PR means public relations and is thought to cost lots of money and is really hard to get.
Here are 5 tips plus a few more things that media coach Louise Pagonis shared the other night at a National Speakers Association event. Louise was on the platform with Tom O’Neil and Lindsey Dawson who also shared special information including how Tom has had articles published in the Harvard Business Review.
English: The CNN Center in Atlanta. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
These two comments really stood out for me that night.
- The MEDIA NEEDS YOU
- Journalists are LAZY
- Know the opportunities out there. Listen to the news in your niche and remember that any media, even the smallest has value.
- Approach the media with an angle. If the media is talking about a topic related to what you are interested in or work with, then contact the media with an angle or a new trend that you have observed
- Build a big picture for the media. Tell them a story and give them a picture. Put together a package that teases them without telling the whole story. Give them a reason to be interested in what you are talking about and tell them why their audience might be interested too.
- Find the right person to send your materials too. One of the advantages with PitchRate and Reporter Connection have is that they daily tell you the names of people and what they are looking for today.
- Follow up on your materials. Remember a Yes is a yes and a No is a NO but a no answer means you can try again with a slightly better headline or pitch. And remember the receptionist can be your best friend to get to the right person to hear your story.
Oh and another idea – keep records of where you are published. Nothing helps with the next publication than saying you have been published in….
Content matters but if you hate to write, let a journalist write your story.
If you talk well remember radio stations are picked up all over the place on line.
If something is online then you never know when it might get picked up again. Personally, I have seen publications on our topics come up in searches 10 years after first published.
Have you ever been published in anything other than your own blog? Tell me where in the comments below and give yourself a publicity plug.
Now I have to go find my clipping file. I wish I still had my TV appearance clips!
To your business growth
Roberta Budvietas, mentor
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Awesome Roberta – thanks a ton
Gayle Buchanan recently posted..@xero favorited your Tweet
Now Gayle the challenge is to get you the PR stories. Have some ideas as we work forward on your promotion plan
These are great tips Roberta! And I like your statement about ‘media needs you’. That is so true, they are always looking for a story, good content to share. Although I have been approached by my local groups and also online business owners for interviews, I have never had a journalist ask me for my story.
But what you share here makes sense. You have to have a different angle about a current topic. That will bring the twist and build the interest that you talk about. Your article has brought to light on how I should consider reaching out to media in a different way. Thanks for sharing!
Lynn Brown recently posted..LinkedIn Connects Business People For Success
It is interesting Lynn that just like with blogging, article writing and the like, if you have a good story, you can get others to listen and respond. And nothing like good stories to get you the awareness you need to be successful