Have a plan:

*Write down:-

(a)The name of your business (you really don’t need any more than your name though)

(b)Your slogan if you have one (e.g. “Putting YOUR business first through the press”)

(c)Your mission statement (e.g. “Promoting clients’ services through the media in a professional and timely manner”)

(d)Your goal (e.g. To become the top PR person in your town)

*Plan your marketing strategy - newspaper advertisements, radio spots, direct mail, web site, newsletters, etc. (keep it simple and don’t spend too much money to start with)

Chat up your editors:

Get to know your editors.  Personally deliver your press release or telephone the editors to let them know you’ve just emailed it to them.

After the press release is printed, give the editors a quick call (they’re busy people) or email them, to thank them for using the piece.  Thank them for the byline too if they gave you one.

Know your locals:

Know your local newspapers and their writing style.  Specially format your story for each one.

For one newspaper, I’d submit the full story and they usually printed the whole article.

For another, I’d submit the full story, but with a different opening and ending.  Again, they’d print the full version.

For a local tabloid, I’d edit the story until it was short and “punchy”.

And for the fourth publication, I’d edit and slant the story towards their youth column.

Submitting a press release:

Submit your press release to the media, just as you would a regular submission, but type “Press Release” and “For Immediate Release” at top left.

Submitting hard copy to publications  – double space.

Radio and television – triple space.

Prior to emailing your first submission, ask the editors if they prefer “word” or “simple text” documents as attachments.  I use “Notepad” for simple text.  Often, you can just send your press release within an email message, with photos as attachments.