FAQs
What is the role of the publicist?
The role of the publicist is to represent you correctly and effectively to your target media. A good publicist should automatically advise you on the current media landscape, help increase your profile, and manage your expectations accordingly.
imaginePR offers a very holistic publicity service which also incorporates marketing, cross-promotional brand opportunities, and general industry consultancy.
Do I need a publicist?
If you’re looking to take your career to the next level and are seeking increased media exposure, then hiring a publicist is highly recommended. However, you do need a confirmed activity or product to launch. For example, gig dates or an EP/ album release. You also need to have the right marketing tools (please see below).
What marketing tools do I need?
At imaginePR we use the following marketing tools to conduct a successful PR campaign for a music release:
- Press release and social media release (created by us).
- Biography (written/edited by us).
- Myspace site or similar social-networking music profile page (provided by you).
- High-resolution digital photos. Minimum 300dpi (provided by you).
- Finished product CD (provided by you).
- Mastered mp3 files of key tracks.
- Performance/video footage (optional).
A variety of the above marketing tools are also utilized for PR campaigns for arts & entertainment festivals, music industry products and special events.
How long should a media campaign be?
Most fully integrated media campaigns need to be at least four months long. This is due to the editorial lead times of certain print publications. Online campaigns, on the other hand, has shorter lead times and generally requires four to six weeks.
How much does it cost?
The cost of a campaign varies according to the following factors:
- The number of media targets.
- The type of media you want to reach.
- Your touring activities (applicable to musicians only).
- Your level of media readiness.
Why is online media so important?
The explosion of online and digital is changing and revolutionizing our overall media environment on a daily basis. What used to be a simple information source has now become a complex ecology of social networking sites, video recommendation sites, internet radio, blogs, and more. If you are unfamiliar with certain online media platforms here are some definitions:
Blogs – online journals which are updated on a regular basis. Blogs have become a very influential new media platform.
Podcasts/ Vodcasts – digital audio or video MP3 files which are downloadable and distributed across the web. For example, the Digivegas podcast.
Internet Radio – audio broadcasting available to stream online. For example, Future Perfect Radio.
Social Networking Sites – websites which allow you to create profile pages in order to connect and socialize online with like-minded people. For example, MySpace, Facebook.
Video-sharing Sites – Sites where you can upload your own videos to share with the general public. For example, Youtube, Vimeo.
Music-recommendation Sites – These sites allow you to discover new music, share your favorite songs, recommend artists and create customized internet radio programs. For example, Last.fm, Pandora.
At imaginePR we aim to keep an eye firmly on all new developments, to ensure that we can advise our clients on the most relevant, targeted and effective online strategy.
Is print media still important?
It is a well-known fact that the explosion of online and digital has led to a decline in print media, making editorial space more competitive and print publications more ad-dependent. However, the print world is still a valuable part of any fully integrated PR campaign. The difference now is that it should never be targeted in isolation to its online counterparts, and a combination of PR tools need to be utilized in order to communicate effectively with the new media world.
At imaginePR we cover all print media including regional and national newspapers and magazines, college media, and specialist titles.
Why is marketing so integral to a successful PR campaign?
The PR world has evolved from simply distributing information, to marketing clients proactively to make them more appealing to the media.
A successful PR strategy works in conjunction with a successful marketing strategy. One cannot exist without the other. This is why imaginePR offers value-added marketing consultancy with ALL our PR campaigns to ensure maximum communication efforts.
What can I expect from imaginePR?
At imaginePR we offer bespoke PR and marketing campaigns catered towards your individual needs. However every campaign will include the following:
- Online and offline marketing consultancy.
- Press release(s).
- Biography.
- Media training covering the traditional and new media landscape.
- Regular face-to-face meetings.
- Regular update reports.
- Inclusion in our industry newsletter.
How can I measure the success of a campaign?
A good publicist should always be aware of your reasonable business goals, and advise you accordingly. However, PR can often be difficult to quantify, as it is a process of awareness. The following factors can be used as an indication of a successful PR campaign:
i. The quality and quantity of your new marketing and PR “armory” – For example, press release, biography, and general media readiness.
ii. Media education – This refers to the number of journalists we have communicated with, distributed information to, and received feedback from.
iii. The level of media coverage achieved, and its advertising value equivalent.
iv. The increase in social media reach during the campaign period, for example, the number of new “friends” on social networking sites and the level of social media interaction.
v. The increase in “plays” on the digital music map.