If you’ve waited until just a few weeks … or even a few days … before your event to try to get some publicity, is it too late? Not necessarily. Here some tricks we use to snag publicity on short notice.
- Embed an image into your PR pitch. It may sound oversimplified but this may get the media’s attention.
- Get reporters’ attention by finding a way to tie it into a trending or timely topic. June 7th was chocolate ice cream day. July 27th is Take your Plants For A Walk Day. Nearly every date of the year has a serious or perhaps slightly zany commemorative day associated with it. We figure out a fun way to capitalize on that. Or look into what else is happening within your own community. Is there another celebration or event we can tie into yours that would give the media even more reasons to do the story?
- Blanket your social media channels. Blogs, Tweets, Twitpics and Facebook are invaluable last-minute channels for getting out the word.
- Post your event on neighborhood/community blogs and websites. Patch.com is a great example. It is an innovative way to find out about, and participate in, what’s going on near you.
- Invite journalists out to your event. Most journalists have Facebook and Twitter feeds with thousands of followers. They may want to attend with their family and friends. They may even alert their followers to their plans to attend. That’s great word-of-mouth advertising!
- Position yourself as the expert spokesperson. Provide your regional newspapers and other short-lead media with an accurate, concise summary of your event with a newsworthy angle. Reporters appreciate being given details in an-easy-to-read format. It makes their job easier! Be sure to include your cell phone and email address so that reporters can get in touch with you at the last minute, or even while you’re at the event.
And if we get a journalists to cover your event at the last minute, don’t forget to thank them. You never know what future story that person may decide to include you in.
Take a minute to save my contact information. Then get in touch with me when you need help arranging media coverage. The more advanced notice, the more coverage we can secure!
