How To

How to Obtain Free Publicity To Gain Valuable Exposure For Your Business

Member
By Paul Lawrence Vann
User-Submitted Article
(1 Ratings)
Television interviews yield the largest return on investment of your time
Television interviews yield the largest return on investment of your time

In order to be considered an expert in your profession you will need media to gain more exposure. You're going to learn some effective strategies to help you get more print, radio, internet and television exposure to accelerate your business.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging
Instructions

Things You'll Need:

  • Have a plan of attack
  • Telephone
  • Internet
  • Fax machine
  • Transportation to station
  1. Step 1
    Print media yields long term results, become media friendly
    Print media yields long term results, become media friendly

    The first thing for you to do is get a copy of your local newspaper and find out who the staff reporter is for community specific events. For example, the staff reporter will have a beat or geographical location they cover in the county, city, state in which you reside. Get a feel for the type of reports the staff writer submits and then obtain their phone number and or email address from the newspaper or internet site if they have both. Call the staff reporter and pitch your story to them, predetermine the angle you're going to use prior to the call and request a meeting with them. The print media is always looking for their next story, ensure your story is the one they report. Perhaps you just expanded your business and need to hire more employees or you secured a multi-year contract with the government, this makes for a great news article and you'll be interviewed in the local paper and perhaps the story will be picked up by larger papers as well.

  2. Step 2
    Radio is a powerful medium of communication
    Radio is a powerful medium of communication

    Your newspaper article can be a great springboard for your next radio interview. Why? Radio shows need experts to come on their show and if you're in the local community, all the better. Perhaps you're an entrepreneur, small business owner, speaker, author, life coach and or community leader. Radio interviews can either take place in studio or via phone and you're not limited by distance, because many radio stations will connect you through their switchboard, so you're no longer limited by distance as in the past. For example, if you've written a book radio stations like interviewing authors because they're considered experts in the niche area their writing about. Contact radio stations in your local community and ask for the production manager. Another option is to listen to radio personalities and contact them direct, to pitch your story. Don't overlook the power of radio, its a 24/7 platform.

  3. Step 3
    The internet is globalization at its best, learn to leverage this powerful meduim
    The internet is globalization at its best, learn to leverage this powerful meduim

    The internet is the next frontier when it comes to securing publicity for your business. The internet is a powerful forum because its a real time platform. In other words, people in Australia can listen to an interview, at the same time people in Washington, DC are listening. Internet radio interviews is another powerful medium in which you can expand your brand, increase your exposure and receive free publicity. Whether you're an author, entrepreneur, and or expert, internet radio is a great tool to grow your business because of the multiplicity of markets you're exposed to. The second part of the internet publicity entails social media marketing. Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin, and Myspace are but a few of the social networking sites, one can capitalize on to secure free publicity for your business. Learn to leverage social media and you'll be exposed to millions of potential customers and clients. Contact internet radio show host and request to be on their show. As for social media, its all about building relationships, done right its about niche relationships specific to your target market. Remember relationship first, added value and conversion later.

  4. Step 4
    Live television interviews pay high dividends in free exposure
    Live television interviews pay high dividends in free exposure

    Last but certainly not least, live television interviews yield the largest investment of all media types. Contact television stations in your local area and pitch them on your expertise. By the way, television stations need experts every single day of the year and you may as well be the next guest on their show. Go online and find the closest television station in your vicinity, watch their show for programming specific to community oriented guests and pitch the producer of the show. Provide exceptional talking points to get their attention and ensure you have credentials that merit interviewing you live on their show. Depending upon what your area of expertise is, the major networks may contact you to bring you on their show.

  5. Step 5

    The bottom line is, obtaining free publicity is not as difficult as it may first appear. It all comes down to you having a plan and executing your publicity plan to help you enhance your expert status, locally, regionally and nationally. Print, radio, internet and television publicity sets you apart from your competitors and will yield huge rates of free publicity in return. Start your journey today, I look forward to seeing you in the media.

Tips & Warnings
  • Write down your publicity goals
  • Use a three pronged attack to obtain free publicity
  • Don't be intimidated by print, radio, internet and or television
  • You're an expert, be professional at all times
  • You only get one opportunity to make a first impression, make a good impression
  • Congratulations you're about to become a little bit famous
  • Success is not going to knock on your door, go after it
  • This will not work without a clear plan, plan your work and work your plan
  • Don't give up, no matter what

Comments  

scooter1 said

Flag This Comment

on 9/25/2009 Excellent Tips to Obtain Free Publicity To Gain Valuable Exposure For Your Business! 5* and a recommendation.

Post a Comment

Post a Comment
  • Have you done this? Click here to let us know.
I Did This

Related Ads

Get Free Business Newsletters

Copyright © 1999-2009 eHow, Inc. Use of this web site constitutes acceptance of the eHow Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.   en-US

eHow Business
eHow_eHow Business and Finance