How to Get Press for your Business

TL;DR

To get press for your business, promote yourself as an expert, build authentic connections with journalists in your niche, and pitch a timely, newsworthy story rather than a commercial. Former TV reporter and anchor Christina Nicholson recommends approaching one specific journalist with a relevant angle, such as pitching a Camera Day story two weeks before June 29. Read on for practical ways to make your expertise and pitches more appealing to the media.

Transcript

Christina. For the bright side of branding, business and being your own boss. Hey boss, it's Sunny Lenarduzzi. Welcome to The Sunny Show for the bright side of branding, business and being your own boss. You know that getting press can build your brand and build your client base but how do your land your dream publication? Well, I've been very fort... Read More

Key Insights

• 👨‍💼 Building brand credibility through media coverage is crucial for business growth.
• 🤩 Authentic connections with journalists and providing value are key to securing media opportunities.
• ❓ Crafting newsworthy pitches and stories is essential in capturing media attention.
• 🥺 Leveraging timely events to showcase expertise can lead to increased visibility and client attraction.
• 🏛️ Promoting oneself as an expert and sharing expertise across various channels builds brand authority.
• 😊 Implementing PR strategies can lead to increased brand visibility and opportunities for growth.
• 👥 Joining entrepreneur support groups can provide valuable insights and networking opportunities.

Questions & Answers

Q: How do you get press for your business?

Promote yourself as an expert, connect with journalists who cover your area of expertise, and give them an educational or entertaining story. Make the pitch timely and newsworthy instead of using it to advertise your business.

Q: How should you establish yourself as an expert?

Share your expertise wherever you can, including in person, online, and through snail mail. Christina Nicholson also advises moving past imposter syndrome and putting yourself forward confidently.

Q: How should you connect with journalists in your niche?

Engage authentically with journalists you already follow and let them know you are there. Help them without immediately promoting yourself, because their responsibility is to provide something educational and entertaining to their audience.

Q: What is the number one mistake people make when pitching the media?

According to Christina Nicholson, the number one mistake is making pitches promotional. Promoting yourself alone is not newsworthy, so the pitch should instead explain why the story matters today.

Q: How can you make a media pitch timely and newsworthy?

Connect your expertise to something happening locally or nationally, or create your own original story angle. Ask why a journalist should cover the subject today and make that reason clear in the pitch.

Q: Should you send the same media pitch to many journalists?

No. Nicholson recommends finding a specific angle for one specific journalist rather than pitching 50 journalists at the same time, and she advises pitching that journalist one time.

Q: What example does Christina Nicholson give for creating a timely pitch?

She notes that June 29 is National Camera Day and suggests developing an angle two weeks before that date. She connects this approach to Sunny Lenarduzzi’s feature about easy DIY video creation.

Q: How can media coverage help a business attract clients?

Nicholson says that appearing on TV or in other media can create more opportunities. In her own case, earning features as an industry expert led more brands to want to work with her, and newsworthy exposure can introduce a business to potential clients in minutes instead of months.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Media experts Sunny Lenarduzzi and Christina Nicholson delve into strategies for landing dream press opportunities.

• Nicholson emphasizes the importance of promoting oneself as an expert and connecting with relevant journalists.

• Practical advice on crafting newsworthy pitches and leveraging media coverage to attract clients is shared.