What Is a PR retainer and How Is It Used?

If you’re considering hiring a public relations (PR) firm, it’s important to understand the billing process. No one wants any surprises there, R we right? There’s hourly billing, of course, but you may also have the option of a PR retainer for the services you need. Which is the best fit for you? Let’s find out.

PR Retainers Defined

A PR retainer is a lump sum that you pay to a PR firm each month for the work they provide. The amount you pay depends on how much work you need to meet your PR goals and your budget, so it’s important to be specific about both early on in your communications with the PR firm. Your monthly statement should itemize any work performed as well as expenses that were not included in the retainer if any. You should also be able to request the right to approve any expenses over a certain amount before they are incurred.

Benefits of PR Retainers

There are a number of benefits to PR retainers including:

• Having access to a broad range of services from the PR firm
• Building a relationship with a dedicated team who knows your brand and goals
• Ability to achieve long-term as well as short-term goals with messaging and brand consistency
• Flexibility should you need more of certain services and less of others depending on a project or goal
• Better budget control because you know what your PR costs will be each month

When is a PR Retainer Best?

A PR retainer is an ongoing agreement between you and your PR firm, usually renewable on a yearly basis. Although different PR firms may have different terms. So, if your brand needs ongoing support to increase brand awareness and credibility, keep your target audience engaged, help generate leads, and/or maintain your positive reputation, a PR retainer could just be the way to go.

With a PR retainer, your firm will continually work on your behalf to consistently monitor the media in your target market(s), identify opportunities in which to pitch your products/services and share your announcements and news. R firm also considers it an opportunity to really get to know you, your brand, and your goals so we can work as an extension of your team for better efficiency and success. 

This can also be helpful when things come along that you’re not anticipating like perhaps a product recall, customer injury or complaint, employee misconduct, security breach, or any type of negative press. It’s in these circumstances that time is of the essence and having an expert PR team at the ready can be invaluable.

On the other hand, if you have more one-off needs for PR services such as you already have in-house PR staff but have an overflow project that needs outsourcing. Or, perhaps you have a small company with too limited of a budget for ongoing PR. That’s ok too! Luckily, R expert team not only works by PR retainer but also offers a la carte services!

We’d love to see how we could help your brand! Learn more about our public relations services. Or, schedule a FREE Discovery Call Today!

by R Public Relations Firm

Gift Guide for Your Foodie Friends

Can you believe the holiday season is just around the corner? I know it’s still considered fall, but before you know it we’ll be in December and as some say, if you’re not early, you’re already late! If you have a food-obsessed family member or friend you’re shopping for, we’ve rounded up some awesome options like barbecue delivered to you, cookbooks to up your recipe game and plant-based probiotics to easily boost your diet.

We would love to be considered for any upcoming editorial coverage that may fit your needs for the holiday season! Would you please reach out should you need anything or have any questions? Thanks!

Davila's BBQ

Davila's BBQ,Seguin, Texas's barbecue from award-winning, third-generation pitmaster Adrian Davila, is offering to ship their 'cue to you! Through Goldbelly, you can order their amazing mesquite-smoked beef brisket, pork ribs, lamb ribs, and more right to your door from anywhere in the country. Davila balances sweet and smoky heat with a distinct Latino influence, characterized by Native American cooking techniques from the South Texas region. Perfectly pre-seasoned and smoked, all you have to do is throw them in the oven! 

Davila not only keeps the tradition of the past alive in his restaurant but also in the pages of his cookbook, Cowboy Barbecue: Fire & Smoke from the Original Texas Vaqueros. In the book, he passes down the traditions of the vaqueros, the Latin American cattle herders who once roamed the plains of Texas and Mexico, and shares the stories of the Tejano community through food. 

Visit them today!

418 W Kingsbury St; Seguin, Texas

www.davilasbbq.com

830.379.5566

Tuesday through Sunday: 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. 

Closed Monday 

Peg Leg Porker

Peg Leg Porker, Nashville’s must-stop barbecue spot for locals and tourists alike, will ship their 'cue to you! Through Goldbelly, you can order their amazing barbecue and more right to your door from anywhere in the country. Owner Carey Bringle’s BBQ is known for its addictive sauces and juicy, smoked-to-perfection pork ribs that are drenched with a spicy dry rub after they are cooked. Perfectly seasoned and smoked, all you have to do is throw them in the oven!

Not only that, Bringle is the only award-winning pitmaster and Bourbon ager in the world. To get his bourbon’s signature flavor, he starts with a Tennessee bourbon. Then, he filters it through hickory charcoal that he burns down in his pits at Peg Leg Porker. Working with smoke every day, Bringle understands it just like any other ingredient and uses its smoothness to add depth in barbecue and bourbon. His signature series features a 4-6 Year White Label, 8-Year Grey Label, 12-Year Black Label, and a 15-Year Pitmasters Reserve Tennessee Straight Bourbon. Learn more here.

And last, whether you’re a senior stoker of the flames or find your skills to be lack​​ing, Bringle’s guide, BBQ for Dummies, teaches you the ins and outs of everything you need to be a professional pitmaster. It features over 50 recipes for marinades, rubs, injections, sauces, and more, plus the book provides tried-and-true advice on barbecuing and smoking. If you’re looking for a guide that shows you how the pitmasters really do it, look no further to unlock the secrets of great barbecue. 

Visit them today!

903 Gleaves St; Nashville, TN 37203

peglegporker.com

615.829.6023

Monday & Tuesday: 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Wednesday through Saturday: 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Small Town Cultures

When it comes to versatile, yet delicious plant-based ferments, Small Town Cultures is the way to go. Lake Placid, New York native and Founder, Cori Deans, began the business creating turmeric kimchi, fermented jalapeños, pickled red onions, preserved Meyer lemons, and more, initially for her inner circle and then in local farmers’ markets. Now the woman-owned, family-run business has expanded to shops all across the country. Top your tacos with their fermented sliced jalapeños, pop some chopped, fermented Meyer lemon on your fruit parfait, or give some bite to your next burger with their raw, fermented red onions. You can treat your tastebuds while catering to a sensitive stomach at the same time, improving both your health and mood through clean, healthy foods. For a location near you, try their “Find Us” locator.

Learn more about them!

https://www.smalltowncultures.com/

Instagram: @smalltowncultures

by R Public Relations Firm

7 Ways Public Relations Can Improve Customer Experience

While there are many aspects of the customer experience, there’s one thread that links them all: communication. It’s the key to your customer relationships. And there’s no better way to build and nurture those relationships than through the strategic communications power of public relations (PR). It just so happens that PR is our specialty and we can show you just some of the ways it can help improve customer experience.

1. Creating Your Narrative – Your customers need to be aware of your brand’s positioning as well as the benefit and value of your product/service in a way that resonates with them. PR can help you relay those messages effectively and consistently across multiple channels.
2. Understanding Your Customers and Your Market – A big part of PR is knowing who your customers are, where they are and what drives them. Armed with that information, you can develop PR strategies that make sure your brand is in the right place at the right time with the right message.
3. Using Customer Feedback to Your Advantage – A customer satisfaction survey is no longer the only way in which you’ll gain feedback from customers. It’s still important, for sure, but now you’ll receive customer questions, praises and complaints (hopefully not) through a number of channels including social media. PR is crucial here, in not only controlling the narrative – promoting the positive, anticipating needs and addressing concerns – but also in presenting an open, transparent and timely image of your brand.
4. Showing Your Customers The Way – Through the customer experience that is. Your buyer’s journey likely has multiple steps and PR can help you direct your customers through those steps with communications tailored to provide the information they need when they need it. 
5. Keeping Customers Engaged – Once your customer buys, that shouldn’t be the end of the story. PR can also help you keep them engaged by making sure they are in the loop on new offerings, updates to your products/services and your brand as well as by providing content that’s relevant to them.
6. Navigating a Crisis – Whether it’s a problem with your product/service, an issue in the industry, or an unforeseen event like COVID-19, crises can and will happen. In these circumstances, PR can literally be your lifeline with customers. The right PR communications strategy can help you effectively share information, address the impact to your customers, and let them know how you’re remedying the issue(s).
7. Building Relationships Beyond the Customer – Direct communications with your customers is important, no doubt. But there’s a credibility that comes with your brand being presented in a positive light through outside sources as well. That’s why relationships with the media as well as influencers are so important. Cultivating as well as maintaining those relationships is a key component of PR.

R team has expertise in the restaurant, hospitality, retail, health and wellness, business, non-profit industries and works with lifestyle brands in Nashville, Austin, San Antonio, New York, or anywhere in between. We’d love to help improve your customer experience with PR. Learn more about our public relations services. Or, click HERE to schedule your FREE discovery call today!

by R Public Relations Firm

R Frequently Asked Questions on PR Buzzwords

PR is all about generating ‘buzz,’ and perhaps that’s why there are so many buzzwords in the public relations space. But with that comes just as many questions and we always want R clients (and potential clients) to be in the know. So, we’re clearing up any confusion on what PR is, how it works and how it can benefit your brand with these FAQs.

What is public relations (PR)?

In general, public relations (PR) is the process of maintaining a favorable image and building beneficial relationships between an organization and the public communities, groups and people it serves. As such, PR is often referred to as ‘free advertising’ because it primarily includes earned media such as:

• Mentions in the news as well as reviews
• Positive comments from customers on social media
• High organic rankings on search engines

How is PR different from marketing? 

The short answer. The primary difference between the two is that marketing is focused on promoting a specific product, service or idea; and increasing sales, while public relations is focused on maintaining a positive reputation for the company overall. Check out our recent blog to learn more.

What do PR people do?

People who work in PR have many different titles, but the goal is one and the same; to create and maintain a positive public image for their employer or client. They use techniques and strategies related to managing how information about an individual or company is disseminated to the public, and especially the media. For example, R PR services include:

• Campaign development and management
• Media relationships
• Influencer relationships and marketing
• Media training for staff
• Content creation
• Pitching
• Traditional and digital media placements
• Editorial advance placements
• Community partnerships

What are the benefits of PR?

There are a multitude of benefits for brands that implement effective PR strategies. We could go on for days, and that’s why we always start with a discovery call. Because once we get to know you and learn your goals, we’ll create a proposal with a customized service outline that details the specific benefits of PR for your brand. But, in general, the benefits of PR include:

• Increasing brand credibility
• Increasing brand awareness and positive brand image
• Increasing profits, sales and leads
• Enhancing online presence

What is lifestyle PR?

Practitioners who work in lifestyle PR, like R firm, specialize in brands within industries that include restaurant, hospitality and retail as well as health and wellness. All of the same PR goals, strategies and techniques still apply, but this segment of PR tends to focus on the things people aspire to have, to achieve or to maintain a certain lifestyle and the brands that can help them achieve that. Success in lifestyle PR requires a more inherently relatable and personal approach, which is why we love it so much!

What is the price of PR?

Large PR agencies may charge upwards of $500 an hour for their time, however, smaller agencies or consultants may charge as little as $75 an hour. The average hourly rate at a larger PR agency is currently between $150-$250 per hour. R founder, Emily Reynolds Bergh, explains the value boutique PR firms can offer, “As a small business, we are mindful that not everyone can spend big when it comes to PR. So, we also have lower budget options in which clients can apply. One is based on promoting a specific project. The other is designed to support a solo entrepreneur for 6 months by developing their reach and brand identity, as well as a PR plan and campaign to launch them into the market in which they seek to connect. The end game is long-term relationships, not just a mass press release. And that provides ongoing value for your brand (and us).” Learn more about PR pricing in our recent blog.

What is a PR retainer? 

In addition to hourly billing, you may also have the option of a PR retainer for the services you need. A PR retainer is a lump sum that you pay to the public relations agency or professional each month for their work. The amount paid depends on how much work you need to meet your PR goals and your budget, so it’s important to be specific about both in your preliminary communications. Your monthly statement should itemize any work performed as well as any expenses that were not included in the retainer. You should also be able to request the right to approve any expenses over a certain amount before they are incurred.

What is Newsjacking?

When hiring a publicist, one technique in which you want to make sure they are skilled and experienced is newsjacking. Newsjacking is the practice of aligning a brand with a current event in an attempt to generate media attention and boost the brand's exposure. Brands create related blog content and social posts to instantly reach a wider audience. Essentially, if you see an article written about a competitor or someone with a similar brand, you can have your publicist reach out to that media contact and ideally get your brand included in a similar story or an update to the one you may have seen! How cool is that?

For R help with your PR, learn more about our public relations services. Or, click HERE to schedule your FREE discovery call today!

by R Public Relations Firm

Where PR and SEO Intersect

While they may seem like two completely different aspects of the marketing spectrum, you can think of PR as the yin to SEO’s yang. It’s true! PR can help with your SEO and vice versa, but even better is the fact that while few brands fully understand the impact, even fewer know how to maximize it. Luckily with R tips, you’ll be one of them – giving your brand the advantage!

Why PR and SEO Work So Well Together

First and foremost, it’s because PR and SEO have similar goals, including brand awareness and controlling the narrative around a brand, product, or service. But while the tactics may be different - think keywords in SEO versus press releases in PR– they benefit each other. 

For example, high-quality backlinks from credible media sources (or influencers) that write about your brand can give your website higher domain authority in the eyes of the ever-powerful Google.  That means your website moves up higher in search results, driving more organic traffic and, ideally, more conversions.

Brand mentions as a result of your PR efforts can also help you rank higher for certain keywords in Google as well, particularly local brand mentions. 

Yet another way PR and SEO can work together is to break down silos in your marketing. Often, the PR side and digital/SEO side of your team work separately, which often means their efforts aren’t entirely consistent with each other. The trouble is, maintaining a consistent brand message in this connected world of ours is absolutely crucial. By working together, you’ll have even greater and more impactful reach.

How PR and SEO Can Work Better Together

Now that you understand why PR and SEO work so well together, it’s time to learn how to maximize that impact. R tips include:

1. Be smart about backlinks - Most of the time, press releases or other types of PR will include a link to the homepage of your website. While those types of backlinks are good; often backlinks to internal pages are even better because they are more focused and it’s within those pages that you dive into more of your expertise.
2. Consider your content – This is for both PR and SEO. Content needs to be relevant and targeted. In doing so, you’re not only more likely to score those brand mentions, backlinks, and media impressions in general, you’ll also be seen as a more credible and trusted source by Google as well as your target audience.
3. Build relationships – This has always been a crucial aspect of PR, but it should be for SEO too. With PR, you’re building relationships in the media and with influencers. For SEO, it could benefit your brand, product, or service to connect with bloggers or websites that are important in your industry by asking for links and/or mentions.
4. Track and Improve - Historically, it’s been hard to track mentions – remember the days of press clippings? – ugh! But, with PR and SEO working together, you’re better able to track whether those backlinks and mentions are leading to more traffic and conversions. Then, using that data, you can continue to refine your approach.

For R experienced help with your PR and SEO, click HERE to schedule a FREE Discovery Call today!

by R Public Relations Firm