When to Start PR for Your Business?

by Anthony Lopez-Rizzo

So, you’re thinking about PR for your business, but you’re not sure when’s the right time to start. Should you wait until you’re more established, or is it better to dive in from the get-go? The truth is, the earlier, the better. Here's when you should think about kicking off your PR game.

Why PR is a Must-Have for Your Business

PR isn’t just about landing a spot in the news—it’s about building trust, increasing your visibility, and shaping the way people see your brand. Think of PR as your brand's voice, making sure the right people hear it.

PR can help you:

Build brand awareness
Increase your credibility
Attract new opportunities
Manage your reputation

When Should You Start PR?

1. When You Launch Your Business: PR is essential right when you launch. Getting the word out about your new business is key. A press release, media outreach, and social buzz can help create initial interest and momentum from day one. Starting early means you don’t have to fight for attention once you’re up and running.

2. When Your Brand Message is Clear: PR works best when you have a solid, clear brand message. What’s your story? Who are you talking to? Once you’ve nailed your message and know your audience, you’re ready to start sharing it with the world.

3. When You’re Ready to Scale: If your business is growing and you’re ready to take it to the next level, PR can help you reach new customers, partners, or investors. This is when you’ll need more visibility, and PR is perfect for getting your brand in front of the right people.

4. When You’ve Got News to Share: Got a new product, an anniversary, or a cool partnership to announce? These are the perfect times to bring in PR. Big moments like these are newsworthy and can get you valuable media coverage. You’ve worked hard to reach these milestones, so let people know!

5. When You Need Reputation Management: PR isn’t just about promoting positive news, it’s also about managing your reputation, especially when things don’t go as planned. A solid PR strategy can help you navigate tricky situations and ensure your message stays on point, no matter what.

How to Get Started with PR

1. Build Relationships with the Media: Don’t just cold-pitch journalists. Start building relationships with media members and influencers in your space. Share interesting content, engage on social, and establish a rapport over time. Relationships like these pay off when you need media coverage.

2. Create a Press Kit: A press kit is your media toolkit—it includes your business story, logos, team bios, and any other media assets. Journalists love when this info is easy to find and accessible, so make sure you have a well-organized press kit ready to go.

3. Write Your First Press Release: When you have news to share, write a concise, compelling press release. Make it easy for journalists to pick up the story. Don’t forget to include key details like what’s new, why it matters, and how it’s different.

4. Set Clear Goals: What do you want to achieve with PR? Whether it’s raising awareness, securing media coverage, or attracting partnerships, setting clear goals will help guide your PR efforts and keep you focused.

When NOT to Start PR

PR isn’t always the right choice at every stage. Hold off if:

Your product or service isn’t ready yet.
Your brand message is still evolving.
You’re not prepared for media attention (it’s a lot to handle!)

Bottom Line: Start PR Early for Long-Term Success

The sooner you start thinking about PR, the better. It’s all about getting ahead, building relationships, and creating buzz around your brand from the start. Don’t wait for the perfect moment the right time is now.

Ready to boost your visibility and build your brand? Give PitchCraft Media iNC a message, and we will help you start your PR journey!