The PR Planner’s Checklist for Autumn Campaigns

September marks the start of a new business season. With summer behind us, it’s time to switch gears and plan for some of the biggest opportunities in the PR calendar—from back-to-school campaigns to Christmas press.
Whether you’re a solopreneur or part of a growing team, this simple checklist will help you get ahead of the game—and give your brand the visibility it deserves.

✅ 1. Refresh Your Key Messages
Are your core messages still aligned with your goals, products, and audience? Make sure your “about us,” boilerplate, and key talking points reflect any changes or milestones.
💡 Update your website bio, press kits, and LinkedIn profiles at the same time.

✅ 2. Pitch Early for Christmas Features
Yes, really. Long-lead press (like magazines and national gift guides) start planning in August and September. If you have a product, service, or story that could land in festive content, now’s the time to act.
🎁 Hot tip: Create a festive press release, include high-res images, and make it easy for journalists to cover you.

✅ 3. Identify Awareness Days and Campaign Dates
Autumn is packed with national awareness campaigns—many of which are perfect PR hooks.
🗓️ Some examples:

• Back to School (early Sept)
• World Mental Health Day (10 Oct)
• Black Friday/Cyber Monday (29 Nov / 2 Dec)
• Small Business Saturday (7 Dec)

💡 Plan your content and press angles to coincide with themes that matter to your audience.

✅ 4. Update Your Media List
Journalist roles change constantly. Use September to check your contacts, research new outlets, and refine who you're pitching to.
📍 Tools like Twitter/X, LinkedIn, and media databases are useful for keeping track of changes.

✅ 5. Reuse Summer Content Strategically
Did you post summer content that could be repurposed? A blog post could become a guest article. A testimonial could become a case study. A client story might become a media pitch.
♻️ Work smarter—not harder—with content you already have.

✅ 6. Book in Interviews, Q&As, and Thought Leadership
Autumn is a strong time for positioning yourself as an expert. Think podcasts, local radio, trade titles or blog interviews. Reach out now to secure slots before things get busy in Q4.

✅ 7. Audit Your PR Assets
Is your press kit up to date? Do you have recent high-res headshots and brand visuals? Are you showcasing awards or media coverage from earlier this year?
🧰 A well-stocked PR toolkit makes responding to media opportunities so much easier.


With the right planning, autumn can be your most visible, strategic season yet. Use this checklist to get organised, get visible, and make sure your story is being told in the right places.
📩 Need help pitching your autumn campaign or pulling together your press assets? Contact Us - we’re here to help.
#AutumnCampaigns #PRPlanning #SmallBusinessPR #ShrewdPR #MediaReady

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