I don't really know what PR people do - what is it that they can do for a small business?

[vacaloca]

I've just been reading a few posts from PR people and I realised I don't really understand what they do. Is it like marketing? Do they improve the look of your business or find you clients, or what?

And as you'll see, twofalls, I hope I was that kind of press officer too .

You sound perfect MI. I just wish I worked in your sector. Its just SO hard to find decent journalists these days

Oh, I so agree with you Twofalls. One of the benefits of being inhouse is that you're expected to push back and tell them when they're being ridiculous. And they listen. (well, here they do, I guess it depends on the company and the culture). It has been such a relief not having to try come up with something creative on a product that's boring as batshit and as pointless. We got a call yesterday - banker wants a press release and articles and interviews etc. We said no!

But then, that's when PR starts to get to be a proper addition to the business, providing proper support and guidance to the business. Doesn't always work that way.

And really - I do normally communicate better than this. Both in writing and verbally! There's just something about MN...

couldn't agree more, twofalls and bling, in fact it's more than a waste of time trying to flog something hideous, it's completely counter-productive. not even for the product, but becasue it sours the relationship with the journalists for the PR. (if someone told me that they wanted to write my copy they could consider it soured. or if they want to sit in on interviews for someone rather unstarry... i mean WHY would i say yes to that, just to interview some up and coming actress? )

i work in features, also am a former beauty ed so i have LOVED some pr firms in my time, oh yes. but features... ech, you get some right rubbish thrown at you and some really pissy 'we're in charge' attitude as well, especially from the younger firms who've watched a bit too much telly. a big turn-off. i think in fact that's what got my back up with the original posts more than anything else, and put me in such a foul mood on this thread.

MI, in my day there was one beauty PR who used to put glitter in the sodding envelopes, or fake snow for christmas. i got scared to open them. and my favourite firm is Dowal Walker, they've merged with Purple now. absolutely cracking people ime.

O god, I hated that. I briefly (very briefly) did a stint at a firm that did some consumer stuff and they were alwys trying to come up with "cool" ideas to send to journos - funky presents, delivered by funky delivery boys. I used to cringe with embarrasment every single time. it was horrible.

And interestingly, the one that was most effective was the mobile phone account. All we did was phone the journo, tell him we had two new phones, offer to lend him one for a few weeks to review, get it sent out, organise to collect it and then we sat back and waited to see if he thought the features they'd added were as fantastic as the client did.

I agree, and once the relationship has gone, its gone. I found that out very early when I wasn't experienced enough to know that something I did would really piss an arts correspondent from The Guardian off and never again have I been able to darken his door. You lot have long memories

I can see your point if you cover features/beauty stuff - I expect you get loads of tosh thrown at you all the time working in that sector. And I don't know why anyone in their right mind would think that stuffing glitter in an envelope is going to win friends and influence people.

The work I do with the nationals is normally focussed around (non-fiction) books so I usually try to find a way of using the subject of the book to spark an idea for a feature. The book then hopefully gets a plug off the back of it. And of course to try and get reviews which is what every authors aspires too but is pretty nigh on impossible in 90% of the cases I work on. But perhaps that is why I have better relationships with journalists - because I am generally not really trying to sell something.

Somewhat surprisingly, one of the journalists I deal with at The Observer told me that whilst about 60% of the ideas for her articles come from books, only about 10% of those ideas come through the books PR people. She wants to work with the publicists. She just wants to work with us in an intelligent and meaningful way and for us to have put some thought into an idea before we pick up the phone. Not too much to expect really.

Bling - I have been worrying that I am not presenting myself very well on here when my job is supposed to be communication too . I understand you perfectly

What luck this is sort of answering some of my questions!

I thought I needed a PR (freelance though, I am not big enough to employ someone) to help get my business some publicity - I rather stupidly thought a PR probably was a journalist!

Sorry!

Anyway, now I am thinking that I probably need the help of a journalist!

By the way I have done the phoning journalists thing - I emailed and have spoken to every junior/editor on every publication who has anything to do with 'gifts' and have got hardly anywhere!
I have sent out dozens of freebies and despite having lots of LOVE THE IDEA!, there seems like there's just NEVER enough room! Possibly because NOT ON TEH BLOODY HIGH STREET is taking up all the space!

I'm not bitter, I just wish I knew how to play the game!