How to Hire a Publicist & Why It Is Vital?

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how to hire a publicist

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Every brand, business, or organization should consider allocating part of their revenue to hire a publicist. In today’s competitive environment, it’s vital to maintain a relevant and competitive edge, whether the publicist’s work is digital or physical. Today, I’ll explain why this investment is so essential.

Even if you cannot directly see or touch the evidence of utilizing a public relations service, you can witness firsthand the impact of hiring a publicist across a wide array of crucial corporate and private initiatives. Though the realm of public relations (PR) can be challenging, finding a publicist familiar with its intricate nuances can help you achieve your PR goals without feeling deterred.

Many business leaders neglect PR, thinking the cost of hiring a publicist is too high. However, even if the significance isn’t immediately obvious, PR is one of the most powerful and essential services you can engage with. Over time, it provides you with a higher return on investment (ROI).

Whether you’re hiring a publicist for personal PR or business PR such as healthcare pr services, tech PR services , and fintech pr services, the benefits are indeed vast. Here are a few ways that can add value to you, your brand, or your business.

What does a personal publicist do for their client?

PR is about creating and maintaining relationships with the public. A personal publicist or PR agency promotes an individual or company across media, news, and public platforms. By adopting the right attitude and actions, you or your company can build and foster positive relationships with the public and external stakeholders. Everyone enjoys positive interactions—whether they’re a teacher, student, doctor, parent, or entrepreneur. Positive relationships lead to positive reactions.

From a young age, we learn that building beneficial relationships with the right people can greatly influence our lives. As we grow, we realize these benefits extend to other aspects, including our economic and romantic lives.

Over time, we learn that pressing the “right” buttons leads to smoother interactions. Remember those times when playing your cards right landed you a job or secured a better deal on a car? The effects of fostering good relationships are evident in our personal lives, and they become even more pronounced as we grow older.

In our professional careers and businesses, we strive to create and maintain good relationships—with employees, team members, leaders, investors, partners, and others. The optimal ROI is growth through increased revenue, social standing, and organizational success. However, the degree of that ROI depends on how well you coordinate your personal and organizational PR.

As a PR expert with many years of experience, I’ve learned that most clients have knowledge, ideas, and the ability to integrate both into a PR strategy. However, understanding the prerequisite skills needed to achieve the greatest success or ROI is often less clear.

Are Public Relations And Marketing The Same?

 

What does a publicist do for their client?

PR can be simply defined as creating and maintaining relationships with the general public. Thus, the person or firm with the professional expertise to promote an individual or company throughout media, news, and platforms used by the general public is the publicist or PR agency themselves.
With the right attitude and actions, you or your company can continuously build and foster a positive relationship with the general public and others outside of your organization. Everybody likes to be treated well by others they interact with — be they a teacher, student, doctor, parent, or entrepreneur — and we all tend to react positively when others look to create and continue building positive relationships with us.
 
From childhood, we are taught that, in one way or the other, by developing positive and mutually beneficial relationships with the right people, we have much to gain. As children, we are taught that establishing good rapport with others can hold great influence over our social and educational lives. As we continue to age and learn and grow, we begin to see where those benefits can encompass other aspects of our lives, including economic and even romantic aspects of them.
 
Hence, as time goes on, we regularly come to learn and appreciate that the better we are at pressing peoples’ “right” buttons, the smoother things work out all around for everyone involved. Remember those times when playing your cards right landed you that job role you were banking on, or got you that deal on a new car at a cheaper rate? The effects of establishing and fostering good and positive relationships permeate every part of our personal lives, and those effects only become more obvious as we grow.
 
Consequently, in our professional careers (and in the realm of business), we perpetually strive to create and maintain good relationships with others—with our employees, our team members, our leaders, investors, partners, and others. In doing so, the optimal ROI is growth through an increase in revenue, social standing, and organizational successes. But the degree of that ROI depends how good are you at coordinating the various aspects of both your personal and organizational PR.
 
As a leading PR firm in Miami, Newyork, Orlando and Los Angeles, we have learned from experience that, for most clients, there is the knowledge they possess, the ideas they need to grow, and the ability to integrate both into a seamless PR strategy. However, understanding what the prerequisite skills needed in order to achieve the greatest success or ROI possible are often far less clear.
 

How do I hire a publicist?

Hiring a publicist or public relations firm can help you break the translucent barriers of communication and set your PR strategy on a path to give you the results you wish to achieve. Each of us possess unique strengths, expertise, and niche specializations. As such, allowing experts to handle your PR can help you to break those barriers so that you can focus on your own strengths that add value to other areas of your brand or business so that you both can work to achieving all around maximum benefit and ROI.
 
In addition, it allows you to save on the costs of resources in the long run, especially if you desire to hire a PR firm on a contract basis rather than employing a single freelance or in-house publicist. Many art-based organizations have been outsourcing their PR services, along with other areas like marketing, for years with huge benefits, too.
 
Therefore, hiring a publicist to reach your PR goals is an assured way to guarantee to get professional skills from experts at affordable rates.
 

Where to find a publicist?

To find the perfect publicist for you, there are several places you can turn, including;
 
Upwork: You can hire freelancers that may or may not do a good job. Be sure to always check their reviews and get a guarantee from them up-front prior to any work being done. Remember that anyone who cannot give you a guarantee is not a confident publicist.
  where to find a publicist
 
Fiverr: You can hire PR professionals and freelance publicists for single projects such as writing and/or distributing a digital a press release. However, most top freelance publicists do not work on Fiverr.
where to find publicist
 
With an agency: Most top publicists are trained and work for the top 100 PR firms in the country, such as Otter PR. This also gives you the support and benefits of connecting your PR goals to an entire organization.
hire a publicist

 

Duties of a PR firm

What exactly can a publicist do for you? In the modern world, there are numerous ways a publicist can assist you — the individual — or your organization to help achieve your goals.
 
The era of more “traditional” PR is gone. PR has transformed to take into consideration the challenges and emerging trends of today’s ever-evolving hyper-digital world. Some PR clients may still believe that once they are able to land placements into mainstream media avenues like television and newspaper, they are on top of the game, but this is simply no longer the case, especially for certain specialized areas of business. 
 
Getting featured in television, newspapers, podcasts, or radio now feels more akin to winning the lottery. And sometimes, if a brand, business, entrepreneur, or thought leader is able to get featured in media at all, they are limited to niche publications and more localized news outlets.

PR for various types of brands

The mass media obviously have greater things to deal with than handling coverage for every new emerging artist, musician, or non-profit organization today. For instance, think about how often you may have seen public figures like art critics review art in the mainstream media? The New York Times now gives the arts little or no space in mainstream media, and The New Yorker Magazine has no business with art from outside of New York, renowned musicians and all.
 
So, if you or your brand falls under an umbrella such as this, why would you still need a publicist in a scenario where the “big shots” in mass media would rather eschew your public initiatives?
 
Fortunately, the new era of social media and the internet has given those in the arts (and their publicists) a new lease of life. With the power of digital innovation at your disposal, such as the widespread accessibility and ease of use for search engines like Google and Bing, and advertising on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, you can still regularly promote and inform your public.
 
Thankfully, most PR clients know this and apply it in their own unique and creative ways. From the foregoing, we can take away these facts:
  • You can reach your target audience/public effectively with or without paying for the reach or use of more “traditional” media avenues.
  • You can effectively share your desired messages at all times, given that you have priorly established a larger and loyal audience/fan base.
  • You can directly communicate with this fan base without relying on a proverbial middleman to do so.

How To Align Your Brand With Media Outlets

First-hand experience with a publicist

Based on my first-hand experience in working as a publicist for trusted brands and thought leaders, I have come up with three steps vital in PR.
  1. Identify the most effective model and strategy for organizations and individuals as clients.
  2.  Create relevant PR content suitable to the brand’s goals using the right media, whether that be traditional media, social media, advertising, or email outreach.
  3. Assemble the content created and develop a practical timetable to follow in disseminating the message(s) of your PR initiatives.

hire a publicist

As easy as these steps may sound, chances are high that you will still need an experienced publicist to make them work efficiently and to your benefit. You can establish your own in-house strategies and build communication systems through the internet and other digital resources, but there are still lots of people that still believe the traditional media is the only efficient means of achieving meaningful PR.
 
Don’t get me wrong; traditional media is still relevant and effective but seeing as they offer limited coverage to certain niche specializations of industry, you should take the fate of your own brand or business — and the reputation you wish to build for it through PR — into your own hands. Employ the digital means that will allow you to achieve fostering a more direct relationship with your public audience. After all, you have the power in your hands to do so through utilizing digital platforms that allow you to control the strategies, contents, and methods of your PR initiatives.
 
These more “modern” methods of achieving PR grant us the ability to create and distribute engaging and relevant content in the form of text or graphics using relevant social media platforms and other primary digital avenues. You can even outsource the creation of this content to ghostwriters or digital designers if you opt to not produce them internally. Furthermore, opportunities exist in which you can more deeply integrate additional aspects of PR like brand partnerships into the mix in order to produce a single unified PR communication mechanism.
 

What to Look for When Hiring a Publicist?

Hiring a publicist can be one of the most transformative decisions for your brand, business, or personal career. However, finding the right publicist requires a keen eye for several critical factors. If you’re asking yourself, “How do I find a publicist near me?” or “What should I look for when hiring a publicist?” these are the key areas to consider.

Understanding and Interest

When hiring, it’s crucial to prioritize someone who genuinely cares about your success. A personal publicist who is invested in your journey will take the time to learn all about you. They should ask questions, dive deep into your goals, and understand your vision. This genuine interest allows them to best highlight your strengths and craft narratives that resonate with your target audience. If you ever think, “I need a publicist who understands me,” make sure they show this level of commitment.

Media Resources and Connections

A top-notch publicist has a diverse range of media connections. When you hire a publicist, you want someone who has built strong relationships across various media platforms, not just the usual suspects like newspapers and television but also digital outlets, podcasts, and social media influencers. Avoid publicists who rely solely on basic tools like HARO (Help a Reporter Out) to secure media coverage. Instead, look for someone with a deep network who can place your story in the right hands.

Knowledge of Your Strengths

A great publicist will know how to identify and leverage your strengths. Whether your expertise lies in the economy, finance, or any other field, the right publicist will know how to position you effectively. When finding a publicist, ensure they have the ability to not only spotlight your strengths but also assist in addressing any areas of weakness. They should match your strengths with relevant media opportunities, helping you shine in the best possible light.

Mastery of Story Angles

A skilled publicist excels at creating diverse story angles. Whether you are planning to hire best pr firms in NYC, Orlando, Los Angeles or Miami, ask how they plan to tell your story. The best publicists can see multiple ways to fit you into a story or even craft a compelling narrative around you. They are experts at turning your experiences, insights, and achievements into stories that captivate media outlets and audiences alike.

Proven Results

When you hire a publicist, you want to be sure they have a proven track record of success. Look for a publicist with a history of successful media placements. Ask for case studies or examples of how they’ve helped other clients achieve their PR goals. Proven results and satisfied clients are indicators that they can deliver a strong return on your investment.

Bandwidth and Attention

Another key factor in hiring a publicist is their ability to give your project the attention it needs. Confirm that the publicist has the bandwidth to take on another client and that they won’t spread themselves too thin. The size of their team may also play a role in ensuring that your needs are met. A publicist near you with a small team might struggle to manage multiple clients effectively, so consider their capacity before making a decision.

By focusing on these key factors, you can find a publicist who not only meets your needs but also elevates your brand or business to new heights. Whether you’re looking to hire a publicist to become famous or to enhance your brand’s reputation, understanding what to look for is the first step in making a successful hire.

Why You Should Choose Otter PR?

At Otter PR, we offer a niche approach to media, providing cost-effective PR services that generate the best results. Our team of seasoned PR experts, with over 300 years of combined expertise, works remotely, allowing us to serve you from anywhere in the world.

Our commitment to delivering on our promises is backed by our team’s experience with top individuals and organizations. By hiring Otter PR, you’ll see how hiring a publicist can consistently deliver the results you want for your brand or business.

In conclusion, hiring a publicist is not just an expense but an investment in your brand’s future. Whether you’re looking for publicists near me, trying to hire a publicist for your company, or figuring out how much it costs to hire a publicist, the key is to find someone who aligns with your goals and can help you navigate the complex world of PR.

 
 

Tags: hire a publicist, importance of publicist, PR agency, Public relations, Publicist
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Devin Leonardi

Devin is a full-stack marketing expert with experience driving lead generation across multiple industries and disciplines. His unique insight into creative design and branding place him at the top of his craft in creating public relations and marketing campaigns that convert time and time again.
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About Otter PR

Rated the #1 PR Firm in the US by Clutch and International Business Times, Otter PR adds a modern spin to traditional PR. As the only Tier-1 PR firm the guarantees coverage every month, and offers month-to-month service, it no wonder that companies like Alibaba, Boomers, and Bitcoin of America trust Otter PR.

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