Tell Your Story – The Easy Way
The easiest way to tell the story of your company or organization is to have the press do it for you. However, you still want to control the message that goes out. To do that, you need to think ahead and create material for members of the press to reference as they research their stories.
Here are some simple ways to position yourself for excellent press coverage.
Present Yourself Well Online:
- Create an official Press page on your website and make certain it’s easy to find (a link in the main navigation or the header of your site is best).
- Have an updated media packet and company brochure available for download.
- Offer up high resolution images of key team members and current projects.
- Maintain a company blog. It is a great way to push good news into the hands of reporters.
- Announce any changes to your website content or media packet material on social media channels and link to your official press page.
Prepare for Media At Your Events:
- Be sure to invite the media, personally if possible.
- Know the timelines and deadlines for the media you are concerned with and schedule accordingly.
- Make sure the area where your presenter or speaker will be standing is well-lit for photographs.
- Include official photo-op sessions in your event agenda. If possible, create a backdrop with sponsor logos or appropriate identity.
- Provide members of the press with an official statement about the event including background, key personnel, and sponsors.
- Provide access to VIP’s so media can easily get their quotes or sound bite.
- Include a hashtag to encourage online discussion during the event.
Be Relevant to the Bigger Story:
- Leverage your sponsorship of events by integrating into any media coverage those events generate.
- Be aware of any current events affecting your industry and have a series of talking points on hand in case the media reaches out to you for a quote.
- Pitch your organization as germane to the big news of the day.
Positive media stories can strike like lightening. Taking the right steps to make it easy for the media to tell your story will allow you to handle promotional opportunities with confidence and help you manage the narrative of your organization as it goes out into the world.