Can you be in the news?
Would you love to be featured in the press, particularly to plug your business? Understanding how the press works, and how you can predict what features may soon be coming up can give you a head start in appearing in the press.
If you are handling your own PR and looking at how you can secure some press coverage for your business, a great way is to predict the news.
By this, I mean to keep up-to-date with not just industry news, but trends, celeb news and angles that could relate to your business. And then the trick is to find another angle linking your business and then get on the phone to your journalists.
If you look at any set of newspapers and magazine, on a particularly story you will often see themes of the same piece of news recycle in different ways. Take for example the recent successful TV programme Call The Midwife. There followed a range of features and case studies looking at the midwife today, how labour has changed since that era, case studies of midwives who work in remote areas, expert opinions on the role of a midwife etc. And different magazines and newspapers will each carry a slightly different angle. So, if your business is in any way targeting mums in labour then you could have the chance to get your voice heard.
Another recent theme is the the TOWIE effect the effect the show has had on girls glamming up with fake-tan, hair and big, big nails. Features followed on everything from the growth in tanning shops, the increased customer spend in fake hair and also disaster case studies where people had a bad experience from hair extensions. This then saw a series of features such as products to use to get a similar look, interviews with tanning/beauty therapists on the pros and cons of going for this look and also simple case studies of people who work the look.
So the key is keep an open mind of what is happening in the news. Remember how many publications there are on the news-stand; from newspapers to weekly magazines, every editor has to fill those pages with editorial. They are always looking for new sources of information, new products and new ideas. Don’t be afraid to approach them.
If you haven’t got a contact list then do have a look at the Parenting Magazine Contacts Database (www.parentingmagazinecontacts.co.uk). This gives you instant access to journalists contact details on the parenting and women’s consumer magazines so you can start sending out your press releases today.
Thank you
Julie Sherwood
