Public relations efforts can be hard to track. There is no specific analytic metric that is used to evaluate the effectiveness of a public relations campaign. So how do you best measure PR? Check out our top four suggestions.
Number of Placements
One of the best ways to track the success of your public relations efforts is to look at the number of press/media mentions you have garnered. With the right placements, your brand’s visibility can increase tenfold and help you obtain a larger client base.
Social Media Reach and Engagement
Be sure to track the number of followers your brand is receiving month over month as well as your brand’s reach and engagement levels on all social sites. Social media can act as a window directly to your consumers. When used effectively and efficiently, social media tracking can be a powerful way to ensure your public relations efforts are up to snuff.
Website Traffic
When a new media hit or social post comes out, does your website see a spike? Often potential clients come to us and they’ve hardly looked at the Google Analytics of their website. Examining where you’re getting your leads from, what pages on your site are most popular, what topics are getting the most views, and where and when your website visitors are coming from only helps you fine-tune your PR campaign. All of these insights are incredibly important so be sure to monitor your website traffic at least every month!
Survey Your New Customers
One of the best ways to measure PR success is by surveying your incoming customers. Find out how they heard about you. Was it word or mouth? A magazine article or TV appearance? Perhaps it was via Facebook or LinkedIn. From there, chart where the bulk of your customers are coming from and consider putting more effort into those efforts.
Figuring out how to best measure PR can be tricky, but by keeping the above four tips in mind you’ll be well on your way! Need help with your public relations? We have 30+ years of experience working with businesses of all sizes. Reach out to us at [email protected].
