Have you ever heard of the saying, "One person's trash is another person's treasure?" Well, that statement is a true one, but never more so than in the realm of media relations where so many small-business owners find it so difficult to garner media coverage for themselves or their companies. Allow me to illustrate my point below in an actual incident that happened to one of my clients and the lessons we learned from this experience.
One day a new client approached me about getting media coverage for her company. She had tried writing and submitting press releases on her own but with little luck and decided that it was time to contact a media relations company. We made an appointment to meet and we discussed her business and brainstormed about ways in which to secure coverage in a creative and affordable way. During that meeting and subsequent other ones, I became very familiar with her business and learned why she was so successful. But it was in a casual conversation, which had little to do with her business, that I learned about the information that would allow me to secure news coverage for my new client.
This particular client is a visual arts designer and runs a very successful business in the Midwest, but her one true passion since childhood is gymnastics. She participated in the sport as a child. She still follows the sport on television and even incorporates the sport into the name of her company. I learned that she liked to have people take photographs of her performing handstands near historic structures, and that she had done this all around the country.
It was through that conversation that I learned that she even had a photo taken of her performing a handstand just outside of the World Trade Center several years ago. I asked her why she hadn't shared this information with me earlier and she said, "It was such a little thing that I really didn't think it was very important."
In reality, it was that little-known fact that sealed the deal for local newspaper coverage. When I spoke with the reporter, I was able to strategically mention this "little" fact to the reporter and explain that I could supply the actual photo. It mattered less to the reporter that this client was a self-published author and ran a successful business. While all of that information was great, it was the World Trade Center photo that peaked the reporter's interest. In the end, instead of receiving a small blurb in the newspaper, which was what we really expected, she in turn got a front-page story complete with her photo and references to both her business and her love for gymnastics. Plus, this was a very affordable decision because the client could never have afforded an advertisement the size of that article generated.
The point that I'm trying to make is this. Sometimes small-business owners need to depend on the services of communication companies in order to secure media coverage. But whether you are dealing with a big agency or a boutique agency or a freelancer, it's always important to share every detail because sometimes it's the little details, which can make or break a story.
About The Author
Carolyn Davenport-Moncel is president and founder of Mondave Communications, a global marketing and communications firm based in Chicago and Paris, and a subsidiary of MotionTemps, LLC. Contact her at carolyn@motiontemps.com or by phone in the United States at 877.815.0167 or 011.331.4997.9059 in France.
recurring maid service Arlington Heights ..I'm what we in the business (the "business" being journalism)... Read More
Managers ? the business, non-profit and association sort ? really... Read More
How cool is this? You're a business, non-profit or association... Read More
"I want a pony, a tree house and the fastest... Read More
Next to white papers, case studies are the most popular... Read More
Some people think that publicity is all about paparazzi snapping... Read More
Public relations changes minds in the process of delivering what... Read More
What you are about to read is a step by... Read More
The payoff for business, non-profit or association managers can be... Read More
Lots of theories out there about public relations.Everything from "publicity's... Read More
You can if, as a business, non-profit or association manager,... Read More
Demand that it pull its own weight in your boat... Read More
? Don't wear all black. You'll look as though you're... Read More
Can your PR do something positive about the behaviors of... Read More
It is virtually impossible to succeed professionally and personally without... Read More
The short answer is, it works best when its fundamental... Read More
Reporters, by nature, are curious people.If you can get them... Read More
When your book is mentioned on television, sales go up.... Read More
"Cindy, where's that story? I need it yesterday!""Coming right up,... Read More
When times are tough, it's no time to ignore those... Read More
You can have dozens of marvelous ideas to get free... Read More
Before meeting my soon-to-be-wife for the first time, I "Googled"... Read More
If you get the hang of speaking to the press... Read More
"Don't say you don't have enough time. You have exactly... Read More
It sounds too simple to be true, but it really... Read More
insured cleaning company Highland Park ..Recently someone asked me why so many restaurants go out... Read More
Does the thought of knowing your verbs from your adjective... Read More
Excerpted from "Selling Goodness- The Guerrilla PR Guide To Promoting... Read More
How to write a press release is a major challenge... Read More
Everyone has an opinion on something, and you can leverage... Read More
The most sensible way for business, non-profit or association managers... Read More
About a year ago I read a feature story in... Read More
If your reading this, you must be online and most... Read More
I say public relations can be a matter of survival... Read More
Do editors of newspapers, magazines and online news sites really... Read More
Because when it comes to public relations, non-believers can produce... Read More
One big mistake that many marketing-minded financial planners make when... Read More
As the practice of public relations in China continues to... Read More
The world has woken up to ethical issues in corporate... Read More
You've probably noticed, if you live on this planet, that... Read More
Press reviews are a common and basic feature for surveying... Read More
Writing a press (or media) release is quite an art... Read More
Do it by restructuring your business, non-profit or association public... Read More
Press releases are a useful tool for announcing news and... Read More
There's still time to review your public relations program like... Read More
Many of our clients are in service businesses, such as... Read More
Well, for starters, because good public relations can alter individual... Read More
Media kits include a combination of information whether created for... Read More
When properly applied by business, non-profit and association managers, public... Read More
If you're an online business using public relations (PR) to... Read More
Public Relations |