by
Amanda DiSilvestro
Resource Nation
If
you have ever seen a
bullfight, you know that
fear takes a
break for about
3 to 6 hours. While bullfighting is a slightly
differently business than public relations, both use the phrase
(literally or as an idiom), “take the bull by the horns.”
According to CareerCast, PR is the
second most stressful job a person can do. In other words, being
afraid is, for the most part, not an option when you work in PR
– a hard head is a necessity.
Every good businessman or woman knows that a marketing campaign
is of no use unless clients and consumers can see it, and this
is where a PR professional becomes irreplaceable in the business
world. In some cases, a company will hire a few PR professionals
to work with the public in order to promote the company; however
companies generally hire a PR agency.
The reason starting your own agency works best for experienced
PR professionals is because of connections, networking, and that
hard-head, no-fear experience. If you are a veteran PR worker,
chances are you know other PR gurus who may be on board to help
you with your company as well as connections with different
media agencies. This will ultimately make a big difference in
marketing your agency. Below lists a few of the steps to get you
started creating your own PR agency.
Starting a PR agency is just like starting any business on your
own, but with a PR background you already have an edge. You know
how to get people interested, you know how to pick out skilled
workers, and you know how and where to advertise to make sure
that your company is successful. However, there are aspects to
starting a business that may seem overwhelming. Below lists of
few of the steps that may be foreign to a PR guru when it comes
to starting a business.
The First Few Steps to Get You Started
1. Phone Line – It is always more professional
to have your own phone line when starting any type of company.
It seems like using your own line would be one way to cut costs,
but with research you’ll find that you can use an 800 number for
as low as $2/month!
2. Bookkeeping – You know PR, not accounting.
From a financial standpoint, starting a business can be
overwhelming. If you do not think you can manage your finances
on your own, there are professionals you can hire. If you need a
little bit of help, but not all the help of a professional,
consider accounting software.
3. Business License – Getting a license is as
easy as walking into your city hall and applying. In some
states, this can even be done online. Once you have registered,
be sure to register the name of your agency with the county
clerk.
4. Business Bank Account and Cards – It is
never a good idea to mix business finances with personal ones.
Start a separate business bank account and sign up for a
business credit card. A business credit card is slightly
different than a personal one because it caters more towards the
needs of a business. You will likely need a loan when you first
start your company and a bank can help you figure out what plan
is right for you.
5. Create a Website – Make your website
informational and professional. There are many web design
software and web design professionals out there if you need help
in developing a web page.
6. Hiring and Marketing – Now you begin using
what you know to hire quality employees, get the word about your
company out there, and continue to reach out to new mediums to
get companies interested in what you have to offer.
The specifics of other departments outside of marketing and PR
will come once you begin to hire. Ideally, look for employees
who have worked with a start-up company before; then you will
have a team to help get you started. After all, it is much
easier to take a bull by the horns with a team than solo (but
you work in PR, so anything is possible).
Amanda DiSilvestro is a writer at
Business.com.
More Articles\ |
Submit Your Article |
PR Subjects
About Public Relations Homepage
Contact Us
|