Having a reputable
magazine, news reporter, radio personality,
website or blogger tout your business
can have an enormous impact on your sales
and reputation. This issue focuses on
how to build your media list so that you
can get your news into the hands of the
appropriate people. Need help thinking
of what to write about? Take a look at
my past article on 12
Reasons to Send a Press Release.
Of course, if you need help writing your
press releases, give me a call. As your
marketing writer I can handle all of your
marketing writing needs.
Linda Coss
949-699-2749
|
How
to Build A Powerful Media List
|
One popular
marketing tactic is to send out targeted
media releases to try to garner free publicity
- articles or news reports that mention
your business in a positive light. But before
you can send out a release you need a media
list. While some companies opt to purchase
ready-made media databases or subscribe
to media release services, this can get
fairly pricey. It takes some leg work, but
building your own list can produce much
more targeted results.
A good media list can be a gold mine. Here's
how to create yours:
-
Know
Your Target Audience. Who are your
ideal customers and what media outlets
do these people usually turn to? Look
for publications and media aimed at your
target audience.
-
Consider
All Media Forms. Don't overlook anything.
Possibilities include newspapers, magazines
(local, regional, and national), trade
journals, newsletters (print and email),
radio, TV, websites, blogs, popular people
or pages on social networking sites, and
more.
-
Start
Your Database. Create a spreadsheet
to gather the following information for
each media source: publication or site
name; website address; brief description;
contact name, email, phone, address; types
of stories they cover; notes.
-
Search
Appropriate Media Directories. In
addition to conducting general online
searches, consider using the following:
-
-
NewsLink
- newspapers, magazines, TV, and radio
-
-
Standard
Rate & Data Service, available
at the reference desk of your public
library
-
Verify
Your Information. People change jobs
frequently. Before you send anything you
need to call to verify that you have the
correct information.
-
Update
Regularly. A good media list is always
a "work in progress."
To be powerful
your list doesn't have to be big - it just
needs to be highly targeted and strategically
thorough.
|
| Customer
Spotlight: Derek Quinn Productions |
Derek
Quinn Productions was created to bring top-notch
entertainment - especially popular smooth
jazz artists - to Southern California audiences.
When the company launched its Green Scene
smooth jazz concert series in 2008 it used
a variety of tactics to promote the event,
including sending media releases to all
the appropriate local media outlets. Click
here to see the media release which
I wrote for them.
|
| ©
2009 Linda Marienhoff Coss |
|
|
|
|
|
|
About Linda
|
|
|
|
Linda
Coss is a freelance marketing writer who helps
businesses become more profitable by writing
persuasive, targeted and effective messages
for their brochures, websites, letters, ads,
fliers, press releases, newsletters and other
written materials.
Whether
you need something written "from scratch"
or want a professional to edit what you've
created, Linda is your on-call marketing writer.
For
more information
|
|
|
