There’s a misconception held by many business owners that public relations (PR) and advertising are completely interchangeable (in terms of the benefits that they offer), but that isn’t true. While both have their benefits, there are many reasons that PR is more effective for start-ups especially for those in the hospitality industry.

Here are five examples of when using PR will be more effective than advertising for hospitality start-ups:

When you need to educate your audiences

One of the most exciting things about working in the hospitality industry is the innovation that you experience firsthand. The difficult thing about being the company that is selling an innovative, new product is that it is necessary to educate your potential clients on why this product is different/better than others available in the market. Because many of these products are so technologically advanced, this can be a very arduous process Ð and a confusing one for your...

Are journalists ignoring your company’s news? Are you still using press releases to pitch media? 

If your answer to either question was “yes”, hear this:   

 THE PRESS RELEASE IS DEAD!

Top journalists receive hundreds – if not thousands – of press releases by email every day; so, how many of those press releases do you think are actually read by journalists, from start to finish?

HINT: (Almost) Zip, Zero, None.

Especially in the over-saturated, highly competitive hospitality media market, it takes A LOT more than a press release to catch the eye of top journalists.

I created a FREE guide that will teach you the BEST way to grab journalists’ attention & get more media coverage.

DOWNLOAD THE FREE GUIDE NOW 

This new pitch format will be the difference between having journalists clamoring to cover your news… or sending out your pitch to crickets!

Let’s all leave the press release behind, in the past,...

2 Tips to Boost Your Company’s Brand Awareness & Close More Sales

By Jennifer Nagy, President of JLNPR & Chief Educational Officer at DIY.JLNPR

Small businesses, especially those in the startup phase, spend a lot of time focusing on how to increase sales. (I mean, rightfully so; after sinking thousands of dollars into developing a brand-spanking new technology solution, who wouldn’t want to start making some of that cash back ASAP?!) 

Because of that mindset, most entrepreneurs launch their business with a complete sales strategy established, a team hired to do the legwork and incentive structures established to incentivize their sales staff – which is great; however, in many cases, having a sales strategy AND a great, innovative product isn’t enough to close sales.

Here’s why: hotels can’t buy your technology if they don’t know it exists. No matter how good your sales team is or how innovative your new solution is, it’s...