Ripley PR

How Strategic PR can Help your Knoxville Business Prosper and Grow

The Knoxville area is a great place to live and own a business. Having roots in this area made my choice of locating a business here easy, and I can truthfully say it’s been one of the best decisions I have ever made.

Gaining attention and trust from the community through public relations isn’t an overnight thing, however. That’s why working with a Knoxville public relations agency like Ripley PR, who knows the local business landscape and the area’s residents, makes a big difference when growing your PR clout.

Good PR isn’t one and done. It starts slowly and builds momentum that keeps going. Sometimes making a big splash at the beginning of a PR campaign can be fun, but it’s not going to last. It’s the consistent and continuing communication and consumer involvement that wins the race. They key in successful PR is to not give up.
Good PR is consistent but also agile and responsive. Businesses that are able to respond and adapt quickly to community or consumer needs survive the best, and a trustworthy PR partner helps your business survive any crisis or situation seamlessly without a loss of revenue or image.
Good PR enhances your business visibility. locally and nationally. Being a local brand is great, but in order to grow into a bigger brand, you need a partner with national influence and connections to give your brand the boost it needs to grow.

Done well and by a professional team, public relations elevates your business in the public eye and increases its bottom line. The goal in any good public relations campaign is to accomplish both. There are schemes that claim to get your business fantastic leads and results with very little effort, but good PR takes time to plan and execute. Ripley PR’s team includes experts in local and national PR tactics, and their efforts have helped countless businesses thrive! Call us at (865) 977-1973 to learn how our team can help you.

This post was written by Heather Ripley, Founder/CEO on March 1, 2021

Don’t Let Customer Calls Go Down the Drain

It can be difficult for a plumbing company to stick out from the crowd. You may have the friendliest CSRs, an easy to navigate website, and the highest review average in your area but this still may not be enough to diverge from a sea of competitors. Ask yourself this: Are you known as the plumbing expert in your market?

Plumbing professional repairing a water heater.

When it comes to home service public relations, you need the best in the business to ensure you are getting those extra calls. Working with the right team of PR professionals can help to position you as the expert to call, which will result in more business.

Here are a few ways PR can help position you as the go-to expert:

Share your growth: It’s not easy to grow a business and you know that more than anyone. Your commitment to your customers and employees needs to be shared with the public. Whether you recently made a new hire or internal promotion, that means your business is growing. Sharing this news with your market in the right way can be an attractive differentiator.

Reinforcing your brand: It’s not just about your marketing and email campaigns. You need to reinforce the positive aspects of your brand. Being recognized as a best place to work or the highest rated plumber in the area are huge stories! Did you recently help match the funding for a new community initiative? People love a good news story! We are experts at finding the angle to use news like these examples to engage the media with to earn you coverage.

Stay top of mind: As busy as things may seem during your day to day, it is important to remember that not everyone always has a plumbing issue going on. Seasonal preparations and maintenance may be the last thing homeowners are thinking about, but by having consistent coverage in addition to your marketing outreach, you can stay on the minds of potential customers.

These examples are all ways that the right agency can help to position your company as an industry expert in your market. Give the Ripley PR experts a call at (865) 977-1973 if you have any questions about PR for your home service business.

This post was written by Mark Clifford on February 19, 2021

Using PR to Help Your Manufacturing Company Build a Stable Foundation

Anything built on a rocky foundation is likely to tumble over time. Even if a building looks sturdy from the outside, it can still crumble from the inside. The same applies for companies.

In many different industries, there have been businesses that seem ripe for success only to fail over time. One reason could be because they did not have a strong foundation of brand visibility. For manufacturing companies, it is paramount to have a strong foundation to grow.

This can be done with manufacturing public relations. While major companies have all the tools to build their product, they could be missing the key ingredient to truly build their brand — public relations. PR can give manufacturing companies that extra block to complete the foundation.

Many manufacturing companies are competing against both national and international competition. Ripley PR can help separate your company from the field while also promoting your message by doing the following:

Expand your brand message: Having a strong brand message is important for any company. You want your message to resonate with your target market to help built loyalty and reputation. Our experts can assist you with both the language to help make your message concise while also promoting your brand to the consumer.
Establish executives as experts in the field: Decisionmakers put more weight into information provided by someone that is considered an expert. Our experts can help establish your executives as primary influencers in the manufacturing industry by landing them speaking opportunities in the media or trade shows, which provides a platform for them to show their knowledge.
Spread company news: The media is a very powerful outlet when it comes to informing the public about your company wins. At Ripley PR, we possess a library of media contacts in the trades and other publications. When your company has success, we will be quick to reach out and pitch to media outlets while also writing press releases on major announcements.
Build a social media presence: Having a strong presence on social media is a must in today’s world. Social media platforms give your company a chance to reach a wider audience while also giving you the opportunity to interact with the customer. If done properly, a strong social media presence will help drive traffic to your website.

If your company is ready to work on building a strong foundation, contact our experts at Ripley PR online or at (865) 977-1973.

This post was written by Anthony Cloud on February 17, 2021

PR Can Lift Content From Ho-Hum To Compelling

“Craft compelling content” — that’s perennial advice for B2B companies looking to build an online presence and attract new leads. So, business owners roll up their sleeves, recruit a willing employee or family member as content director and start spending extra hours every month cranking out blog posts, social media updates and videos.

The company will end up with content. But is it compelling? More importantly, does it work?

Mediocre content takes up space and keeps your social media accounts active. Great content, on the other hand, enhances your company’s online presence, helps build consistent branding and messaging, establishes trust and credibility, drives readers to engage and take action and ultimately leads to increased leads and sales.

The difference isn’t effort. Sometimes it can take more time to churn out run of the mill content than it can to create the truly killer content that pushes your company forward.

Instead of putting in extra time writing, shooting, editing and posting just because a business blogger recommended it, when it comes to content, B2B entrepreneurs might be better off following another modern business maxim: Work smarter, not harder.

If you’re not confident that your company’s blog and social media are driving the results you want, consider consulting a top-rated B2B public relations agency like Ripley PR. Our team of experts can help you create, implement and maintain a content strategy that will deliver measurable results, freeing you from the content rat race so you can focus on the business of running your company.

Call Ripley PR at (865) 977-1973 or contact us online.

This post was written by Matthew Everett on February 15, 2021

When is PR the best choice for your construction tech company?

There are things in life that you don’t really need until you need them. Take health insurance or even car insurance? If you want to get really heavy, you can throw life insurance in there, too. Each month we pay our monthly dues to ensure that we’re covered in case of an emergency, right?

The same principle could apply to items in our home or cars. Jumper cables. A fire extinguisher. A plunger. They may be out of sight or even out of mind, but these items are vital to helping us get out of a tight spot.

You might not know it, but public relations can be just as important. As a construction public relations agency, we provide a wide range of services for our clients. Whether it’s using our carefully cultivated media relationships to garner interviews and other opportunities or creating well-informed content, our team can do it all. That includes behind-the-scenes work like these:

Media training: Some interviews can be tricky. Not all, but sometimes. One of the first thing we offer our clients is a media training to help them prepare for those tricky questions and the simple ones, too.
Speaking engagements: Our team is always on the lookout for conferences and events where we can position our clients as thought leaders in the industry and shine a light on their brand.
Crisis management: A crisis is a service we offer that we truly hope you’ll never need. But, when disaster strikes, it’s our job to make sure you’re prepared for any event that could come your way, from an employee situation to a technology failure.

There’s never a wrong time to sign on with a public relations agency that knows your industry and knows how to help you succeed. Give us a call today at (865) 977-1973 or contact us online and let us show you what you’ve been missing.

This post was written by Amanda Greever on February 10, 2021

Yes, you can publicize your charitable efforts

With 2020 behind us, many of us feel way overdue for some good news. The truth is, essential businesses in the skilled trades like yours have been generating good news since the first hint of a lockdown. From delivering toilet paper, food and other necessities to continuing charitable partnerships, the heroes in plumbing, HVAC and more have consistently changed lives while on the frontlines one service call at a time.

When it comes to publicizing community deeds and donations though, many business owners are simply too humble to be readily comfortable telling the local news about it.

If done incorrectly, it can absolutely come across as self-serving. But, by partnering with a team experienced in home service public relations like Ripley PR, it can be done in a way that spreads a positive message, develops trust in your customer base and even makes your company attractive for talent seeking their next career move.

Strategy as a foundation

Choosing the right public relations team is the first step. It’s important to select an agency that understands your industry, your goals as a business and your customer base.

Next, it’s important to realize that rolling out a memorable home services public relations campaign requires more than simply sending press releases to your local news. It requires a comprehensive communications strategy, and the right PR team will develop one for your brand. This strategy will provide the framework for building momentum across all channels and properly publicizing the good works you’ve done in your community.

Once that’s in place, your PR team can begin to organize both the efforts themselves and the outreach surrounding them. Having a proper calendar for your charitable efforts will help plan outreach more effectively, such as press releases, media alerts, blogs, social media pushes and more.

With the right public relations partner to complement your home services company, you can get the recognition you deserve for your charitable giving and community initiatives. To learn more about Ripley PR and find out if we can help, contact us today by calling (865) 977-1973.

This post was written by Grayson Shockley on February 5, 2021

Earned Media Coverage Creates Franchise Brand Buzz

Even in the age of the internet, it’s still useful for franchise brands to receive coverage in newspapers or magazines. But this means more than buying an advertisement.

Potential franchisees are going to look at advertisements with an understandably jaded eye. But when a trusted third-party like a journalist or a broadcast news program tells the story of your brand, it can carry more weight than something in an ad or on your company website.

One way to earn the right kind of coverage is by partnering with Ripley PR, a global franchise public relations agency specializing in franchise, home service and manufacturing.

While most businesses would equate earned media coverage success as a front-page story with splashy photos or an appearance on a prominent TV show or station, there are many different sizes of success. Earned media coverage doesn’t just apply to traditional, legacy media. If you can get a popular and respected blogger to mention your brand or appear in a podcast, you can pile up web hits and further your reputation as an expert in your field. The same applies to positive conversations and links about your franchise brand bandied about on Facebook or other social media.

For more information on earned media and how we can help you attain it, give the experts at Ripley a call today at (8650 977.1973, or visit www.ripleypr.com.

This post was written by Joel Davis, Content Supervisor on February 3, 2021

3 Ways Press Releases Can Generate Leads for Your Healthcare IT Business

The demand for healthcare IT applications is growing. As more hospitals and medical practices look for ways to improve and streamline their patient services, they are searching for companies like yours to partner with.

The medical and healthcare communities need innovative healthcare IT solutions to their problems, but there can be a lot of competition for the attention of decisionmakers. Hiring a healthcare IT public relations agency like Ripley PR to implement a strategic plan that includes press releases is one way to make sure that happens.

Here are three ways press releases can generate attention and leads:

Press releases that are written well and are tailored to the right media can really make a difference in whether your message gets seen by prospective leads or not. PR done by the experts gets your message the exposure it needs.
Even in the digital age, press releases still are one of the best ways to get the attention of the media. Decisionmakers are more likely to trust and click on a news story link than an advertisement.
Potential healthcare IT clients stay up to date with new products and services in their industry by reading or scanning trade magazines and online industry platforms. Press releases that are written to the audience and written in a journalistic style are appreciated by trade journalists and are more likely to be published, increasing your chances of reaching the right audience.

Whether your healthcare IT solution is new or has an existing following, you still need visibility to grow and prosper. Hiring an expert healthcare IT public relations agency like Ripley PR can give you the boost you need. Call us to learn more at (865) 977-1973.

This post was written by Heather Ripley, Founder/CEO on February 1, 2021

Why B2B Tech Companies Need Public Relations to Grow their Clout

Getting attention for your B2B tech company isn’t as easy as just paying for an advertisement or commercial. Reaching business decisionmakers isn’t the same as reaching consumers. That’s why your best bet is to partner with an experienced B2B tech public relations agency like Ripley PR. As a specialty agency, we know how to increase your visibility.

Your target B2B tech audience is very specific, and it’s important to generate interest and attention with tactics like:

Targeting industry thought leaders and business influencers. And how does that happen? Through hard work, dedication and a commitment to our clients’ success. Our team consists of senior-level PR professionals with solid experience in B2B tech, and they have worked within the industry, know who needs to see your messaging to and how to get your products the attention they deserve.
Working with top media and journalists. The best B2B tech PR teams have solid and respected relationships with the writers and media that counts. Ripley PR’s team includes former reporters and journalists with the knowledge and connections that will get your business and its B2B tech products coverage. Placing your products into the right publications makes a huge difference.
Presenting your B2B tech business as an expert in its market. Ripley PR is known as a top B2B tech PR agency, in part, because we are expert at what we do. One of the many things we do well is develop your business as an industry expert and respected source for information about B2B tech. We can arrange for you to appear in publications, trade group events, industry meetings and B2B podcasts, helping to create interest and respect for your business industry-wide.

Using PR to increase business and achieve success for your B2B tech company is best handled by an expert PR agency that gets it. Partner with Ripley PR and see how we can make a difference. Call us at (865) 977-1973 or contact us online.

This post was written by Heather Ripley, Founder/CEO on January 25, 2021

2 Ways PR Creates Loyalty in Automotive Business

Understanding how to build up customer loyalty as an automotive B2B brand is one of the best goals to set your sights on. It can be challenging to uncover the formula needed to draw the attention of decision makers in a competitive marketplace.

When it comes to automotive public relations, working with professionals who know the B2B industry is the best thing you can do. They will understand what you’re trying to accomplish early on and will have experience in uncovering the ways to build up the loyalty that you need.

Some examples of the way PR can help you build brand loyalty are:

Exercising your brand image: One of the best ways to stay top of mind for customers is to share company updates or by sharing any good news. that is happening with your targeted media audience. Did you recently sponsor a vocational school or college program or make a big hiring push? Local media should be notified because that can result in great publicity.

Positioning your team as the experts: Finding opportunities to share your industry knowledge with an audience can fortify your brand’s image while positioning your team as the experts. You want people to think about your company when they come across issues you’ve addressed in the past.

Promoting your brand image and positioning yourself as the go-to expert in your space will have a positive impact on your customer’s brand loyalty in a sea of competition. The main thing to figure out is why you’re the obvious choice for your targeted customers and lean into it. By hiring a team of PR professionals, we can help you identify those strengths and position them in a way that will make a world of difference. Check Ripley PR out on our website or give us a call at (865)977-1973.

You’re the best at what you do, you deserve to be represented by the best in PR.

This post was written by Mark Clifford on January 19, 2021