Possumcarvers.com Niche News

pstrongWhere and how to send your release./strongbr /br /The first thing Im asked by people doing publicity for the first time is Does your directory list E-mail addresses? Their main interest is sending their release to as many places as possible at no cost. They are then puzzled why so many editors become irate, accuse them of spamming and ask them never to send them anything again. Use commons sense. strongDont/strong send your announcement about a fund raising car wash for the Boy Scouts in Dublin, Ohio to a radio station in Florida. strongDont/strong alert the editor of a plumbing trade magazine about a new restaurant opening. strongDont/strong send a weekly community newspaper anything except local news or events that will impact them directly. strongDont/strong expect TV stations to be interested in your new website devoted to collecting seashells. I think you get my point. Target youra title=Target your media lists href=http://www.gebbieinc.com/whereto.htm target=_blank media contact lists/a!br /br /You cant go wrong if you print your release and put a postage stamp on the envelope. It will also force you to target your a href=http://www.gebbieinc.com/ target=_blankmedia contacts /aeffectively. Im not saying E-mail is a bad thing. An appropriate story sent to an appropriate outlet is a good thing; just be sure those two criteria have been met. Faxing a release to the media is standard practice. If you want to send to all 1,500 Daily Newspapers and dont have the five hundred plus dollars for stamps, consider getting an unlimited long distance phone plan (Ive seen them for as little as twenty or thirty dollars a month) and start sending faxes. It may take several days, but wont cost you very much.br /br /Im often asked, Does your directory list editor names or reporter names? Except for magazines, we do not. There is no real magic in using a personal name on a press release. Use titles instead. A release addressed to Food Editor, PSA Director or City Desk will strongsurely/strong be directed to the proper person. In general, use the following titles to address your releases, unless you know a particular organization uses a different title that would serve better:br /
ul
liDaily newspapers: City Editor (Unless you intend to reach the Food Editor, Business Editor, Entertainment Editor, etc.) /li
liWeekly newspaper: Editor /li
liMagazines: Editor or Managing Editor /li
liRadio stations: News Department (or PSA Director if you are sending a public service announcement) /li
liTelevision stations: News Director /li
/ul
/p
p class=justShould you a href=http://www.gebbieinc.com/ target=_blankcontact the media /abefore you send your material? Should you follow-up afterwards? Lets assume you have actually built a better mousetrap. Id probably target the Home and Garden editors at all Daily newspapers, but I wouldnt try calling all fifteen hundred of them. But if I found ten or twelve trade magazines related to the pest control industry, Id probably give the matter some personal attention. I might drop the managing editor a quick note saying that Id be sending a release in the near future, or perhaps get them on the phone and very politely and briefly ask them if it would be alright to send them a story and photo of the mousetrap. I would not try to pitch the story at that point. Just touch base, thats all. If you are at a loss for words, heres a cue card:br /br /Mr. Jones? My name is Mark Gebbie and Ive just built what I think is a better mousetrap. Getting some ink in Pest Control Illustrated would be most appreciated, so Id like to send you a press release with your permission. Might I send you the story along with a photo? Mr. Jones will likely say Sure, go ahead. At that point you might say Great, I wont take up any more of your time and Ill get this out to you today with my thanks./p