Comments on: Marketing: 5 Ways to Get Journalists’ Emails for a Targeted Press Release http://scorementors.wordpress.com/2008/12/02/marketing-4-ways-to-get-journalists%e2%80%99-emails-for-a-targeted-press-release/ A blog by the small business experts at SCORE, Counselors to America's Small Business Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:54:19 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Michael Keaton http://scorementors.wordpress.com/2008/12/02/marketing-4-ways-to-get-journalists%e2%80%99-emails-for-a-targeted-press-release/#comment-1314 Michael Keaton Mon, 08 Dec 2008 16:17:50 +0000 http://scorementors.wordpress.com/?p=2218#comment-1314 These are all great points. I think from the perspective of a small business owner, they are probably not going to have a large universe of media contacts who they need to work with. For a small or mid-size town, you may have a community newspaper, a town or regional newspaper, and perhaps a big-city newspaper if you live near one. You also may have a handful of general or trade publications local to your area, and some TV and radio stations. This should make it easier to keep track of local writers, editors and columnists who you think may be interested in your news. These are all great points. I think from the perspective of a small business owner, they are probably not going to have a large universe of media contacts who they need to work with. For a small or mid-size town, you may have a community newspaper, a town or regional newspaper, and perhaps a big-city newspaper if you live near one. You also may have a handful of general or trade publications local to your area, and some TV and radio stations. This should make it easier to keep track of local writers, editors and columnists who you think may be interested in your news.

]]> By: Gordon http://scorementors.wordpress.com/2008/12/02/marketing-4-ways-to-get-journalists%e2%80%99-emails-for-a-targeted-press-release/#comment-1293 Gordon Fri, 05 Dec 2008 04:18:57 +0000 http://scorementors.wordpress.com/?p=2218#comment-1293 Hey Laura- right! I guess if Peg makes it sound like hey, it's easy if you pays your money you gets your list, that's not certainly what I at least meant. the better the list, the more it costs... there's definitely a point of diminishing returns that most of us reach PDQ. I agree that lists like the ones that are often easily available via the Web are unlikely to have quality info... and what you need when building a list are individuals' names, phone numbers, and emails. To me, pitching is like selling -- a mutually beneficial relationship (you get some coverage, the journalist gets a good a story) and it most often happens over the telephone, between two people. So anyway, not sure that we don't actually agree more than disagree. Hey Laura-
right! I guess if Peg makes it sound like hey, it’s easy if you pays your money you gets your list, that’s not certainly what I at least meant. the better the list, the more it costs… there’s definitely a point of diminishing returns that most of us reach PDQ.

I agree that lists like the ones that are often easily available via the Web are unlikely to have quality info… and what you need when building a list are individuals’ names, phone numbers, and emails.

To me, pitching is like selling — a mutually beneficial relationship (you get some coverage, the journalist gets a good a story) and it most often happens over the telephone, between two people.

So anyway, not sure that we don’t actually agree more than disagree.

]]> By: Peggy Duncan http://scorementors.wordpress.com/2008/12/02/marketing-4-ways-to-get-journalists%e2%80%99-emails-for-a-targeted-press-release/#comment-1290 Peggy Duncan Fri, 05 Dec 2008 00:17:32 +0000 http://scorementors.wordpress.com/?p=2218#comment-1290 Laura, yes, it's very hard to build these lists and with so much turnover in this industry right now, I'd venture to say it's impossible. That's why I advise small business owners to focus on getting journalists to call them when they're looking for sources for stories (what you're looking for is different...you're looking for work and we're looking to be the expert in the story). All the business owner has to do is get very creative with ways to show up in Google when a journalist is searching their expertise. That's what the SCORE Atlanta slideshow is about. This has worked for me from the Today show to O Magazine...they called me. Laura, yes, it’s very hard to build these lists and with so much turnover in this industry right now, I’d venture to say it’s impossible. That’s why I advise small business owners to focus on getting journalists to call them when they’re looking for sources for stories (what you’re looking for is different…you’re looking for work and we’re looking to be the expert in the story). All the business owner has to do is get very creative with ways to show up in Google when a journalist is searching their expertise. That’s what the SCORE Atlanta slideshow is about. This has worked for me from the Today show to O Magazine…they called me.

]]> By: Laura Bell http://scorementors.wordpress.com/2008/12/02/marketing-4-ways-to-get-journalists%e2%80%99-emails-for-a-targeted-press-release/#comment-1288 Laura Bell Thu, 04 Dec 2008 21:32:57 +0000 http://scorementors.wordpress.com/?p=2218#comment-1288 Since I have been building lists of journalists contacts for 20 years, I tend to disagree with this post. My contacts, for the most part are for pitching ideas as a freelance writer. However, you may find out the hard way, that most newspapers have totally different addresses for press release submissions. Also, searching the newspaper's site doesn't guarantee that address is still good. Purchases lists many times come back with as much as 25% percent bad addresses. Getting contacts together that are viable is hard work and it isn't going to change in the near future. Laura Bell Since I have been building lists of journalists contacts for 20 years, I tend to disagree with this post. My contacts, for the most part are for pitching ideas as a freelance writer.

However, you may find out the hard way, that most newspapers have totally different addresses for press release submissions.

Also, searching the newspaper’s site doesn’t guarantee that address is still good. Purchases lists many times come back with as much as 25% percent bad addresses. Getting contacts together that are viable is hard work and it isn’t going to change in the near future.

Laura Bell

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