Miss Ink

Ask our public relations specialists

What is public relations?

Public relations or PR is the practice of communicating and managing ideas with the public. It is the promotion of a brand through virtually any medium. Public relations specialists work with the media, but they also often times have a hand in developing marketing materials (e.g., newsletters, web sites, brochures), events and strategic communication plans. At Miss Ink we like to say that simply put, anything that the public will see about your company or brand is something that we can help you with.

How is PR different from advertising?

Generally, the difference between public relations and advertising is that in advertising you pay for space and have 100 percent control over the content in the space. Conversely, one of the main jobs of public relations specialists is to focus on media relations, wherein a company or organization is featured in media via articles, news briefs, event calendars, TV segments, blogs, etc. Think of when you read an article versus when you look at an advertisement. You’ll probably give the article more credibility than the advertisement because it comes from an objective source.

Why is communication and branding important to me?

What is search engine optimization or SEO?

Search engine optimization (SEO) is way that the ranking of a Web site is improved in search engines. The ideal result of an optimized Web site is that it will appear on the first or second page of a search results list improving the odds that a prospect will visit the site and choose that company for a particular product or service. When a Web site appears in the results as a “natural” or “organic” listing, this means that the site appears as a result of SEO techniques and not paid placement, such as pay-per-click advertisements. The process of SEO is carried out through a variety of methods including editing content to include relevant keyword search terms and hyperlinks.

Why is a strong online presence so valuable?

What is social media and social networking?

From blogs to online communities, social media is all about sharing information and interaction. The simplest definition of social media is that it encompasses all of the ways people share information and communication on the Internet. The types of social media sites differ based on the function of the web site. For instance, the main function of YouTube is to share and view multimedia. Social Networking is a term specific to web sites that are designed to encourage “networking” among its members. For example, LinkedIn’s main purpose is to connect professionals.

How is social media and SEO impacting public relations?

Commonly referred to as PR 2.0, this phenomenon has grown with the popularity of the Internet. Think about it; when you’re looking for a new product or service, where do you begin your research? The Internet. As a result of the enormous growth of social media sites, participation has become crucial to marketing campaigns. Gone are the days when you simply talked to clients and prospects through ad campaigns and propaganda; now it is imperative to engage people through interaction. The adding of this personal element allows clients and prospects to feel as if they are getting to know you and your brand through their own exploration instead of just being bombarded by media messages. It’s the accessibility that makes every person feel as if they have VIP access. This is certainly not to say that traditional advertising and public relations are obsolete, but the tactics that public relations specialists employ are changing.

Can social media help my business?

Absolutely. Social media is being used by companies large and small to reach the consumer at never before available speed, while also monitoring what they are saying about you and your brand. The beauty of social media is that it can help you increase your company’s search engine optimization, but more importantly, it allows you to interact with people making each “fan,” “friend,” and “follower,” a VIP customer. Social media is also a fantastic way to establish yourself as an expert and tell customers or leads how you can help them. Just remember to provide information that speaks to your clients and their needs. It’s not about the product and the features; it’s about the benefits to them.

How much time do I have to dedicate to social media?

Many people shy away from social media because they are concerned that they don’t have the time required for upkeep. Social media doesn’t have to take hours of your day. One of the keys is to schedule it in to your planner. If you can plan a campaign, well that’s even better. It can’t be a set it and forget it mentality, but if you come up with ideas for content ahead of time and schedule it into your day it will certainly help. Don’t forget to check each site daily for comments or messages and always take the time to respond.

Do I have to be on every social networking web site?

No. Miss Ink advises people to only get involved with what they can handle. It will look far worse if you are on every web site and aren’t active, than if you are on one or two social media sites and have an actively strong page.

Can I hire Miss Ink to help with my social media marketing?

Yes. Miss Ink offers social media consultation and in some cases, social media management. Can we 100% run your social media for you? It depends on each case, but most often we do not manage your social media completely without you. Why? Because we know that the key to being successful is to make it personal and while we can help you build campaigns and keep your “fans,” and “followers” interested, we believe a personal message really should be personal. You can find out more on the packages page of our web site or contact us directly.