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Low Budget Pr: Building Credibility In The Public Eye
Did you know that consumers base their opinions about any given product, person, service or company on their perceptions, and of course what they’ve heard through the grapevine? The sad truth is that perceptions and perspectives provide a very limited amount of information which forces the consumer to fill in the blanks about a product on their own – which can only spell disaster for an entrepreneur. This is why it is so easy for any given product to appear to be chocked full of credibility to the average consumer.
While credibility can be measured in many ways when it comes to cooking up a publicity campaign, it is often measured by the amount of kudos or number of articles published on the web, in a newspaper or trade magazine about a business. It can also be measured by the amount of referrals or references made towards and about a company. In short, credibility is the gateway to success for the entrepreneur – and it is guaranteed when you are interviewed by the media. What is written about your business is what can make or break your credibility – so public perception is important. Words are never harmless – they can be a magic wand and create miraculous things in publicity or they can be a weapon of mass destruction. So be careful.
Moving forward, it could be said that credibility is two parts muscle and one part hustle. While rival entrepreneurs take reverie in knowing that credibility can be instant and guaranteed in publicity they fail to prepare the proper strategy to building it. The muscle of the credibility machine includes the originality, and expertise of the entrepreneur – it’s what you know that interests journalists and consumers.
Your product or service should be unique and your delivery within the interview should be effortless. Furthermore, you must possess a certain level confidence and expertise at what you are selling. That is not to say that you have to have an MBA, but you definitely should know your craft. Think about it – would you buy something from a person who didn’t know what they were selling? What about someone who just did not seem to believe in their own product – would you buy anything from him? I know I wouldn’t. If you do not believe in yourself, or your business then who will? No consumer will support an amateur, so make sure you’re a pro – or at least come off with the confidence of a pro during your interview with the journalist.
The credibility hustle lay deep within the notion of believability. A consumer will only consider you to be credible if you have a product or service that they can definitely depend on. Something that is both believable and invaluable to the consumer at large. In your interviews you have to forge a sense of trust with both the journalist and the reader or target consumer. They must feel compelled to learn more about your expertise. Without trust, nothing can be accomplished. Not to mention, it takes a journalist only seconds to decide if you work ethic is trustworthy and their perception translated into words will be the basis of how consumers perceive you. Make sure you intrigue the journalist because it is through their words that you will be granted the credibility that you so avidly seek.
I hope these steps have helped you build credibility in your publicity campaign. For more Low Budget PR tips and pointers stop by http://myhotprofits.com or check me out on the Low Budget PR Blog at http://www.lowbudgetpr.blogspot.com. Until next time, cheers and here’s to your success!
Former publicist, turned author and expert eMarketer, A. G. Fielder has carved a special niche divulging coveted industry secrets and marketing trends to the average Joe entreprenuer. A. G. Fielder is a respected eMarketer and mentors entreprenuers on jumpstarting their internet businesses while making money work for them instead of the other way around via www.myhotprofits.com.
Published: Jan 14,2009 11:43
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Andy Cowan
Andy Cowan, an award-winning writer, whose credits include Cheers and Seinfeld, regularly contributes humor pieces to the Los Angeles Times and the CBS Jack FM Radio Network.
Paul M. J. Suchecki
Paul M. J. Suchecki has more than 30 years of experience as an award winning writer, producer, and cameraman. He's written numerous newspaper and magazine articles. Currently he writes, produces and shoots for LA CityView Channel 35 and his more than 250 articles for Ehow.com are approaching half a million readers.
Coby Kindles
Coby Kindles is a freelance journalist, screenplay writer and essayist. She has been a staff writer at Knight Ridder and a regular contributor to The Associated Press.
Debbie Milam
Debbie Milam is a syndicated columnist for United Press International, an occupational therapist, family success consultant, and motivational speaker with more than 20 years experience. Her work on stress management, spirituality, parenting, and special-needs children has been featured in over 300 media outlets including First for Women, The Miami Herald, Elle, Ladies Home Journal, The Hallmark Channel, PBS and WebMD.
Dan Rafter
Dan Rafter has covered the residential real estate industry for more than 15 years. He has contributed real estate stories to the Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, Business 2.0 Magazine, Home Magazine, Smart HomeOwner Magazine and many others.
Jack Nargundkar
Jack Nargundkar has been repeatedly published in Business Week, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and The New York Times. He is also an author of "The Bush Diaries" published in July 2005.
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