He is as famous for his publicity stunts as he
is for his multi-million dollar business empire - The King of PR, Richard
Branson.
I have been following Richard Branson on
FaceBook for the last couple of months, and I became a big fan of his immediately.
His posts are inspiring. As a PR intern, I am learning a lot every day, but I
believe even PR professionals can learn much from someone like Richard Branson.
Promoting a launch in Scotland in a kilt, why
not?
As long as you get attention and people will
talk about your company, you have to do whatever you need to do to achieve
that. So far, that has worked out very well for The King of PR.
Would you
like to know why especially Richard Branson is so successful in PR? Please read
the article below and let us know your thoughts!
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| Source - www.dailymail.co.my |
Branson clearly
understands the value of PR. His creative publicity stunts have prompted some
to call him the undisputed king of PR stunts. He dressed in a space suite for a
Virgin Galactic press conference and a wedding dress to promote his retail
store Virgin Brides. He drove a tank down Fifth Avenue to launch Virgin
Cola.
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| Source - www.nerdy.com |
He used ice cubes on
Virgin Atlantic flights that were a sculpture of his face. He drove an
amphibious car across the English Channel, dressed in a tuxedo. He had the
audacity to name his companies “Virgin.” And he always seems to be ready with a
quotable quip in public.
“Publicity is absolutely
critical,” Branson wrote in his book, Virgin Rebel: Richard Branson in His Own
Words. “You have to get your brand out and about, particularly if you’re a
consumer-oriented brand. A good PR story is infinitely more effective than a
front page ad.”
Branson again emphasized
the importance of PR at an appearance before about 1,700 guests in Adelaide,
Australia.
In an article for the Drum, Biela McMillan, principal public
relations consultant for bPR, quoted him as saying: “The head of PR is perhaps
one of the most important people in a company and a good chairman will have
them by their side. They are critical for managing the brand and save millions
in advertising. People talking about your company is much more important than
anything.”
Why is Branson so
successful in PR? How does he do it?
Branson offered six PR
tips in a blog post. Although addressing environmental start-ups, the advice
can apply to most all organizations.
Tell stories. Data is necessary, but
people respond to stories, not numbers.
Be creative. Experiment with new
ways of telling stories, including video and slideshows. Large budgets are not
required. You need only a smartphone, free social tools and enthusiasm.
Choose the right channel. Match your content to
platforms and audiences. LinkedIn is best for business; Twitter serves a more
general audience, and Facebook is more personal.
Be truthful. Social media has
increased transparency. Those who fake it are uncovered. In any case, the truth
is more interesting than fiction.
Collaborate. Work with people and
organizations who are fighting for the same cause. Sharing hashtags, for
instance, can help organize people around events and community gatherings
Have fun. Making work fun brings
success. People will notice if you’re just going through motions. If you’re
having fun, your community will respond.
Listen to your customers. Years ago he cold
called Virgin Atlantic customers in their company-provided limos after their
flights to ask if they’d enjoyed their flight and if there was anything the
airline could do better, he wrote in another blog post. He said he considered
it an excellent source of customer feedback and a wonderful public relations
exercise.
Branson revealed PR tips
his book, “Like a Virgin: Secrets They Won’t Teach You at Business School. Here
are several via Business Insider.
Do whatever it takes. He learned about the
importance of being visible from Freddie Laker, a British airline entrepreneur.
“Make sure you appear on the front page and not the back pages,” Laker told
him. “You are going to have to get out there and sell yourself. Make a fool of
yourself, whatever it takes. Otherwise you won’t survive.”
Choose your name wisely. Virgin has benefited
from its name. It connotes something new and fresh and slightly risqué, at
least at the time of its creation. Branson is careful to promote the brand’s
image of value and service.
Stress the second
impression. The customer’s second impression of the company is vital. The second time
a customer contacts Virgin is usually because they have a problem. How the company
handles the issue is critical for maintaining its customer relationship.
Social media has given
Branson another outlet. He is personally very active on Twitter
(@richardgranson), sharing business insights and personal activities with 3.5
million followers. He also writes his own blog posts.
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| Source - ContactAnyCelebrity.com |
Bottom Line: Richard Branson,
founder of the Virgin Group, has made a name for himself as a master of public
relations. PR pros, business leaders and nonprofit marketers can learn quite a
lot from Branson, who’s been called the king of PR stunts.
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