Five ways to break through the noise with PR

I recently took part in a roundtable discussion for 2FunkyArts, a social enterprise dedicated to advancing and celebrating art & music of black origin in Leicester.

The panel event was all about helping musicians and creatives learn the ultimate 'Tricks of the Trade'. If you didn't know already, the bulk of my PR experience has been rooted in the ultra-competitive music industry.

Some of the advice I passed to participants is relevant to anyone wanting to break through the noise, and get themselves seen and heard, so here are a few key takeaways below.

️1. Prepare! Always have a press kit ready to go before pitching yourself out for press opportunities. Use a Dropbox folder or Google Drive that you can link share, and create a place to share your biography, press images, logos, press releases, visual content etc.

️2, Start local - Regional press is always a great place to start developing your PR. Newspapers, magazines, radio and TV channels are all hungry to chat to local people and businesses doing interesting things. It's a great area to practice speaking to the media and springboard to national or wider-reaching titles. Local publications love to champion homegrown talent too - so they'll most likely remember you and call on you if they have future opportunities.

️3. Don't be afraid to go niche. The media industry is changing fast. If you're just starting out, forget about the big dogs for now (lots of my clients namecheck Forbes, The Mail, Guardian, BBC) there are now thousands of publications, websites, social accounts and podcasts dedicated to the most niche subject matter. Because of this, you can really hone in on people & platforms that will really get you, leading to more thoughtful and valuable conversations and connections.

️4. News-jacking. Is there something topical in the news that you have an opinion on? It could be related to mental health, sustainability, working-from-home, or fast fashion. Read and listen to the news, and if something you're well-versed in is making waves, get in touch with publications and offer up your opinion for a guest blog, radio interview, or comment piece.

️5. Skill-sharing. Sure you're selling products or services, but can you also share your skills? In my example to musicians, I used the example of sharing how to DJ or learn about songwriting, but perhaps you create your own designs, can offer photography tips, or can glaze a bowl? Writers and editors are always looking for engaging content, and this is perfect for showing off personality and boosting credibility too.