New PR Tool Will Save Small Businesses Money

A new tool to help small businesses save money and raise their profile has been launched by Public Relations company Profile Matters Ltd. It has been designed to give small businesses a step-by-step approach to devising and implementing their own PR plan with an hour of consultancy time to help them put their plans into action.

Designed as a downloadable toolkit, via the website http://www.profilematters.co.uk, it was developed after research with small companies found that many small and start-up businesses wanted to use public relations as part of their marketing but could not afford the services of PR agencies or consultants.

Speaking about the toolkit, Debbie Leven, Director of Profile Matters, said: “PR isn’t just for the big companies. There are many opportunities out there for small businesses – they just need to know where to look, how to package their news and ideas and the resources they can tap into.

“PR can be highly cost effective – it’s a great way to build awareness and credibility. I hope that this toolkit will encourage many more small businesses to use PR as part of a successful marketing activity.”

The toolkit, which costs £49, is available for download via the Profile Matters website http://www.profilematters.co.uk - it includes a range of information, including:
• Taking a strategic approach to public relations
• Generating ideas to get noticed
• Identifying "news" stories
• Creating a "news" story when you don’t think you have one
• Building relations with key journalists and giving them what they want
• Writing a press release that will get results
• "Selling" in press releases to journalists
• Handling press and media interviews
• Making yourself an "expert" so that the press and media come to you
• Taking the pain out of event management
• Managing the production of publications.
An hour of consultancy time is included in the toolkit so that small businesses can tap into expert advice and experience to help them develop and implement a PR plan to achieve results. Free articles and tips are also available on the website to support small businesses and not-for-profit organisations in doing their own PR.

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Notes to Editors:
1. Profile Matters was set up in 2006 to help small and start-up businesses and not-for-profit organisations make the most of the PR opportunities available to them.