Author: Open Communications

CREATING CONTENT FOR YOUR TARGET AUDIENCE

Creating key messages that get the attention of the target audience sits at the core of any public relations campaign. By formulating a communications strategy with a specific audience in mind, a business can begin to build on its credibility and authority within the marketplace.

Failing to take this approach will make it much harder for businesses to grow their brand, establish a positive public perception and negatively impact on opportunities to generate new leads. Simply put, people need to be given a reason to care about a business!

First and foremost, businesses have to identify who they are targeting and how best to communicate with them.

As society becomes increasingly reliant on new technologies, there has never been so many ways to distrbute or absorb critical information. In addition to traditional print and broadcast media, the growth of digital channels now gives the public instant access to news and market updates from anywhere at any time.

It is therefore vital that key messages are strategically shared across platforms that are frequently accessed by the target audience.

Research

However, to create content that garners a positive response, businesses must develop an understanding of what information is relevant to them and how they can be reached.

Despite having industry insight and specialist knowledge, which will be extremely valuable to business communities across the marketplace, it will not resonate with the target audience if they are not understood.

This is why research is so critical. By developing an understanding of who they are wanting to target, businesses can outline the type of information the audience is interesting in receiving, identify the topical trends within a specific industry and how the content can be relatable and engaging.

Once this information is collated, businesses must begin to formulate a strategy that meets with the expectations of their target audience to realise the potential benefits that these communications deliver.

For instance, an article created for jobseekers or recruiters should read very differently to another targeting c-suite or senior management members. The more a business knows its audience, the better the connection will be.

Establishing the connection

After identifying the target audience, businesses should start creating content that incorporates a unique tone of voice to help form personal, meaningful and long-lasting relationships with those that read it.

However, with such a saturated marketplace, being able to stand aside from the competition is becoming increasingly difficult. Businesses must therefore use content as a catalyst to establish their own personality and brand identity.

This can be accomplished by creating content that focuses on business milestones, awards, individual achievements, new appointments and promotions, as well as more in-depth pieces such as market insight and thought leadership articles from senior executives.

Being transparent and open, with a consistent tone of voice in every piece of content, enables businesses to build trust and familiarity among their target audience.

This is extremely valuable when creating content that will sit on the website, blog or social media channels to keep existing customers interested whilst attracting new members to a growing community of followers.

Earned media

Now that the content has been created to resonate with the target audience, it has to be distributed across the appropriate channels. Securing media coverage is arguably the most effective way to reach not only the target audience, but people from further afield.

As businesses consistently feature in the media, they have more opportunity to build a positive reputation, connect with their audience and become a credible resource of information in the marketplace.

It is important to consider that the quality of content can often produce the most value, not the quantity of the coverage. When it comes to communicating with a target audience, creating content for trade media titles can potentially be more impactful and relatable to the readers.

As trade media titles publish content that revolves around a particular industry or profession, they frequently put a spotlight on individuals, senior teams as well as entire businesses that want to become recognised as industry leaders and experts.

By having a consistent presence in the trade media, businesses will increase their brand awareness, strengthen their reputation and boost their share of the market.

Engaging target audiences with consistent and concise messaging will give businesses the capacity to grow their following, penetrate new markets, generate new lead opportunities and ultimately provide them with the credibility they need to achieve their ambitious plans.

If you’d like to speak to our team about what we deliver and how we approach PR on behalf of our clients, then please visit: https://www.opencomms.co.uk.

STOP WASTING MONEY ON ONE-OFF SPONSORED POSTS

If you want to deliver impactful results through influencer marketing, stop wasting money on one-off sponsored posts.

Trust is the most crucial part of any relationship. Brands invest time and money into establishing trust with their audiences. Yet, when it comes to influencer marketing, most brands fail to consider that consumers lack confidence in what they see on social media. To the extent that 96% of people in the UK simply do not trust what influencers have to say.

With such a high proportion of society mistrusting influencers, the question remains: how can brands use influencer marketing so that it actually works?

USING INFLUENCERS, THE RIGHT WAY

An influencer campaign can only be executed effectively when it is centered around identifying and nurturing long-term partnership opportunities, as opposed to short lived agreements.

Contrary to popular belief, influencer marketing is more than just paying a trending social media star to post about your product. It’s about entering into meaningful collaborations rather than just contracts and transactions.

Think of it this way, if your favourite influencer published a one-off sponsored post about how great their new watch is, would you go out and buy it? The answer is likely to be no. The post holds no credibility. Despite the post coming from someone who you enjoy following on social media, the reality is that you see the sponsored post for what it is… an advert selling you something that you have no desire to purchase.

Now imagine the same scenario, however this time round you are exposed to several posts from this one influencer staggered over a period of time. As you begin to see frequent collaborations between the same brand and influencer, you start viewing their partnership as a byproduct of genuine brand love.

Ultimately, it’s this longstanding relationship that makes the influencers comments and recommendations credible, meaning you will be more inclined to make the purchase.

BUILDING TRUST

Often social media can be misleading, so it’s no surprise that people are skeptical of influencers and their sponsored posts. However, this does not mean that tactics such as influencer marketing are ineffective.

As with every relationship, trust can be built over time and that’s exactly how influencer marketing should be approached. The objective should always be to gain the confidence of your audience through consistent and reliable partnerships.

If you would like to discuss how the team at Open Comms can help your brand with impactful influencer marketing, contact us here, call: 01924 862477 or follow @OpenComms_.

MORE THAN A PR AGENCY – AN EXTENSION TO YOUR TEAM

When executed properly, PR can be transformative for businesses and will deliver long-term value to brands. But with so many tactics making up a successful communications strategy, knowing where to start can be overwhelming.

To guarantee that your business experiences the full benefits from PR and achieves the return on investment that is expected, call in the professionals.

Here at Open Communications, we have a diverse client base. Every company we work with requires something different. We understand that no-one-size-fits-all, which is why our team of specialists create a bespoke approach that aligns to each organisation and their objectives.

We become trusted communication partners to our clients by fully immersing ourselves into their businesses. This is why we believe a collaborative and transparent approach is essential. From understanding the financial and operational goals to developing detailed insight into their industry and who they employ, we become an asset and an extension of their teams.

The benefits to finding an agency that you can trust to bring recommendations to the table and focus on continuous added value should not be underestimated.

Skills and strength of a PR team

First and foremost, when working with a PR agency your business gets the specialist and collective skillset of an entire team. Dedicated to creating a communications plan that fulfils a specific brief, PR professionals have the experience, knowledge and creativity to work together to bring to life your brand in coherent, consistent and engaging communications.

Whether this is through traditional or digital PR channels, social media platforms or owned content, each PR campaign is purposely structured to attract the attention of industry counterparts, the wider marketplace and the general public.

With numerous tactics to choose from, PR agencies can create a positive public perception for clients. After all, managing the reputation of a brand and business is what it is all about. PR teams can call upon a variety of skills and strengths to identify the most relevant approach, which will maximise outputs and ensure that the message resonates with customers and prospects.

Key connections

As well as delivering a full suite of PR services, a key attribute of working with a PR agency is tapping into who they know. We are constantly networking and creating new contacts. Whether that’s members of the media, industry and social media influencers or government insiders and key policy makers, our contacts are a resource for our clients.

As important as it is to create insightful and engaging content, it is even more important to ensure the right people actually see it. By nurturing and developing these critical relationships, especially those in the press, we can call upon specific contacts to help deliver a brand’s message or publish a news update to ensure it reaches the target audience.

This is especially useful when it comes to securing media coverage. PR agencies will not only identify and create relevant content around any newsworthy announcement, but we also complete the distribution phase to the relevant journalists. The more press that covers a story, the wider the audience is reached.

Having these relationships in place and the confidence from our contacts to know that what we are sharing is relevant and right just enhances that further.

Stronger results at a lower cost

There will always be a debate about whether to invest in PR in-house or outsource to an agency. Often, this decision comes down to cost. As a business owner, you want to get the most for your money.

In many cases, it can be more costly to have one person lead your PR strategy in-house than it is to acquire the experience and expertise of a team of communications specialists, often with decades worth of industry insight.

Contracting an agency can provide piece of mind and for our clients at least, they know that their PR needs are being handled without the need for constant input. This gives them more time to concentrate on what matters most to them: growing their business and the bottom line.

If you’d like to speak to our team about what we deliver and how we approach PR on behalf of our clients, then please visit: https://www.opencomms.co.uk.

LINKEDIN TIPS: CREATING CONTENT FOR COMPANY PAGES

As the largest professional network in the world today, LinkedIn has become a beacon of opportunity for businesses across the globe. With 740 million members in more than 200 countries, harnessing the reach of LinkedIn can have a transformational impact on organisations and individuals across all sectors.  

The platform, traditionally used to highlight the skills and achievements of individual employees, has seen people grow personal connections, demonstrate industry expertise and gain the attention of recruiters.

In recent years, however, LinkedIn has continued to evolve its own offering, becoming an effective resource for organisations of all sizes. The LinkedIn Company Page is now being used as a marketing and analytical tool to establish brand identity, purpose, services, personnel and culture.

Acting as an extension of a domain website, the Company Page is a legitimate channel to generate new leads – but only if it is being leveraged in the right way. This largely comes down to the type of content being shared. As no-one-size-fits-all when it comes to creating a LinkedIn marketing strategy, I have compiled some key considerations when it comes to sharing content.

CONTENT SHARING

To grow and engage with an online network effectively, it is important to understand that LinkedIn has its own SEO search algorithm. This means that the ranking of a Company Page will be extended if it is relevant, of a high quality and includes key, searchable words and terms. Aligning these factors will optimise a Company Page and make it more visible.

This approach also transitions to the type of content being shared on the feed of a Company Page. Posting meaningful content that is of value to the intended target audience, such as articles, blogs and comment pieces, will not only give the Company Page more prominence over competitors but encourage further users to follow.

To strengthen the connection between the Company Page and followers, including an insightful question or call to action can hold value. Make it about them, ask for their own views and strike up discussions.

CONSISTENCY IS KEY

The wide-ranging benefits of sharing content will be fully realised if the frequency of your posts and their value to the reader is consistent.

There are numerous practices and strategies that can be deployed to support this, such as the tried and tested 3-2-1 model. This strategy requires that three pieces of industry-related content, two pieces of ‘proud’ content and one piece of self-promotion or service-related content is posted every week.

As the shared content continues to attract increased levels of engagement, the credibility of the Company Page will grow stronger, as will its effectiveness to be used as a marketing tool that could also encourage sales.

It is also worth remembering that the humble hashtag still plays a vital role as well. Using workplace appropriate keywords with the # prefix will help content be read by a wider audience that may be interested in the Company Page.

Three hashtags can also be added to the main Company Page to make it more searchable. Again, to attract and engage with the right target audience, use words that are relevant to a specific industry and relate directly to the business.

Finally, use employees as a resource. By ensuring employees are listed under the ‘People’ section of a Company Page, visitors will get to see the faces behind the business and have a better understanding of its size and culture. The more transparent a business can be, the more trusted it will become within the marketplace.

Once employees add the Company Page as a place of work, they can help boost the reach and visibility of posts through their own interactions. By actively engaging with Company Page posts, via likes, comments and shares, an employees’ own connections will become part of the audience as well.

FORMING A POSITIVE PUBLIC PERCEPTION

The long-term ambition for any Company Page is to attract a diverse following of influential businesspeople and organisations, and act as a vehicle to help drive forward wider commercial ambitions.

As followers continue to increase, so will the levels of engagement with different posts. But the success of this platform is reliant on a business’ willingness to invest the necessary time and resources that is needed to keep it up to date and relevant.

Remember, social media is accessible anywhere, at any time! The public’s perception of any business is likely to be formed through these channels, so it is vital that the Company Page reflects exactly what and who a business is.

If you would like further support in developing a company page on LinkedIn that will add value and deliver results please contact Open Comms on 01924 862477 or please visit www.opencomms.co.uk.

WHY PR FIRMS ARE TRUSTED TO MANAGE INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS

The changes that workplaces have had to experience in the last twelve months have been significant to say the least. With employees across the UK been forced to adapt to new technologies, trading their office desk for the dining table, it has certainly been an unsettling time for many.

Amid the ongoing challenges we have all experienced throughout this global pandemic, the benefits of consistently engaging with employees has never been more evident. It has become a necessity for businesses large and small to better understand the critical role that a robust internal communications strategy plays.

As the economy begins to reopen, it is anticipated that flexible and remote working will become a more conventional workplace practice. As such, with teams potentially operating from different locations, implementing a refined employee engagement strategy must become a priority.

Whilst workstreams can be carefully monitored online and outputs reviewed, keeping employees informed and engaged is just as important to ensure they feel valued and important. As well as supporting a positive culture, this could also positively impact on productivity.

The challenge, however, is putting in place an approach that can be adopted by different departments, varying roles and responsibilities.

CALLING ON THE PROFESSIONALS

For some it will be obvious, but for others, calling in the experts by outsourcing all internal communication requirements may seem strange.

However, when we think about it more literally, the same strategies and tactics used by PR professionals to form a positive public perception of a business can be transferred to achieve the same outcome internally.

Forming part of a wider PR strategy, the purpose of internal communications is to reflect the core values, long-term goals and workplace culture at a company. As with external PR activity, sharing a consistent message across multiple channels will ensure the message resonates with the audience; in this case employees throughout the business.

Once a business decides to communicate with their workforce in the same way they do with clients, prospects and stakeholders, employee engagement and satisfaction will improve.

CELEBRATING SUCCESS

Regardless of the size of an organisation, its departments and the skillsets of the teams, all employees are responsible for the success of a business.

This is why celebrating and showcasing any milestones that individuals, teams or the wider workforce achieve should form the foundations to an internal communications plan.

Keeping employees informed and updated, whether that’s highlighting promotions; new appointments, new client wins or reaching financial targets, all of these will help those working for a company to feel more valued and committed to the wider business objectives.

CHOICE OF CHANNEL

To reach the intended target audience, which in this case is employees, the way the information is shared is just as critical as the content that is created.

Although social media is widely used for PR campaigns and within communications strategies, the choice of channel will always be a critical factor when it comes to measuring success and engagement.

The same can be said for internal communications. In this instance, LinkedIn would be the most obvious platform to choose when encouraging and supporting engagement with employees.

As a way of communicating directly with team members and the wider business community, it can be used to build positive associations drive insightful responses and reiterate the benefits of working within that company.

MAKE SURE EXTERNAL COMMS MIRROR INTERNAL AND VISA VERSA

News and blog sections on a company website should be frequently updated. This is often where employees will go to get updates about a company outside of the internal channels that they have access to.

Ensuring that the content that is shared internally is consistent with what is shared to the wider public will instill trust. Sharing more detailed, insightful and informative content about business activities on a website means employees can remain informed about any corporate updates or projections for the future that may not sit comfortably as an update to all staff.

Using the right channels at the right time and in the right order will be the making or breaking of an internal communications strategy. It is important to give this the time, thought and resource it deserves. Whether you want to share complex and analytical insight or lighter and briefer updates, each piece of content can be leveraged to help communicate critical messages to employees whilst encouraging open discussions within the workplace.

Whether it’s good or bad, the objective of internal communications is to ensure employees are given updates and announcements from the business directly, rather than from outside sources. Managing internal communications and placing as much focus, attention and value on it as you would your engagement with other audiences will deliver greater value. After all, an informed, aware and engaged team are more likely to become committed, productive and positive.

BEHIND THE CURTAIN: ADDING PERSONALITY TO CORPORATE STORYTELLING

Identifying a newsworthy story within an organisation sits at the heart of public relations. Although well written copy, a strong pitch and good media contacts can contribute towards securing coverage, the content of the story itself is ultimately what journalists focus on.

In an increasingly competitive media market, journalists are inundated with press releases every single day. Although there is no definitive definition of a newsworthy story, to secure editorial space it must garner a journalist’s attention and be worth their time to publish.

They want a story that will not only be informative and enjoyable for their readers, but also differentiate from usual churn that falls into the news desk’s inbox.

The are many aspects that go into distributing a story but increasing its chances of securing coverage relies on the relevance of its news angle. No matter whether it’s trade, regional or national media that are the target, ensuring it has a human or personal interest is critical to reaching the largest possible audience.

PERSONALISING PRESS STORIES

There will always be a place in the media sphere for press releases that cover company announcements or new investments, the launch of a new service or product, but pulling back the curtain of any business is a valuable tool when you want to attract real attention.

First and foremost, people are inherently curious about the lives of others. This is no different within the marketplace. There is an appetite to know who is working where, how they are performing and what they are achieving.

It is important to work with journalists and the media to fill this gap and educate the audience. With this approach in mind, stories should focus on new appointments and promotions, business milestones, awards, achievements and examples of best practice from industry leaders.

Covering these topics will educate and inform readers, while also reinforcing experience, authority and trust from the brand and business.

STAYING RELEVANT TO READERS

There is also significant value in steering away from the corporate mindset and creating personal profiles of employees, especially those who work in executive or senior management positions. Businesses must identify media outlets that put spotlights on individuals and pursue these opportunities.

This could be anything from employees offering commentary on topical trends in the sector, personal opinion about the news agenda or simply shining a spotlight on their hobbies and lives away from the office.

There are a plethora of opportunities to create human-centric angles that can be deemed newsworthy.

To impact of these stories can also go far beyond coverage in the media. As digital communications becomes more embedded into society and our daily lives, people from around the world can interact and engage with one another instantaneously.

TRANSPARENCY IS KEY

For industry, this means that transparency has never been so important. As mentioned, taking a more personal approach with the public, as well as the media, can create a sense of loyalty, familiarity and attachment towards a business, which should not be underestimated.

Ultimately, as readers and audiences are continually introduced to the people behind a business through media coverage, stronger relationships with existing customers are established and new business opportunities are created.

Securing media coverage is undoubtedly the most effective way to generate and maintain a positive perception among the public, but to maximise and maintain this relies upon stories that are more personable as well as relevant.

WHY THE UK GOVERNMENT SPENT £63,000 ON INFLUENCER MARKETING

As the influencer industry continues to evolve, we are seeing more positive uses for social media celebrities and their high profiles.

Following a Freedom of Information request by Full Fact, the UK government confirmed that they were working with key micro and macro influencers to spread awareness of the NHS Track and Trace app.

In an official statement, The Cabinet Office explained that a total of £63,000 was spent on influencers ‘’to reach young adults in a channel they regularly engage with.’’

An investment of this nature and size, particularly at a time when the economy is already suffering may seem completely unjustifiable to some. However, this misconstrued view could not be farther from the truth.

Influencer marketing works

Undoubtedly, the best way to engage an audience on social media is through influencer marketing. This reality was first recognised by consumer-facing brands who started utilising influencers to promote their products and business.

Now, as the world collectively begins to see the true value of influencers, their role in society has progressed into so much more than just a vehicle for selling.

When used properly, influencers have the potential to act as effective agents for social change. Thanks to their incredibly engaged fan base, they are in possession of a platform perfect for delivering messages that positively impact people and society.

The governments’ social media influencer campaign alone reached over seven million people. All of whom were encouraged to #gettested by the likes of former Love Islanders Josh Denzel and Shaughna Phillips.

The bottom line

The reason why influencer marketing has experienced exponential growth over such a short period of time is due to its simplicity. People listen to people that they trust. It really is that easy.

Much like any other peer to peer recommendations, influencers have the power to shape the behaviours of their followers through messages and information that they share on their social channels.

Are you interested in witnessing first-hand the many benefits of influencer marketing? Get in touch with our friendly team here. Alternatively, give us a call on 01924 862477 – we’d love to hear from you!

MEASURING THE IMPACT AND VALUE OF PR

PR is driven by helping brands and businesses create a positive perception among the public. Although there is no definitive metric to measure the success of a pr campaign, the overarching aim is to not only reach the largest audience possible but convert this interest into new business opportunities.

As a PR professional, I’m well aware of the long-term results and transformative impact that PR can have on businesses large and small. But as we are living in an increasingly data-driven world, there is a growing demand to see the immediate impact of PR and how this can be evaluated as a positive return on investment.

Therefore, the ability to demonstrate the value and effectiveness of PR has never been so important.

With a plethora of data analytical tools to use at our disposal, the way PR professionals evaluate the results of their work has gone through an evolution in recent years. But due to the multi-faceted nature of public relations campaigns, this is far from a black and white process.

As one PR brief and completely differ from the next, it is important that any metric or data pertaining to the impact of a campaign is given concise context and aligned with the business’ wider goals. This is where the true value of PR can be measured against a return on investment.

Here at Open Comms, we work with a wide-ranging client base that operate in very different industries. As such, we ensure that our results are given context, backed up by evidence and correspond with our clients’ wider objectives.

From my own insight and experience, I will share two critical methods that can reflect the success of a PR campaign.

Media coverage:

Whether it’s national, regional or trade press, obtaining media coverage is arguably the most effective way to garner the most attention of a business or brand. As news can now be accessed instantly by any person holding a smart phone, computer or any similar device, securing media coverage can potentially reach audiences across the globe.

Once a business has hit the headlines, it provides them with the credibility and legitimacy to build a positive reputation. This can then be leveraged as a platform to engage with the public and ultimately help businesses promote themselves within the marketplace.

UNDERSTANDING THE VALUE OF DIGITAL MEDIA

The true impact of securing media coverage, however, can only be realised if it is consistent. Once a business is regularly featured in newspapers, online publications, or even broadcast and radio, it will be viewed as a trusted and reliable source.

Once this has been established, media coverage must be utilised as an effective marketing tool to impact on consumer behaviour and attract new business opportunities.

So, put simply: the more media coverage secured, the bigger the audience is reached.

Social media:

There is no denying that the role of social media within the marketplace is critical. The influence of platforms such as Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram, has completely transformed how businesses are marketed.

With social media holding so much significance to the overall success of a business, a social media strategy now forms a critical part of any PR campaign.

Each channel provides existing and new customers the opportunity to directly engage with brands and businesses anywhere at any time. That being said, it also gives businesses direct access to communicate with their customer base as well.

THE POWER OF PERSONALISING SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS 

Transforming these exchanges turn into positive experiences, however, is solely reliant on the content being shared. Whether it’s promoting a new product, service, announcing a company update or commenting on a topical trend, the content must capture and maintain the user’s attention.

Aside from monitoring an increase in followers and engagement, much more data can be extracted and analysed to showcase the value of social media. As part of the PR campaign, we can determine the peak time of visitors to the platforms, where they are located and what pieces of content are garnering the most attention.

Compiling this information is critical to forming a complete picture of how social media channels can be best used to support the wider ambitious of a business or brand. Once these platforms are being used in a purposeful and strategic way, tangible results will be generated and clearly show the value to the return on investment.

WORDS MATTER: PURPOSE-LED COMMUNICATIONS IN 2021

Brands that are continuing to survive the pandemic, are doing so with purpose-led communications. It really is that simple.

A crisis provides clarity, both in life and most definitely in business. It shines a light on what is truly important and ultimately becomes a catalyst for change. Companies that acknowledge, accept, and adapt to this type of seismic shift are those that move forward instead of being left behind.

As a result of Covid-19, and a particularly polarised political climate, 2020 was driven by purpose-led communications campaigns that resonated with changing consumer behaviour and preferences. Suddenly it was less about selling a product and more about catering to the emotional needs of customers.

Lego – #LetsBuildTogether

If you are an avid social media user like myself, then you have probably come across Lego’s #LetsBuildTogether campaign. A fantastic example of purpose-led communications, the campaign was intended to support people rather than sell products as explained by James Gregson, Director and Head of Social Studio at the company. Gregson also reinforced that the brand wanted to “practice action over perfection” while reaching people as quickly as they could.

This agile approach to the crisis supported Lego in garnering huge success across multiple digital platforms. In fact, the brand saw a 14% increase in positive mentions which reflected a surge in demand.

Learnings to apply in 2021

Brands like Lego turned uncertainty into opportunity. As opposed to pushing a sales message, they are adding value to their community and helping to alleviate people’s pain through positive messaging.

Recognising this type of marketing and understanding the vital role of purpose-led communications is crucial for any business wanting to succeed. This is further validated by Deloitte’s 2021 Global Marketing Trends which revealed the following:

  • “Almost four in five people could cite a time a brand responded positively to the pandemic and one in five strongly agreed it led to increased brand loyalty on their part.”
  • “Conversely, more than 25% of those who noticed brands acting in their own self-interest walked away from those brands.”
  • “Furthermore, fifty-eight percent of respondents could recall at least one brand that quickly pivoted to better respond to their needs, and 82% said this led to them doing more business with the brand.”

The reality is that consumers expect more from brands, especially during difficult times. It is not enough to simply sell, sell, sell. People are looking for help from brands through purpose-led communications and in return are willing to reward those that can meet their requirements with sincere advocacy.

If you would like to discuss how the team at Open Comms can help your brand through impactful and purpose driven communications, contact us here, call: 01924 862477 or follow @OpenComms_.

THE MANY WAYS CASE STUDIES CAN BENEFIT BUSINESS

Although a successful PR strategy is made up of many different strands of activity, they must all seamlessly come together to use effective communications to meet with the wider objectives of a business.

Whether its increasing brand awareness, educating the market on a product or launching a new service, no two PR strategies will ever be the same. Not least because the public’s expectations continually evolve.

This has been most evident throughout the past year. Amid the devastation that we have all experienced, this pandemic has undoubtedly accelerated the digital revolution across the globe. By becoming a more tech-centric society, the landscape for business is undergoing a complete transformation.

Therefore, the need for concise and clear communications has never been as sought after. But as entire industries and working practices continue to change, it is important for businesses to update and archive any achievements and milestones they have reached. These are best communicated when presented as case studies.

How case studies impact a PR strategy

Although there can be a lot of time spent gathering information and insight, case studies enable businesses to showcase the work that has been carried out, the type of clients they work with and more importantly, what they are capable of delivering.

Without a doubt, they have an integral part to play within a PR strategy. Once complete, a case study can act as a marketing tool that can be used to generate new business enquiries and to educate and inform certain sectors of an organisation’s expertise within that market.

Case studies have many benefits. Not only can they act as an active record or timeline of key internal milestones, but can also highlight how significant growth targets have been achieved and clearly demonstrate how existing clients are benefiting from using a specific service or product.

They also offer businesses accountability. By sharing case studies on social media channels, on a website or via the press, businesses are providing evidence that can be used to substantiate any claims made in advertising.

With that said, the output of any case study can also be maximised if it focuses on what’s relevant and topical within a specific industry or the wider marketplace. This will ensure that, when published, it already resonates with the intended target audience.

The contents of a case study

We now operate in a data-driven world. With new technology and innovative developments changing the way we live and work. Data analysis is becoming the driving force behind decision marking within businesses at practically every level.

This is where the full potential of case studies as reliable and effective resources can be fully realised.

By showing specific metrics, whether it’s an increase in profits, meeting quarterly growth targets or expanding workforce, this set of data can help promote the effectiveness of specific products and services to prospective clients.

To further enhance a business’ successes and achievements, let the clients they already work with speak about their own experiences. Testimonials not only give further credibility to a case study, but also strengthen the overall perception of a business by having an external voice speak so positively.

Sharing success

Some companies believe that sharing case studies will provide competitors with too much information. This is very unlikely. Competing businesses are already targeting your clients, so enhancing the relationship that you have through case studies is actually a positive.

It shows that the work that was completed is endorsed by that business and that you are a reputable supplier that delivers results. Furthermore, it shows other potential customers in the same market what they are missing.

Far be it that a case study will deter a customer from contacting you, it will do the exact opposite. Using this information to support sales will redirect the resource and time taken to compiling these examples to where it matters most, converting leads.

There is nothing wrong with sharing success, both internally and with an external audience, and case studies are a great way to do just that.

If you would like to discuss the benefits of case studies for your business, get in touch with our team here. Alternatively, give us a call on 01924 862477 – we’d love to hear from you!