Successful buisnesses know that media attention reaches consumers better than advertising can. A feature story on a start-up's new product or service, for example, can send the business into a new stage of growth. Publicity can help bring your business greater visiblity and success. Publicity lets the public know you exist and creates crediblity and good will. That makes customers and prospects more receptive to your products and services.
Fortunately, you don't need special expertise or training to create an effective publicity program. You need to define the message you want the publicity to convey and what you want the public to do as a result, for example, respect your business, give you money (if you are a non-profit), or respond better to your sales messages.
Publicity is a message that is purposefully planned, executed, and distributed, without payment, through selected media to further a businesses interests. Publicity tells the world who you are, what you do, and why it's important. It's news, which has greater credibility to most people than advertising. Best of all, it's free.
Although, publicity can be distributed through any type of media, print media offers the best opportunities for most businesses. Newspapers and magazines have a lot more space to fill than TV or radio, so they're more likely to cover you.
Here are five steps to creating successful campaign.
1. Know your buisness. Research and assemble information so you can answer the following questions, Why did you start your business? What are your businesses goals and objectives? What has your business accomplished? What is your business doing right now? What is the future for your business? Who are the board members, management, department heads, and key staff?
Much of this information should be put into your press releases, and the rest may be used when an editor or a reporter calls or e-mails you for more background.
2. Define your long-range publicity goals. Here are some examples of what your goals might be: To win recognition and awareness of a specific product, service, project, program, or policy. To establish, build, or improve your identity, reputation, and credibility. To enlist volunteers. To attract the public to a specific event. To give special recognition to board members, executives, or employees.
3. Write specific, measurable, and attainable objectives for each goal. Show what will be done, when, and by whom, as well as the desired end result. Measurable criteria for success can be defined by using phrases like "to increase..., to improve..., to develop."
4. Create a written plan. Get input from key people in your business to establish where you want to go and how to get there. Determine what assistance you need to carry out the plan, then establish a budget. You may want to form a publicity committee to help manage specific projects or serve as business representatives.
5. Develop a publicity schedule. Schedule and prioritize all known events or news items for the coming year. This allows you to consult editors in advance about assigning space or coverage for your important news stories.
If you have a business, you need to have a web site. Your web site makes it possible to reach wider target audiences more effectively and efficiently. The internet gives the public direct access to web sites, so anyone can get your information, not just the media. You can put a "Media Page" or "Press Room Page" on your website to provide content for the media.
All contents Copyright (c) 2004 Joe Love and JLM & Associates, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide.
Joe Love draws on his 25 years of experience helping both individuals and companies build their businesses, increase profits, and achieve total success. A former ad agency executive and marketing consultant, Joe's work in personal development focuses on helping his clients identify hidden marketable assets that create windfall opportunities and profits, as well as sound personal happiness and peace.
Joe can be reached at: joe@jlmandassociates.com
Read more articles and newsletters at: joe@jlmandassociates.com
move in cleaning service Mundelein ..?makes the rules, of course.But when the gold takes the... Read More
Recently, I told a friend (who's a business owner) that... Read More
You won't accomplish much if you call the gas company... Read More
If a reporter was writing a story about you and... Read More
One of the primary tools still used by PR professionals... Read More
It's the time of year when calendars crowd out the... Read More
Individual financial planners can outscore bigger competitors and gain market... Read More
E-mail is becoming the preferred way to receive media releases.... Read More
Many people are intimidated by radio interviews, whether live or... Read More
As eyes look forward to a new business year, many... Read More
News releases are not the best way to get major... Read More
Wherever the fundamental premise of public relations is practiced.Look at... Read More
Do you want to be quoted by the national press... Read More
You've probably noticed, if you live on this planet, that... Read More
Did you Know That Even TV Remote Control Units... Read More
Imagine you're the technology reporter at a daily newspaper. You... Read More
A PR product or service launching is a perfect way... Read More
Ever wonder why papers devote a page or more to... Read More
As a business, non-profit or association manager, your public relations... Read More
With all due respect to all those stereotypical males out... Read More
If you're trying to promote your store, but you don't... Read More
I believe this about public relations.People act on their own... Read More
If you're serious about getting great results from your PR... Read More
If a reporter approached you about an interview, would you... Read More
Business to Business relationships come to expect a certain level... Read More
insured cleaning company Highland Park ..Personnel mentions in the newspaper and product plugs on radio... Read More
Yes, and that pressure often comes from a CEO who... Read More
If, as is often the case, you are preoccupied with... Read More
Being part of a trade show gives small business a... Read More
Smaller companies don't always have the budget - or inclination... Read More
Non-news professionals often have a hard time understanding why their... Read More
If you're serious about getting great results from your PR... Read More
As a business, non-profit or association manager, your public relations... Read More
For those business, non-profit and association managers committed to PR... Read More
Just promoted to manager?Here's something you need to know.Whether you... Read More
You do if you're a business, non-profit or association manager... Read More
As a business, non-profit or association manager trying to get... Read More
Most business, non-profit and association managers live to tell about... Read More
How to write a press release is a major challenge... Read More
I recently worked with a group dealing with an unusual... Read More
Advice about business and life often gets around to one... Read More
Product/service publicity is the superhighway to business success everyone dreams.... Read More
The public relations bar, should such a proficiency measure ever... Read More
When properly applied by business, non-profit and association managers, public... Read More
1. Appearing in other types of media is the best... Read More
In an ideal world, your business would be overflowing withnewsworthy... Read More
When is your best advertisement not an advertisement? When it's... Read More
The Today show? The New York Times? Vanity Fair? What's... Read More
For business, non-profit or association managers like yourself, survival pretty... Read More
You never want to inundate a reporter with information, but... Read More
Public Relations |