The Best Ways to Score Press for Your Brand and Create Some Buzz
Yet another job title you get to add to your resume? PR pro for yourself and your brand! Getting press is a fine art and, thanks to Office Depot, we're here to share a snippet of what we learned in this week's session of Selfmade on all things PR.
Here's a secret: YOU can be your own best publicist. You don't always need external help, especially when you're first starting out. So remember that you have all the tools you need right now to unleash your message into the world and get the media attention you want. Here's how:
Step 1: Know your intentions. Be clear on what your intentions are for getting press. Is your goal to be personally positioned as an expert? Is it to get the word out that a game-changing problem-solving product exists? Get clear on who you are and what you're about before seeking out press so your message and intent come through clearly.
Step 2: Understand the art of storytelling. Before you start creating your pitch, get familiar with the key elements every good story has. The founder's journey is a great starting point. If you've overcome an obstacle in the process of creating your company, tap into that to help craft your backstory. Also think about what contributes to your signature style. Are there little touches that can help make you more memorable and stand out as people get to know you from press (think Anna Wintour's signature bob)? Then layer in the message of your brand and what it can offer or teach other people or companies. Lastly, has your product or service changed lives? Drop in a testimonial or two if you have one.
Step 3: Befriend the press. Once you have your story down, you can focus on building relationships with the media and tailor your pitch specifically for each connection. The non-human copy-paste pitch doesn't work — it always has to feel personalized. If you're not sure how to connect with the press, some thought starters include reaching out when you've read an article they wrote that you enjoyed, inviting them to events, or giving them free services with no expectations. What could serve them? Could you give them sources or ideas that don't just benefit you? Building press relationships takes time, so have patience!Office Depot OfficeMax have the solutions to help you organize & save time & create the perfect workspace to help craft your story. From journals tomarketing materials, Office Depot OfficeMax is your go-to for all business solutions.
Head to Office Depot's Selfmade page to check out even more amazing business resources (and discounts!) to help you accomplish more on your entrepreneurial journey. These offers are available for a limited time only, so be sure to take advantage of all this goodness while supplies last.