How do we ATTRACT the MEDIA's ATTFNTION at LOW or ZERO COST?

[ron komorowski]

I started with maybe $500 for printing, graphics etc. I made flyers, postcards and little business cards that were like little brochures with one marketing line, the website, phone # and two pictures on front and two on back.

That was 3 years ago. From exactly that start and doing "cold" research on the net for writers etc., I sold worldwide after getting in magazines like Popular Mechanics and then this year got on the Discovery Channel as the publicity built up like a wave and carried me right onto TV. Many other TV appearances were supposed to be but everything is cut short these days and nothing more than free publicity.

The first postcards were TERRIBLE but got it started and I got them made at VistaPrint with a H.S. kid doing the graphics. I even hand wrote a note on the back...but Popular Mechanics still did a big test and wrote a wonderful report.

Search my name or Handi-Straps Handi Straps Lifting System Home and you will see some of the publicity worldwide from just cheap postcards, NO PRESS RELEASE, NO list of reporters given to me. There were stories in many languages but the economy slowed everything. They disappeared from a search.

Good luck! Just keep trying and don't forget to try the smallest community newspaper too. Got the front page there and AP looked at it too...said my website tracker.

Ron Komorowski
Inventor of Handi-Straps
Handi Straps Lifting System Home

[dogvi]

Do something spectacular that no one else does. Find some good connections too.

[rpermana]

1.
Inquiry and submit your article to newspaper company; Straits Times for Singapore. Your article must be unique, attractive and useful.

Just like Dr Ang Peng Tiam from Singapore Parkway Cancer Centre. He is one of the famous cancer doctor.
You can see his article in magazines, straits times (Minds & Body) and many more. His articles are mostly about his patient worries, early prevention, how he care about his patient.

When my cousin was recovering from cancer, he did offer her to be part of his articles which is focusing on the day she knew she got cancer, her worries, and up to the day she recovered. She did agree but left the name anonymous and no photos..

2. Quality articles always get you to the top. Another example is our local celebrity blogger.. xiaxue. Due to her popularity in blogging community, she is now appearing in Singapore blog TV, newspaper, & more.

Since you are from Singapore, I am sure you heard about them...

[SmallVolume]

When I first launched my company, I did some research and found as many journalists who covered my type of product and then emailed them personally. I made sure I read their work. I now have pretty good relationships with a number of great journalists that have given me some great publicity.

Good business way...

[peteVA]

Press Release it is.

As stated, written in a recognized format. If you don't do it as they expect to see it you may as well get a rubber stamp saying "Amateur" across the page. There are plenty of resources on how to do it and MS Word, among other software, has a template that will do fine.

The biggest mistake writing PRs is writing them as if you are selling your product or service. There is no ME, I, WE, or US in a press release. It is always a third party THEY Claim, It is said, etc. You are reviewing yourself as an outsider would, in terms of how the PR is written.

The headline is the key. Imagine faxing this to any organization and there being an intern, or some other "bottom of the ladder" type assigned to retrieving faxes. And right along side them is a trash can.

You have to have a headline that will make this person, with a ho-hum position, sit up and take notice and convince them that this fax has some merit and it should be passed on to the editor or someone who can do something with it.

The headline is not to sell your product or service in the publication, while it's great if it does, it's sole purpose is to sell the person picking up the faxes that this one is special and deserving of further review.

Terrible way to look at it, but that is how it is. No email, too easy to delete. One page, with a second page giving some background on the writer, just as you see a box at the end of online articles, you can do the same on the second page, to build some credibility. You can claim to be king or queen of your market segment, who is going to dispute you?

I'm telling you this not from a book, and not as a paid consultant. I'm a small business person and have done it myself. I've sent out PRs to trade publications and not only had them printed, but have been asked to write articles and even columns for the pubs.

Where do you get who to send them to? Right here - The Gebbie Press All-In-One Media Directory

[Colourfulla]

We did a small fundraiser for our school based business and one of the teachers needed money to go on a trip to Cambodia to build houses for the poor.
We simply said well give him 50% of our profits and he rung up the local paper about what we were doing and they sent a photographer on the day. It didn't mention us at all though but we still got in the paper ;p

[brokemet]

You can definitely make attention through exposure and promotional ideas through the social network. Here are few points also found at Attracting attention in Social Media

What you should do is:

# Spread the word about your niche or focus area.
# Grow your personal fame or influence.
# Make money on your blog.
# Market your company.
# Connect with fun people.

[sajis18@yahoo.com]

Surely we will want Publicity from the Media and the Press..
And gain much awareness from them..

Instead of the usual paid advertisements, how can we get their attention for LOW or ZERO COST on our side?

Any ideas to share? ...................................

[feint]

Good business way...

btw I never wrote a press release for task.fm and its been featured on places like The Today show and all the top blogs. In my industry press releases are dead

[inle]

Thanks a lot for sharing....

Hope that we can get more tips ya....

PS:
Thanks a lot for the special mention, rpermana

[broyaz]

Are you speaking from experience? I do not think it's that easy...

Most community papers (small-market) will run press releases. Those types are usually faring much better financially than the medium- and large-market news organizations with a bloated staff and plunging revenues.

And they're effective: Say you live in a small New England town, and your community newspaper runs a story (mostly written by your PR people) about your company. Editors from the big-time papers often look to those for ideas (example: The Boston Globe) to develop their own stories.

I've been in the media for about five years-- if you want a story, make sure it's interesting and has a valid angle — that's a word stressed in all my Journalism classes. Reporters and editors typically get turned off from press releases that sound too sales-y or too perfect. The media wants a interesting story just like a director wants a thrilling movie.

You have to figure out why other people would find your story interested. Did you overcome some huge obstacle? Is your product unique? Is your (business plan/source of revenue/etc.) unique? You need to differentiate yourself from the ordinary.

Don't try to dictate the reporter, either. That's a huge, huge turnoff.