Expose Yourself Publicity is key when it comes to growing your business quickly and easily! It s time to expose yourself and let your light shine! This 6-Step Signature Checklist walks you through preparing, planning, pitching, and leveraging press to boost your business and your brand! (Oprah here you come!) Our 6-Step Signature Checklist to get you press and make you famous! 1. Why do you want publicity? 2. Become the expert 3. Who to pitch 4. When to pitch 5. How to pitch 6. Represent 1. Why do you want publicity? Are you looking to boost sales? Improve credibility? Establish your brand? The reason why you want publicity is key in building a plan for getting it. Brainstorm and write your why below:
2. Become the expert. Don t let your own insecurities hold you back from getting the recognition you deserve. Chances are you re an expert already and you don t even realize it! Remember the definition of expert is a person with a higher degree of skill or knowledge of a certain subject than most. Does that describe you? Write down the knowledge, skills, and experience you possess when it comes to your profession. Look back at your list if you feel these qualifications are enough to make you an expert - Congratulations! You get to pass Go! and collect $200! If you don t feel you re qualified to be an expert OR you just want more knowledge and/or training in your area, write down the following ways you will accomplish that in the next 30 days. Be specific.
3. Who to Pitch Who exactly are you looking to reach? What publications does your ideal client read? What television shows do they watch? What blogs do they read? What radio shows do they listen to? Get really specific and start narrowing down where you want to focus your press efforts. Write them below.
Now, create a plan on how you re going to reach the editors, writers, and producers for the outlets above. Will you email them? Will you give them a call? Will you connect on social media? Track down their contact information and write it below so you have a solid plan of action before moving forward!
4. When to pitch So, you ve got your super awesome pitch, when are you going to pitch it? Remember these guidelines: Blogs Best time to contact = early afternoon (12 noon 2pm) Pitch them relevant and timely stories. They work with anywhere from a 1 day to a 3 month lead time. Newspapers Best time to contact = Morning (9am 10am) Start seeding the story pitch at least a month before Television Best time to contact = Early morning (6 7 am) TV is daily but they plan their non-breaking new stories 4 6 weeks in advance BUT there are always changes and cancellations so pitch on timely and relevant events anytime! Radio Best time to contact = Early morning (7-9 am) Their lead times are anywhere from a few hours to a few months Magazines Best time to contact = Morning (9 10 am) Magazines typically work 4 6 months in advance Write down your plan (including dates and times) for contacting media outlets:
5. How to pitch So you ve narrowed down who you want to contact and how you re going to contact them and when but slow down a bit there pardner! You still have to figure out what you re going to say to them! What do you want them to write about? What makes it unique? How is it timely? How is it relevant? How do you know they re interested in a story like this? Brainstorm below: Wow! That was some good stuff! Now let s take those notes and put them into a pitch. Remember, keep it brief, keep it simple, and use sensational headlines to draw their interest in. For example, Lose 10 pounds by Friday with an essential oil you can pick up for under $3! Just like your customers, reporters and producers want to know what s in it for them. Think about how you can help THEM, not how you can get yourself or your products featured. And make your pitch have a unique spin that they haven t heard 20 times before that day! Remember, reporters and producers aren t your BFFs so don t chat them up like they are! Be clear, specific, and fast! Respect their time and they will respect your efforts.
Write your pitch below: 6. Represent So you ve landed the mention, television appearance, radio appearance, or whatever else you had your little wellness heart set on... Congratulations! BUT it s not over yet! Remember to be polished, pulled together, and professional in your interview, appearance, etc. You do want them to ask you back again, right?! Write down some last minute notes for yourself before your big day. Include quotes, sound bites, statistics, and any key information you think would benefit their audience. Now go be your awesome press-getting self and make me proud! Off you go!
P.S. Please keep me posted on your success so I ll be able to say, I knew them when (I ve always wanted to say that.) Notes: