Tips for Successful Media Coverage

Are you envious of the media coverage that other businesses get? Do you wonder why your company doesn’t get the same attention and think about what might happen if you did? Every company, including yours, has story to tell – you just need to take the time to uncover it. With some fine tuning, good writing and media pitching, your story will be in the news in no time.

The formula is quite simple.  Newspaper and magazine reporters have pages to fill and radio and television reporters have airtime to fill and they are always in search of a good story. So why not share yours, especially if it ties into something they’re already covering. For example, if temperatures are soaring in the summer and your business is selling ice cream like crazy, that could be a story!

Before you make the pitch, make sure you are ready to interact with the media. To help you prepare, we have created 5 tips for working with the media:

1)   Define your media angle. Your company may have a great product or service, but most often you have to dive below that surface to find what’s newsworthy. Most often, the story lies in your people.

2)   Know your facts. When preparing for an interview or providing information to a news outlet, make sure you understand the material you’re presenting because they’ll ask you a lot of questions about it.

3)   Know the reporter.  Make sure you know their beat and what kinds of stories they typically write about so you don’t waste their time with a story that is not a good fit for them.

4)   Remember who the audience is. Make sure the information you share will be understood by readers and viewers. Focus on subjects that will appeal to your customer base.

5)   Write a good press release. Include an attention-getting headline and organize your thoughts on paper in a clear and concise manner in a format that is easy to read.

Following these simple steps will help you prepare to meet the press and present your company in a professional and positive light.

If you want to make sure you get news coverage, seek the help and expertise of a public relations professional. They typically have good media contacts and a track record for getting clients in the press.

Published on: July 26, 2013