contacting/Attracting Media attention.

**Xanifur** · 07-10-2007 11:59 PM

How do you get media attention? What are the steps taken to get it? Is it wise to contact the media, like a website, magazine etc asking if they would like to do an article on your business or operation?

Do you know any media outlets that might be interested in my new project www.livemyword.com ?

**Xanifur** · 07-11-2007 12:09 AM

By media attention I'm talking about free exposure. Would a magazine do a free article, or something like that?

I've spent $9 on this website, I want to keep it as inexpensive as possible.

**Paint and Air Sportz** · 07-11-2007 08:52 AM

Well you could start by writing a press release.

**thehappysecret** · 07-11-2007 10:16 AM

contact the media with your story and find out what they are really interseted in. What is newsworthy? what part of your story can they sell? I recently managed to get national TV coverage in Australia on a current affairs program and more recently a breakfast show, and tomorrow I am talking to a newspaper journalist about my story.

They won't be interested in your business unless it is truly unique, inspiring or controversial I don't think, but anyone in media can buy in to a story if it's presented the right way for them.

Make their job easy. Write a press release for them that gives 90% of the content for your article, that will help you too. Focus on your story not on your product.

Check out www.thehappysecret.com to find out what I am doing if you're interested...

**jasaunders** · 07-11-2007 01:26 PM

Yes, you should contact the media. Contact journalists in many different forms. The best would be to talk to them in person or on the phone, which is extremely difficult. Many journalists find media-worthy stories through the major wires such as PRNewswire and Business Wire if you don't have a direct connection.

The best way to get your story published or get media attention is to know journalists... so start networking! Find out who you know and who they know; journalists can be your best friend. Know them before you need them. Provide them information that they don't know about and help them out (not in regards to your own publicity).

Most importantly, it is hard to get media attention if you just blindly contact media outlets. You should target who you are sending stuff to, know about them, what they write about, read their past columns, compliment them on their work. Journalists get hundreds of stories on their desk everyday, you can't just be another one that ends up in the pile.

**buynick** · 07-11-2007 04:42 PM

Jump up and down while waving your hands

Also, you could write a press release, and call up some papers and ask them where to send it.

**jasaunders** · 07-11-2007 09:47 PM

Call the papers? You have a phone number? Who you going to talk to?

You can't just call a newspaper and say hey, I want you to write about my company, who should I send it to? You will never get looked at, let alone published.

**zoobie** · 07-11-2007 10:03 PM

Originally Posted by jasaunders

Yes, you should contact the media. Contact journalists in many different forms. The best would be to talk to them in person or on the phone, which is extremely difficult.

The best way to get your story published or get media attention is to know journalists... so start networking! Find out who you know and who they know; journalists can be your best friend.

One thing I learned is ask to interview them by phone and tell them that it will take a few minutes of their time. Because if you directly ask them to write an article for you, they may be busy, etc. So, I think the best start is to do interviews. Then, it will be easy to ask them again.