The holidays are upon us and while many are taking time off, the press does not. Digital media outlets need to fill their sites with stories and television stations will be, as they call it, “light” for stories.  

Reporters and editors are not getting inundated with press pitches as many are on vacation, so your pitch has a chance of getting read and potentially picked up. 

As hard news slows down, reporters need story ideas. And this is where you come in! Here’s what journalists are looking for. 

Secret #1: Feel Good Stories

I think most of us agree that after this year, we all need a feel-good story. Reporters are looking to share a special story that warms the hearts of their viewers or readers. This works great with your local media. If you have a special story that will resonate with your audience pitch away. 

Secret #2: Food. Food. Food.

Food is a big part of the season and prior to COVID television stations would have in-studio cooking segments. But that doesn’t mean that they are not looking for this type of content. Pitch a unique cooking/entertainment segment that you can do remotely. Think about what people will be doing this holiday season as it is a bit different and create a pitch from there. For example, maybe folks aren’t doing the traditional holiday dinner, so give them ideas to create fun and less stressful meals or snacks. Remember, think outside the box and what is important to the audience. 

Secret #3: Be Topical

Pitching topical newsworthy stories is always the best way to reach the media, even during the holidays. Pitch a story that connects your organization to a news topic or current trends, such as the economy, COVID, health, or other trends.

Secret #4: How To’s

The media loves to interview experts about tips. From how to stay healthy during the holidays with COVID to how to avoid gaining weight from all the amazing food and cookies...these are great ways to reach the media.
  

Secret #5: Gifts Ideas

We all struggle with coming up with unique gifts and the media loves to provide unique ideas to their readers and viewers. If you have a specific product that would make a good gift before you pitch the idea think about what sets your brand apart and why it would make a good story. It is American made, inexpensive, easy to get last minute, great for moms, dads, kids, co-workers..whats the hook?

Secret #6: Trends 

This is the time that journalists are working on 2021 predictions. The media is looking for experts in their industry to talk about what we can expect over the next year in that field. This is the case in multiple areas. From health and wellness to finance and style. The key here is to pitch this ASAP. 

A great place to see opportunities regarding these stories is HARO (Help a Reporter Out) I talk all about this and how to use it in my online course Land Your Own Media Coverage and Increase Your Brand. 

While national media exposure is the goal for many, I highly encourage you to start on the local level, especially with these holiday stories. And once they interview you, your chance to do more interviews will increase significantly. 

I’m excited to hear about your success.

Have a wonderful holiday season!!

I am honored to have a guest blogger this week. Janine Marin is a career coach and marketing mentor who helps transform the careers of women running their own business or climbing the corporate ladder. She partners with women who seek positive changes in their careers. Janine is sharing her tips on how to help career women build their personal brands. Enjoy!

Your business just won an award or you are part of a huge project in the area.  You have a story to tell – a really good one. You’ve told the press about it, but they don’t seem interested. Don’t worry just yet, you may have to tweak a couple of things. Here are six ways to help you get the attention of the media and influencers.

Know the Media
Take the time to connect and communicate with journalists who cover your industry. And I don’t mean that you have to wine and dine them. Frankly, they are so busy that they don't have time to grab a cup of coffee.

The key to connecting with the media is to read and watch their stories. Share and comment on their stories through social media. There is no better compliment for a journalist than receiving great feedback on their stories. Start with Twitter, mostly every journalist is on that platform. Go there. Find them. And share their stories. The more you share and comment on their articles, the more they will get to know you and your business.

Kill the Press Release
Press releases are becoming archaic. Sometimes they are needed. For example, if you have an announcement or an event to tell the media or public about, a press release comes is the way to go. And if you do write one up please keep it short. Journalists are extremely busy and you need to grab their attention in a couple of lines.

It’s all About the Pitch
A pitch is your story summed up in a couple of sentences with key talking points. When writing it I want you to ask these questions. Why is your story important to the reporter and their readers/viewers? What is the takeaway? What are you doing that’s different?  Did something just happen in the world that you can talk? If so, tell the media! The key is to think like a journalist!

HARO
HARO (Help a Reporter Out) is my favorite resource and it’s FREE!  This online service is where reporters, bloggers, and producers put out the stories that they are working on and request sources to provide content. From small blogs to Forbes to Dr. Oz, the media outlets on here are amazing.  The stories come out Monday-Friday at 5:30 am, 12:30 pm and 5:30 pm. The key is to act quickly. If you see a story that would be a good fit for you or your business, respond immediately, even if their deadline is tomorrow.  We have garnered dozens of press mentions by using the service and I highly recommend that you join. Did I mention that it is free?

Reach Out to Influencers
Do you know these folks who have 200 thousand followers on Instagram and Youtube? They may not be journalists, but they have a large and loyal audience. When they talk about a product, that company’s sales skyrocket. If you want your brand to be noticed, then these are the folks to go after. Just make sure that they are the right fit for your brand.

Write, Write and Write
The more that information that you provide as an expert, the better chance you have to get news coverage. Look into becoming a contributing writer for media outlets in your industry. Many blogs are looking for contributing writers. For example, Huffington Post and Entrepreneur Magazine have a dedicated page for people to pitch their articles.

There are many other ways to get press coverage, but start with these and you’ll be on your way to getting your name out there.

Let me know how it goes!

I have to admit that when Kyle Reyes of The Silent Partner Marketing told me to get on Snapchat, I was apprehensive. I thought it was just for teenagers and twenty-something-year-olds to share pictures. But, I was clearly wrong and I’m now telling all of my clients to get on board. Here’s why.

It’s the fastest growing social media platform out there, but many companies are hesitant to jump on board with it. I’m talking about Snapchat. By some estimates, the app has more than 200 million monthly active users.

Are you blabbing? If so, congratulations you are ahead of the game. Blab is that latest live-streaming video platform that is quickly taking off. I guarantee that within the next 6 months you will be hearing a LOT about Blab.