PR is arguably very important for a startup depending on industry and whether they do or do not have much of anything else in the way of company assets. Either way, chances are, unless you’re a PR specialist who’s segued into entrepreneurship, your PR skills won’t be as developed as they could be. No worries, by and large PR is relatively interesting (compared to, say, accounting), it being largely about contacts, creativity and chutzpa.

One good way to pick up some decent PR skills while doing good in the world is to champion a local charity. This has a number of advantages:

1.       It’s a good networking opportunity

2.       They’ll be grateful for any traction you can get them and might help you back down the line.

3.        You can take risks and be creative. You can learn with an established brand.

4.        you can develop your network of newspapermen and local persons of influence. 

5.       You can try out various techniques and see which are most viable in terms of return on investment before adapting them for your own enterprise.

6.       You’re helping a charity, doing good in the world and maybe developing your personal brand some.

It’ll help you brush up on your all important social media communication skills – emails, twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, as well as more traditional press release and copywriting.