Building a Strategic PR Strategy

Four critical things must be done to make any public relations program deliver results–data, storytelling, agility, and distribution.

1. Data-driven Storytelling is the Only Option

When I say “only option,” I mean it’s the “only option” to ensure your media strategy and campaigns can deliver against your business goals. Otherwise, you will do what most PR people do, hoping for the best.

For context, when I talk about data-driven storytelling, I am talking more about data and analytics used to inform a PR strategy versus measuring the results. Don’t get me wrong, PR measurement is essential, but it’s not necessarily a building block of a good PR campaign strategy.

A smart and strategic PR strategy will start with a media coverage analysis. This analysis will help define which media outlets should be prioritized to gain exposure based on the volume of coverage about an industry, topic, or narrative on various media channels. You could also cross-reference reader engagement at the media outlet level to understand whether those stories resonate with the target audience. Finally, you can layer on the reach of each media publication to better understand potential impressions.

Data in this context can also uncover the top journalists writing about various topics, including their specific volume of coverage, engagement on their articles, and reach of their personal social media profiles.

Lastly, you can use data to uncover hidden narratives from an extensive data set of media publications or just one media outlet. With text or network analysis, you can understand the context of stories and specific coverage.

For example, if you are researching which media publications are writing about cloud security, an analysis like this can uncover the actual “cloud security” topics that are being written about the most (e.g., scale cloud, cloud migration, AI, firewall). This media intelligence can help shape a PR campaign strategy, brand messaging, and even pitch emails.

2. The Lost Art of Brand Storytelling

The problem with many companies is that they don’t have any stories to pitch to the media. They think a product launch or hiring a new CEO is “newsworthy.” It’s not. Pitching interesting story ideas is excellent as long as they fit into a larger narrative relevant to the media.

However, a savvy PR pro should frame a product launch story within a larger industry narrative in which the media will be interested. So, again, data analysis is essential because you can uncover those hidden narratives that are already relevant to what the media is writing about and frame your pitches accordingly.

Storytelling isn’t all about math. It’s a strategic framework that aligns a brand narrative with core topics and themes and then clearly documents a messaging strategy that isn’t all about the company. Remember, it has to fit into a larger construct so that the media can understand how your product or service is helping the industry move forward or solve a particular business problem.

It’s also critical that your PR strategist has the “gift of gab.” So they can talk, persuade, and influence others through written and verbal communication.

3. Being Agile Like a Newsroom

A traditional newsroom moves fast. First, everyone is “guns blazing” when a story breaks to ensure they are on the scene and ready to report. Then, the reporter, editor, producer, and creative team are either on location or producing the “breaking news” segment back in the newsroom. It’s a well-oiled machine.

Brands need to operate in the same way. Years ago, there was a term that many industry pundits used to describe this brand movement. It was either “brand as publisher” or “brand as a media company,” but it means the same thing. So, in 2013, I wrote a book called “Your Brand: The Next Media Company,” a blueprint that enterprise brands could use to transform their marketing and communications teams to operationalize their brand storytelling.

The industry doesn’t talk much about this anymore, but it’s still a critical shift that needs to happen within PR and communications teams. The media doesn’t just wait around for companies to pitch them stories. They are always hunting.

Real-time listening to the media, journalists, and reporters is one way that brands can get ahead and insert themselves into relevant stories because the state of media today is shifting. But they have to be agile to do so.

4. Surround Sound Target Audiences with Content Distribution

It saddens me to hear a PR person say, “Oh, we don’t do paid media. It’s not a part of our public relations plan. We’re the PR team, so earned coverage is all we do.”

This is not the right way to think about a PR campaign strategy. Public relations aims to increase brand reputation and change perceptions and behaviors. You can’t do that by writing a press release, distributing it through a wire service, and calling it a day.

There are several tactics that PR teams can use to distribute content into the marketplace, but I’ll highlight a few. For example, instead of writing a press release, I would do the following:

This approach isn’t as straightforward as I am making it out to be. First, thinking through all the social media channels, key messages, and PR objectives takes time. Second, it takes effort to create different versions of content that should be tailored to fit into the construct of each channel. Third, planning using content collaboration platforms and research for each PR tactic takes place. Planning for successful PR strategies isn’t a task that should be done quickly.

The Basics of Public Relations Strategies and Tactics

There’s a lot that goes into strategies in public relations. Here’s a glance at what you can expect.

PR Strategies At-A-Glance

Identify the Target Audience

Public relations strategies and tactics always begin with understanding an audience. Conduct in-depth research to build detailed buyer personas identifying demographic and psychographic profiles. Map which media channels and publications your brand personas actively engage with. Uncover their values, priorities, pain points, and decision motivators.

These insights allow for tailored messaging that genuinely resonates. Ensure pitches and narratives align with personas’ worldviews when launching an earned media campaign. Consistently assess analytics to see how messaging performs with each segment and optimize accordingly. Audiences differ – one size does not fit all.

Establish the Right Goals

Defining specific, measurable goals directs PR programs and aligns efforts to business objectives. If managing a crisis, the goal may be straightforward – minimize reputational damage. But most campaigns have multiple goals to address.

Potential goals include driving brand awareness, increasing favorability, securing Tier 1 media placements, promoting thought leadership, generating leads, recruiting talent, supporting policy issues, and more. Document overarching goals upfront, then develop SMART objectives defining how to achieve each.

Continuously track performance on goals, and be ready to course correct if needed. Having clear goals also allows for post-campaign impact analysis to inform future strategies. Outcomes are never guaranteed, but well-defined goals put PR plans on the optimal path.

Develop The Core Message

The core message sits at the heart of brand communications. It encapsulates the central idea a company wants to convey to its audience. The core message expresses a brand’s essence — the most important value to highlight or the defining trait that sets it apart.

An effective core message should be clear and concise yet impactful. It must resonate with target audiences by aligning with their needs, interests, and aspirations. Messaging is about the words used and the style and tone embodied. The core message should reflect a brand’s personality and voice.

While many aspects of branding require creativity, data should inform core message development. Smart brands research and analyze customer feedback to identify the issues, trends, and topics that matter most to their audience. These insights ensure the core message effectively speaks to the audience’s concerns. Data helps brands anchor creative expression in strategy.

The end goal is a focused, memorable message that communicates the brand’s identity and purpose. Consistent reinforcement across all touchpoints is crucial. When aligned with audience insights, a compelling core message provides the strategic foundation for impactful communications.

Narrative Development & Messaging Goals

Messaging goals provide strategic direction when developing communications. They are the specific objectives a brand wants to achieve through its narratives and storytelling. Establishing clear goals guides the creation of supportive key messages and ensures communications remain focused.

One messaging goal may be conveying a certain brand positioning or perspective. For example, a company launching an innovative new product might aim to highlight its advanced features and customer value proposition. This guides the crafting of messages centered on that unique angle.

Another goal could be reinforcing the core brand narrative itself. Tactics like repeating messages across channels, using memorable phrasing, or adding supporting facts can help achieve message memorability and persuasion.

Supplementary key messages are crucial in accomplishing goals by bolstering the core brand story. These may include anecdotes, statistics, or case studies that make messages relatable while underscoring the main points.

Ultimately, messaging goals should align with business objectives, be realistic yet ambitious, and remain nimble. As circumstances or audience needs to evolve, PR pros must adapt goals and messages accordingly. Compelling narratives can powerfully convey brand stories and drive results when grounded in strategy.

Strategic Media Relations

Media relations sit at the core of impactful PR strategies and tactics. Identifying and prioritizing target media outlets where high-value coverage aligns with brand objectives is essential. Rather than defaulting to prestige publications, smart PR prioritizes outlets reaching specific target demographics.

Conduct audience research to determine which mediums and journalists your personas actively engage with. Partner with PR agencies with existing relationships with these targets to ease outreach efforts. Pitch strategically across multiple factors – not just vanity placements.

Securing earned media hits is a long game relying on relationship building. Consistently engage reporters with compelling story angles tied to newsworthy trends. Be a trusted resource, not a passive promoter. Build authentic connections to become a reliable first call for commentary and exclusives.

Influencer Marketing

Influencer relations focuses on cultivating select individuals as brand advocates to expand reach. It involves developing organic relationships with influencers and providing value to them as strategic partners. The goal is to create powerful connections that drive authentic influence.

Influencer marketing is more transactional, paying influencers to create branded social content for broader campaigns. Both tactics require market analysis to identify influencers who engage your audiences. Tailor outreach and build lasting relationships.

Earned Media Measurement

A strategic measurement framework is crucial for assessing PR impact. Look beyond generalized metrics like reach and impressions to directly connect activities to business goals. Survey target audiences exposed to messaging to gauge shifts in awareness, favorability, and intent.

Consider the impact on lead generation, recruitment, legislative policies, and other areas of PR contributes. Conduct competitive analysis to benchmark share of voice and sentiment. Measure how narratives spread across earned, owned, and shared channels over time.

Robust analytics inform optimization, but meaningful measurement requires a customized portfolio approach based on initial campaign objectives.

SEO Visibility

Gaining visibility through search engines provides lasting returns. Creating long-form, evergreen content on owned sites allows brands to rank for relevant keywords organically. This facilitates discovery beyond temporary PR wins.

Optimizing content for SEO builds permanent equity. Integrate media coverage and influencer content to multiply search visibility. Study analytics to identify high-performing topics and gaps. Adopt an always-on content mentality spanning public relations strategies and tactics.

PR Software

Hundreds of tools now exist to support PR efforts. Leaders like Cision and Meltwater offer robust media monitoring capabilities. But many options beyond these giants can meet specialized needs. Evaluate providers based on features like analytics, targeting, relationship mapping, and monitoring scope. Weigh costs against potential benefits. Partner with the provider(s) whose platform best equips your team to execute strategies efficiently.

Collaboration

PR teams must avoid operating in silos in today’s complex media landscape. Actively collaborate across marketing departments to unlock synergies from united efforts. A rising tide raises all boats – the collective impact is greater when teams row together. Break down walls and bridge gaps through open communication, knowledge sharing, and relationship building. Shared goals, coordinated campaigns, and combined insights strengthen overall PR performance.

Crisis Management

Crises are inevitable – proactive preparation is mandatory. Every PR strategy must incorporate crisis plans outlining rapid response protocols, designated spokespeople, holding statements, scenarios, and simulations. When a crisis strikes, speed is paramount. Have teams ready to strategically engage media, control the narrative, and provide key facts and updates. Liaising with legal and leadership teams is crucial. The immediate response can determine long-term reputation impact. Plan thoroughly for the unexpected – and stay ready to act.

Timelines

PR campaigns require defined timelines to maintain momentum and drive results. However, adaptability is equally important in the dynamic media landscape. Leave room to pivot and capitalize on real-time trends or insert brands into breaking news stories. Adhere to deadlines for core strategies but remain nimble to respond to opportunities as they arise. Communicate timeframes across teams and agencies, but recognize PR requires a hybrid model balancing structure with fluidity to get ahead.

Budget

A PR budget must account for many line items like staffing, agencies, software, events, and awards submissions. While PR focuses on “earned” media, programs still require investment. Determine costs for executing strategies, monitoring coverage, expanding capabilities, and proving value. Make data-driven decisions on resource allocation. Weigh trade-offs to maximize impact for every dollar spent. Budget realistically for execution while demonstrating efficiency, optimization, and return on investment.

Final Thoughts: Data-Driven PR Strategy

Integrating data and analytics into public relations will help you go from “hoping” to “knowing” that your PR strategy will make an impact and deliver results. First, it will give you the insights to push back to your CEO when they ask for coverage in the New York Times. It will help you prioritize your PR strategy to focus only on the top business media outlets that deliver business value. Finally, it will help fine-tune your messaging to ensure it aligns with the media narrative.

Data will make you look like a media rockstar when you present your PR media strategy at the next QBR and show all the fantastic coverage and results.

Building a data-driven PR strategy takes time. It requires strategy alignment, stellar execution, and a solid measurement approach. I hope you enjoyed this content. I do my best to create actionable content and provide value to the work you do. For reference, we put together this influencer marketing eBook to help you identify new ways to integrate influencers into your PR strategy.

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