Each day newspapers, TV, radio, and ezines hand out millions of
dollars in FREE publicity. If you have a good story or good
information to share, an editor somewhere will jump at the chance
to use your material. Your name and ideas can be spread to
thousands of people over night. And the cost to you? Zero.
Once you have finished your press release, here are some ways to
send it to the media.
1. Start small. Think locally. Your best bet for getting media
is right in your own home town. Editors and news directors love
to do stories on businesses and individuals they can phone
without placing a long distance call. In fact, when we send
press releases to media across America, many editors say they
ONLY do local stories.
Find the contact information for your local media in the Yellow
Pages. Call the front desk and ask who handles stories like
yours. You might even try pitching your story over the phone
before you send your release.
2. Send your release to a trade publication that covers your
industry. The fact that you have created a way for silver coated
milk cans to dent less easily probably won't get a second look
from your local daily newspaper, but the dairy trade publication
might put you on the front page. Be sure to send them a photo,
with YOU in the picture.
3. Email your release to media nationwide. Most editors won't go
for your release, but since you are casting a wide net, some will
give you coverage. You can get addresses of media folks who have
asked to received releases by consulting one of the reliable
media directories like the Bacon Publicity Checker or the Media
Directory at Gebbie.com.
Since email is a dirt cheap way to distribute a release, write a
second release to send media next month. Sometimes you have to
send three or four releases before you become familiar enough for
an editor to jump on your story.
4. Look for neighborhood or alternative newspapers that cover
stories like yours. A policeman who had a story about abuse
couldn't get his side covered by the local daily, but had a topic
alternative newspapers loved.
5. Pay an email newsletter to run all or part of your press
release. Ad rates are down around the Net and many fine
publications will consider working with you if your release has
good information their readers will appreciate. This same
principle can apply to small newspapers and some broadcast
organizations. You may get better results if you convert your
release into an article or even into a long ad.
Above all, don't give up. Free publicity is...well...free. You
only get results when you are organized and persistent.
About the Author
Meredith Pond has written and distributed hundreds of press
releases for everyone from individuals to big corporations. See
her smart marketing ideas and publicity packages at
http://CheapWriting.com Reach her at
mailto:meredith@drnunley.com or 801-328-9006.