Harnessing the Power of PR as a Creative Business Owner

I used to think getting my work in magazines was hard but now I know better. Now I've been in multiple mags, newspapers, on podcasts and on BBC radio, I KNOW that it is actually pretty simple.

Getting PR like this raises your profile and trust value and trust is crucial when selling luxury items like art. Your clients need to buy into you before they hand over the money for what you make.

If you’re ready to ditch the nonsense and have your artwork celebrated in the public eye then make sure you avoid making these mistakes:

1.Thinking‘I’m not interesting enough’

Everyone has a story. There’s a story behind why you make art, the processes that you use and the work you make. You just have to find the angle and match it to the right media outlet.

Is your work linked to the local area? Then find out what the local papers, nature magazines and radio stations are talking about.

Are you tackling big topics such as mental health, sexuality or pop culture? Then find journalists working in that niche, whether they are writing for small magazines or reporting for the BBC. Have you been working with a charity or collaborating with another business or creative? These kinds of things make great articles and benefit all parties.

These are also the kinds of stories you can be talking about in product descriptions, blogs and social media posts. It’s not something totally brand new. Your story is interesting. You may not think so because it’s normal to you but your ideal client is just waiting to learn more about you.

2.Being unprepared

Journalists work very fast and are constantly on the go. This means that, if your pitch catches their eye, you need to be ready with all of the information they could need. Sometimes they work so fast that they print your work without even telling you!

This article was published without any notice and I only found out about it because a client sent me a photo. Obviously I was thrilled but it pays to keep an eye on the places you’ve pitched to.

Information that journalists usually need:

• the who, what, where when and why of a story

• facts and quotes

• high resolution photos (in the email or a dropbox style link)

• your contact details
  

3. Being spammy or pestering them

The people that you are contacted are inundated with emails so it is very important that you are not sending them umpteen emails chasing them up. I once sent out press releases in July and heard nothing back. 3 months later, Living North contacted me wanting to do a 2 page spread on my business. They had filed the press release for when it fit the needs of the magazine. Most magazines operate edition themes and this will often dictate what they include when. Just because you haven’t heard back doesn't;t mean nothing is going to come of it.

If you want support to research, prepare and pitch for PR then get in touch. Choose between a power hour (great for strategising or writing a pitch), a VIP day or 3 months one to one coaching (where we can create a whole PR strategy AND all of the assets you need with timelines) where I help you show the world your creative magic.

Book your discovery call here so that we can find what works for you.

You can also see my PR page here.