Top Tips Takeaway: How to get your business in the media

You’re probably already running your own social media campaigns, but have you thought about targeting other media outlets such as magazines, newspapers and TV / Radio programmes?  With unreliable or fake news on the internet, traditional media channels still have a vital role to play in delivering trusted news. 
A media relations programme (a series of planned news hooks and clever newsjacking tactics that you can feed to the media) is a cost-effective way of getting exposure for your company or brand and its products or services.  With the right research and PR toolkit you’ll significantly increase your chance of being featured.

1. Professional photography and video content – the media are crying out for high-quality images (300dpi) and video content, so make sure yours are professional and beautifully executed.  If you’re emailing several large files, consider using Google Drive or similar.
2. Press releases – clear, concise, well-written press releases with a solid headline and your story in a nutshell in the first paragraph. Other things to consider when writing it:
   • What is your news hook? For brand consistency, use stories from your social media feeds 
   • What practical details do your audience need to know? 
   • Who is the audience you are writing for?  Adapt tone and style accordingly.
   • Avoid puff, unnecessary adjectives, subjective descriptions; keep it objective and factual. 
   • Include a date, contact details and any notes to editors or additional information that you think is helpful.
3. Know your media – Research titles or programmes in advance to ensure you’re familiar with them and understand the kind of stories they feature. Identify the correct contact on your target publication through the website or via a telephone call.  By doing this, you are significantly increasing your chances of being featured.
4. Product launch sample - send a sample.
5. Stick to the deadline - If you have an opportunity to contribute to an article, find out the deadline.  There’s often a very quick turnaround and no matter how great your story is, miss the deadline and you will simply have missed the boat!

 If you’ve found this takeaway useful, please like us or follow us on Instagram or Facebook @hootandhollerpr
​