SKC Insights

Spring is in the air, bringing warmer weather, blooming flowers, and the annual itch to deep clean your home. Just as you'd clean out your closet, you can clean out your PR and marketing strategy. In the end, you’ll have a more agile communications focus and a clear vision to propel your company forward. Here are six ways you can brighten up your marketing and PR efforts this spring:

1. Wipe Away the Dust — on Your PR Plan

We’re all guilty of setting goals, building a strategy to get there… and then barely looking at it again. We get so swept up by the journey that we forget where we’re going! So, wipe away the figurative dust on your marketing and PR plan and take a fresh look at your goals. Where are you now, and where do you want to be? How much progress have you made since January? Although seemingly simple, this check-in is a critical first step to help your communications program shine.

2. Clean Out Strategy and Declutter Tactics

Creative professionals are constantly dreaming up lofty ideas and glossy game plans. But like that shirt you’ve never worn, sometimes even the prettiest things don’t fit. With your plan dusted off, take a page from Marie Kondo and declutter your strategies and tactics. If it doesn’t “spark joy” – or help you reach your goals – it’s time to say goodbye. A solid declutter will free up your time to focus on actions that drive success, helping you move ever closer to your goals.

3. Refresh Your Style

Now that the clutter’s cleaned, there’s room to rearrange or add new items to the closet. Just as fashion trends sweep through our closets, new communications trends regularly sweep through the PR and marketing world. Embrace the changes and explore different tactics, such as testing new social media sites, updating and refreshing your target media, or identifying new thought leadership speaking opportunities (hello, Clubhouse!). A simple style tweak could be just the thing you need to take your business to the next level! As Coco Chanel said, “In order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different.”

4. Polish Your Messaging

Like the seasons, your business is always changing. You may have rebranded, begun reaching new audiences, or simply adapted to changes in your industry. As your business transforms, so should your messaging – but sometimes updating key communications points fall through the cracks. Reflect on any changes you’ve experienced and ensure that your messaging mirrors reality. Are you communicating the right things to the right people? If not, polish that messaging and let your brand values shine.

5. Spruce Up Your Collateral

Your marketing and PR collateral – aka your website, social platforms, infographics, media kit, and more – is like your home décor. It’s the first thing prospective customers see when they walk through your virtual door, but it fades over time. Ensure the first impression is the right impression by looking at your collateral with fresh eyes. Does it fit your branding, incorporate your newly polished messaging points, and support your refreshed communications tactics? Even small fixes, like updating a broken link or adding new product shots, can go a long way!

6. Organize Your Workflow

Spring cleaning is all about “out with the old and in with the new,” and that goes for your workflow, too. A smooth workflow is vital for your PR and marketing programs – after all, it’s how you actually execute your strategy! Inefficient processes bog down your team, block creative juices and waste valuable time. At SKC, we’re big fans of project management software like Asana, as well as marketing platforms such as HubSpot, that help us streamline, organize and unify our workflow. If your business hasn’t invested in one of these tools yet, now’s the time to take the plunge.

Spring cleaning isn’t just for our homes. Pick up your PR and marketing plan and give it a thorough cleaning too. It’s time to “spring” into action and freshen up your business for a season of success!