The Power of Local PR for Manchester Businesses
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 to choose and get the best from your PR agency
Basic PR skills can be taught and adapted by small and scale-up business owners to good effect…
The top six most common PR misconceptions
We bust the top PR agency myths! PR is one of the primary communications activities brands know they need as part of their marketing mix, but the perception of what it is, how it’s done, and the ease of doing it is sometimes far removed from reality. Because it is not a pay-to-play space, although some brands do pay for coverage which is widely becoming more exposed, it can never be guaranteed, and brands must often be in it for the long haul for it to pay dividends. And consistency is key to building credibility and trust. As well as supporting wider marketing activities and objectives and playing a huge part in the marketing ecosystem, PR can achieve what a lot of other activities can’t, but that still doesn’t stop it from being laden with misconceptions. If you’ve never worked with a PR agency before, it can often seem like a dark art. Clients often expect instant results or coverage guarantees, and while PR ROI is much easier to measure these days, it can still be trickier to overcome some of the other common misconceptions. So what are the top ones? Good journalist contacts guarantee coverage Good journalist contacts exist because you’ve spent time developing authentic relationships and have provided relevant and interesting content in the past, but that does not mean you can ever guarantee future coverage no matter how great the product or service. You might be on first name terms with a journo’s dog/cat/mum, but you know the saying, there ain’t no so such thing as a free lunch, well that applies here too. Securing press coverage is a hard graft these days, even when you’re best mates with the editor. A PR’s job is just attending lunches and parties while schmoozing with news editors and agents Sadly, the Ab Fab days are over, and this archaic perception of how PRs work is a fundamental misconception. With brands and businesses fighting for the same space, and the impact of the ongoing pandemic on staff turnover, the media landscape has changed forever, making the job of a PR one of the hardest! It can take hours and days of hard work, and chasing journalists to land good press coverage and the increasing commercialisation of the industry is another hurdle to have to overcome. Media events are a waste of time and money Media events are a great way to bring people together and educate them on a brand’s purpose. They help a product stand out in a crowded marketplace as well as offer a more immersive experience, which, let’s face it, we’re all craving right now. It’s a lovely way to create some great UGC from an influential audience and give them an experience to remember, which can pay dividends in brand and product coverage in the future. For a journalist, stylist, content creator, or buyer, press launches are an unrivalled way to bring products, services, key messages, brand experiences, and narratives together to help tell the story of the brand and showcase what’s new. But to do it right, rather than just a place to show off the latest collections, offer something more for attendees and give them a reason to say yes. Print coverage doesn’t matter anymore It’s not all about digital backlinks, print still has a purpose, and if your brand’s audience (or your audience’s influencers) are still likely to pick up a magazine or read the Sunday papers, it still matters. As we all know, the online universe is incredibly noisy, and coverage competes with endless ads, pop-ups, and distractions. However, reading a magazine or newspaper is a more mindful experience, meaning your coverage is more likely to be noticed. Our client SevenYays, recently received a glowing review for their innovative gifting products from a customer who had seen them feature in a Guardian print article – a trusted form of endorsement from a media powerhouse. Product placement is the only way to drive sales The product space in media titles is vast, and often product placements with a link can be a great way to drive sales. But think about other ways to drive awareness and ultimately trust and sales too. Creative newsjacking, compelling thought leadership pieces, guerrilla stunts, and creative campaign executions can all give opportunities to make noise outside the product space and build longer term authority and brand equity. You can’t measure PR like you can other marketing activity The beauty of PR is that it CAN actually be measured very well these days, both qualitatively in terms of brand sentiment, trust scores, and the like, and quantitatively as well – and not just in terms of the audience reach. Software gives us the capability to see PR’s impact on metrics, including site visits, search volumes, sales, and other data points, including lower CPC for paid search and backlinks for SEO. But there will always be the immeasurable – the love for a brand, the word-of-mouth recommendation that can’t be tracked, the affinity that can’t be bought. And that is where the magic is, PR may sometimes be immeasurable, but it is always invaluable. If you want to work with a Manchester PR Agency that simplifies PR then get in touch! Call us on 0161 706 0534 or drop us an email here. Purple Riot is a multi-award-winning PR agency and we work with a mix of exciting sectors, including hospitality, retail, leisure and lifestyle. Find out more about how to choose and get the best from your PR Agency here.