We recently attended a fantastic networking event (with a fantastic buffet, may I add) where a senior journalist was the speaker. She outlined what exactly you need to do to grab your business some PR and how to increase your chances of  your press release being printed.

“What do journalists want?”, the room full of business folk asked. Well, here’s what she said (thanks to Anne Wise from Suffolk Free Press for this).

1. News

Think like a reporter. Is this relevant to MY readers? A local reporter is not going to be interested in a story from abroad, or elsewhere in  the country unless someone from the local area has been involved. Likewise, think like a local reader. Why would they be interested to know something about your business? What’s the interesting story you are telling them?

2. Stories

When you contact a newspaper or a reporter you must have a definite story to tell them. Has your business won an award, gained a huge contract, taken on a new senior member of staff or raised some money for charity? Don’t just contact a newspaper and ask for some publicity. They need an “angle”.

3. Golden Rules

Journalists are up against tight deadlines. The more information you can include, the better. Make sure you answer the questions WHO? WHAT? WHEN? WHERE? WHO? HOW? This will give reporters all the details they need to write the story so that the reader is fully informed.

4. Jargon

Avoid jargon in your press release. If you must use abbreviations then explain what they mean. Make your language simple. Reporters will use terms like “send out” instead of “distribute”. They use “get” instead of “receive”. Keep your language simple.

5. Human interest

Journalists love human interest stories. Do you have a story about the people who founded your business? What are your staff doing? How are you helping the community? How will it affect PEOPLE.

6. Contact

Reporters like contact with people! Contact the switchboard of your local press and find out the best and worst times to try and make contact. Don’t be put off if a reporter doesn’t use your story. If you send in a press release, keep it to two pages maximum and include contact details and quotes. Make sure the person you send it in to isn’t on holiday the day after you send it!

7. Images

A picture tells a thousand words! Local papers need to find at least 10 images for each edition, so help that search (and your chances of getting your story printed) by including an image. You don’t need to send professional shots, just a good clear shot will be fine.

8. Background

With time at a premium, journalists do not have time to do lots of background research. Include in an “information for journalists” section any further sources of information, links to websites or newspaper cuttings.

9. Timing

This is vital. Find out when the paper’s deadlines are. Again, the switchboard operator can tell you. For a weekly publication Thursdays and Fridays are good days because the reporter has the week ahead. Don’t send a story in the day the paper goes to press, unless it’s a very, VERY good story!

10. Comment

Don’t panic if a paper contacts you with a negative story. Take the details without comment and take time  to find out whether there is any substance  to the story. If you say you will not comment, or threaten legal action, you will make the reporter think you have something to hide.

IDEAS FOR PRESS RELEASE STORIES

• Launch of a new product or service
• Growing and moving to new premises
• Raising money for charity
• Special anniversary
• Securing a major order
• Winning an award
• Appointment of key staff
• Holding an event
• Do any of your staff and interesting or unusual hobbies?
• Creating new jobs for the local community
• Have you conducted a survey recently and can share the results?

Press releases help raise your business profile and engage you with your local community and customers.

So…what are you waiting for?