5 Tips to Land Media Coverage ( a Giveaway!) - When I Grow Up

5 Tips to Land Media Coverage ( a Giveaway!) - When I Grow Up If theres one thing that can be a foreign language for us creative entrepreneurs, its PR talk! Such a mysteryhow to get featured, who to approach, what to say. Thankfully, Crosby Noricks is here to rescue us and generously offer a copy of her ebook to a lucky winner! Newspaper Headlines Dream Big Quote by EcoPrint Whether you have a product or service, building relationships with media is an integral part of getting the word about the greatness of you. Many business owners are surprised to learn just how many stories, from local morning shows, to niche bloggers to the glossy pages of your favorite magazine, are the result of pitches sent by PR representatives or business owners themselves. However, before you put together your first email, make sure you are setting yourself up for success. Sign up for HARO Help a Reporter Out (HARO) is a great source for finding journalists who are writing all sorts of stories. You get a digest a few times a day and, if you are quick to the draw, can secure great media coverage. Follow the Pitch Request If you find yourself faced with a request from a journalist, focus your communication solely on that request. And if you know that your product or service isnt a great fit, dont send a pitch. For example, if an editor is looking for Valentines Day gift ideas, your natural cleaning products are probably not a fit. That said, if those cleaning products are made with rose petals, you might have a story. Maybe. Brief is Best Editors are inundated with pitches so make it simple. If you are an expert on relationships, for example Put [Valentines Day Story Idea] Relationship Expert Source as your email subject. Keep the body of your email short and to the point. Focus on what you have to say and why its worth saying to a particular audience. This is not the time to explain your entire reason for being or worse, what you think the publication has to offer you. Provide links for more information and sign off. Follow the Following Follow up Rule After you have sent your pitch. Wait a week to follow up. Then, leave it alone and wait until you have something new to pitch. If you are really itching to follow up one more time, only do it when you have something new to offer or a different angle. Or, just be a peach and pass along an article or source you think the media contact might appreciate. Always Say Thank You The minute the segment airs or the article comes out, reach out with a thank you email or voicemail. Do what you can to promote the media coverage to your customers and social audience. The better the coverage does, the more the journalist will be likely to reach out to you the next time. What other questions do you have about working with the media? Let me know in a comment before noon on January 31st and you can win a copy of Pitch Perfect: The PR Couture Guide to Fashion Media Coverage. Also, everyone can get $25 off the Fashion Media List Bundle with code BundleMe25 (comes with Pitch Perfect free). Thats $54 of free! UPDATE: Super many congrats to Marie for winning the ebook! Crosby will be emailing it to you soon. Thanks to everyone who entered! Known as the “fashion publicist’s most powerful accessory,” (San Diego Union-Tribune) the “West Coast ‘It’ girl of fashion PR,” (YFS Magazine) Crosby Noricks is the founder of PR Couture. Named one of 25 Essential PR Blogs by PR Web (2011, 2010), PR Couture highlights the role of PR, marketing social media in the fashion industry.