Let’s face it. The world is so cluttered with “news” that getting any kind of media attention is nearly impossible. Whether your company is releasing a new product or doing something positive for the community, getting your press release, media alert or promo video out there can be challenging at best.
Well, as I’ve said over and over again… social media is here to help.
Talk to any reporter, journalist, publisher or blogger and they’ll agree. Sites like Twitter and Facebook have allowed news services to be tapped into the pulse of the communities they serve on a level like never before. Your goal should be to become part of this community and the news will follow.
Here are a few easy pointers to get started.
- Ditch the plane old press release. Unless you’re sending a media alert or release DIRECTLY to media, posting a short, reader friendly informational piece about the product or event can help to garner that attention you need. Use lots of pictures, images and links.
- Follow target media. Following trade pubs and local news outlets on twitter and Facebook can help you to understand what kind of information they are looking for. If a station is doing a specialty piece, they will often do an open call post. This is your foot in that can lead to a great relationship with news services.
- Make yourself accessible. TV stations are notorious for their last minute attitude. Not responding timely to an email, post or tweet can be the difference between vital media coverage for your business. Even trade publications looking for a whole to fill can be under a time crunch. That means you need to be on call, all the time. Let’s face it folks, it’s part of being in business.
Media is changing. Social media has become a main avenue for getting your business attention. With a few pointers, you too navigate the in’s and out’s to media greatness.
