7 Principles Getting Any Business On Local Tv News, Radio & More

We can't always depend on public relations working however if you can master the media it can be very powerful for your bottom line. If you are a small business owner PR is your number 1 guerilla marketing tactic.

Rule # 1) Best place to start is the local media! If you start with your local media the chances are that a big media company is reading or listening. If your story has national appeal it might get aired by the big media companies. It is much easier to get local press plus the chances are that many of your customers are local too.

Rule # 2) It does not take a rocket scientist to figure out which media to choose to pitch, however it does require thought. Television tend to follow newspapers and today many Internet blogs and web sites are leading the way. If you look at how fast the news breaks the electronic airwaves tend to dominate. Does your story have visual appeal? And for what medium?

Rule # 3) Find the right person to speak to. I always like speaking to the actual reporter especially in the newspapers since they tend to know about their subjects i.e. environment and climate change. In TV you can always ask for the assignment desk or the assignment editor. I also find show producers helpful.

Rule # 4) Make your story current with the other news, and give it a hook! For example let's say you run a massage business and every year near your town there is a big marathon. Set up a massage station near the finish line to treat the runners. Give them free massages. Explain to them that a deep massage is good for you after an event like this. Next get on the phone to the local news teams and let them know that you are a massage professional and are "taking care of the runners" post race.

Rule # 5) News media has to sell stories. When they do this they tell you to sick around to not change the channel because they have a "new" back pain solution that you don't want to miss. If you tell this to the assignment editor he will apprecite it because you are really helping him shape the story for his broadcast and keep his viewers on his channel. He needs ratings!

Rule # 6) Make sure that there is a payoff for the viewers! The viewers probably already know that there is going to be a marathon in their city and might know some of the runners in the event. The payoff for the runners is to learn how to manage their back pain after their marathon. The TV station will love doing the story because it offers tips on wellness and they are being perceived as a community contributor to the story and this will hold and attract viewers.

Rule # 7) Tell them you want to make a fast story pitch! 9 out of 10 producers, assignment editors and reporters will say yeas to 30 seconds, but not if they are on deadline. If they do say yes have your duicks in a row and start talking and doln't shut up until they tell you to. If they like the story they will tell you. They will ask for mor einformation. If they say e-mail it into news@newsstation.com that means it won't make their broadcast. If they ask you to mail it to their e-mail directly you stand a better chance.

In conclusion, press is the best form of free advertising. Knowing how to talk to the news media, knowing what they are looking for is all you have to know. THe rest is up to you to make the contacts.

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If you want to brand your small business and get on the local radio news learn from a media insider how to be a master at media with Home Study Course on PR or listen to the Free Interview

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