Ripley PR

Build Trust Through Home Service Public Relations

A lot goes into a brand identity. Logos, truck wraps, uniforms, website design, and most importantly, your values. If your customers had to choose one thing to define your brand, what would you prefer it be?

If “trustworthy” was on your mind, you’ve come to the right place. Without credibility, your brand identity begins to fall apart, especially as a home service business. Your customers want to see you as the industry expert who will provide the service they need. A clever slogan and flashy truck wrap can certainly keep you memorable, but what makes you truly stand out is showing you know what you’re doing and you deliver what you say.

Through home service public relations, you can build trust in a variety of ways.

Interviews

Garnering screen time on a local news station with a segment on something that showcases your expertise is a great way to build credibility with your customers, as well as in local print. Local media outlets are often searching for experts in the area to weigh in on pressing topics that may be relevant to your field.

Press releases

Particularly when you have news to share, a professionally written press release is a great way to get the word out. In addition, you can use press releases as a way to share more expertise. Writing a press release that includes helpful advice can be pitched to local media, as well, positioning you as the local expert.

Social media

Consistent social media keeps you relevant and increases your credibility by giving you a platform to be personable with your customers. When managed well, social media can make a significant impact on your brand identity.

Want to learn more about building trust through PR? Give Ripley PR a call at (865) 977-1973 or visit us online today.

This post was written by Audrey Love on February 2, 2023

Amp up your marketing efforts with the help of public relations

Do you know two things that can go together like mashed potatoes and gravy? Or, if you are a car person, what could work together like oil in an engine? Marketing and public relations!

While the two take different approaches, the overall goal for both is to generate success for the client. For home service marketing directors, partnering with a public relations agency can prove to be a tremendous asset. With competition being fierce in most markets, PR can help your home service company be seen as the agent of authority in your area.

Adding a home service public relations approach to your marketing efforts can have several benefits. According to Hubspot, 82% of marketers actively used content marketing in 2022 while 70% invested in content marketing throughout the year. For many public relations agencies, content plays a major role in their PR strategy.

As part of the partnership with a PR agency, marketing directors and the public relations team can develop a content strategy that both sides can focus on. One of the main goals of Ripley PR is securing media opportunities for our clients. Based on the strategy, we can pitch topics to trusted publications that support your marketing efforts while also building the client as a thought leader in the space.

Another aspect of content marketing that a skilled public relations agency can assist contractors with is blogging. According to Hubspot, 48% of companies that have a content marketing strategy leverage blogging. Of that 48%, over 55% percent say it’s effective and 10% say it generates the biggest return on investment.

At Ripley PR, blogging is just one of our specialties. Our experts develop error-free blogs that are ready to publish. These thought leadership pieces of content can be shared on various mediums such as social media or the website. By sharing on social media, you are presenting your target audience with a piece of content that may generate a lead.

If you are ready to partner with a PR agency that can work side-by-side with your marketing department, give our experts a call at (865) 977-1973 or contact us online.

This post was written by Anthony Cloud on January 31, 2023

Can your franchise owners handle a crisis?

It’s always unexpected, inconvenient, and can make a franchise owner feel like they’re all alone in an uncomfortable spotlight. Maybe a consumer complaint goes viral on social media, or perhaps an investigative reporter sets up a sting and catches an employee acting or selling a service inappropriately. Whatever form it takes, a crisis can be damaging and demoralizing to both the local owner and your national brand. However, if your company has partnered with a PR team that has experience with franchise public relations support, your owners, and your brand, will have an extra layer of protection when crises do inevitably happen.

At Ripley PR, we’ve worked with franchise brands for almost 10 years, and we’ve promoted their very best news, celebrated their victories, supported their conferences and, when crises arise, protected their image. We understand it’s a matter of when rather than if, and we also know what it means to be prepared in advance. Each day, information travels a bit faster than before, and we recommend seeking a true partnership with a PR team you can trust to establish a crisis plan now and keep your entire franchise system competitive for the years to come.

Crisis “Insurance”

Establish a plan: Whenever we develop a crisis plan, we do hope it collects a lot of dust. That said, having a proven, actionable plan to work through when a crisis strikes is paramount to getting through to the other side and maintaining a positive reputation. If you’ve partnered with a franchise PR team and a crisis plan hasn’t been mentioned or offered yet, ask for one to be developed. Yesterday is the best day to put it in place.
Learn to spot a crisis: Sometimes, a crisis can be sneaky. They don’t always start life as a major news story, and learning to spot them early can help you act you quickly and control the narrative from the beginning. Work closely with your franchise public relations team to create a list of examples to share with your owners so they can remain alert.
Keep calm, work the plan, then carry on: It’s critical to take a breath when a crisis happens. It can be tempting to react impulsively with emotion, but that’s when crises take on a life of their own and gather steam. Having a plan in place means that, while the situation is most certainly urgent, you can lean on your PR experts and step through the plan together. After you’ve issued any necessary statements and taken the best course of action, it’s important to put a strategy in place for getting back on track with positive franchise public relations efforts to bury the bad news with the good.

If you don’t have a crisis plan in place that will protect both your national brand and your franchise owners, contact Ripley PR today to learn how our experience with franchise public relations strategies can help. You can reach us here or by calling 865-977-1973.

This post was written by Grayson Shockley on January 31, 2023

Embrace Blogging to Showcase Your B2B Tech Expertise

Blogging is a great way to showcase your industry expertise and how your tech business can help others become more successful. Writing a blog from your experience and point of view or choosing an experienced tech public relations partner to work with you, helps a potential customer get to know you, develops a sense of trust and could even be what prompts them to reach out.

Writing a blog is a great way to position yourself as the voice of your business and generates the new content that drives traffic and interest to your website.

Why take the time to write about yourself? You might read this article written by Radoslav Chakarov of Web Tribunal noting several convincing statistics from multiple sources such as:

77% of internet users regularly read blogs (source: D. John Carlson),

and 68.5% of consumers view blogs as adding to the credibility of a website (source: Simple Marketing Now).

Blogging also gives you a way to cite and describe specific scenarios and examples of your own success stories. This shows your potential B2B clients that you truly understand the trends, challenges and demands of the day-to-day business and you are willing to share things that have worked for you – to help them.

Writing about your business and your experiences in the tech industry also helps convey your enthusiasm for what you do. It shows you not only have expertise in your field, but you are someone who wants to help your industry as a whole.

Even when you recognize the value and benefits of blogging, you might be asking yourself when you or your team will ever have the time to write it. That’s where a tech public relations partner such as Ripley PR can help, especially when there’s an in-house content team already familiar with your business so your blogging message is consistent. Our content team takes the time to get to know you to create a list of potential topics for blog posts.

If you are ready to explore the benefits of blogging with a PR partner, contact Ripley PR or give us a call at 865-977-1973.

This post was written by Stephanie Aldrich on January 31, 2023

3 reasons construction tech public relations earns coverage

Your construction tech brand just announced a new product that allows everyone from the top to the bottom to collaborate on a project. Your company just announced a new software update that allows email filings or RFI proposals to be handled more efficiently.

Through an experienced team like Ripley PR, construction tech public relations can be used to earn media opportunities for news like above.

Whether it’s a podcast or an article in the New York Times, earned media coverage can be a positive for your brand, and you don’t have to pay for it!

Brand Awareness

First and foremost, earned media placement means that you’ve garnered an opportunity in an outlet based on story and merit. It’s not based on dollars spent with the publication.

If you have a guest article in Construction Executive about some of the very problems you’re addressing, that’s awareness for the brand. If your company news about an update or a hire appears on the Wall Street Journal or in Construction Dive, that’s awareness for the brand. This is perhaps the most important aspect of earned media coverage and can increase your ROI without having to use any advertising dollars.

However, it goes deeper than that, your target audience must also trust your brand.

Thought Leadership

You’re a leader in the construction tech space. Your product is changing the way the projects are handled from start to finish. You’re simplifying the communication process for an entire industry.

How? Why? Earned media coverage can allow you to give voice and insight that will help you to be viewed as a leader in space. They can hear and see the knowledge you have. In turn, being viewed as a thought leader, can earn more trust for your brand.

Building Relationships

By producing a great product and then supporting it with great content and interviews, journalists will be more likely to come back to the well for a drink of water.

If an editor at The Washington Post or Civil + Structural Engineer knows that you’re educated and well-spoken on the industry subjects, then that will set you up for continuous opportunities down the road that they may reach out on.

If you’d like to get started with construction tech public relations, give us a call at 865-977-1973 or contact us online.

This post was written by Seth Norris on January 30, 2023

Control your narrative with manufacturing PR

A new year brings new hopes and expectations. It’s also a time to look at your strategy, budget and plans from the year before. In other words, evaluate what worked and what didn’t.

Those evaluations will play an even bigger role as we move further into 2023. The pandemic may be (sort of) behind us, but there are still plenty of challenges ahead for the industry. While the manufacturing sector proved to be resilient in 2022, the labor shortage and supply chain issues will remain problematic in the months ahead.

As Deloitte puts it:

The industry is currently experiencing concerns related to inflation and economic uncertainty. In addition, manufacturers continue to grapple with talent challenges that may limit the industry’s growth momentum. Moreover, supply chain issues including sourcing bottlenecks, global logistics backlogs, cost pressures, and cyberattacks will likely remain critical challenges in 2023.

Deloitte isn’t alone in their thinking. Hitachi Solutions also believes the labor shortage and hiring issues — among other things — will create issues for the manufacturing industry. This makes it vitally important that you partner with a manufacturing public relations agency

At Ripley PR, we can help you share your message and build your brand. Our media relations and content experts can help you connect with potential hires as well as new customers. As the industry evolves, we’ll be in your corner to continuously position you as an industry leader and showcase your own innovations and growth.

The new year is going to be full of challenges, but it also has potential to be amazing. With a manufacturing PR partner, you’ll be ready to face whatever comes. Give us a call at 865-977-1973, and let us start telling your story today.

This post was written by Amanda Greever on January 28, 2023

3 Reasons to Seek Awards for Your Franchise

Award-winning team. Ranked on the Franchise 500 List. Fastest-growing international franchise. Named a Top Global Franchise.

Recognition has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it? Just imagine one (or all) of these preceding your brand name. Now that’s a symphony.

Of course, awards don’t just happen. In addition to earning the title itself, you have to put in the effort to seek the right opportunities for brand recognition. Considering achievability, your most sought-after titles, a professionally written submission and time spent searching and applying, is it worth it?

From a franchise public relations perspective, it is, and here’s why:

Increase in visibility

Not only are awards shared by those who present them, but when you win an award, you can tout it. Through press releases, social media and your brand’s website and/or blog, be sure to share the exciting news with the media, your followers and team. This increase in visibility creates good PR for your brand that you can leverage for additional media coverage.

More credibility

Recognition through awards and the alike positions your brand as an industry expert. It sets you apart as one of the best and adds credibility to your brand, creating a more reliable presence to franchisees and others in your target audience.

Boost in morale

Being an award-winning franchise, you not only become more attractive to potential franchisees, but your current team gains a sense of pride that their productivity often reflects.

Want to learn more about the benefits of awards, a submission that stands out or how to find the right opportunities for your franchise? Give Ripley PR a call at (865) 977-1973 or visit us online today.

This post was written by Audrey Love on January 27, 2023

Build a superior brand with construction PR

The economic upheaval of the last several years has contributed to a hypercompetitive market for construction firms. Because of shutdowns, supply chain disruption, global inflation and chronic labor shortages, contractors must take advantage of every opportunity to drive revenue and increase productivity.

Effective branding isn’t the magic bullet for construction companies in 2023. But a powerful brand strategy can help contractors gain a competitive edge in numerous aspects of their business, from recruiting to sales and customer loyalty. A superior construction brand can increase awareness and build credibility, providing a strong foundation for recurring business that drives growth.

Put simply, branding means creating a distinct, recognizable identity for your company. It includes visual elements, such as a logo and color scheme, as well as your company’s vision, mission statement and values and the reliability of your service.

Many old-school construction professionals may dismiss the idea of branding. That’s part of their brand – they’ve positioned themselves as no-nonsense representatives of old-fashioned values in a traditional industry.

In today’s market, however, a more purposeful approach can help companies quickly and emphatically distinguish themselves and establish reputations for professionalism, reliability and value that will resonate with a wide audience.

Once you explore the possibilities of strategic branding, you’ll realize that it strengthens every aspect of your business and supports a holistic, comprehensive way of thinking about your company. Awareness builds trust, which drives sales. Successful projects and happy customers mean referrals and repeat business. That promotes awareness, and visible loyalty supports your company’s credibility and trust. Successful branding can also play a key role in recruiting and retaining talent amid ongoing labor shortages.

Think about your brand and how potential customers see your company. Take a look at your employee culture. If there’s any room for improvement, an expert construction public relations agency like Ripley PR can help you build an airtight strategy for enhancing your company’s efficiency and productivity by shoring up your brand identity.

If you’d like to find out more, contact us online or call (865) 977-1973.

This post was written by Matthew Everett on January 26, 2023

3 ways to tout your awards through franchise PR

Congratulations on your franchise award! Recognition of the hard work and dedication of your team feels great, and achievements like these should be shared with your audience.

But is sharing the news of your prestigious award boastful? If so, then marketing is, too.

When your franchise achieves something, it’s important to share this news with your target audience because they care and want to celebrate with you. In addition, it serves as a great marketing tool when publicized well.

Consider these three ways to tout your award through franchise public relations.

Press Release

One of the first things that should come to mind when your franchise receives an award should be an announcement via press release. When written by a public relations professional, a press release serves as the third party celebrating your award. It can then be shared with your target media to ensure the right people read about the exciting news.

Social Media

Develop a few posts on your social media platforms to share the news with your followers, and encourage your team to share the news on their pages, as well. The more publicity, the better.

Website Dedication

If you haven’t already, create an “In The News” or “As Seen In” section on your franchise’s website to add to your credibility. Here you can share the news your franchise has, noteworthy publications you’ve appeared in and your award badges.

Ready to publicize your franchise awards? Give Ripley PR a call at (865) 977-1973 or visit us online today.

This post was written by Audrey Love on January 21, 2023

Highlight your unique story with East Tennessee public relations

Your brand has a story worth telling. When choosing an agency to work with, you want to be confident that they understand where you’re coming from and where you want to go. The experts at Ripley PR love this community as much as you do, and it’s our understanding of rolling out East Tennessee public relations campaigns that can take your business to the next level.

Authenticity is key

People are more likely to spend money with businesses they feel like they can identify with in some way. A survey found that community connection has become increasingly important to consumers, with 9 out of 10 going out of their way to do business locally. It’s good to be open about your history, your values, and why you love serving the East Tennessee region. When planning out the key messages of your PR strategy, consider your target audience and what they care about. How does your business align with those values?

The next step is getting that message out there. One way that Ripley PR accomplishes this is through strategic media outreach. This could mean sharing your expertise on a local newscast, being featured in an area newspaper, or doing an interview for a podcast. Having trusted community voices “vouch” for your business boosts your credibility and builds brand recognition, generating you more leads and sales.

Join the conversation

Media outreach is only one piece of the PR puzzle, however. You also want your content to accurately reflect your story, from social media to blogs. A company blog is a great way to provide helpful information to new and existing customers. By sharing your expertise, you’re showing them that you know what you’re talking about and can be trusted to get the job done right.

Meanwhile, social media platforms offer a plethora of creative options for sharing your brand’s unique story. Don’t be afraid to use stories, reels, photos, and polls to encourage customer engagement. You can also grow your network by liking and following other businesses, charitable organizations, and local officials in the area.

Ripley PR understands how to build your company’s visibility and credibility in this fast-paced, evolving world. With decades of combined experience, we specialize not only in content creation and media relations but crisis management, awards submissions, and events management, too.

When choosing an agency to work with, choose the East Tennessee public relations agency that understand your business, your community, and how to best reach your goals. Contact us online today or give us a call at (865) 977-1973.

This post was written by Savana Morie on January 15, 2023