The Power of Local PR for Manchester Businesses

Purple Riot Manchester PR agency

The Power of Local PR for Manchester Businesses and why working with a Manchester PR agency is important. In the bustling heart of Manchester, businesses thrive amidst the vibrant energy of this dynamic city. Whether you’re a startup looking to make your mark or an established player aiming to launch in Manchester, one key ingredient to success is often overlooked – local PR, and as a Manchester PR agency, we have the inside scoop. 1. Connecting with the Community Manchester isn’t just a city; it’s a tightly-knit community of diverse neighbourhoods, each with character and charm. Local PR allows you to forge genuine connections with the people who make Manchester tick. It’s about becoming part of the local conversation, understanding the city’s pulse, and aligning your brand with the values and aspirations of Mancunians. 2. Building Brand Awareness Locally Standing out can be challenging in a city as bustling as Manchester. Local PR helps you rise above the noise. By strategically crafting and delivering your brand’s message to the local audience, you create a memorable presence. When Mancunians think of products or services in your niche, your name should be the first that comes to mind. 3. Establishing Thought Leadership In the competitive landscape of Manchester, being recognised as a thought leader in your industry can set you apart. Local PR can position you as the go-to authority in your field. You can earn your peers’ and customers’ respect and trust by providing valuable insights, thought-provoking content, and expert commentary on local industry trends. 4. Community Involvement and Sponsorships Being a part of the Manchester community isn’t just good PR; it’s good business. Local PR can help you identify opportunities for community involvement, sponsorships, and partnerships that align with your brand values. Whether supporting local charities, sponsoring events, or collaborating with other Manchester businesses, these initiatives can be an essential part of your PR strategy. 5. Local Media Coverage Local PR isn’t just about connecting with the community; it’s also about getting noticed by local media outlets. Coverage in Manchester-based media can significantly boost your brand’s visibility. Whether it’s a feature on a lifestyle platform or in the regional business press, these opportunities can propel your presence in Manchester to the next level. 6. The Personal Touch In a digital world, the personal touch still matters. Local PR allows you to engage with your local audience on a personal level. It’s about being present at local events, responding to community needs, and showing that you’re more than a faceless corporation. When Manchester residents feel connected to your brand, they become loyal advocates. We’re Mancunians born and bred and as a Manchester PR agency, we can introduce you to all the right people. 7. SEO Supercharge As the digital world intersects with PR, local SEO becomes critical to your online visibility in Manchester. Optimising your online presence for local searches ensures that when someone in Manchester looks for services or products you offer, your brand stands out. Local PR efforts can include securing backlinks from reputable local websites to help your website climb search engine rankings in Manchester. Ready to Elevate Your Brand with our award-winning Manchester PR agency?  If you’re ready to take your Manchester-based business to new heights, consider the power of local PR. Connect with Purple Riot and together, we’ll craft compelling narratives, foster meaningful connections, and ensure your brand shines brightly in the city we call home. Contact us today to explore how local PR can transform your brand’s presence in Manchester.

How can Digital PR enhance your marketing strategy?

digital pr agency manchester

The role of Digital PR Over the last year, it seems like the ‘Twittersphere’ has been awash with digital PR insights, killer case studies, and news and updates. Digital PR has become quite the buzzword, and you can’t go a day without hearing about the next incredible news jack or big brand trends takeover. For a long time now, most savvy PR agencies have included link-earning as part of their campaigns and strategies. But, over the last couple of years, there’s been a definite shift in focus to how online content can be used more strategically to bolster press coverage results. Creating linkable content Whilst digital PR could be considered any press coverage that is online, more strategically the overall objective is to get links in authoritative press titles. And, in recent years, creativity in securing those holy grail backlinks has gone wild. For a successful digital PR campaign, the content that’s shared with journalists has to have a purpose or be compelling or fun. Whether you’ve generated some newsworthy market research stats or even created a stand-out piece of interactive website content, whatever you create needs to be specifically targeted to your audiences for maximum impact. Unlike traditional print press coverage, once the content for your digital PR campaign is nailed, the potential for your assets to reach far and wide online is enormous. Through sharing with the right journalists your content has the opportunity to be seen globally and amplified through social media. The snowball effect The most impressive digital PR campaigns can earn links from just a small selection of top-tier press titles which can then snowball into landing multiple link placements. This drives brand awareness and increases the SEO authority of your website. By authentically building relationships and providing good quality information and assets for key influencers and journalists, brands can establish themselves as leaders in their field. It won’t be long before you’re front and centre in a journalist’s mind for creative content or the latest trends and statistics. Teamwork makes the dream work Over the last couple of years, marketing teams, SEO experts, and PR’s have had to quickly learn about each other’s roles and how they can work together to deliver press coverage and strategic content that fits into broader digital marketing objectives. Brands that haven’t adopted this approach and still don’t see PR as part of the marketing mix need to get on board or get left behind quickly. Social media teams, for example, are already very adept at creating reactive content that hijacks trends and the news agenda, so it’s understanding how this can turn into a digital PR opportunity. The best thing about digital PR is that it’s measurable with tools such as Kantar, Gorkana and Google Analytics, making marketers very happy! Recent examples of some effective Digital PR campaigns Using data that’s open for anyone to access, such as Google Trends, can be a great source of inspiration for your next digital PR campaign. Interior design company, Dowsing & Reynolds used data available from Google Trends to assess the UK’s favourite candle scent, earning a link from Ideal Home. Check out the full list here. Working with architects, Bloom & Wild created beautiful images to reimagine some of the world’s most recognised landmarks. The team compiled stunning graphics designed with plants and flowers for an eye-catching campaign which landed on House Beautiful. This campaign by Leasing Options is a fun piece of interactive website content that allows users to spend as much of Elon Musk’s fortune as possible, offering a fun way to waste time on the internet. The digital PR landscape is constantly evolving and while securing links can be a competitive sport, it’s a brilliant time to start considering how that next PR campaign can include killer content that delivers results with SEO goals in mind. And, if you need a PR agency that understands what makes a successful digital PR campaign then, get in touch here.

PR and marketing in a Covid world, what’s next?

PR and marketing in a Covid world

As we ride out yet another tumultuous month on the never-ending corona coaster, brand owners and business leaders are looking for new ideas on how to communicate with their audiences effectively and keep their businesses front of mind. This last six months has turned many traditional aspects of communications on its head, with print media taking a nosedive, social media use growing exponentially and events going virtual. It’s clear Coronavirus isn’t going anywhere for now, so how do brands and businesses continue to reach their audiences in new and innovative ways? Here’s our take on what to expect from PR and marketing amid the ever changing Corona chaos: 1. The Future of PR It’s sadly true that the media has taken a huge hit as a result of Covid19. Titles have closed, others are hanging on by the skin of their teeth and many journalists have unfortunately been furloughed or made redundant. People are consuming more news online and on social media than ever before. In fact, recent figures by Statista show that, during lockdown, social media use was up by over 40% – not surprising! Brands are starting to focus more on quick wins over long-lead print coverage and on digital PR and content to support their online marketing and SEO strategies. Additionally, brands that can pivot quickly or think on their feet can nail some strong press coverage, especially if it has a socially-conscious edge. Legendary Manchester pizzeria, Rudy’s, landed some excellent local press coverage and kudos recently for supplying the self-isolating ManMet students with free bake-at-home pizza and beer. This led to great press exposure for the brand and no doubt excellent awareness and loyalty with hundreds of potential customers for the next three years! Large firms have also been generating news with clever stories throughout the pandemic; much-loved chain Wagamama hit the headlines when they published their secret recipe for their signature Katsu Curry which customers could make at home during lockdown. Traditional PR and media relations still has its place, with journalists on the lookout for positive non-Corona related stories, products to review, expert comment for features and thought leadership pieces about key topics. It could take a little longer to get in touch and most journalists won’t have time to sift through irrelevant content so they will be expecting information to be concise, relevant and timely, but it’s still possible to land some great press exposure for your brands and services if you are clever, targeted and tenacious. Anecdotally, PR’s have seen an upsurge in journalists looking for innovative products and services that support wellbeing, as stress and anxiety levels reach new highs because of the ever-changing Covid landscape and rumbling uncertainty. 2. Virtual events get creative Even though some companies and event organisers have tentatively arranged events for 2021, we are still not sure what the world will look like next year, so it’s safe to say that Zoom conferences, digital seminars, live-streamed concerts and interactive events will continue. Expect to see businesses and brands planning all sorts of events like cookalongs, film festivals, wellness and yoga events, gigs, expert panels, fashion shows and more, all in the virtual arena. The exciting thing about the virtual events space is that ideas can be truly global and innovative, bringing in speakers and experts from all over the world to engage audiences and bring something new. If you have ever dreamt about being front row at a fashion show or watching a Cannes Film Festival movie live, it could happen….. Brands have shown an enormous amount of quick thinking and creativity in the events space since the crisis hit in Spring. From taking incredible exhibitions online, such as Christian Dior’s virtual Designer of Dreams exhibition (which was previously held at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris) to TeaPigs launching a series of virtual tea tastings, and legendary DJ Graeme Park streaming a 12 hour set on United We Stream. 3. Reassessing audiences is key The pandemic has changed consumer behaviour dramatically. Consumers are – understandably – looking for good value products and services, abandoning loyalty in some areas, shopping digitally more than ever and being mindful about the products that they buy. They have also been drawn to companies and brands that have a human-centric approach and have looked after their employees and their community during the pandemic so far. Going back to basics with customer profiling before embarking on a new campaign could open up new opportunities for your products, services and communications. It could be that you need to harness different aspects of the marketing comms mix to reach your new and existing customers – be it different social platforms, PPC, paid-for ads or advertorials or traditional media relations. 4. Purpose continues to prosper The Coronavirus crisis has shone a spotlight on brands who have been socially-conscious during the pandemic – brands that have down-tooled to help their customers, pivoted their offering to provide community services and free products, and pitched in with local charity projects and more. Brands that are able to tell their story and communicate their mission and values – especially conscious, sustainable, ethical or eco practices – simply and succinctly will cut through the noise more effectively, so make sure your purpose and your ethically and socially responsible stories are communicated well to your customers and potential customers to bring the human side of your business to life. 5. Expect to invest in paid media Although traditional PR is still getting results, consider supporting your key titles with some spend if you can. Many industry and trade titles, and consumer print titles especially, have taken a big hit over the course of the pandemic and may be struggling to stay afloat without paid-for investment. If you regularly target a handful of industry titles that are important to your business sector, consider a competition, a sponsored piece or a digital package to boost your key messages to the readers of these publications. You may curry favour with some

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