Today is a big day here at our little University. For the first time ever, our men’s basketball team is in the NCAA.
GO BELMONT BRUINS!!
It is a good lesson of the power of publicity. If a small school is able to gain the kind of publicity Belmont has gotten over the past week, amazing things happen. See this piece that was front page on USA Today on the 14th as a example. (My students tell me we are getting a news piece somewhere every thirty minutes over the past two days).
Entrepreneurs can also become masters of their own P.R. and this can be a powerful way to get the word out about a business.
Learn how to write a press release and how to use it effectively:
– Be consistent and focused in your message and who you target with that message
– Do your homework on what media like what kinds of stories. Many have business sections that are constantly looking for good stories.
– Include cover letter (e-mail) or relevant article to explain why your story about your business is interesting or trendy.
– Build relationships with local reporters so they get to know you and your business. You can expect multiple stories if you do this well.
– Create your own angle for them for the story.
– Send to newspapers, magazines, radio, television that have an interest in your local market or in you product.
– Follow-up with phone call to see if they have any questions. This is sometimes where the interest gets momentum.
– Be persistent and don’t be afraid to break the rules.
– Quality counts, so write it well and write it like a real news story.
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