Back to School, Back to PR 101

By Hilary Bumm

Back-to-school season is upon us, bringing new schedules, fresh notebooks, and plenty of reminders that the basics really do matter. The same rings true in public relations and communications.

PR 101 Lesson #1: Know your audience. Whether you’re talking to a reporter, a customer, a colleague, or a community partner, it helps to understand what matters to them before you start talking.

Lesson #2: Keep it simple. The strongest messages are often the easiest to understand. Get to the point and make sure people know why they should care.

Lesson #3: Be prepared. A little homework goes a long way. Know your key messages, anticipate questions, and have the facts ready before an opportunity comes your way.

The most important lesson: PR is about relationships. Like the best teachers, coaches, and classmates, good communicators listen, show up, and build trust over time.

As everyone heads back to school, consider it a great time for a PR refresher, too. Often times, dialing back to the basics is the best way to move forward.