If you are entering the public relations field with a focus on entertainment, you should be prepared for a fast-paced environment that requires good communication skills, strong media contacts and quick thinking under pressure. If you love public relations, this can be both challenging and rewarding. Whether you are a new graduate or a seasoned PR professional who wants to make a switch to a new industry, here are some tips to help you navigate entertainment PR.
Be resourceful
Being able to think quickly while stressed is key to being successful in public relations. In the public relations industry, every day brings new challenges. This is particularly true in the high-profile world of entertainment. You will need to harness all your resources to navigate the unique situations that arise. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box when considering your public relations strategy. Experiment with what works and don’t be afraid to pivot if necessary.
Build a strong team
Having a strong team of professionals around you can be incredibly helpful. If you aren’t an expert in a certain area of PR, such as social media, hiring someone to handle that aspect of your business for you can free you up to focus on other important tasks. Make sure that your employees work well together, and that you create a culture of respect and collaboration. Don’t hesitate to listen to your team members when they bring you new ideas, focus on virtual team building and delegate tasks to them when necessary.
Develop contacts within the media
As a PR professional, your business is only as strong as your media contacts. As opposed to traditional marketing, where the message can be controlled more easily, you are dependent upon media professionals to disseminate your message to the public. This means building a list of contacts that you can depend upon. Spend time creating mutually-beneficial relationships with journalists, bloggers and social media influencers.
Understand what to do in a crisis
Crisis management will be crucial to your job as a PR agent. Celebrities and entertainers often face negative stories and scandals. Your job isn’t to decide whether or not these stories are true, but instead to deal with the fallout in a way that helps salvage your client’s reputation. Have a plan in place before a crisis happens so you’ll be prepared to address it quickly and effectively. Train your client on how to respond to the press when a scandal breaks and role-play interview questions. You may also want to draft some responses, which can then become social media posts and press releases.
Harness the power of social media
If you are a PR professional, you are probably using social media on a daily basis. There are always more effective ways to utilize it, however. Understand how the major social media platforms work and all the ways you can use them. Focus on getting followers and make it a priority to have your content go viral. As an entertainment PR agent, your top priority should be to keep your clients in the public eye at all times. Social media can be one of the best ways to do this.
Keep sharpening your skills
Excellent written and oral communication skills, initiative, creativity and strong organizational skills are just some of the elements to being a successful PR professional in the entertainment industry. If you already have these skills, you are well on your way to a long career in the field. You should never stop learning, however. Keep reading and educating yourself about trends in the industry. Go to seminars and build a network of other PR agents.
Working as a public relations agent in the entertainment field will never be boring and you are guaranteed to be met with challenging situations that test your skills. Follow these simple tips to enhance your career in the industry and gain more satisfaction from your job.
