Thinking of Getting into PR? Here’s What You Need to Know
Public Relations, or PR as it’s commonly known, is easily one of the most exciting and rewarding lines of work anyone can get into. Not only do you have the opportunity to work with a diverse range of clients and truly make a difference to their business, but you also get to exercise your creativity, and no two days are the same! So, if, like the team here at Neo PR, you’re passionate about PR and looking to take a first step into the industry, we thought we’d provide a comprehensive guide to help you understand what you need to know before you get started in this industry.
What Actually is PR?
This might sound like a silly question, but you’d be amazed at the number of people who don’t understand what PR actually is. In brief, the definition of PR is ‘the strategic communication from an organisation to the public to maintain or cultivate public image and/or respond to public discourse’. Although it supports marketing efforts, the two are not quite the same. And it’s certainly not advertising. Imagine it this way. Public Relations is earning your client a third-party endorsement, such as in an online publication to tell its audience how great your brand is. This endorsement holds greater credibility than the brand telling you how great it is all on its own, or through paid advertisement with trade media outlets. It is about earning organic coverage for your client in the media by creating compelling content and positioning them as thought leaders, and pitching it to the right publications – at the right time – to get them seen where they want to be seen.
The Day in the Life of a PR Professional
Most people think PR is all about attending fancy events and drinking Champagne. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case. There are of course occasions when you do attend events, but in the world of PR, the majority of the time, you’ll be working at your desk creating content, pitching to the media, and communicating with clients. Personally, one of the things I love most about PR is the fact that no two days are the same. One day you could find yourself crafting press releases and pitching to the media, and the next day you could be organising press events for clients and managing social media campaigns. You will also find yourself conducting client meetings and monitoring media coverage, and conducting research to help develop great newsworthy narratives. All of these skills are essential for a PR to have to thrive in this industry.
Required Skills and Qualifications
There are a range of skills that make the perfect PR professional. If you ask me, I’d say that the essential skills required involve a combination of communication, creativity, interpersonal abilities, organisation, and analytical skills. Naturally, excellent written and verbal communication skills are needed to convey your brand’s messages clearly and persuasively. Creativity is also required to think outside the box and develop innovative campaign ideas. However, I’d argue the strongest quality of any good PR professional is the ability to build strong relationships. And not just with the clients themselves. This is also true for networking and maintaining positive connections with media contacts and stakeholders. A less obvious, but equally important, skill is being able to manage your time and tasks throughout the day. In PR, it is important to keep multiple plates spinning at once, and this is essential in order to meet campaign objectives and deliverables for your clients on any given day.
What Are The Challenges and Rewards When Working In PR?
As with any line of work, PR presents a unique blend of challenges and rewards. On the challenging side, PR professionals often need to turn work around quickly, so quick decision-making and effective communication is crucial. However, despite this, I believe that the rewards in PR far outweigh the challenges.
As mentioned before, PR offers a dynamic work environment where no two days are the same and PR professionals enjoy opportunities to exercise creativity and strategic thinking in crafting compelling narratives and campaigns. I think it is a case of ‘you get out what you put in’. If you are willing to go the extra mile to know your clients inside out, have an awareness of their messaging, and also where they want to be heard, then you are on a fast track to success. Moreover, when you join a great team like Neo, you are surrounded by like-minded, positive people who look out for each other and share knowledge and advice, and most importantly have a laugh together along the way!
Final Thoughts
So, there you have it! Pursuing a career in PR, especially in tech PR, promises an exciting career path for those passionate about storytelling, relationship-building, and pitching to the media. You will meet great like-minded people along the way, all whilst helping businesses make an impact in their respective fields. If this sounds like something you’re interested in, why not get in touch? We’d be delighted to talk to you!
