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Good Tips for Getting Publicity

Scrolling through the newsletters and press releases in my inbox this morning, I came across a link to a USA Today article on getting publicity from local reporters (newpaper, website, news station, radio station, etc.). Written by Steve Strauss in his "Ask An Expert" column, it contains very sensible advice for creating win-win relationships with members of local media. Here are the basic steps he lists:

1. Do some research and find a reporter who covers stories like the one you want to pitch.
2. Create an angle that is different, interesting and newsworthy.
3. Send a short and snappy email pitching your story.
4. Be friendly and accessible, and make it easy for the reporter to follow-up.
5. Follow up yourself, but don't be a pest.

In the piece, Strauss writes: "[reporters] are not in the business of giving you free publicity, but they are in the business of offering their readers and viewers interesting, intriguing stories." I would add "useful" to that list of adjectives. This is a busy time of year but it would be well worth your while to do as Strauss advises and email a local reporter with an idea for a story. As Strauss points out the payoffs extend well beyond the initial article or report.

Posted by Lori Smith on November 16, 2009 3:15 PM |

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Lori Smith, , Editor-in-Chief
Lori Smith is the editor of Gifts and Tablewares, Canada's premiere gifts and tablewares magazine. Written for retailers of gifts, tablewares, housewares, stationery and home furnishing accessories, its objective is to help readers increase their sales and run their businesses more profitably by providing information on new products, merchandising, small business management, customer service, consumer behavior and industry news. The magazine is published six times a year by BIG Magazines, LP, a leading Canadian information company.

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This page contains a single entry from the blog posted on November 16, 2009 3:15 PM.

The previous post in this blog was How Are You Going to Woo and Wow Your Customers this Holiday Season?.

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