Maybe it played for Kevin Costner in "Field of Dreams," but that paraphrased line ? "Print it and they will come" ? doesn't necessarily work in real life.
There's a lot to be said for the value of editorial side coverage, but you can't count on people acting on what they read or even remembering it for long. The smarter bet is to find ways to leverage your coverage to enhance the odds of driving more prospects in. Here are some fairly easy ways to do it:
First, create a short synopsis of the article (making sure your part of it is front and center), including the headline, publication and publication date. Tease to the "hit" or placement on your home page and link it to the synopsis, which you should post to the Press section (or some informational equivalent) of your site.
If you're among the many who are comfortable with e-mail marketing and are fairly nimble, you can devise a simple informational mailing that shares news of coverage and provides a link to the article on the publication's website, if it's available. Many publications allow public access to their content for a limited amount of time, so do this before that time expires.
Otherwise, you need to check out the availability of reprint rights and PDFs, well worth it for articles where you're quoted expansively or that you've authored. For a price, you can secure a PDF (hard copies are usually extra) and guidelines for usage. Don't make your own photocopies or PDFs because you risk violating the publication's copyright.
Here's how to use the PDF: o Create a link to the PDF from the synopsis of the article you've posted on your website. That way people will know they can access the complete piece. o Whether you have formal or informal outreach efforts to clients, customers and friends, incorporate a brief, FYI-type summary of the article and attach the PDF, if it's an e-communique. And don't forget to encourage the recipients to forward the piece to people they know who might find it of interest. o If you use snail mail outreach, things are a little dicier. If you've gotten a printable PDF and the mailing is fairly small, you may be safe printing and making copies to include as part of the mailing. Check the terms of your reprint permission. The problem is that PDFs are made to look good on the computer screen, but printouts don't reproduce as well. o Make sure anyone in your organization who is involved in business development is equipped with the PDF, and encouraged to include it as an informational attachment when promoting the business to prospects and friends.
If it's printed, they may come. If you promote what's been printed, the odds go up exponentially!
Sally Saville Hodge is president of Hodge Communications, Inc., specializing in strategic public relations and marketing communications for businesses, entrepreneurs and professional associations. Formerly an award-winning financial journalist, she brings over 30 years experience to client engagements. Subscribe today to Communic@te! our free bimonthly e-newsletter and get a free special report: "Using Buzz To Create a Groundswell For Your Business." Visit http://www.hodgecommunications.com
best cleaning company Highland Park ..Being part of a trade show gives small business a... Read More
Be a ResourceThe media people that are likely to want... Read More
Because it can alter individual perception and lead to changed... Read More
If you're serious about getting great results from your PR... Read More
Simply that the behaviors of their most important outside audiences... Read More
Lots of theories out there about public relations.Everything from "publicity's... Read More
Parties, videos, booklets and column plugs?Or public relations that does... Read More
I got the latest issue of Internet Works in the... Read More
Maybe it played for Kevin Costner in "Field of Dreams,"... Read More
?lose the confidence of your key target audiences? discourage them... Read More
Layout1. 1-2 pages in length.2. Double-space.3. 1.5 to 2 inch... Read More
Here's the point: people act on their own perception of... Read More
Although, as a business, non-profit or association manager, you may... Read More
Think that you aren't big enough for national media coverage?... Read More
I say to business, non-profit and association managers, a key... Read More
The Public Relations (PR) industry is responsible for creating and... Read More
As a manager, does your current business, non-profit or association... Read More
Ideally, you will have two types of quotes in your... Read More
As the comedian Steve Martin once said, "some people have... Read More
Managers ? the business, non-profit and association sort ? really... Read More
Imagine you're in the breakfast cereal business. You make the... Read More
I define public relations failure this way:key audience perceptions are... Read More
Just like a financial planning client fears not having enough... Read More
New business owners often miss out on publicity opportunities because... Read More
In these days of every increasing demand and competition, there... Read More
high-end home cleaning Winnetka ..The public relations bar, should such a proficiency measure ever... Read More
Non-news professionals often have a hard time understanding why their... Read More
?lose the confidence of your key target audiences? discourage them... Read More
It is virtually impossible to succeed professionally and personally without... Read More
Press releases are a useful tool for announcing news and... Read More
The reason might be this simple: as a business, non-profit... Read More
As if making sure your company runs smoothly on an... Read More
I believe this about public relations.People act on their own... Read More
Have you ever gotten one of those letters from your... Read More
Everyone is talking about the Ps of successful marketing, so... Read More
Although it seems less common these days, there are still... Read More
Publicity will take your financial planning practice, your business, and... Read More
Every reporter, from the cub at the small town paper... Read More
The public relations goal and strategy make sense; the message... Read More
While awaiting economic recovery, business needs to attract the attention... Read More
No comment. These are probably the two most damaging words... Read More
Not a single reporter showed up at our news event.... Read More
PR that really does something positive about the behaviors of... Read More
Press reviews are a common and basic feature for surveying... Read More
It could, but what if it doesn't?Will you be prepared?Will... Read More
It sounds too simple to be true, but it really... Read More
I heard a speaker recently who was talking about how... Read More
It really is powerful when a business, non-profit or association... Read More
A well structured press release in an excellent way of... Read More
Do you dream of being on Oprah Winfrey's television show?... Read More
Public Relations |