Preparing for Your First Press Release
The media offers an incredible opportunity to anyone who knows how to take advantage of it. For the most part, I'm talking about television, radio, newspapers and magazines. And a little guidance can help you make inroads with the journalists, editors and publishers behind the scenes. This article will give you some basic but essential pointers to the process.
Let's talk about newspapers first. The editors putting them together are always working on a deadline and spend most of their working lives scrambling to get everything together. They're always looking for good stories and reward quality contributors with regular coverage. Bottom line; you need to introduce yourself to these people and get in the habit of sending them good material.
The first step is to make a list of media outlets. Start with your local media as they will be more amenable to your contributions. Obviously, the local newspapers are a good place to start but the other media providers can be included as well. The idea is to accumulate a list of a dozen or two dozen media outlets that you'd like to be featured in.
With your list in hand, visit the appropriate websites and get all the contact information you can. I recommend building an Excel spreadsheet with columns for company, content focus, mailing address, contact name, title, phone, fax and email. Fill in as much information as you can and then call each one to fill in the blanks.
The most important field is that of the contact person. You need to get the full first and last name of the person handling your contributions and it may require a phone call and some direct questions to find the right person. It may be the person handling local community events. It may also be someone handling a particular subject matter. Be sure to get the right person on the front end because an after-the-fact correction looks bad from the start.
When it comes time to send out your press releases, you want to address them to a specific person. In fact, it will be important to follow up all of these individual submissions with a personal phone call. Yes, you will probably end up in their voicemail but believe me; a personal message confirming receipt of your press release goes a long ways in establishing a relationship.
There are some situations where you can send out your press release on a wire service. These services cost money but they distribute your story to every corner of the media universe. Of course, there are different levels of the service but a general distribution will probably cost you about $200. You can also pay a bit more and have your news go out to a narrowed field of appropriate recipients.
The trick to wire services is to use them only when you have a really juicy story. It can be tied in with the major headlines of the day or it might just have a great title or clever angle. But if it's a really good piece, you can often get a ton of exposure by using the wire services. The big ones are PRN Newswire and BusinessWire but there are others. Do your research and pick the one you like best.
Public relations can dramatically change your business but you have to know how to approach it. The people who run the media machine are just like you and me. They're busy people who look forward to their weekends. Treat them like human beings and you could see huge rewards. There is a lot more information on my website and I hope you take advantage of the free resources available there.
Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com
Related Tags: for, your, first, release, press, preparing
Become a recognized expert. Optimize your website. Explode your business. Tactical Execution provides implementation strategies for immediate results. Claim your free website traffic hotsheet today!
Your Article Search Directory : Find in ArticlesRecent articles in this category:
- Is SEO Optimisation Important Today?
Those who have tried setting up their own websites know just how competitive the online market reall - How to Shop Fearlessly, Look For Bargains, And Save Time and Money on the Web?
With the advent of online shopping, going to outlets and discount shopping centers may become an act - Roll Up Stand Changing Vendor Booths
Most people have been to trade shows, home shows, state and county fairs and other places where ther - Achieving Your Advertising Goals With a Roll Up Stand
Advertising is a common function of a business. However, it requires creativity and hard work to ens - Trade Show Displays and Expos
Trade Shows and community business Expos provide a captive audience for your business, to get the wo - How to Make Sure Your Newsletters Are Sent Out on Time
There are three key elements to making sure your newsletter is delivered on time: People, planning, - Portable Displays - Trade Show Displays
Portable Displays are the best option for exhibitors when it comes to Trade Shows. Portable Displays - Banner Displays - a Great Portable Display
Banner Displays are considered one of the most portable displays when used for trade shows. They com - Small Business Reputation Management - Your Small Business Information Could be Wrong
Bad information could be out there circulating on the Internet this very minute about your business - Eight Guidelines For Writing Newsletters That Engage Your Readers and Build Your Business
Want to write newsletters that engage your readers and help to build community? Whether you are a sm
Most viewed articles in this category:
- Adsense Is Making Me Rich
I want to talk to you about the power of Google AdSense and how you can use it to generate not hundr - How to Increase Your Business Using the Esoteric Science of Radionics
As a small business owner, there are an amazing number of difficult skills I need to master so my bu - 14 Top Lead Generation Tips
According to former Harvard Business School professor David Maister, typical marketing practices are - More Marketing Dope
Direct marketing can make you very successful, but you’ve got to understand the basics. Here a - The State Of Paid-To-Surf Programs Today
What a difference a year can make. 12 months ago, auto surf programs were at their peak. More an - Should You Open Up An Ebay Store?
Ebay has provided some amazing opportunities for many people to earn online. This widely popular au - Is Adsense A Good Idea?
For many webmasters, Google AdSense has become a great revenue generator. Since the program pays th - The "Coat Of Arms" Revisited
Recently I listened to a interview with Mark Joyner and Gary Halbert about Gary's famous "Coat of Ar - Brand Loyalty
It's a challenge getting consumers to remain loyal to a particular brand. Unlike the good old days w - The Hottest Affiliate Ebooks Out in the Market Today!
Affiliate Project X is a great affiliate marketing ebook. Totaling only 50 pages you could have your