The Ultimate Guide to Public Relations for GenAI Companies
Generative AI (GenAI) is transforming industries and creating new possibilities. It is having an impact on organisations, markets and society. It is an exciting space to be in, but while there are many opportunities for marketing, PR and communications professionals, the newness of the technology brings with it PR and communication challenges.
Resonance works with many Generative AI companies and we've been talking AI since the beginning, 13 years ago, working with Blue Yonder, Exasol, Iterable and many more.
In this guide, we want to share our learnings with you, hopefully helping lift a little bit of pressure and giving you some fresh thoughts on tools and strategies to navigate the challenges of your day-to-day work.
Whatever your goal, from building awareness to effective engagement and ultimately supporting your company's growth, read on for our insights.
Challenges for GenAI-First Companies
If your company is relatively new and born in the GenAI era, you have your work cut out for you. Your big hurdle? Building brand awareness, earning trust, and reeling in those first customers or investors.
For this, it's critical to have a robust strategy that includes impactful PR campaigns, strategic partnerships, and transparent communication to establish credibility and attract early adopters.
Challenges for Established Companies Adding Generative AI
For the veterans stepping into GenAI, it’s about juggling AI integration without rocking the boat and keeping the brand vibe intact. Plus, in a world full of AI hype, you’ve got to stand out without adding to the noise. There’s a lot of AI fog out there.
A careful balance of innovation and authenticity is key. Highlight how GenAI enhances your existing products while maintaining core brand values.
CASE STUDY ALERT
Coverage Quality and Quantity for SambaNova Systems
Understanding the Generative AI Media landscape
The GenAI landscape is characterised by rapid innovation and intense competition. To successfully build your brand’s credibility and success, it's essential to understand the broader landscape:
Market Dynamics: Identify the key players, emerging trends and competitive pressures.
. Audience Insights: Understand the needs, concerns and knowledge levels of your target audience.
Regulatory Environment: Stay informed about regulations and ethical considerations impacting GenAI. Take a look at our work with Saidot here.
For information on how to use AR to help you understand the market, your customers and define your position, check out our Essential Guide to Analyst Relations.
Key PR Challenges for GenAI Companies:
- Noisy Market: Differentiating your brand in a crowded and rapidly evolving space.
- Intense Competition: Competing with both startups and tech giants for attention and credibility.
- Education and Awareness: Educating the public and stakeholders about GenAI’s capabilities and benefits.
- Complex Products: Be clear when communicating the intricacies and advantages of your technology.
Educating Your Audience on GenAI: Benefits and Risks
In the whirlwind of public discourse surrounding Generative AI market landscape, the narrative often leans towards sensationalist and dystopian views. Influential figures like Elon Musk have stoked fears, suggesting AI could pose existential risks. This intense focus on potential dangers can overshadow the substantial benefits GenAI offers, from revolutionising healthcare to enhancing creative industries.
It's crucial for PR professionals to understand the technology and its implications and move through the messaging factually. As custodians of brand reputation, we must ensure we ask questions. And then we need to strike a balance, clearly communicating both the advantages and risks of GenAI.
While acknowledging valid concerns about job displacement or ethical use, we must also highlight how GenAI can drive innovation, streamline operations, and solve complex problems. For instance, AI-driven diagnostics in healthcare can lead to earlier detection of diseases, while AI-generated content can help businesses scale their creative output.
By providing a nuanced perspective, we can educate stakeholders and the public, dispelling myths and fostering a more informed and balanced understanding of GenAI. This approach not only builds trust but also positions your brand as a credible voice in the AI conversation. Let’s leverage our platforms to shine a light on the transformative potential of GenAI, ensuring the discourse is as dynamic and innovative as the technology itself.
Resonance's Tom Fry joined the PRCA to Discuss what GenAI means for Healthcare R&D and Regulation
AI and Public Relations: Building a Strategy that works
Creating a PR strategy begins with a deep understanding of your business and marketing goals.
Here's a structured approach inspired by "The Resonators' Way" to guide your AI public relations efforts:
- Interrogate the Brief:
- Questions: What are your overall business objectives? What specific outcomes are you aiming for?
- Example: If your goal is to increase market share, PR can focus on brand differentiation and raising awareness among potential customers.
- Insight Foresight from Data:
- Questions: What data do you have on current market trends and customer behaviour? How can you leverage this data to inform your PR strategy?
- Example: Use market analysis to identify emerging trends and position your GenAI solutions as the answer to future needs.
- Understand Your Audience:
- Questions: Who are your target audiences? What are their needs, concerns, and pain points?
- Example: If your audience is tech-savvy early adopters, tailor your messaging to highlight the innovative aspects of your GenAI technology.
- Identify Opportunities and Messaging:
- Questions: What are the unique opportunities in the market? How can you craft messages that resonate with your audience?
- Example: Focus on how your GenAI product can solve specific problems better than competitors.
- Use Culturally Relevant Insight to Creativity:
- Questions: How can you ensure your messaging aligns with current cultural trends and values?
- Example: Highlight ethical AI practices and contributions to societal good to align with cultural values around technology.
- Map Creativity Against Objectives:
- Questions: How can creative PR tactics support your business goals?
- Example: Develop a creative campaign that not only grabs attention but also drives engagement and conversion.
- Execute:
- Questions: What are the specific actions you will take to implement your PR strategy?
- Example: Use a mix of press releases, media outreach, thought leadership, and social media engagement to roll out your campaign.
- Measure:
- Questions: How will you measure the success of your PR efforts?
- Example: Track metrics such as media coverage, social media engagement, website traffic, and lead generation to evaluate the effectiveness of your strategy.
Crafting Your Generative AI Media Narrative
A compelling generative AI media narrative is the foundation of your PR strategy. It should articulate your company’s mission, vision, and unique value proposition. Consider the following steps:
- Identify Key Messages: Define the core messages you want to communicate.
- Develop a Brand Story: Craft a story that resonates with your target audience and highlights your unique attributes.
- Consistency is Key: Ensure all communications reflect your narrative consistently.
Check out our messaging frameworks below to learn more about how you can get your Generative AI marketing campaign to cut through the noise!
Essential Messaging Frameworks for B2B Tech Comms
Want to cut above the noise? Uncertain about the impact of your messaging? Discover the key frameworks for crafting clear, consistent, and compelling messaging that drives impact, demand, and revenue.
Engaging with Generative AI Media
Building and maintaining strong relationships with journalists and influencers is also absolutely crucial. Just like how the GenAI landscape is moving fast, so too are the journalists covering the topic.
Here are some tips on getting this right:
- Identify Influencers: Create a list of influential journalists, bloggers, and industry analysts. Here’s our top tips for finding the influencers.
- Personalise Outreach: You must get under the hood of what each journalist needs. Ensure you know their audience and deliver pitches supporting their success. Every pitch should be tailored to your top-tier journalists for success.
- Provide Value: Offer exclusive insights, data, and access to key executives.
Want to learn more about creating top-tier relationships with top-tier journalists? Click on the blog below.
Top Tips for Maximising Value From your AI Public Relations Through Your Agency Relationship
1. Establish Clear Objectives
Define clear, measurable objectives before engaging with your PR agency. Whether it's increasing brand visibility, generating leads, or establishing thought leadership, objectives should align with your broader business goals. This clarity enables your PR agency to tailor their strategy effectively and ensures all efforts are directed towards tangible outcomes.
2. Open Communication
Maintain open lines of communication with your PR agency. Regular updates, feedback, and brainstorming sessions can lead to more personalised and successful campaigns. A transparent relationship encourages the agency to fully understand your brand's voice and values.
3. Leverage Their Expertise
Trust your PR agency's expertise. They have the experience and industry insights that can be pivotal for your brand's exposure. While your in-house knowledge is invaluable, the agency's external perspective can uncover unique opportunities for your brand's growth.
4. Provide Access to Resources
Ensure your PR agency has access to all necessary resources and information. From the latest product updates to insights into company culture, this information is crucial for them to accurately represent and advocate for your brand.
5. Integrate Efforts
Integrate your in-house marketing activities with your PR agency's efforts. A cohesive strategy ensures that all marketing communications are aligned, reinforcing the brand message across all channels and maximising the impact of your campaigns.
6. Measure, Review and Adapt
Regularly review the results of PR campaigns and be willing to adapt strategies as needed. The digital landscape changes fast, and the flexibility to pivot in response to campaign analytics or market shifts is key to staying ahead and maximising ROI.
7. Utilise Their Network
Make the most of your PR agency’s extensive media network. Encourage them to leverage their contacts for your brand’s advantage, not just for immediate press releases, but for building a sustained presence in relevant publications. This can also include arranging interviews, guest articles, and speaking opportunities, among many other avenues for generating exposure for you..
8. Be Collaborative in Planning
Involve your PR agency in your planning process as early as possible. Early collaboration in the strategic phase allows for a more integrated approach, where PR can complement product launches, event schedules, and other marketing initiatives, ensuring cohesive messaging and timing.
9. Encourage Creativity and Innovation
Give your PR agency the freedom to be creative. Encourage them to come up with innovative ideas that can set your brand apart. While staying true to your brand identity, innovative approaches to PR can often lead to better engagement and more impactful results.
10. Set Regular Review Meetings
Schedule regular review meetings to discuss progress, results, and the way forward. This not only helps keep the agency accountable but also provides a forum for continuous improvement and adjustment of strategies to ensure that your PR efforts are always aligned with your evolving business objectives.
Leveraging Generative AI Thought Leadership
Finally, let's not forget about the importance of positioning your company's leaders as industry experts. This can be achieved through:
- Guest Articles: Publish articles in reputable industry publications.
- Speaking Engagements: Secure speaking slots at major conferences and events.
- Webinars and Panels: Host or participate in webinars and panel discussions.
Here’s a case study where we helped our client, OpenUK, elevate their brand while smashing their annual conference out the park!
Want to learn more about making the most out of events? Check out the two blogs below.
WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY
"Resonance has been an invaluable partner in our journey to expand into the UK market. We featured in a number of key media outlets in insurance, finance, fintech, and business press, and our brand and reputation have been significantly elevated as a result. We couldn't be happier with the outstanding service they've provided."
Tulika Dhawan
Director of Marketing at Boost.ai
Conclusion
At Resonance, we've witnessed firsthand the transformative power of Generative AI in PR and communications.
Our 13 years of experience, including collaborations with industry leaders, have equipped us with unique insights into navigating the GenAI landscape. By leveraging our expertise, you can enhance your PR efforts, build meaningful awareness, and drive your company’s growth in this field.
We hope our insights help you to confidently harness the potential of generative AI in your day-to-day work, ensuring your organisation stays ahead in an ever-evolving industry.
Get in touch with us today!
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