Thursday, December 6, 2007

Receiving PR is Easier Than You Think

Having your name or product in the public spotlight can have advantages. Whether you are receiving positive or negative press, PR is one of the fastest ways of getting noticed. Often times a product or company has been built on public relations - a news story or a celebrity that was seen with their product. The field of PR can be complex, but there are many ways that you can get your company or products in front of the media.

One of the fastest ways of getting PR on the web is with the help of press release distribution services. There are a number of these services on the web that you can use to disseminate newsworthy information. These services range from free (free-press-release.com) to expensive such as PRweb. Regardless of which service you use to distribute information about your product, business, or recent activity, be sure that the service allows for active links in your press release. In addition to the potential media coverage, you'll also receive a boost to your search engine rankings.

Another great way to get press is to provide free samples to local radio stations and newspapers. I've worked with a number of clients who said, "I offer a service, I can't provide a free sample". They key is to think creatively. If you offer a consulting service, offer the regional newspaper a few hours of consulting and provide value. If you do, they'll likely write about it. Perhaps you run a small bakery, distribute free samples prior to Valentines day with a special message about how your chocolates are the perfect give on this special day (you might get mentioned on air). The opportunity for PR is there, you just need to think creatively.

Contests, collections and donations. Radio is famous for their efforts to promote worthwhile contests, collections, and donations. Listen to what your local radio station promotes. Are you hearing about a local company collecting coats for the needy? Or what about on online travel agency offering a warm get-a-way in the middle of winter? Once you've created a worthwhile idea, make your local media aware of it. Often times, stories may get picked up locally and spread to a national level. Never underestimate the power of the media!

No comments:

Post a Comment