Public relations is a continuously growing industry with over 230,000 people working as public relations specialists. Why is this field so vast?

Developing a successful PR campaign isn’t a simple or speedy process. It requires careful planning, research, and investments. More and more companies are choosing to outsource their PR work to the experts to make sure that everything goes off without a hitch.

Do you need to hire a specialist to develop a successful PR campaign from start to finish? Not at all. Instead, you just need to take the time to learn a thing or two before you begin.

Read on to learn the 7 most important factors of developing a PR campaign that will boost your brand and carry your company into the future.

1. Know Your Goals

If you don’t know the objective of your PR campaign, it’s too soon to start putting one together. Begin with a broad goal. For example, are you hoping to boost sales or are you trying to build brand recognition and trust?

From there, dive even deeper. If you’re hoping to build brand recognition and trust, what avenues will you take to do so? What image of your brand are you trying to put forward and what message do you want to send that will make consumers trust you?

2. Know Your Audience

Once you narrow in on a specific goal, it’s time to think about the audience. If you haven’t done so already, it’s time to create a consumer persona. Who is your ideal customer, what do they like, what do they look for in a brand or product, and where do they look for it?

Understanding who your consumers are will help you speak directly to them. For example, if your products appeal to families, you can generate a message that is family-focused. However, if your products appeal to working women, a family-first message won’t hit your target.

3. Choose an Appropriate Platform

Now, it’s time to find out where your ideal customer spends their time. That way, you can ensure that any platforms you invest in to disseminate your message are worth the money.

Whether or not you choose to advertise on TV or on the radio, it’s always a good idea to think about print and digital advertising. Why?

These forms of media tend to have a wide reach because their content is appropriate not only for their website or printed media but for social media, too. Whether or not your audience is watching TV or listening to the radio, they’re almost certainly online. In fact, Twitter Tweet