With the tenacity of hounds, we secure press coverage, and lots of it.
Using our news nous and copywriting prowess we plan and execute thought-leadership and data-driven campaigns, as well as product and business launches and funding announcements.
Our clients are scattered all over the UK and span multiple sectors, including technology, financial services, business services, property, education, marketing and transport.
We wear other hats, too: one for LinkedIn lead-generating content campaigns for B2B businesses, another for content creation for companies looking to bolster their marketing strategies, and a third for our popular copywriting services (books, guides, white papers, newsletters, features and websites).
Tartle works exclusively with startups and SMEs.
When it comes to getting news coverage, smaller businesses have the edge on larger ones.
Why? Firstly, because journalists always need new voices. Big companies tend to dominate in the press because they pay tens of thousands of pounds a month for PR. But hearing from the same people gets boring.
SME leaders have just as much expertise in their sectors, and they're not scared to have opinions. This makes for great press commentary.
Secondly, SMEs are more agile. We, as your PR firm, can go straight to the top for comments, rather than wading through a multi-layered sign off process involving several people. It's faster and more efficient, and journalists on tight deadlines appreciate speed.
This is how we are able to get press coverage for tiny companies that have never been quoted by journalists before.
That, and our ability to deliver a neat soundbite.
Burning questions? Read our FAQs below to be enlightened.
FAQs
Am I ready to start PR yet?
How do you get press coverage?
If you’re after the day-to-day methodology, check it
this blog post for a full breakdown.
What should my business be doing with press coverage?
How is PR different from marketing?
It’s becoming ever more blurred, in truth, as we all create content. But the kind of PR we do (media relations) is quite different, even to our closest discipline, content marketing.
Is PR expensive?
Will I be tied into a lengthy binding contract?
Nope! When you agree to work with Tartle, you simply agree to give us at least one full calendar month’s notice to pause or stop. With the same notice period, you can also dial down your time and pay less, although it’s worth noting that our minimum retainer is two days per month.
How much coverage can I expect to get each month?
We work with our retained clients based on time, and within those hours, we’ll get as much press coverage as we can. It really depends on what activity we're doing in any given month. For example, writing a feature takes a good few hours, but can yield one really great piece of coverage on an authoritative site. If, in another month, we put out a data-driven press release, or a reactive statment to breaking news that the press likes, you could get multiple national hits in a matter of hours.
Do I need a press release?
Probably not. A well-timed phone call or a strong email pitch tailored to the publication we're pitching to normally does the trick. But press releases can be useful in the following circumstances:
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To launch a first-to-market product or service
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To announce a successful funding round
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To summarise the findings of a statistical report or survey you’ve commissioned
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To flag up a new project win or major hire to your industry
I’ve written press releases before, why was no one interested?
Sometimes it takes an outsider to help you work out what your story is. Then you have to pitch it to the right places. That’s why a really well-crafted email or a well-timed phone call to a relevant journalist is far more effective than carpet bombing the media with press releases.
Why should I choose Tartle over other PR agencies?
We do a few things really, really well: we have a long track record of generating press coverage in the national and trade media through storytelling, and we turn business leaders into experts.
Why do you work exclusively with small businesses?
Will PR drive sales?
Will press coverage improve my SEO?
The short answer is yes. Getting links and mentions on pages with authority will make Google’s all-seeing eye bump you up in the rankings so you are easier to find. If you want to see some hard data on the impact press (good or bad) can have on site traffic, check out this analysis from Fractl and Moz. It covers some pretty viral moments, but the impact of being newsworthy is clear.
Can you guarantee I will get links?
We can't guarantee it, because some online news sites will not link, but there are plenty that do. When we send comments or features over to journalists, we always include a link to your website, but these sometimes get edited out, depending on the publication’s house style. Interestingly, Google’s algorithms now recognise ‘implied links’ (mentions) as well as hyperlinks. Read this article if you don’t believe us.
Do I want print or online press coverage?
Most people prefer online coverage because it lives forever, rather than being pulped 24 hours later, and it’s easier to share with your mum (and your customers). But if you get print coverage, you’ll often see the same piece posted online, too.
Do I need to be media trained?
We’d recommend it. Media training isn’t just for companies preparing to deal with a reputational crisis. Our media trainer has decades of experience as a broadcast journalist, including 11+ years at BBC London TV, and has coached CEOs and senior management teams, not only to cope with the bad times but also to excel in any interview situation.
Do I need headshots?
Get some head and shoulders shots against both backgrounds, and also some full-length shots of you in situ, perhaps sitting on a sofa or behind a desk, or standing at a counter, depending on what your business does. We’ve written a blog on this
here.
If I work with Tartle, how often will you bug me?
At first, we'll be in touch often, as we have to get to know you, your business and your opinions. Be willing to devote some extra time to us at the start and, a few months in, we’ll bug you less because we can write things without your input, and just get you to sign them off. What we really need is fast sign off on anything we send over that a journalist has asked for, and a respect for the deadlines they set. If we don’t meet deadlines, journalists get angry, and you get less coverage. So, to paraphrase Jerry Maguire: “Help us, help you”.
What does a good relationship with a PR agency look like?
Like any relationship, it needs good communication, honesty and commitment. If you get back to us quickly, update us with what’s going on in your business, and give us a little time to pick your brains for stories and ideas, then we’re peachy.
Do you offer PPC or SEO services?
What other services do you offer aside from PR?
Just about any content you could ever need – including books, whitepapers, blogs, opinion editorial and newsletters – plus LinkedIn sponsored content campaigns. We also write copy for company websites. And check out our Startup Toolbox for more pay-as-you-go services.
Does my business need to be creating content?
Absolutely. Content answers the many questions customers and clients might have, shows off your expertise, and can convince prospects they need you (while making sure the time wasters don’t bother you). But – and it’s a big but – content has to be of the highest quality to be effective. If copywriting and video production is not your thing, get the professionals in. It needs to be engaging, on brand and well produced.