Public Relations is a Waste of Money
Yes, using public relations in that title was built to annoy a few people — but it was only half of what I said last week at GDCy – GameDev Cyprus. The other half: “until it isn’t.”
I’ve watched the same thing happen for twenty years — companies try PR for one launch, on a budget that just about covers a month. The press release goes out. Nothing much comes back. And the CEO says, with a certain grim satisfaction, “I told you. Waste of money.”
The shi**y part? He’s right. For that company, in that moment, at least.
But “until it isn’t” carries the whole title. Because the same company can get a completely different result once a few things are true. And it’s not like public relations suddenly starts working, but something changes about them.
…Until It Isn’t
What? Well, roughly four things (not an extensive list): a story worth telling (not a feature list). The relationships to get it heard (not a media list). The patience to stick with it past one launch, long enough to compound. And something that holds when the bad day comes — because it always comes.
Which gives you three honest questions to sit with before you invest a single cent into PR.
The Key Questions to Ask Yourself
* Do you have a story anyone cares about and would repeat?
* Will you do the work past one launch?
* And if tomorrow were your worst day, does anyone know what to do first?
Can’t answer them? Good. That’s useful. It means the smartest move isn’t hiring a PR team yet, but rather finding that story first. (And yes, a good one can help you do exactly that.)
And if you can? Congrats, PR is about to stop being a waste of money.
Oh, and if you need help with points 1-4 – Hooman is here to step in.
What can Hooman Help You With?
Strategic communication & messaging sets the base of what you want to say without that corporate blah-blah, while Thought leadership & visibility helps translate those into stories and ideas people actualy care about.
Or just reach out. I’m always up for a discussion—and happy to help.
