Smart PR

Generating U.S. Exposure for International Organizations

June 23, 2011 at 5:29 PM Leave a comment

North America represents the largest market for revenue for many international companies. For some organizations, there comes a time when direct customer marketing may not be enough to maintain the growth they’ve seen. When an international organization reaches this phase, strategic PR efforts can help build brand awareness in the North American market.

But this isn’t an easy task. Given the recent recession and stagnant job growth, the public is wary of “foreign” companies capitalizing on the U.S. market. Additionally, the press is both hesitant and often unavailable to commit the time to learn about unfamiliar organizations.

However, there are several steps an organization can take to improve its chances for exposure in North America:

• Reference Customers with Brand Recognition

Leveraging your client’s customers or partners is an effective way to garner media attention, particularly if those brands have significant recognition in North America. If customers cannot be mentioned in the press, the client can reference them under embargo during interviews, thereby providing credibility and a better understanding of their services.

•  Show Investment in the Region

Given the state of job growth in the U.S., the media is interested in international organizations investing money and creating jobs in the region.  Positioning the company as a job maker rather than a taker will facilitate better traction in the press.

•  Develop Unbiased Case Studies or Research Material

The media environment in North America is very different than that of Europe and Asia. Any materials contributed to U.S. press should be non-commercial and non-promotional. Materials should address timely industry trends or challenges relevant to the organization.

•  Leverage International Press

With the proliferation of digital media, many international stories are picked up in North America. Organizations can leverage their international media contacts to drive press exposure, which, in turn, can be utilized by the North American PR team to drive media and brand recognition.

•  Take Your Time

Gaining traction in the press can take time, particularly if the organization has little or no brand presence in North America. The key is to develop a reasonable timeframe to cultivate long-term relationships and opportunities with reporters. It’s not about short-term hits , but about leveraging the contacts you establish to paint a comprehensive picture of the organization and its progress in North America over time.

What other tips do you have for international organizations seeking to increase their media exposure in North America?

By Josh Waller, Ricochet Technology Team

Entry filed under: Communications, Corporate, Technology. Tags: Best Practices, Communications, media relations, public relations.