One of the best ways to get your business covered in the media is to build relationships with the media. This is often referred to as a media relations campaign. It can make the difference between getting the PR that you want and having your story ideas ignored. So the question then is, how do you build rapport with the media?
1. Identify the Right Journalists/Reporters
Before you begin engaging with the media, choose a few representatives in your niche. These are reporters that cover your industry, are in your community, and are more likely to write a story about your brand. You can find these media reps by searching online, by reading industry publications, and by reading or watching other stories about your industry.
2. Read Their Content
Before you start engaging, but once you’ve identified a few key media representatives, it’s time to do a little research. Read the content that your chosen journalist or reporter writes. Go back and read everything for the past 6-12 months and make sure you’ve also read their most recent content. Why? Because this research time will give you a lot of the information that you need to connect with them and engage. You’ll know what they write about, the type of information they tend to share, and what their writing style is.
3. Engage & Share
Begin following them on social media. Share their content when they post it online. Write content that links to their content. For example, you might write a post and quote the reporter with a link to the quoted content. And when they ask a question or are looking for information, provide assistance. Do what you can to become a genuine asset to the media representative.
4. Share Your Resources and Knowledge
It may not come up often, but when you have the opportunity to share information that your chosen reporter may find valuable or helpful, share it with them. Finally, be professional. Respect their time. And treat them like you would want to be treated. Some relationships take time to develop and building rapport with a media representative can take time. It’s worth it. When you have a solid professional relationship with the media, your announcements and news will be covered.






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