If you want to promote your product or service, then consider using public relations. The best part of PR is that it costs nothing. In fact, public relations is one of the best kept secrets of small business owners who are successful. Use these powerful techniques to get picked up by local and national media.
1. Be an expert. The media relies on experts for their information. The news that gets printed is only as credible as the source from which it comes. Begin by selecting a news related story to comment on. It should be a story that you are qualified to speak about, aligned with your area of expertise.
If your background is in engineering, and a building falls down, you are qualified to speak about the structure and answer possible engineering related questions. Being an expert simply means that you have a background in a specific area and can lend your expertise.
2. Research the reporter. To get coverage, find the reporter who is covering the news you wish to comment on. For example, if the news is about a specific current event, then Google the current event name followed by the name of a popular newspaper like the Wall Street Journal or USA Today. You'll quickly find the reporters who have written on the subject. Call the newspaper (contact information available on their website) and ask for the reporter by name. If the operation asks what your call is in reference to, simply state that you have information related to a specific news item.
3. Compliment the reporter. When you locate the reporter, and contact him, start with a compliment. Reporters take great pride in their work. Be sure to compliment their position on a given topic or their previous work. After complimenting them, you're ready for the pitch.
Talk to them about your position on the given news story and what you have to offer. Again, referring back to our earlier example of the building, mention that you have an engineering background and have a position on the story. For example, you might be able to comment on why buildings collapse and the structural aspects that could be the cause. Let the reporter ask questions but have a point of view. After the dialogue, the reporter will verify your information such as name and company.
4. Leave a compelling yet non-descript message. If you're unable to get in touch with the reporter directly, leave a message - but be discreet. You don't want to show all of your cards before speaking to him directly. However, if you leave enough information to get them to return your call, they will call you. Reporters follow up with any leads they consider opportunistic.
When leaving a message, simple say, "I have something you need to hear about (fill in name of story here)." Be specific with regard to the story the reporter is covering. You want them to consider your possible information valuable.
5. State your expertise. After complimenting the reporter about their coverage on a specific article or issue, let them know your position on a given topic and why you are qualified to comment on it. Give them your pitch and be confident that your opinion matters base on the experience you have to offer.
In today's environment, it's difficult to attract the media's attention. The best way to get PR for your product or service is by commenting on current stories being covered by the media. The process is simple. When you hear a news story that you can comment on, find the reporter using Google and the name of a major publication.
Research some of the reporter's previous articles for background and then contact him directly. Let him know that you have some information that he may find valuable or a comment relevant to the story. Be sure to provide him with your credentials. Lastly, be persistent. Continue to reach out to the media and soon they'll be calling you for advice.
Traditionally, in the offline world, whenever a company or business needs to get the word out about their product launch, they use a press release to distribute to the media. You can do the same thing for your information product by going to a site like free-press-release(dot)com , where you can submit free press releases that online media outlets will be able to view and publish.
Make sure that your press release is newsworthy and not similar to your online hyped-up sales copy. You can get more traffic delivered to your information product site by genuinely conveying the benefits of the item without it sounding like it was written by a used car salesman.
Another free option for your traffic needs is to utilize the article directories on the net. There are two big ones: EzineArticles(DOT)com and GoArticles(DOT)com and both allow you to submit free articles that other site owners and publishers can pick up and use as their own. The only catch is, they have to keep your hyperlinks and Bio Box intact, so your readers can click through and land on your information product pages.
You can also buy software, relatively inexpensively, that will submit your articles to hundreds, and even thousands of article directories automatically. There are usually no limits to the number of articles you submit, and they should range from 475 - 700 words per article.
One of the best ways to leverage the power of the World Wide Web is to immerse yourself in what web 2.0 is all about - social networking. You can participate in online forums and groups and with every post you make, drive customers to your site using a hyperlink in your signature file.
Social networking is extremely effective because you are basically doing just that, socializing or building a relationship. Its a fact that people buy from those they know and trust. It also takes an average of 5-7 exposures before people will make the purchase, so its vital to start building the relationship with your potential customers.
You can even cloak your links to see which forums are generating more visitors to your domain and even which threads within each forum got a better response! Cloaking software is generally inexpensive but can help you profit from your information products because it eliminates the guesswork.
By testing and tracking all your campaigns, youll know exactly where youre getting the best results, and where youre not. You will then be able to focus more on whats working, therefore, youll make more money and also save your time and valuable marketing budget.
A powerful method to get free traffic to your information product is by creating a viral freebie that others can pass along over the net. You can write a short five-page report for your niche, fill it with hyperlinks back to your information product site, and set it loose with free distribution rights to it. Although youre giving something away for nothing, chances are youll see many visitors flooding to your site if your freebie is able to stir their curiosity.
All these free methods can have you driving massive amounts of passive targeted traffic to your site for years and years, and have a dramatic increase on your online profits. But you have to take daily consistent action that will lead to your desired end result.
Both Michael Fleischner & Ben Needles are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Michael Fleischner has sinced written about articles on various topics from Cover Letter, Banner Advertising and Search Engine Marketing. Michael Fleischner is an with more than 12 years of marketing experience. He has appeared on major media including the TODAY Show, Bloomberg. Michael Fleischner's top article generates over 49500 views. to your Favourites.
Ben Needles has sinced written about articles on various topics from Business Credit Cards, Anger Control and Business Credit Cards. About the Author (text)Ron Richardson is an online entrepreneur and consultant.Find your Highly Profitable Information Niche in Minutes - Breakthrough Software makes it Easy for Anyone.. Ben Needles's top article generates over 550000 views. to your Favourites.