Now that I have your attention let’s discuss the serious topic of gaining PR exposure for your startup. In my opinion PR is best left until you’ve pivoted into a position where you’re pretty confident in your product, message and pricing and are starting to focus purely on getting traction. So where do you start?
Today I’ll focus just on generating ideas for your PR campaigns. The main thing to realise is that the media (whether print or bloggers) doesn’t care about your product launch, it’s simply not news when you’re a company no one has heard of. So bearing this in mind here’s are some very random ideas to make you stand out:
Create a scene
Would 100 of your friends running through the CBD wearing nothing but your branded mankinis make the news? Probably. Is it legal? Maybe not, but you get the idea making a scene is a classic PR stunt.
Controversial topics
Do you have evidence that global warming is a hoax? Hopefully not, but it’s an example of a topic debate you could join in a very controversial way. Pick a topic relevant to your industry and join the debate.
Live your message
You claim your website will find customers the cheapest flights in the world. Prove it. Could you travel the world for $500? Live your marketing message to the extreme and prove you live up to it.
a photo is worth…
You know the saying and in the PR world it’s certainly true. Whether you’re holding a press event or sending a press release make sure there’s a catchy photo in it for them. Hire a gorilla for your gorilla marketing training course. You get the idea.
Hijak your competition
Your bigger and better funded competitor is holding a major event at the Sydney opera house? Perfect, find a way to hijak the attention at a fraction of the cost. Where’s the after party? Their food sucked? Order 100 pizzas and put $1000 on the bar across the road.