In this blog post, we are going to take a look at how Public Relations rocks your world. Within any industry or company, people often find themselves saying “Do I REALLY need to hire a PR person?”, “What can PR do for me?”, “I think I know what someone in PR does, but I’m not really sure.”

Let me tell you, good PR is vital to the growth of any person’s name or an organization’s character. It links their message to the curious public and increases their awareness and trust.

What PR doesn’t have to be is boring. Professional, precise and newsworthy? Yes. Boring? No way!

Perhaps you’ve heard a feel-good story and wondered who was behind you knowing that. Perhaps you saw an interview on the TV one day with someone you didn’t know, but it prompted you to research them farther. Well, a trusty behind-the-scenes PR person is likely to thank for that.

Now that we know a couple of the ways PR can be used, just what exactly is it? In the day of expanding social media, there are endless ways of getting a name out there. We are all familiar with press releases being written for the sake of websites and newsletters. But, what about blogging, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, Flickr, Pinterest or Instagram? Those are all great avenues nowadays, in addition to your traditional TV, radio or magazine outlets.

One of my favorite new websites is Meetup.com. Ok, so the idea of networking with a bunch of random strangers all at once may seem a bit weird. But, maybe not so odd when you realize that everyone there has the same objective in mind; whether it is professional goals, hobbies, or social interests. How great would it be to put your PR skills to work by creating a Meetup group that allows people to network and expand their horizons? Meetup.com sponsor get-together or driver meet-and-greet? Yes, please!

So just what is the key to using PR in order to create and maintain a strong brand? I believe the answer lies in using positive communication in order to build relationships with customers, sponsors, fans and colleagues alike. Every brand (whether it be a person or a company) has an interesting story to tell. The job of PR is to tell that story in a way that you as the reader and consumer want to know more. It is listening to their interests and answering so that is draws them in so that they feel a personal connection to your brand or personality in one way or another.

PR and media are always evolving and shifting, but one thing is certain: the client and the fan are always right. It is important as a Public Relations professional to use TV, radio, newspapers, magazines, social media etc. to inform and tap into what the public enjoys hearing about.

So…what is it as a reader you want to hear and see more of?