Guide to Creating a Public Relations Plan

Determine your goals

Your PR goals will determine your PR strategies, so be as specific as you can. Do you want to get more customers? Increase repeat customers? Get the word out about a new product or service? Position yourself as an expert? Be sure to write your goals down; as goal experts say, "Unwritten goals are nothing more than wishes."

I recommend: Building a PR plan includes goal-setting tips.

Be a copycat

Look at how other businesses have formulated their plans, and follow PR plan outlines and checklists provided by other companies.

I recommend: Marketer Dave Dolak offers a sample PR plan.

Sleuth out your targets

If your prospects are mainly college students, appearing in magazines aimed at baby boomers would be a waste. To build a list of media outlets that target the markets you're aiming for, contact likely prospects (call the sales or advertising office) and ask for media kits.

I recommend: Find newspapers in any region of the U.S. at ThePaperboy.com; find trade mags in your target industry at TradePub.com and consumer magazines by topic at NewsDirectory. Mondo Times offers a directory of major media, including newspapers, radio stations and TV stations, listed by state or metro area. You may also want to make a list of news-release distribution services that do all the work for you, such as PRWeb (free).

Choose your news

Decide what you want to say to your target audience — something newsy and exciting that will get people to sit up and take notice of your business. Keep your target audience in mind, pay attention to your chosen media outlets to see what they consider news, and don't try to pass off a sales pitch as news. Examples of news worth printing are new business openings, contests, events, new studies/polls and community service.

I recommend: Make a list of everything newsy you're doing now and that you plan to do in the future. Also, brainstorm some interesting events, contests and other media-friendly opportunities. Try MindTools' mind mapping to figure out what you can pitch to news media. Not sure if what you have is really news? See what All About Public Relations thinks.

Plan your pitches

Sure, there are always news releases, but you can also get your news out via newsletters, articles (with your business mentioned in a bio box) and your Web site.

I recommend: Make a list of ways you can get your news into the hands of your target audience. Create a media page on your Web site where media and other interested readers can read your news releases. For inspiration, visit the Johns Hopkins Hospital's excellent Newsroom section, and read Creating Your Online News Room. Study successful news releases at PublicityInsider.com's Press Release Gallery.

Get help

If you don't have time or the expertise to create a comprehensive PR plan yourself, hire a pro.

I recommend: Search the online database at O'DwyerPR.com for an independent public relations specialist or a firm.