Tag: Sydney PR

COVID media coverage shrinks so what’s the story now?

Leave a comment

As reported in AdNews*, COVID-19 news coverage has been declining for the first time in nearly 3 months due to US protests, the return of NRL and impending start of AFL, so what will the story be in a week or so’s time?

The answer?

It could be YOUR business... Why shouldn’t it?

If you’ve pivoted, if you’ve changed direction completely, found a niche in your community or reached a milestone, this is the time to let the media know.

We’re entering yet another phase of the recovery process and as such, positive stories are in hot demand.

Especially those stories that can illustrate a direct connection between Government initiatives.

Why?

Because it boosts morale and it creates a sense of positivity within the community something that we all need right now.

So where do you start?

Just start thinking about the positives for your business, jot them down.

Have you been able to stay open? Have you hired extra staff? Are you starting that small business you always dreamed of starting? Have you created a product or service that’s really meeting the needs of your community?

Now you have your positive points down, I want you to think about what it took for you to get there.

Was it years of business experience? Perhaps it happened overnight?

With these two starting points I can assist your business secure the media exposure it deserves.

Now, finally, I want you click here and email us. Pop those points in the email and I will be in touch with the best media outlets to contact with your story.

 

-Brooke Simmons, Founder Pursuit Communications

 

 

 

 

 

 

*Story here

What the media needs from you now!

Leave a comment

The last few weeks I’ve been reaching out to a variety of media contacts across a variety of platforms.

Aside from checking-in with these very valuable associates, I’ve been asking what stories they’re currently working on and will be looking to create in the immediate future.

So, why am I sharing this with you?

Because NOW, more than ever is the time to have your story shared with the media.

Media exposure for your business builds credibility, brand awareness and can assist with sales.

So, to find out what the media are looking for now, I’ve created a free downloadable document.

To download your copy click here. 

Have a read, then get in touch and let us know how we can help your business communicate its message to our media contacts, who are waiting to help your business secure the coverage it deserves.

 

Instagram Shopping – A new feature

Leave a comment

We know you’ve been able to “shop” via Instagram for a while now, but the ability to set up a shop via Instagram is now available (for those that sell physical goods at least!)

There are several boxes you need to tick before you can set up shop, so to speak, including having a linked Facebook page and ensuring your Instagram account is a business account and not a personal account. To read the other requirements click here. 

So, what does this mean for the marketplace?

Well, Facebook /Instagram Shops will also allow small businesses to sell products through Instagram Direct, WhatsApp, and Messenger, and tag products during live broadcasts! Talk about engaging directly with your customers!

Shops are free and easy to create and, most importantly, they’re integrated across Facebook’s many apps, meaning once you’ve set up your shop, it’s going to be available on your Facebook Page and your Instagram profile (and accessible from stories and ads).

It’s the perfect tool for businesses to pivot online, and during a time when that’s needed more than ever, Facebook /Instagram have delivered a solution that helps.

The good news? It’s available in Australia right now, to see where else the service is available, click here.

If you’d like assistance setting up your shop, content for your social media or any other PR or social media service, please get in touch.

 

 

Now more than ever we need to communicate

Leave a comment

I’ve blogged in the past about the importance of saying “thank you” and whenever I meet a potential client (or an exisiting one) we discuss the importance of a variety of communications channels to get their message across to the public.

In this time of COVID-19, NOW more than ever we need to communicate. Staying silent isn’t an option.

That’s not to say that you should be “taking up airspace” online for the sake of it. What you’re saying needs to be planned, it needs to be considerate of your customers and their needs /wants and ultimately it needs to be informative.

Now’s the time to consider an auto-reply in your inbox, stating if you’re operating to regular hours or have adjusted your schedule due to the conditions. You’ll also want to share updates on your social media pages, including the best way customers can reach you.

You should communicate to your customers, suppliers and business contacts any changes to your operating hours and letting them know of any new services /products you have. Communication is key, you never know who you know who might need something your have in stock or that you provide as a service.

Finally, now’s the time to consider updating your header images for your social media pages. Something that summarises your hours (perhaps text overlayed on an image of your product or a relevant image relating to your services).

If Pursuit Communications can be of assistance to help you communicate your new offerings to the media (and generate hype and awareness through media exposure) then get in touch TODAY.

Three things you can do before Christmas

Leave a comment

It’s little over a month until Christmas Day… You may be thinking, “What else can I do to capitalise on the Christmas rush?”, or you may be thinking – “Eeep, I’ve left it too late, what can I do?”

Never fear… we have three easy to achieve activities for you to get some cut-though before the big day!

ONE: Thank your customers for their patronage this year. If you’re an online store, send a discount code to your email database as a token of gratitude.

Keep your message festive, short, sharp and ensure you include any terms and conditions with your discount code. Now is NOT the time you want to get caught up in any legal matters.

TWO: If you have a bricks and mortar store, have candy canes at reception or at the service counter for your customers. You may also want to reward your customers who visit in December with complimentary services or bonus items.

THREE: Keep in mind people’s budgets. If you’re noticing a lack in sales, don’t panic. Remember there’s always the January sales period, start thinking about what discounts you can offer (now’s a good time to get a head start on stocktake).

If sales are exceeding expectations, why not tell your local press? Get the word out there about what you’ve achieved.

BONUS: Why not offer a percentage of profits to farmers in need or a local charity? You’ll be able to promote your donation once you’ve finalised the total. Think about a cause that’s close to your heart and get started now.

Thinking outside the box for success

Leave a comment

If you’ve found this post via our Instagram, you’ll know that Pursuit Communications has been working with Generator Property Management for a number of years now.

Generator Property Management is the caretaker of the former Munmorah Power Station site on the NSW Central Coast.

Pursuit’s tasks include traditional PR services, issues management advice and services and general media /consultative advice.

The project has been an eye-opening experience and one that the Pursuit team has loved working on.

images-2

Through this project, we’ve been able to work with a team that are industry leaders and share our own expertise to achieve some pretty unreal results.

As an example; one of the last demolition activities saw the news story go NATIONAL. The video footage was provided to television stations in Sydney. The story was aired on all commercial television networks news bulletins the evening of the event. Exceeding our client’s goals.

Pursuit actively monitors the media across a variety of topics for our client so they’re more than aware of what’s happening in the media landscape within their industry.

If you’d like to have a chat about your business and how Pursuit can assist, shoot us an email.

We work within your budgets, tell you what’s achievable and create a plan to not only achieve your goals, but we work hard to exceed them!

Send us a message now. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Image: Photo by Ian Schneider on Unsplash

Our courses have arrived…

Leave a comment

Back in February I said two courses were on the way… well… they were.

Now I’m excited to share, that they’re here. There’s no point mucking around. I’ve created the course content and I’m ready to share what I know with YOU to make your business PR goals a reality.

I won’t rehash the summaries of the beginners course or the intermediate course click here for details, including minimum numbers required to proceed, and to register your interest.

What I will say is that these courses are designed for *anyone* you may have some preliminary PR knowledge and want to brush up on some of the basics. If you’re interested in taking that next step with your PR goals then the intermediate course will be a perfect fit for you.

If you’re a sole-trader, an employee of a medium sized business, or a large corporate – no matter where you are on your career path, you’re welcome to attend!

Plus at the end of both classes you’ll have the opportunity to network with the other attendees and hopefully build some long-lasting connections.

I’m really looking forward to connecting with you and sharing my knowledge to help you achieve your PR goals.

Two PR Courses coming SOON!

Leave a comment

If you’ve been following us over on Instagram, then you may have heard that I’m launching not one but TWO – yes TWO PR courses in 2019.

Why?

Because I have a tonne of knowledge and want to share it. Simple as that. If I can help you with your PR activities, then fan-bloody-tastic.

So, what will the courses look like? Well, I’m glad you asked!

There will be a course for beginners, this is for those of you no PR experience whatsoever. Don’t know the definition of PR? Awesome! Don’t know the difference between PR, advertising and marketing? Sit right down.

The beginner’s course will cover the basics of PR and give you that very gentle nudge to start you on your PR adventure.

The second course is set at an intermediate level. So you may have dabbled in PR either with an agency, or by yourself, but the results have been… how can we put this gently… Lackluster? Shambolic? A right mess? Then pull up a chair, because we’ll cover some of the common areas where mistakes can (and often are made). We’ll also dissect a media release in the course to get you ready and raring.

I’m currently putting the finishing touches on both courses.

The beauty of both courses is that they’ll be available face-to-face in solo sessions and groups AND online for individuals and groups!

So, if you’re interested in either course I’m encouraging you to sign up to the relevant mailing list.

Why? Well if you do so now, you’ll receive an early-bird discount and all the details before ANYONE ELSE.

So if you’re interested in the beginner’s course SIGN UP HERE

If you’re interested in the intermediate course SIGN UP HERE

Looking forward to sharing details with you soon!

An intern’s perspective

Leave a comment

As we look for a new Intern (click here more details about applying!), we’ve asked Jordyn Rankin our most recent Intern, to reflect on her experience.

 

So Jordyn, what did you expect from your internship & what was the reality of your internship experience?

I honestly didn’t know what to expect from interning with Pursuit Communications, I guess that’s because this was my first ever intern experience. So, I went into this with an open mind and an eagerness to learn, even though I knew it would be challenging, yet it would also be very valuable for my future in the PR industry.  

The PR industry is definitely portrayed in a glamorous light and I thought that I would step into this internship with an abundance of knowledge from everything I have learned at University so far. I was quick to realise that a lot of what we are taught in the classroom plays only a small part in this fast-paced industry.

Jordyn, under 100 words – describe your interning experience… 

The reality of my experience, over the 10 months I was with Pursuit proved that practical experience in the PR industry is so important whilst studying at University. I got to see first hand all the time, effort and hard work that goes into having a PR business in order to be successful. I know I have a lot more to learn, however interning with Pursuit has confirmed my passion for PR!

 

JPEG image-9CD8ADE51061-1

Jordyn Rankin

 

With this in mind, do you think Intern experiences should count towards university credit points?

I think that every University should encourage more students to undertake internships because the benefits are endless. However, in my opinion, the most important benefit is that it gets your foot in the door, gets your name out there and is a way of networking and forming relationships, which is so important to do.

Real-life experience has personally given me a lot more confidence and motivation to succeed and now I’m able to add an internship on my resume, which is also a huge bonus. Brooke (Founder of Pursuit Communications and Central Coast Chronicle) has been an amazing mentor and from day one, I always felt supported in my work and my ideas. With her help, I can now go into my next internship or job interview with some real industry examples and knowledge that will set me apart from the rest.

Where do you see the PR industry moving in the next three to five years?

This is a very hard one to predict because of how fast the industry is evolving and how much the web and social media revolutionises the way the PR industry operates. Having also studied Marketing at Tafe I can definitely see both PR and Marketing complimenting each other and becoming more integrated. Utilising both of these disciplines is definitely proving the overall success of businesses today in reaching its target markets. As a result, I think there will always be a demand for experienced, result driven PR practitioners.

 

How so?

The PR industry is a lot more than just press releases and getting the word out to journalists. (If you’re still thinking that it’s just media releases, you really need to chat to Pursuit – some of the ideas Brooke comes up with for her clients are absolute “WOW-factor!”)

So following this line of thinking, PR is becoming more popular for businesses (well I think so!) because of the multitude of ways a message can be executed. PR isn’t advertising, nor is it like marketing. It’s all about storytelling and shaping an image of a certain product, service, event, or organisation. Therefore, PR gives businesses an exciting way to stay connected with their customers (both existing and potential) and an opportunity to educate the general public about what it is they do – in (perhaps) an unconventional way. 

Any tips for those considering starting an internship program?

The sooner you start interning the more you will get out of your degree and the more experienced you’ll be entering the workforce after University. You will learn so much more by gaining practical experience, so step out of your comfort zone, ask questions (there are no right or wrong questions) and make your resume stand out above the rest. 

Finally, interning is also a lot more than just showing up and doing what you’ve got to do. It’s about being proactive in the office, anticipating what might be happening and asking if you can help (go above and beyond!) it’s also about getting to know what other PR agencies are out there and what they’re all about so I highly recommend researching, talking to people and attending networking events!! It will hugely benefit you and your future as a PR practitioner during your time at University and also when you step foot into the real world.

Brooke’s note: Jordyn, thank you for what you added to Pursuit and to the launch of Central Coast Chronicle. You were here at a critical time for both businesses and your ability to adapt and “switch gears” from “PC” to “CCC” at a moment’s notice was very much appreciated. I wish you continued success with your studies and entering the workforce.

Why we offer freebies

Leave a comment

Did you know we have a freebie page?

We do!

Right now, we’re offering a New Year’s hashtag cheatsheet. A complete list and thought-starter document for your social media needs.

Go and check it out. 

We offer freebies to build rapport with our existing audience and to build on that audience.

Our content changes frequently because we know our audience’s needs changes as frequently as our own!

We’re currently working on ideas for 2019 for our freebie content and we’re excited about the offerings you’ll be able to download.