Summer has officially arrived! This is the perfect time of year for trips to the beach and revisiting PR strategies for your home business. The significance of communication in regards to business cannot be overstated and can be crucial for keeping your company afloat. With a breezy new season, why not usher in a heatwave of new approaches as related to communication? For the entrepreneur and home business owner that wants to make a big splash with their public relations or simply doesn’t know where to begin, here are six sizzling hot communications tips for the summer.
Catch Rays by Keeping Communication Top of Mind – Running a home business can be hard with the constant demands. That’s a given. However, don’t forget about communication. Try putting together a quarterly communication strategy complete with goals, objectives, strategies and tactics. This will help you remain organized and can assist you in keeping communication a top priority with your business. Keep things measurable and at the end of every quarter be sure to evaluate how well your communications tactics performed. This will help you decide what may need to be tweaked as you move into the next quarter.
Avoid Sunburn by Engaging with Your Listeners and Readers – Sometimes when we’re successful entrepreneurs, we may have a tendency to think we know it all. There’s nothing wrong with a little self-confidence. However, don’t always presume you know what your clients want. One of the best ways to know what your clients are interested in is by keeping your finger on the pulse. Simply put, that means communicating with them. According to the Pew Research Center, about seven in ten U.S. adults use Facebook. Companies such as Electronic Locksmith, which started as a home business before growing exponentially, used social media as part of its communication tactics. Don’t be afraid to interact with your clients on social media by asking questions and getting to know their interests. This shows that you’re not a robot and can give your brand a warm and sunny touch. Additionally, it will help your PR efforts. People like to know that you care. What better way is there than communicating with them directly? Consider newsletters, email, and even snail mail too.
Dodge Thunderstorms by Responding Carefully – Always remember to listen when engaging your clients. This can be especially helpful during conflict. With any business, conflicts are bound to happen. After listening to what has been said, choose your words carefully and then respond. This will definitely help you in your business endeavors as you move forward.
Enjoy the Dog Days with Key Messaging – So, you’ve developed the strategy and you’re more than willing to engage your clients. Great! What does your brand say about you? What do you want people to know about your home business? What’s your story? This is where key messaging comes in. Think about what defines your brand – and no, “We’re better than the rest!” isn’t going to work. The wonderful thing about summertime is that the days are longer, so feel free to capitalize on this by thinking long and hard about what distinguishes you from your competitors. Once you figure it out, include it in your messaging. According to the Harvard Business Review, storytelling can be good for business. The messaging used to showcase your story should spotlight the values of your business. Keep it concise and make sure it resonates with your target audience.
Make a Splash with your Local Reporters – There are multiple components to public relations. Building relationships is one of those components. Consider inviting a local reporter out for coffee – or a frozen treat since it is summer. Get to know them and what topics they cover. If their topic of interest lines up with your business, reach out to them. Reporters like exclusives and topics that viewers and readers will find interesting. Have you seen any trends? Pitch them. Could you be a subject matter expert on a topic they are reporting on? Pitch them. By building relationships with the reporters in your community, you can increase your chances of securing positive coverage – or setting the record straight if you were to experience a crisis.
Soak Up the Sun By Being Unconventional – Last but not least, think outside the box. Try researching relevant panels and pitching yourself to organizers to land a spot as one of the panelists. Host an event to get the word about what it is that you’re doing. Summer is the ideal time to do so! Maybe a branded barbecue or picnic? How about utilizing sidewalk art to effectively promote your business? All of this falls under public relations. What better time is there than these sunny months to put yourself out there? You’ve got this. Go forth and be awesome!
