No Publicity Stunts Required

I like to browse online to check out what kinds of publicity strategies people are using.

I approach pitching and PR from a journalist's point of view and I certainly don't claim to know it all, but one suggestion did surprise me.

An article said you don't need a public relations person to get in the news and proceeded to give a few pieces of sound advice. It went on to suggest that you jump off a roof -- with a parachute, of course -- to get a reporter's attention.

Well.

That would certainly do it. But as I have mentioned before publicity stunts take work -- and while they may certainly get you the attention you're seeking, can completely backfire or cause the media to treat you as a joke.

The moral of the story? Be wary of publicity stunts. Instead, seek out what authentically makes your story unique or different enough to grab a reporter's interest.

Bridgette Outten is a journalist and media relations consultant with The Write Vision Group, Inc. With a background in print media, she has written thousands of articles for newspapers and online publications. At The Write Vision Group, Bridgette consults with nonprofits and small businesses about how to get their programs and efforts in the news. Meanwhile, she blogs on all things journalism.