5 DIY Ideas for Startup PR Activities

In the last article, we told you how PR can help propel your early stage business. Having said that, hiring PR agencies does not have to be your only solution. You can do your own PR and save those extra coins for rainy days.

Here are some ways in which you can do it yourself:

1. Network

This is a no brainer. You have to socialize and network with the right kind of people so that your story gets to the right places. Attend social events and be active on online forums that can give you the attention your venture needs. This is the easiest way to do your own PR (while having fun at work).

Saurabh Saxena, CEO and Founder of Holachef was attending an event by Kalaari where he bumped into Mr. Ratan Tata and got the opportunity of having a 45 minutes discussion about his venture. Before he knew it, Mr. Ratan Tata’s team got back to him and now Halochef is one of the lucky 14 startups to be funded by him!  

1. Social Media

There is so much exposure you can get on social media. It gives you a platform to put your brand in front of potential clients and interact with them. Best of all, it’s free! The more active you are, the more followers you will garner and your followers are going to be your instrument of PR.

1. Viral content

The ethicality of this is debatable. However as long as it is not hurting anyone, it is fine. Videos, photos and articles can go viral overnight and create bigger publicities than PR agencies can. All you need is a talented (and humorous) creative team and people will be talking about your brand in no time.

The Facebook page of Radio One Lebanon is such an example. Their viral videos have led many people to their Facebook page and helped them garner those 6 million+ likes.

1. Create original content

Draft blog posts that suit your target audience and keep current trends on track. You are sure to get noticed if you stay active and relevant. Also, the press would find it easier to source and write about you if you keep your brand updated! Having a Press Information page on your website would help a lot.

1. Have an interesting story

It’s a natural human instinct to know stories. Even if your entrepreneurial story might not be that amusing, make it sound like one. Stories which are different and interesting catch eyeballs and once they are reading about you, they know about your brand.

In the increasingly competitive world of today, startups need more than just a sellable product or service to survive. Public opinion matters more than ever. Word of mouth leads to sale more often than television advertisements.

If you haven’t jumped into the PR bandwagon yet, you should now.