Have you ever wondered how to get your rental business published online?

In today’s show, we are talking all about publicity strategies for rental companies, how to get published, and our best tips for getting press. 

Our guest today, Meghan Ely, is an expert in Public Relations! She is the owner of OFD Consulting and combines her in-the-trenches event experience with a love of wedding PR to empower her clients to take their businesses to new heights. Listen to the full episode below! 

What is PR? 

PR is a way for people to get their eyes on your work through submissions, public speaking, and other means of publicity.  PR is different from marketing and advertising, as you normally do not pay to have your work published.  These companies choose to publish your event based on their needs, and you usually don’t get a say on what photos are used, what they write about, etc.  This may seem intimidating to some, but it is totally worth the  recognition that your brand will receive!

Let’s Talk Submissions

If you want an event to be published on a blog or website, you have to submit your work! Whether it’s the Knot, Green Wedding Shoes, or even Harper’s Bazaar.  Many times, photographers and planners will submit these events to publications and get your work featured through vendor credits.

However, let’s say you had an amazing wedding that you were a part of.  You provided all the rentals and it was some of your best work yet, but the photographer and planner aren’t interested in submitting.  Ask for the right permissions from the photographer, and submit the event yourself! We believe that rental companies should submit the work they’re proud of and get the recognition they deserve, with the right permissions.

Our biggest tip for submissions is to get ahead on how you will be credited.  If you know that a planner is thinking about submitting an event that you were a part of, send them a quick email that clarifies what you provided and how you want to be credited. 

Pro Tip on Getting Published

Meghan challenges you to find 3 spots you want to be on online.  It can be blogs, websites, or anywhere that you think your niche would be. Take 15 minutes a week and do a keyword search of your expertise on those websites.   Find the writers that write about your expertise and seek them out!  Follow them on instagram and read their articles.  You can easily find their email with a quick Google search! Then, send them an email and pitch yourself as to why they should publish something of yours.  However, make sure that whatever you are pitching is valuable for them as well. 

Remember: If you really want PR to work for you, you have to convert your clients! Make sure that your portfolio is up to date, that your links work, and that your branding is together.  PR will bring clients to you, but it is up to your business to make sure that they book.

Other PR Tips

1. Get a press page on your website! An “As featured on…” section will impress your clients.
2. Give love to local publications.  If you are an event professional, you likely want to stay very localized! Find publications near you that will get your name out in the local community.
3. Explore public speaking or guest speaking on a podcast.  This will really widen your reach.

You can contact Meghan Ely directly at meghan@ofdconsulting.com or (804) 543-6400.  Check out her website ofdconsulting.com! 

Enjoy the episode?  We would love it if you left us a review on Apple Podcast. Come back next week for an episode with Cam on prepping for 2022.