February 01 2011

One easy way to increase the odds of getting a journalist’s attention

Personalization is a great way to grab attention, and if you’re not taking the time to personalize your media pitches you may be hurting your odds of getting noticed.

Sure, you can quickly distribute your news release to all of your media contacts at once using a mass email. But think about what message you’re sending to them: chances are they’ll feel the same way you do when you get an envelope via snail mail addressed to “Occupant.”

Instead, focus on the individual journalist or producer. Read their columns or listen to their broadcasts. Then determine if your information is really relevant to them. If it is, send a personal pitch to them and give them a reason to be interested in your news.

| More

About

Photobucket

PR Briefs is a blog of tips, resources and case studies for the public relations professional and the PR novice. Feel free to comment, re-post or ask questions—I hope you enjoy your experience here.

PR and marketing have been the focus of my career for the past 30 years. As an ad agency client during the early years, I got to experience a birds-eye view of agencies and the experience wasn't always a good one. When Ideaworks opened in 1995, we were determined to break the mold, and after 15 years, more than 300 awards and hundreds of client referrals, I think we're starting to get there.
—Caron Sjoberg, APR, CPRC

me on the web

  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • following