What brunch can teach us about Publicity
My first word as a child may have been cookie, but I love nothing more than a good, old fashioned brunch.
Whether it’s an all-out kid fest or an adults-only get-together, my love for all things after breakfast, yet not quite lunch never waivers.
You laugh, you eat, and you may even a learn a thing or two while you rosé away the day.
That’s right, even a pastime like brunch has lessons to teach us—especially about PR.
With patio season in full swing, I’ve rounded up five PR lessons you can learn from brunch and implement faster than it takes to scramble an egg.
Don’t arrive empty handed
You wouldn’t show up to a friend’s brunch empty-handed, now would you?
Of course not, because it’s rude.
Well-mannered you knows to only show up after checking with your host or hostess on what you can bring.
You then arrive with drinks, flowers, or a brunch-friendly dessert (or two).
Much like being a good brunch guest depends on advanced planning, so does the success of any PR campaign.
It’s all about being prepared.
Before you partake in any promotional or media outreach, have a plan. Do your research. Perfect your key messages. Perform a SWOT analysis. Know your target audience.
Always be prepared. I’m almost positive this Boy Scout motto was learned at a brunch, too.
Not sure where to start? Our It Girl package or a Pitch Sesh coaching call can help.
Practice makes perfect
While watching them in action on the Food Network may make you think otherwise, even the best at brunch need practice.
Why? Because practice makes perfect.
You wouldn’t throw a giant brunch for all your friends and family if you’ve never hosted one before, would you?
I think not.
The same can be said about your PR activities
Do a practice run.
Prior to launching a new PR strategy or releasing your latest news, run through your PR checklist as a practice run. This will stop you from spending precious time learning systems you aren’t familiar with or correcting embarrassing typos or other errors.
No one ever failed, in life, PR, or at hosting a brunch, because they practiced too much.
Need a PR checklist? We have a free guide for you right here.
Google is your friend
Brunches and Google go hand in hand.
From searching for the length of time entrees should remain in the oven to figuring out what the key ingredients are in that Hollandaise sauce you love, it’s smart to keep your phone handy for Googling while prepping for brunch.
How else would you know when to pop that champagne for mimosas or where to find the YouTube video on how to smoke salmon?
Google also is quite handy when you’re performing PR tactics.
A smart PR pro knows to always triple-check their facts, especially the spelling of names, with a quick Google search.
Not sure how to pull together a media kit or draft a PR pitch?
While we have fantastic tools for you here.
Repeat after me: Google is your friend.
Try, then try again
While Instagram and Pinterest are bursting at the seams with images of perfectly hosted brunches, I think we are all fully aware that’s not real life.
Or maybe that’s just me, the girl who one time almost burned down the house trying to bake Quiche Lorraine.
Remember earlier when I mentioned practice makes perfect? It’s because almost everyone who hosts brunch needs more than one attempt before they’re a pro.
Even Martha Stewart.
Maybe your bacon came out more than a little burnt or your crêpes turned out tasting more like crap.
That doesn’t stop you from swearing off the portmanteau forever, does it?
Of course not.
As the old saying goes, if at first you don’t succeed, try and try again.
This applies to both brunching and PR.
If you don’t succeed the first time—or the five millionth time—keep at it.
You’ll get there.
Size doesn’t matter
It’s not the size of the egg, but how you use it.
Because if it was the size of the egg that mattered, then I need to speak with someone at all these organic farmers who keep making the eggs either giant or teeny tiny.
The same mantra applies to your PR team and budget.
Don’t be intimidated by other brands or competitors who may have bigger budgets or PR teams than you.
I have friends with one-woman shops who have secured placements on The Today Show and in People without a PR budget or an extra set of hands to help them.
One of which resulted in 33,000 orders in the next 24 hours!
With PR, it doesn’t matter how big your brand or budget is. It only matters that you put in effort and stick with it.
We all start somewhere.
Not sure where to start with your PR efforts? We provide one PR topic to pitch each week in our exclusive Hearsay email as well as tools in the Hearsay Shop to build buzz for your brand.
