Comments on: How Effective Are Your Press Releases in Getting You Press?

By: Marsha Friedman

Marsha Friedman — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 16:09:05 +0000

Hi Chris,

Given the editor’s response, I suspect your “press releases” are more about your company, products or service, rather than providing helpful information about problems that your product may solve for the reader. The media is always looking for ways to engage their audience and in the print media particularly, that’s often done with “tips” type articles. Hope this helps!

By: Chris Mason

Chris Mason — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 13:49:14 +0000

Our experience with press releases in our own niche market (noise & vibration measurement systems) has been somewhat disappointing. Every one we have distributed is met with a ‘the editor would love to publish if you are willing to pay a £xxx insertion/editorial fee’. I don’t have a problem with that per se. We tend to set a budget and pay for insertions in those publications that we consider to be most worthwhile. However, it means that larger competitors can simply ‘buy’ large parts of the key publications. It just becomes more advertising (ie bucks) rather than a matter of generating interesting content.

I probably being naive, but I’d always thought that more editorial judgement was used in choosing stories for publication. It has left me rather jaded and very suspicious of the newsworthiness of these ‘trade’ publications.

On the other hand, maybe my press releases are rubbish

By: Tina Bradford

Tina Bradford — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 04:54:28 +0000

Interesting post on misconceptions on PR, as we all know, PR is truly an inexact science. However, a new product, is a new product, and worth investigating a powerful slant.

Is the new product, simply an update on an existing one, or is it a rocket fuel back pack for commuters?

With that said, I myself have had many of those calls, from perspective clients.

One such blurry caller with a small, boutique charm bracelet firm, throught her firm warranted a story in the Associated Press! I patiently asked her several questions, just in case this was the Duchess of York or something, but alas, nothing so sensational indeed.

Night all,
Tina Bradford for Kreate Market, and Tina BradfordPR

By: Marsha Friedman

Marsha Friedman — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 21:15:14 +0000

Allison – Thanks so much for your feedback. Nice to get insight from a media industry professional

By: allison bliss

allison bliss — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 21:33:09 +0000

Marsha; Well said! Having worked at ABC news, and editing smaller publications I’ve struggled for years to figure out how to perfectly explain this to my well-intended clients. Now I can just send them to this link. Thanks for making it easy for me! I look forward to an article from you on how to craft a perfect pitch (she says hopefully).

And to your readers commenting on media pitching them to buy an ad vs. getting editorial coverage, I can offer that the various editors I’ve spoken with for tv and newspapers tell me; ‘”yes we’re more likely to do stories on our advertisers” – very contrary to how media ‘ethics’ used to separate ads and content. So if your pitch is self-serving in that you’re selling something, that’s an ad, not news. That’s why they sent an ad rep. So, think to yourself first “how does this benefit the vast majority of their readers” to put a real news spin on it. Like Marsha said, if it’s an event, it’s news.

By: Marsha Friedman

Marsha Friedman — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 16:35:26 +0000

Bruce – Love your website and your art. Very unsual. I feel your pain.
What you described is the very nature of industry trade publications particularly in this economy where advertising dollars are scarce. Look it’s all about marketing and figuring out what are the best marketing tools for you to apply. I guarantee you there are more than one or two, but it does require constantly creating opportunities. I would take a look at what’s been most successful for you in the past and make sure that you haven’t dropped out any successful actions that have worked well for you. Also make sure that you’re doing everything to strengthen whatever has worked well for you and eliminating wasted efforts. Hope this helps some!

By: Bruce White

Bruce White — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 03:32:53 +0000

I always get something of value when I take the time to read your thoughts. One obsticle I face is the writers for the equine, home/ artistic mags are “thrilled” to do a piece on my work and have checked out the t.v. coverage i’ve had locally shown on my web site with the kids and horses ect but, drop the bomb “we can do this big spread ” as soon as you sign a 2k contract for advertisements in our publication. Horse Illestrated went so far as to set up an “interview” for wich I laid out a lot of my work with fresh landscaping ect. only to have the person who showed up to be a sales rep. Short of setting the dogs on her I sent her away . I know whom ever “discovers me” will get some sort of credit , I’ll make sure of it but other than that, I’m at a loss in the circle of heve it to make it vs make it to have it. Whinning over, Bruce

By: Cheryl Sylvester

Cheryl Sylvester — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 02:51:52 +0000

Your article will be most helpful to many entrepreneurs! What I hear underlying your article is that as with all good communications, it’s critical to think about your audience. For entrepreneurs, your potential customers are your ultimate audience – and – in PR, thinking of the journalists as an audience is helpful and essential. Ask yourself the question – What’s important to the journalist? What are they thinking about? What’s it like in their world. This will help guide your pitch.

By: Marsha Friedman

Marsha Friedman — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 17:07:13 +0000

Michelle – I’m so glad you’ve had success. You must be providing valuable content their readers. Well done.
Alex – Yes that is a value of online press releases. My point was more about getting pickup in newspapers and magazines.
Janet – 1. You typically call producers for radio or TV shows and you want to contact the beat reporter that would cover the kind of story you’re proposing. Re the visuals, one of the best suggestions I can offer is to think of yourself as the viewer and what visual would keep you interested in your topic?
2. We use email and phone to contact the media. The first step is determining which media you want to contact. Assuming it’s local, go to the radio or TV show’s website and you’ll find email addresses and phone numbers. The same thing goes for newspapers, identify which editor is writing about your topic i.e. health editor, business editor, food editor, finance etc and seek their contact information via the paper’s website or the paper itself.

By: Michelle Dunn

Michelle Dunn — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 11:09:48 +0000

I have used press releases very successfully, but only send them when I have an announcement about my business that is newsworthy and I also send out press releases that are not announcements about a new service or award but that are informational while not plugging my business. I think that those releases are the ones the media has been most interested in and that give me the most exposure.
I have also used the other tools you mention, especially the pitches.