To be a successful YouTuber, you must treat your channel like a company or a business. Your business should have an image, branding, marketing strategy, investments, future prospects, etc. that sets it apart from others. This is where public relations comes into the picture.
Public relations, commonly known as PR, is the way in which a public figure, brand, or organisation communicates with the public. For YouTubers, the public generally refers to viewers. Good PR can help YouTubers bond with viewers and boost publicity. Here are a few PR principles that every YouTuber needs to know.
Media relations
Building relations with people in the media opens up avenues for you to get featured in various media other than YouTube like blogs, news articles, press releases, etc. This can be extremely helpful when you venture your presence out of YouTube, for example, starting a new company or investing in an up-and-coming startup.
Crisis Management
In today’s age of cancel culture, it’s pertinent to get your communication right. Saying or doing the wrong thing at the wrong time can completely destroy your public image. Proper crisis management can help repair the damage to build back your credibility and get you back on track in these situations.
Social responsibility
“With great power comes great responsibility”. As a YouTuber, you might gain a lot of fame and money, but giving back to society is equally important. Social responsibility can also be incorporated into your YouTube videos through hosting fundraising streams for a cause or taking part in social events. Spreading positivity can build your image while also enabling you to contribute to the community.
Event management
PR companies are usually in charge of hosting events and contests for their clients. As a YouTuber, you too might have to host events for your subscribers. These can be contests or giveaways, mega collaborations and meet-and-greet events. Learning the right ways to handle these events can ensure that things run smoothly on the job.
Now that you know the fundamentals of PR principles, go ahead and start implementing them to build a strong online image.