5 ways to come up with great PR ideas

This article was originally published PR Daily in January 2015. Much of successful public relations has to do with spotting good ideas and recognizing their PR value. Generating good press for businesses and brands also means coming up with fresh concepts on a consistent basis, especially after the cool new product has been launched or the buzz from a seasonal campaign has died down. Consider these ways to generate ideas for the times when your creative juices threaten to go dry.

Spot trends. People who are great at formulating PR ideas aren’t just naturally creative; they consume and analyze media constantly. While reading the latest pop culture story of the week or getting up to speed on international politics, look for common threads that seem to converge, and make the connections for brands. Is your tech startup client’s growth on pace with other small businesses? Does a new product appeal to an emerging demographic? Is it part of a growing trend, or does it buck that trend? All these things are good fodder for visibility.