How To Stay In Touch With Your Key Media Connections
There are a number of ways to stay in touch with your key media connections without seeming too pushy or annoying. In the US alone, thousands of press releases are published. This can easily overwhelm journalists and bloggers looking for quick, informative content.
On the one hand, they need a steady stream of interesting content for their readers. On the other, they cannot afford to wait for the leftover pieces no one has picked up. Keep in mind that they are almost always on deadline to produce interesting, informative stories that match the interests of their target audience.
Make a Detailed List
Make a list of your main contacts. Include how they wish to be contacted, such as email or Twitter, when, their deadlines, and so on.
Respect their Time and Attention
Pitch helpful stories they want to hear about, not what you are trying to sell.
Appreciate the Importance of Timing
“Too early” might mean they pass it over and forget about it. “Too late” and they may not have time to get a lot of people to attend your fundraiser in the park tomorrow. Therefore, be sure to include your pitch/es as part of your integrated marketing plan and put them on your calendar as well as your to-do list.
Try to Be Topical
Tie in your press release or pitch to larger events in the news, or particular times of year such as flu season, the end of year holidays, and so on.
Connect via LinkedIn
LinkedIn is a great social network for connecting with journalists who cover the niche or industry you are working in.
Follow them on Twitter
Journalists and top bloggers are on Twitter, so follow them to see what kind of content they are posting and what they are asking their readers. Then be as helpful as possible.
Use their Hashtags and “@”
These are 2 of the easiest ways for them to get to notice you. Be sure you act like a professional and know what you are talking about. Use the hashtags and be topical. @ their name if you want to call attention to something newsworthy.
Create a Great Media Page
Your media page should have everything they need to know about you in one place so they donít need to hunt around for it. It should also have links to all of your press releases, and each press release should have multimedia content they can use.
State the terms of use, such as copyright information. Also request a link back to your site and any keyword anchor text you would like them to use.
Your media connections really will want to hear from you, provided that you behave in a professional, not pushy manner, and cater to what they are looking for, rather than what you want to try to sell. Make detailed notes about each contact you forge. Follow up every opportunity by following their instructions to the letter. Then see what a difference this can make to your media pickups.
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