E-mail is becoming the preferred way to receive media releases. Although it can sometimes be harder to get valid e-mail addresses for media contacts, e-mail releases are more likely to be read than faxes and faster than snail mail.
Collect e-mail addresses for your preferred media contacts from the web sites for publications and broadcast outlets. For example, many newspapers list e-mail addresses of their editors, columnists and reporters at their web sites. They may also print e-mail addresses in each section of the newspaper.
Can't find the e-mail address for the person you want to reach? Often, you can guess what the address is if you know the e-mail address convention for that publication. For example, if others there have addresses that are firstname.lastname@magazine.com, you can try contacting columnist John Jones at john.jones@magazine.com.
Keep the release short. There shouldn't be more than a couple of screens worth of text.
Use text, not special formatting such as HTML. What you thought was a beautifully formatted message with special fonts and graphics will show up on some systems as a bunch of garbage code. Also, with all the viruses, worms and trojans out there, some people will not open HTML e-mail.
NEVER send an attachment. Some systems will automatically strip them out, but even if they reach the addressee, many will not open an attachment because of the possibility of viruses as well as the inconvenience.
Your subject line is your headline. Use it wisely. Don't leave it blank, or put a generic subject such as "Hi!" or "Something for you." Most will delete it believing it to be spam or just not interesting. Don't try to be cute with a subject line such as "Guess who?" or "I dare you to open this," for the same reasons.
Make the FROM field meaningful. Put your name, company name or other identifier there. If all that shows up is that the e-mail is from a meaningless series of letters and numbers, it looks unprofessional or like spam.
Don't use the CC: field to send the e-mail release to dozens or hundreds of media. All of the addresses will show up on each person's e-mail, meaning they will have to scroll through pages of header to reach your message-and they won't. Your e-mail will be deleted unread. It's annoying and unprofessional to send e-mails this way.
E-mail releases can be an effective, free way to get publicity. Use them wisely.
Copyright Cathy Stucker. Learn more about how you can attract customers and make yourself famous with free publicity at free publicity.
limo prices to midway Crystal Lake west of Randal .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareWithout a solid, well-designed foundation, few buildings successfully withstand the... Read More
So you have spent hours and hours writing, shaping and... Read More
There is a process for successfully getting publicity about your... Read More
It behooves you to know and remember the names of... Read More
Does it really make sense to bet your PR budget... Read More
It took me a while to see just HOW crucial... Read More
No comment. These are probably the two most damaging words... Read More
As a business, non-profit or association manager, your public relations... Read More
Southern grandmothers have often said, "there are only three... Read More
Everyone has an opinion on something, and you can leverage... Read More
Publicity will take your financial planning practice, your business, and... Read More
Because it can alter individual perception and lead to changed... Read More
Why You Should Write Press Releases: A press release is... Read More
The Public Relations (PR) industry is responsible for creating and... Read More
Individual financial planners can outscore bigger competitors and gain market... Read More
How to write a press release that generates free publicity... Read More
Imagine you're the technology reporter at a daily newspaper. You... Read More
You bet!Especially for business, non-profit and association managers who REALLY... Read More
Are there secrets to gaining media coverage or is it... Read More
Business, non-profit or association managers hurt their own public relations... Read More
As you start getting more media-savvy, you'll find yourself coming... Read More
You can have dozens of marvelous ideas to get free... Read More
Strong for business, non-profit and association managers when they use... Read More
As a business, non-profit or association manager, do you see... Read More
Community relations is one of those marketing strategies that isn't... Read More
taxi o'hare Auburn ..Maybe it played for Kevin Costner in "Field of Dreams,"... Read More
Everyone has something that drives them up a wall. You... Read More
A common complaint you'll hear is that the media is... Read More
Public relations is all about credibility and trustworthiness. If you... Read More
Business people often spend time and money trying to find... Read More
You have a story to tell. Your company has developed... Read More
As an owner of an independent record label, I often... Read More
I am often asked by clients to target USA Today... Read More
They know they had better do something positive about those... Read More
Why, public relations that stays true to its fundamental premise,... Read More
I define public relations failure this way:key audience perceptions are... Read More
Imagine you're in the breakfast cereal business. You make the... Read More
If your key ? that's KEY ? outside audiences don't... Read More
Who wants to face the challenges of a business recovery... Read More
So you've put yourself "out there" with a public relations... Read More
What's a Capability Statement?As the name suggests, it tells potential... Read More
If you do, it means:you don't value tracking the perceptions... Read More
When I talk with business people, they tend to believe... Read More
What do your customers say about your company?Would you let... Read More
Shooting from the hip always creates anxiety.Especially when managers order... Read More
I recently worked with a group dealing with an unusual... Read More
When your book is mentioned on television, sales go up.... Read More
About a year ago I read a feature story in... Read More
In this great country of ours, there are basically three... Read More
You do not have to hire a publicist or advertise... Read More
Public Relations |