“If I was down to my last dollar, I’d spend it on PR!” –Bill Gates.

PR, which stands for Public Relations, is a communication tool that allows a brand or organisation to connect with the media or general public.  It can be a great tool for any business as it can help raise awareness while creating and maintaining a positive image of your company with the target audience.

For new businesses or start-ups who have small budgets, hiring a PR agency is probably not the best idea, however much like most things nowadays, thanks to the internet and with some effort, PR is something that you can do yourself.

Below are some great tips on where to get started:

1. Write, write, wirte!

One of the simplest forms of PR is writing and issuing a press release. This is basically a pre-written news story that is sent to the journalist, who will then decide whether it is relevant for their publication.

2. Be creative with your words

Editors and journalists receive thousands of news stories a day, so it is important to try and make your story stand out. Have a look at what your competitors are saying, think of a punchie headline, and make sure your opening paragraph is interesting but to the point – journalists are not going to sit around and read an essay so keep it short and sweet!

3. Network

Non-media PR is another great way to raise awareness amongst the general public. Whether it is through having a stand at an exhibition, doing a talk at a conference or helping out at a charity event, networking helps get your name out there and gives you direct contact to your audience.

Networking at big events can also be a great way to try and get in the papers. Many events will issue their own press releases that will mention the businesses that are taking part or have photographers and issue photos to the “people and parties” pages, another great plus to networking!

4. Keep tabs on yourself

You don’t need to spend a fortune to be able to see what is being said about you in the media. Google Alerts is a quick and tool that allows you to do just that. All you need to do is click here and you’ll be able to create alerts for whatever your heart desires. You will then receive email notifications about articles that mention you at a frequency that suits you. What’s even better about this service is that it is completely free!

5. Get on the web

With social media growing at a rapid pace, it would be silly not to utilise it for your PR needs. Facebook and Twitter are great forms of mini-PR that allows you to get into direct contact with your audience. You can also follow many journalists on social media and keep an eye out to see if they are look for specific stories.

6. Try using a PR service

There are PR services online that allows you to connect to local or national journalists. Service include Help a Repoter Out (HARO) which is a free service that allows you to get notifications from journalists who are looking for stories, or PRWeb, which allows you to post your release online and target wider media, this services costs and can start from £50 per press release.

There are many other services out there that range from free to a monthly subscription or a one-off cost, and they are definitely worth checking out if you need that extra help with PR but don’t want to use an agency.