Financial services companies need to routinely keep current and potential clients alike in the know. Not only does sharing important information about your company build trust and credibility, but it also keeps you top of mind.
One of the most tried and true ways to disseminate this info is a well-written press release. But what kinds of news should you be sharing, and how can you use press releases to their maximum potential?
We have the scoop!
What Is a Press Release?
Most people have a good general idea of what a press release is. But strictly defined, a press release is an official statement your company issues to the media that lets people know about noteworthy happenings … in this case, happenings at your financial services firm.
Press releases are a great way to share updates and announcements with journalists, stakeholders and the general public. They can even be used to proactively respond to crises and rebuild trust should your company make a misstep.
What News Should a Financial Firm Announce?
Wondering what news is actually newsworthy? The answer will vary widely, but news that impacts your clients, investors and/or the industry at large are all fair game.
Here are some examples of what you should alert the media about:
- New product launches or service offerings: Are you introducing a new wealth management tool, a savings account with better interest rates, or a fintech innovation? New financial products, services and features are prime press release material.
- Company milestones or achievements: If you’ve recently reached an exciting milestone, hit a revenue target or celebrated a company anniversary, share a few words! These moments illustrate your firm’s success and stability and demonstrate to clients that your company won’t settle for the status quo.
- Awards or recognition: In a similar vein, if your financial firm been recognized with an industry award, accolade or positive rating, congratulations! That’s a huge win and a great opportunity to shine a spotlight on your firm’s expertise and commitment to excellence.
- Executive or leadership changes: If there’s a change in leadership — whether it’s a new CEO, CFO, or other key executive — communicate it through a press release. Your clients deserve to know who’s at the helm.
- Community engagement or corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives: If your firm is involved in charity work, sustainability efforts or other community initiatives, a press release can help highlight how your business is looking beyond profits to make the world a better place. Plenty of financial clients prioritize firms that show social responsibility and are committed to giving back.
- Crisis management or responses to market events: When the financial markets are volatile or there are major events affecting your industry (think market crash or regulatory change), issuing a press release can help demonstrate how your firm is responding. In times of uncertainty, transparency is crucial, and press releases help keep stakeholders informed.
- Market insights or industry trends: In many cases, press releases can be used to establish your firm as a thought leader. If you’ve conducted industry research, gathered data on market trends, or produced new insights or forecasts, sharing that knowledge through a press release positions your firm as a trusted source of information.
Quick Tips for Writing a Killer Financial Services Press Release
Now that you know what kind of news merits a press release, here are our five of our best quick tips for making sure your release stands out:
- Keep it newsworthy: Journalists aren’t interested in rehashed information or minor updates. Make sure the news is significant.
- Use clear language: Financial services can be complex, but your press release should be accessible. Avoid industry jargon and get to the point
- Craft a compelling headline: Your headline is the first thing journalists and readers will see. It should be catchy, informative and succinct.
- Include a strong quote: A quote from a key executive or expert in your firm adds credibility and gives your release a personal touch. It’s a chance to inject your company’s voice. And it saves journalists and other media members the hassle of having to solicit quotes from you for a story.
- Target the right media: Ensure your press release reaches the right audience. Identify journalists or outlets who specialize in finance and are likelier to cover your news.
Are You Ready to Stop the Presses?
Press releases help financial services firms build trust, keep their audience informed, and elevate their brand. Whether you’re launching a new service, announcing an industry award or responding to a crisis, press releases can help your company stand out to clients and the media alike!
Do you need help drafting your next press release? Mischa Communications has you covered! Let’s get people talking.
If you’re the face of your business, your agenda will include public speaking from time to time.
While a few people love taking center stage, most approach it with varying degrees of trepidation. According to HealthCentral, glossophobia (the fear of public speaking) affects up to three-quarters of the population.
Fortunately, with time and practice, most people can quell their fears and become competent public speakers. So read on as we discuss how corporate thought leaders can get comfortable in front of an audience, and we’ll share some tips on how to deliver more engaging presentations.
Getting Comfortable With Public Speaking
An impromptu toast at a friend’s wedding. Voicing your opinion at a city council meeting. An open-mic night at your favorite “where everybody knows your name” watering hole. Believe it or not, any of these things is a chance to make you a more competent public speaker over time.
If you don’t have time for a slow ramp-up, however, these quick tips can help you get through a speech without a massive meltdown.
1. Take Good Notes
Most novice speakers won’t go into an event blind — they’ll have time to prepare. But you don’t want to look like you’re reading from a script.
The key is to prepare good notes that will keep you on track but still allow you some space to improvise a bit, too.
Use a 3×5 notecard to limit yourself to a brief outline and some key talking points. This kind of aid can be a lifesaver if you lose your train of thought in the middle of the speech, but it will also keep you from sounding like a robot, too.
2. Enlist a Test Audience
Before you deliver your speech, take time to practice — preferably in front of family or friends. There’s little risk of embarrassment, and they can provide feedback to help you improve.
You can also either record your own practice runs on video or have someone else do it so you can watch your performance yourself and see it from the audience’s perspective.
3. Get Familiar with the Location and Equipment
If possible, visit the venue you’ll be presenting at a day or two in advance. This will give you a feel for the size and layout of the location, and provide you some more familiarity, which makes some people more comfortable with speaking there.
Also, if you’ll be using any audio/visual equipment, now is the time to take it for a test drive so you don’t have to fumble with it the day of the event.
Techniques for Delivering Engaging Presentations
1. Know Your Audience
If you’re going to speak in front of a group of people, you’d better know something about that group of people. Are they a happy-go-lucky bunch of brand advocates who are there to help you celebrate a milestone? Industry peers there to hear some of your subject expertise? A group of potential investors who want to hear how you achieved record profits?
You can’t treat every audience the same. Delivering a speech to one that’s more suited to the other can cause you to fall flat, no matter how well you’ve prepared.
2. Stay Flexible
No matter who your audience is, you need to be able to adapt to them in real-time.
Are they zoning out? Shuffling in their seats? Even yawning? Unless it’s 6 a.m. or midnight, that’s a clear-cut signal to either change the subject or your delivery.
Conversely, if the audience is hanging on to every word of a certain talking point, you might want to consider allocating a bit more time discussing it than you had originally planned.
3. Capture Their Attention from the Get-Go
Just like every good news story needs a captivating headline, every good speech needs a captivating opening. If you don’t grip them from the beginning, chances are good you’re not going to grip them at all.
One caveat: There’s a fine line between hypnotizing and hokey. Make sure your opening makes sense in the context of your speech. Appearing on stage in a cloud of smoke can cause quite the stir if you’re a special effects company … but not so much if you’re there to talk about reverse mortgages.
Are You Ready for Your Public Speaking Debut?
Public speaking isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but for those who want to be seen as corporate thought leaders, it’s a necessary part of the game. The more you do it, the easier it gets!
Do you need more ways to shine a spotlight on your business? Mischa Communications has exactly what it takes to get your audience to sit up and take notice. Let’s get the conversation started!
A press release is a great way to get your business some much-needed publicity. But it’s certainly not the only way.
Public relations (PR) focuses on managing how your audience sees your business. And while it’s often lumped in with advertising and marketing, it’s actually a different discipline.
This quote from marketing professional S. H. Simmons helps clarify:
“If a young man tells his date how handsome, smart and successful he is — that’s advertising. If the young man tells his date she’s intelligent, looks lovely, and is a great conversationalist, he’s saying the right things to the right person and that’s marketing. If someone else tells the young woman how handsome, smart and successful her date is — that’s PR.”
Good PR draws in business, boosts your brand’s reputation and helps you get those always-important customer referrals and word-of-mouth recommendations. But how do you create good PR beyond the typical press release?
We have a few ideas!
4 Great Tips for Alternative Public Relations Efforts
Host Events
Hosting live events allows you to see — and, perhaps more importantly, be seen. A good event will create a buzz, and a buzz attracts attention.
It could be a getting-to-know-you happy hour, a product release, a conference or trade show, or just an informal “stop by and meet the team” invite complete with hot dogs and burgers on the grill. Whatever it is, an event is a great way to mingle with your audience and create good PR for yourself.
Find a Cause
How many heartwarming stories about businesses giving back to their communities did you see on your local news this past holiday season? We’d guess several.
Each of those businesses received a huge dose of good PR just by collecting toys for less fortunate kids, serving a shift in a soup kitchen or hosting a food drive.
The holidays may be over, but there are plenty of causes and charities that still need support, now more than ever. Find one that aligns with your brand’s values and go all in. People will take notice.
Become a Sponsor
There is no shortage of local organizations looking for sponsorships. From your local Little League team to your high school marching band to your parks and recreation department, plenty of people are looking to reward your financial backing with some good, old-fashioned PR.
Don’t forget to show up for all those games, performances and ribbon-cuttings. Your face in the hometown crowd can only help cement your image as a team player and make you (and your brand, by proxy) a recognizable, approachable figure.
Make Friends With the Media
Sending out a press release every now and then is great. But why not try to connect with media on a personal level?
The fact is that you might not always have something worthy of a press release. But you might have an opinion you can share, some information you can contribute to a story in progress or a unique insight on your industry that the media might be interested in.
By creating relationships with your local media, you’ll be top of mind when they need a source for an industry-related story. That can be a much-needed PR boost between press releases!
Are Your Public Relations Efforts On Point?
The way your audience sees your brand dictates whether they do business with it or not. Public relations can cast you in a positive light. Don’t leave things to chance!
Do you need help maintaining your rep? Mischa Communications is your ticket to PR perfection! Get started today.