Being part of a startup isn’t for the weak. It can be hard to get off your ass and be noticed in a world where everyone wants their share of attention, especially with the big players out there. This is why some startups invest heavily in PR, though, to give them the boost they need to get the attention of the people who matter.

In this article, we’re gonna dig into what it takes to break through and be the big dog. Discover how to build up your credibility by leveraging PR for startups and go from being a little voice to the thing everyone is talking about. 

Why PR for Startups is a Game Changer

Public relations for startup companies is often a great leveler. While large corporations can pump money into marketing, even small startups can compete with them if they have a good strategy. Small businesses can use this ability to differentiate themselves from larger, inaccessible companies.

This is about more than visibility, too. With a good enough strategy, you can appear much more credible from day one. It gets your name out there to customers, clients, or partners and can breed opportunities you never had before.

With time and effort, any PR initiative you undertake as a small business will have long-term benefits. You can move forward knowing that the waves you make are likely to take a long time to die down. This is especially true if you create a great story of your growth, helping people to invest in you as you position yourself.

The Unfiltered Truth About Startup PR Agencies

The blunt fact is that not everybody has time to invest in doing PR work for their company. While people always want to do the big publicity stunt, in truth, that can take time away from you doing your job.

A PR agency for startups will not only give you this time back, though. A good one can make or break you because of:

Specialized knowledge. Agencies in your field can bring industry-specific expertise they can leverage.

Fresh perspectives. As they’re not you, so they can give you unfiltered feedback on your ideas, for good or bad.

Customizability and scalability. As you grow, they can keep up with you, without the need to hire more people.

At the same time, make sure that the company you work with:

• Is honest about their capabilities
• Offers transparent communication
• Has a low staff turnover
• Does not come with hidden fees

Having these qualities is often a good sign that you are working with a professional you can trust.

How to Do PR For a Startup

If you want to make a go of it yourself, you need to know the steps to take to become well-known. Some of the best options you have may just be your unique selling point (USP) and your attitude. You can leverage these to get noticed by both your industry and the general public.

To start with, try to find unique, relevant angles for both you and anything you want to say. This helps you create content that people want to engage with and makes you stand out among a sea of similar companies.

You will also want to start developing relationships with key influencers in your industry. These might be:

• Journalists
• Contacts from other companies
• Social media influencers
• Community leaders in your target market

Each of these individuals or groups can offer you new ways to contact potential customers and clients. This offers you both word of mouth as well as a method to get your voice directly to people.

Make sure to foster multiple angles for your message, too, using areas such as:

• Social media
• Blogs
• Email
• Advertising

Each of these has their pros and cons, so ensure that your target audience is likely to respond well to them.

Leverage Current Events for Instant Exposure

Try to tie any story you have to current events in the world. Whether you are referring to the present day in your headline or a comment partway through your message, it should have an impact. 

Be careful, though, you don’t want to say the wrong thing about something people care about.

The easiest way to do this is by using common, everyday holidays. New Year's Day, Halloween, and Valentine's Day all have a resonance with many people. If you have the data for it, you could even use individuals’ birthdays to offer them unique messages.

Craft the Perfect Message

While it might be exciting to get started with this process, try to keep it concise. By avoiding going overboard you can keep what you write compelling. This will prevent people from closing your message's tab before you can sell someone on what you have to say.

When you write a press release, be sure to use a strong subject line. Grab the attention of a reader and don’t let go by giving them something that turns heads. Say something unique, exciting to an outsider, or even controversial so that they will want to read more.

If you are sending this information to journalists, do not forget to follow up. Sometimes all it takes is to show that you are more than an automated email sending app for someone to respond.

Hit the Ground Running With Masters of PR for Startups 

Get involved with the world of marketing before you find yourself yelling about your business when nobody is listening. PR for startups can be a huge part of your strategy and is something that many overlook to their detriment.

Try implementing some of the above strategies or, if that is much too much effort, get in contact with a professional. Here at Don’t Be a Little Pitch, we can offer you expert help, starting with a consultation.

So, get in touch to learn how public relations for startup businesses can put you on the next level.