Why PR is Important to Building Your Manufacturing Business
PR is a powerful tool that any manufacturing business should be using as part of their brand awareness strategy. But in fact, many within the industry don’t utilise it to its full advantage or even not at all.
If you’re wondering how PR could benefit your manufacturing business, don’t worry. We’ve put together this handy guide to give you the rundown.
What is PR
Before we start becoming wax poetic about the benefits that PR could bring to your manufacturing business, let’ first start with what PR is.
PR stands for Public Relations and is a brand awareness exercise that includes strategic communication between your business and the external public. This communication can include publications, investors, local communities, and consumers, and can encompass anything from press releases to product stunts. With the overall goal being to build and maintain a positive reputation by shaping the public’s perception of your business with the use of third-party sources.
A simpler way to think about PR is…
Marketing is you saying that you are brilliant…
where as
PR is someone else saying that you are brilliant.
Elevating Your Manufacturing Brand
Now let’s get into the benefits of PR. One of the biggest positives that public relations can bring to your manufacturing business is its ability to elevate the public’s perception of your brand. While snazzy websites and high-quality products can form the basis of a good business reputation, it can often be difficult to establish your name amongst industry leaders when it’s just you talking.
PR can help you shift the narrative about your manufacturing brand beyond just your
products and factories. By showcasing innovation, sustainability efforts, and community engagement through PR initiatives, you can build a more humanised and relatable image, fostering trust and connection with consumers. Moreover, when these aspects of your brand are discussed by other trusted publications, it will better cement you in your future clients’ eyes, as the positive rhetoric feels more authentic than marketing alone can provide.
Connecting with Manufacturing Stakeholders
Secondly, PR goes beyond traditional media and targets various audiences relevant to your brand, including investors, industry influencers, and potential employees. Building these relationships allows you to share your story, address concerns, and gain valuable feedback, from those that matter most.
Within the manufacturing sector, this aspect of PR is one that is often overlooked by many business leaders. Due to many factories’ private nature, many stakeholders have limited opportunities to view products in action and witness your company values first-hand. PR exercises such as private events, product demos, and one-on-one interviews give a great opportunity to show your stakeholders what your brand is made of. Ultimately strengthening your brand image and position within the industry.
Controlling the Narrative
Manufacturing can be susceptible to unforeseen challenges, from supply chain disruptions to product recalls. Proactive and transparent communication through PR can help mitigate potential damage and rebuild trust during difficult times.
Think of instances such as the Covid-19 pandemic, or the lasting effects of Brexit as prime examples of this. When you establish a foundation of PR before these instances happen, controlling the narrative is easier when the unexpected becomes reality.
Driving Your Competitive Advantage
In a crowded market, PR helps your brand stand out by telling your unique story and highlighting your differentiators. Effective PR campaigns can generate positive media coverage, industry awards, and recognition, solidifying you as a leader in the manufacturing space.
Thought pieces (opinion pieces placed in a third-party publication) are one of the most beneficial PR exercises we use to achieve this goal as they leverage the experience and knowledge of your very best employees to your business’s advantage. Establishing your workforce at the pinnacle of innovation within your sector, while gaining coverage in some of your industry’s most prolific publications.
Want to elevate your manufacturing brand through PR?
Are looking to implement a PR strategy that will establish your brand amongst the competition, building a resilient reputation that will foster your growth? Then get in contact with our expert team and see where PR can take you.