We'll Be Back

We are re-arranging some things at The Write Vision Group and taking a little break from blogging while we sort it out. And we are certainly ready for some exciting new changes.

Meanwhile, enjoy some of our past popular posts:

3 Tips to Get a Reporter to Open Your Email

Five Ways to Handle A Mistake in Your Story

3 Ways Publicity Can Make You Money

Is Any Publicity Really Good Publicity?

Five Things You Should Never Say to a Reporter

3 Reasons Why Getting An Award is Great PR

At the heart of public relations is reaching out to the public to get the message out.

One way to do this is to apply for an award or recognition. I can rattle off three quick reasons why you or your company should constantly be on the lookout for award opportunities.

Related: 3 Reasons Why Publicity Should Be Part of Your Marketing

1. It's an awesome feeling. Who doesn't like getting an award? It definitely makes you feel good -- and look good -- when you're recognized for your work. Everyone wants to be a winner, after all.
2. It's another way to get the word out. Organizations that give awards, especially prestigious recognition, typically have some sort of announcement or ceremony. They may blast the winners' name to their list serve, feature you on their website or even pitch you as a story to their media contacts. It's another way to have a ready-made audience to receive your message.
3. It lends credibility. Winning an award from a panel of judges that evaluated your organization or project against others and deemed yours top quality is a great measure of the good work you're doing. This is an honor that is often used -- think of how many times you've seen "award-winning" this or that in marketing/PR material -- to an organization's advantage.

The moral of the story? Finding opportunities to apply for awards in your industry is another way to solidify your organization's reputation and expertise.

Read more: 3 Ways Publicity Can Make You Money
                     It Takes More Than An Idea

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.

Stop Randomly Pitching to Reporters

We'll make this very simple.

Though I'm certainly fond of posting blogs about three ways to do this or six reasons never to do that, I only have one thing to say today.

That thing you do where you blindly cc every reporter on the planet, cross your fingers and hope you get a call back about your story?

Stop it. Immediately.

Related: Where Is Your Media Plan?

Just like with anything else: a failure to plan to planning to fail. When you send out a blanket release, unless you're a super powerful organization or government body that gets news simply for being who you are, reporters can tell that you have essentially spammed them. Now I actually have three quick reasons how they know:

• The story doesn't have any angles that fit their beat.
• The story doesn't involve the location the reporters serves.
• It's quite obvious by the boilerplate presser you sent.

The moral of the story? I'm pretty sure I've said it before, but it certainly bears repeating: one targeted pitch is certainly better than throwing 10 press releases at reporters and hoping one sticks. Do your research and send a pitch that may genuinely interest a reporter.

Read more: Planning Ahead is an Understatement
                     Can A Reporter Contact You?

Bridgette Outten is a journalist and media 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.

3 Reasons Why You Need to Rock the Media Interview

When you apply for a job, getting the interview is a great thing. However, you know you have to rock the interview to actually get the job.

It's the same thing with the media. Pitching to reporters is the first step. And when you get the interview, it's awesome.

But here are a few reasons why the message is just as important -- if not more so -- as getting the interview itself.

Related: 3 Tips for a Good Media Interview

• If you have a dynamic, engaging interview, reporters will use you again as a resource.
• If your message is awesome, the public will heed and respond to your call for more volunteers, more donations or to check out the book or website from the wonderful tips you have given.
• You can use the clips on your website as a testament to your great speaking skill for future media interviews or engagements.

The moral of the story? The work just begins when you get the interview. Crafting your message and sharing it in a compelling way is the most important step.

Read more: 3 Ways Publicity Can Make You Money

Bridgette Outten is a journalist and publicity strategist 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.

3 Reasons Why Publicity Should Be Part of Your Marketing

Everyone knows that marketing is essential to any business.

It's the reason why McDonald's with their millions of locations and billions of burgers sold continues to produce commercial and other initiatives -- because the executives know their products need to stay on people's minds.

So let's talk about about publicity's role in your marketing. By publicity, I mean using the media to air a message that is NOT an advertisement.

So you may be asking...why? I'm a plumber. Why should I try to get publicity?

Related: Three More Ways to Get in the News

Well, Mr. Plumber (and other business owners), you have to consider a few things:

1. Understand that media is more than just the news. There are blogs, magazines and websites about home improvement (or whatever industry you are in) where your expertise may fit. Do you have great information to contribute to create more of a following for your business?
2. You're not using publicity to directly sell. You're using it to create awareness about who you are, what you do and how you can assist potential clients. And it's cool to just help people when you can.
3. If you want to be considered an expert, publicity is a great way to establish credibility. It also gets your message out to a wide audience, which is why I like to say publicity is word-of-mouth on steroids.

The moral of the story? Publicity is a great tool for spreading your message, which will let people know more about you. If you have a marketing plan to grow, definitely consider how you can get the word out through the media.

Related:  The Winding Road to Publicity
               Before You Pitch: 5 Questions Reporters Will Definitely Ask
                   
Bridgette Outten is a journalist and publicity strategist 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.

4 Ways to Establish Credibility

When you are pitching reporters, your credibility is everything.

Reporters want to know who you are, if your story is true and how/why you are qualified to speak about that story.

If you cannot prove to a reporter that you are a credible source, you can forget about a story.

Here are a few things that you should be doing to reassure journalists that you actually know what you are talking about:

• Have an online presence. By now, everyone should have a website, a blog or at the very least, a Facebook page. Gone are the days where a reporter will use a phone book to locate an expert...it's all about Google and Bing now. If you do not have some sort of online presence for your business or organization, you are sorely behind.
• Have independent research and statistics. I can't stress enough that reporters -- and people in general, actually -- love statistics. Research. Quantitative facts that support your story, and not necessarily research that you completed, unless you are a qualified researcher. Outside sources are always great. "Why, yes, the national expert on this or that said these numbers are true."
• Work with other credible partners who can vouch for you. No one operates in a vacuum. As you grow your business and organization, you should reach out to complementing organizations or businesses that you can network with and that you can tell reporters you have worked with if they ask. "Yes, we've been working with organization X on this initiative or Prominent Person B and they have been very supportive."
• Tell the truth. Don't exaggerate, bend or stretch the truth. You may get away with initially, but it will come back to bite you.

The moral of the story? When you're a media novice, your background is going to be scrutinized, especially in this digital age where people can more or less make up their credentials. Make sure that your credibility can withstand the review.

Related posts: If You Paid For It, It's Not News
                       Can You Be An Expert?

3 Reasons Press Releases Aren't Dead

The mourning of the press release is a little premature, in my humble opinion.

Want to know why? Because every news outlet I've pitched recently has asked me to follow up with...you guessed it, a press release. And these were major outlets.

To be clear, I will say the structure of the traditional press release is a bit outdated. Much to my regret, some of the formatting of press releases that used to be functional are now defunct -- (press releases looked so official with all that stuff!) And you don't fax a press release the way you used to for many outlets.

However, it's OK to update your press release format and still use them. Here are three reasons why press releases haven't received the death knell yet:

• Their purpose is still to capture the essence of the story. It's not the whole story. It's not three pages long. It's a summary of the most interesting and important elements of your story. It's supposed to simply whet the reporters' appetite for more information. This is needed during the busy day of a reporter/editor/producer/planner.
• It's a structured format everyone can understand. Sure, you can tell people to trash the presser and just send a bunch of bullet points and that may work. But I love press releases because they are full of structured information and -- if done correctly -- get straight to the point.
• Reporters are still asking for them. Regardless of what the industry buzz is, the folks at major media outlets still asked for this information. Again, the format has changed, but the role of the press release remains relevant.

The moral of the story? If you have a good story and send the information in a press release, no reporter is going to say, "Yikes, didn't you know press releases were dead?! I'm not covering this amazing story!" Don't use your press release to ramble on or send out a million weird press releases blindly to random outlets, but when done right, press releases still win.

Related Posts: Be Your Own News Station
                        How the News Works

3 Things You Should Look for in a Publicist/PR Person

So you think you're ready to hire a public relations professional.

Of course, you have already read our previous blog post on the difference between public relations, media relations and publicity so you know what you need. And you also need to know what your goals are...do you want to just get in the news? Why?

Let's assume that you want a publicist, that is, someone whose sole job is to generate news coverage and buzz for you in the form of pitching to reporters.

Here are a few things you should be considering:

1. Is the person a good writer? - Writing press releases and putting together press kits is still a huge part of a publicist's job, although some debate if press releases are still relevant. But even if they don't write a full press release -- for whatever reason -- they still need to be able to put together a decent pitch, therefore effective writing and communication is key.
2. Do they ask questions? - If they take your story at face value, never probing about other angles or about the background of your story, they could potentially miss valuable information -- that could enhance or damage your story.
3. Do they have media contacts  experience? Let me tell you why I eliminated the word "contacts." Yes, it is awesome to have the cell number of the hottest producer on the hottest news show. But this is what I tell people when they ask me about my contacts: Yes, I have some and can always get more. But I'm MOST concerned about whether your story has the meat to stand up on its own, meaning that I can pitch it to a stranger and get coverage not because someone owes me a favor, but because it's a good story. Don't get me wrong; Having contacts is awesome. But if that's all you rely on and that one contact leaves the outlet and your person doesn't have the experience or confidence to pitch your story because it's amazing, you're in trouble.

I love getting input from others on topics like this, so I suggest you also take a look at this list of 7 Tips: What to Look For in a Publicist, which gives some great information.

The moral of the story? Research always goes a long way.

Read more: Before You Pitch: 5 Questions Reporters Will Ask
                    After You Pitch: 3 Things You Should Do

4 Things to Do After Your Arrest Record is Online

The first question anyone asks when they see an account of their arrest online is: "Can do they do that?"

Yes. They can. And they did. Police reports are public record and therefore fair game for journalists. I've reported on my share of cops columns and criminal court cases and all I can say is that people are always interested in crime...so police reports will always be news.

But I get it. It's embarrassing. And it comes up in Google searches so you want to find a way to get rid of it.

I usually give tips on this blog about pitching your story to get in the news but I wanted to address this topic because as a writer and fill-in editor, I see the question "Can you take my arrest record down?" at least three times a week.

So here are a few things you can do about it:

• Contact the editor of the website with the outcome. Were the charges dismissed? Were no charges ever filed? Did you beat the case? Have the charges been expunged? Contact the editor and let them know about it. They can't rewrite history and delete the arrest, but they may add an editor's note about the outcome of the case.
• Comment on the story with the outcome. I would only use this tactic if you can't get in touch with the editor or sometone in charge. Typically, stories online have places where you can comment. I'm not saying write a narrative about the issue that may get you in more legal trouble but posting something like "My name is () and I just want to say these charges were dropped," etc. could help.
• Consider creating your own website or blog. We also know by now that search engines will pick up your name in an online arrest report BUT if you have your own site with its tags and labels that include your name, you can combat some of the negative information with positive info about your jobs, community service, etc. It doesn't have to be an elaborate website and you can host many sites and blogs for free.
• Be prepared to explain. If nothing else, be ready to explain what happened with the incident, that it was a long time ago or that you made a mistake or whatever to potential employers or whomever may come across the information -- especially if the charges were dismissed. 

The moral of the story? It's not easy when your mistakes are visible for everyone to see because conflict can be a huge element of news, criminal proceedings will remain a hot topic. But whatever happened, own up to your mistakes and make sure you're never in the situation again.

Related blogs:
5 Things You Should Never Say to a Reporter
Beware of the Skeletons
5 Ways to Avoid Reporter Mistakes

Bridgette Outten is a journalist and publicity strategist 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.

After You Pitch: 3 Things You Should Do

So you have prepared for your big pitch to a reporter and actually contacted them.

Go you.

And now you wait -- and wait.

Let me say that every reporter isn't going to get back to you. I like to think that I responded to every query and pitch with a "no, thank you" if I didn't need it, but I can't be sure. With that said, sometimes reporters are interested in your story and no news is not good news.

But still, here are a few things you can do to follow up and none of them involve making a pest of yourself.

1. Call or email. If your sent your pitch via email and haven't heard anything back, call the reporter and leave a message as well. Vice versa if you called first; make sure that you email as a follow-up.
2. Peruse the news to see if anything related to your story was aired or published. What this means is that you follow news trends to see if something in your industry has been covered. That could be why reporters don't want to cover it again OR you can use it as as fresh leverage to show your pitch or topic is still relevant.
3. Take a look at your pitch again. See if there is anything you can do to improve for next time. Perhaps you can freshen up some statistics or throw in a new angle so that ultimately, you can pitch it again.

The moral of the story? Sometimes reporters don't respond. Every pitch doesn't necessarily get a "yes." But the great thing about that "yes" is that you only need one to get started. So don't give up.

Bridgette Outten is a journalist and publicity strategist 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.

Before You Pitch: 5 Questions Reporters Will Ask

Reporters ask questions.

A lot of questions. I mean, it's their job -- to ask questions.

So, before you pitch to a reporter, understand that there will probably be lots of follow-up questions. But don't worry...questions means that they're interested so questions are good.

However, here are five things you should have ready for a reporter's inevitable questions:

1. Are you sure this is true? Make sure your claims are accurate. You say that your organization is the only one of its kind to do whatever it is that you do. Do your research to make sure that tidbit -- and anything else you come up with as part of your pitch -- is true.
2. Do you have any proof? Be ready to offer records, statistics or other verification. Reporters always want to know if and how you can back up your claims, so be ready with that information.
3. Is there someone we can talk to? Have a person who can be interviewed. Reporters want actual stories to cover, which means they will usually ask you if you have a person they can talk with further about your story. For example, if your organization provides wonderful service for kids, they're going to want to interview one of the kids about it.
4. Can we take photos/shoot video?  Good photos can make the difference between a brief or a blurb in a newspaper and a front page story OR a 15-second mention vs. a 1:50 package. Be sure you have options for some activity for the photog or videog to shoot.
5. Do you have a comment? Make sure you know what you're going to say. Have a few bullet points that essentially capture the essence of your story so that you can rattle it off to a reporter without flinching.

The moral of the story? Preparation is key.

Bridgette Outten is a journalist and publicity strategist 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.

Three More Ways to Get in the News

In my teleclasses, on the blog, on webinars and just about everywhere I am, period, I'm always discussing ways to get your stories in the news.

We talk a lot about events and even being your own news station but there are also a few ways you may want to share your story that may only be directly involved with your organization.

Here are a few areas that can net you news coverage, too, if you can offer your own experience or expertise and if you believe you have knowledge that can help people:

• Health and wellness. I'm plugged into several reporter query databases and it seems someone always wants to know about work and your health. Do you have a story about how you overcame work-related stress or an unwanted weight gain? Did you beat some disease against the odds and want to share how you did it? You may have some information to contribute for a story.
• Mommyhood and family dynamics. Flexible schedules, momtrepreneurs and even stay-at-home dads are trends that can easily be plugged into for a media outlet. Do you have some unique family arrangement that supports your career? Recover from a nasty divorce and want to warn others about do's and don'ts? You may have a story.
• Gadgets, technology and helpful doodads. Everyone wants to know what the next big thing is in apps, social media and the like. Have you found something that you just can't live or work without and want to help spread the word? Caution, though...don't promote a product that you are just trying to sell...such human interest stories are usually completely organic.

The moral of the story? If you have something to say, there's usually an outlet for it. Media is more than just the mainstream newspaper or broadcast show, and there are magazines, TV shows, books and radio shows that could feature your great story or advice.

Bridgette Outten is a journalist and publicity strategist 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.

Sometimes, It's Best NOT to Respond

I often get asked PR-related questions during casual conversations and though I don't specialize in crisis management PR, I think some concepts are fairly easy to understand.

One of those concepts is: you don't have to respond to everything bad "they" say about you.

"They" could be critics or the competition or just John and Joan Q. Public. We've talked about how to avoid no comment if a reporter asks you, but if nobody comes a'calling to get your take on a negative situation, sometimes it's best to just be silent -- especially if the situation is just gossip.

You have decide when a response is worth the trouble. Here are three things to keep in mind:

• Responding to a controversy extends the life of the controversy. If you come out with a statement to an issue that nobody has asked you about, you've just given a fresh perspective to that controversy. Now the story is that you responded to something that may not have grabbed many people's attention the first go-round, but they're paying attention to it now. If you don't address it, it may fade away on its own.
• If it's not libel or slander, consider letting it go. If it's not serious enough to take the issue to a court of law, ignore your first instinct to post on your blog or Tweet or write a Facebook post to give 'em the whatfor. A lot of times, that's they what "they" want anyway -- to get a rise out of you.
• Keep your poker face on. Don't let them know that you have been affected by whatever they have to say, again, if it's not libelous, slanderous or will somehow affect the life of your business or organization.

The moral of the story? In this digital age, everyone has a platform to state their opinion. Decide whether a response to a negative opinion is worth the effort of your attention.

Bridgette Outten is a journalist and publicity strategist 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.

3 Things that Make Your Event More Newsworthy

In the grand scheme of things, simply having an event is not news.

That is why pitching merely a fundraiser or conference without any detail probably will not net you much reponse from reporters.

So here are three things you should consider adding to your pitch about your next event that will bost your newsworthiness:

• What's happening? If it's simply people drinking and dancing, you don't have much a uniqueness factor. But if you have a big presentation, like a unique dance troupe performance or some sort of interactive demonstrative, you should definitely mention it.
• Say who will be there. Expecting the mayor or other well-known figures or celebrities? Definitely mention that.
• Are there any photo opps? If there is anything visual for them to take photos or video of (beyond people posing and smiling) let the reporters know.

The moral of the story? The more that you can consider what the reporter needs and/or wants from the story, the more you can offer them in your pitch or press release.




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.

You Shouldn't Try to Get Your Story in the News If...

Sometimes, it just has to be said: everybody doesn't have a newsworthy story.

What's good news for you doesn't meant that it will draw the attention of the masses that reporters are tasked with educating, informing or entertaining every day.

Here are three simple reasons why you should NOT be pitching your story because chances are, you don't have a story that's ready for media attention.

• You just want to sell something. If the only thing you can come up with about your organization or company is what's on sale, you are not ready to start pitching. If you can only offer a reporter coupons for background information, don't bother pitching, just buy an ad.
• You can't explain exactly what you do. If you aren't able to give a clear, concise sentence about why the masses would care about your story, you need to head back to the drawing board until you can figure that out. If you can't explain it to a reporter, a reporter can't explain it to their audience...and nobody gets it.
• Your story has nothing unique about it. I run into organizations all the time that want coverage for a fundraiser. Well, thousands of organizations have fundraisers. What makes yours different and what do you have to offer people if they donate or attend?

The moral of the story? To appeal to a reporter, your story has to have elements that appeals to a mass audience.

Bridgette Outten is a journalist and publicity strategist 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.

3 Tips to Get the Right Beat

Just so you know, this post is not about music.

I've already talked about how reporters typically have beats, meaning they all have different topics of interest that they regularly report on.

Now let's figure out how we can determine who is who to ensure you are pitching to the right person.

• Categorize your story. Health? Sports? Business? You need to figure out where your story falls.
• Do the research. Is there a specific reporter that covers that category? Contact them.
• Take a look at the trends. How does the outlet you're contacting normally handle this particular category? Does it air once a week on Saturdays? Does it appear in the B section of the paper? This will help you decide when to pitch.

The moral of the story? It's better to have one or two targeted pitches than sending out 10 pitches randomly and hoping one will stick.

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.

Where You Are Determines Where You Pitch

It's a simple enough concept: where your story is taking place determines where you should be pitching that story.

Yet, again and again, I hear reporters say they get press releases from someone in Houston -- when they're in New York. And I can't figure out why because doing so only shows that you didn't research anything before you started to pitch and that can get annoying very quickly to a reporter.

Here are three easy ways to determine where -- demographically -- you should be pitching your story.

1. Determine where the story is taking place. If it is an event, protest, demonstration, campaign...anything that is happening...what is the address? Wherever the event is happening is a pretty good indication that you should be pitching to reporters in that vicinity.
2. Determine who will be affected. The event can technically be happening in another area if it will somehow have an affect on people near where you are pitching.
3. Determine where the people are who will care. You job is to a convince a reporter that their audience will care about the story you have...part of that process is picking the correct location.

The moral of the story? Your credibility takes a hit when you don't do the simple research of scouting of where the people are who would be most interested in your story.

Bridgette Outten is a journalist and publicity strategist 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.

'No Comment' At Your Own Risk

When journalists ask you a question, it's typically because they need a comment.

It's not necessarily that they just want to take to you or think you're so awesome. They need information from you for their story. Depending on the degree of seriousness, sometimes a "no comment" is necessarily BUT you don't have to be rude.

I can admit that they way reporters ask for that comment can sometimes be a bit obnoxious -- and the more reporters there are, the worse it can get.

However, their motivation and even the way they ask you the question should not be your immediate concern. Your concern is: how can I make a comment that is safe and doesn't reveal too much without looking as if I've done something wrong?

If a story that you're involved in heats up, some comment is better than no comment. When you don't say anything, reporters can fill those holes with all types of other information. Here are some tips to keep in mind when you're forming a comment when you really just want to say "no comment."

• Have a "safe" statement. This statement isn't defensive and you don't necessarily directly combat what is being said about you. This is where you say something like, "We are using all of our resources to make sure this issue is resolved quickly and fairly. But Organization XYZ will remain dedicated to saving the lives of starving children..." or whatever it is that you do.
• Don't get backed into a legal corner. If you know you can't comment on an issue because of the legality of it or because your attorney told you not to, say that. "Unfortunately, our legal counsel has advised us against giving certain information to the press at this time. We'll let you know when we can release that information.
• Don't let reporters get you angry. They are going to shout questions at you. They may ask you some very personal things. If you need to, get yourself together before you answer and stay calm. 

Be Your Own News Station

Social media is a fantastic tool.

And if you have news you believe a reporter would be interested in, you should definitely already be sharing it via your social media outlets.

We talk a lot about social media here -- how it works with traditional media, the elements that mirror traditional media and more.

Here are three ways you should be promoting your news via social media:

• Post a press release on your website. I love press releases. They're little snippets of history for your business or organization. Win a big award? Hire someone for a special position? Even if the media doesn't exactly care, you should share the news with people on your own.
• Record a video, post in on Youtube. Commemorate your own event. Make sure that the filming is smooth and edited and share it via your Facebook page, Twitter and LinkedIn.
• Post pics on Tumblr or Instagram. If your business or organization is more photo-oriented, a pic speaks a thousands words.

The moral of the story? You don't always have to rely on traditional media to get the word out.

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.

Planning Ahead is an Understatement

It's no secret that reporters always operate in the future -- because they are always planning for the next issue, broadcast, post, etc.

That's why half of the time, I don't know what day it is.

That is also why you have to plan ahead. Way, way ahead. Here are a couple of tips to keep you on track.

1. Look at your own calendar. Think you have something good for Black History Month? Women's History Month? You should already be pitching it...in fact, you should have started last month.
2. It's better to be too early than too late. You would rather have a reporter tell you to call back than to tell you they don't have room for you because you called too late.
3. Have all the details in place. If  a reporter does want to cover your story, you should have all the details that they need ready for them.

The moral of the story? Reporters plan. You should be planning, too.

Bridgette Outten is a journalist and media 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.

3 Tips to Get a Reporter to Open Your Email

When it comes to pitching your news, it may come as a surprise that half the battle is getting the reporter to simply read your email.

You're sure that you have a great story, great facts, great everything. But if you don't make the email stand out in the massive amounts of messages that typically hit a reporter's inbox, that reporter will never know how great of a story you have.

Here are a few tips to increase your chances of the reporter even opening your email.

• Have a catchy subject line. This is the first thing a reporter sees. Don't make it too long or gimmicky.
• Don't send an attachment. Nobody trusts attachments any more...too many places for creepy viruses and spam to hide. In some cases, attachments don't even make it past the reporter's spam folder. Copy and paste your release within the text of the email.
• Call the reporter to let them know the email will be or has been sent. A follow-up definitely helps because if the reporter likes what you have to say in your message, they'll be sure to look for your email as well.

The moral of the story? A reporter won't know about your epic story if you can't engage them from the very first time you make contact with them.

Bridgette Outten is a journalist and media 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.

Five Ways to Handle A Mistake in Your Story

Your story is finally published or has made it on the air.

This is your moment of shining glory. Except.

The reporter made a mistake. So...now what? Do nothing and hope no one heard? Call the reporter and give them a piece of your mind?

The answer, quite simply, is neither option.

We've talked about how you can help reporters avoid mistakes before but let's talk damage control after it actually happens. Proceed with caution, though, because you should use these tips if there is an actual error or facts are misconstrued; NOT just because you didn't like how your quotes sounded.

1. Don't panic. It's not the end of the world. Assess the severity of the error and how it may impact your business or organization going forward. Make sure you calm done before you proceed to the next step, which is...
2. Contact the reporter. Be civil. Make sure you are able to articulate exactly what the error was and the subsequent correction or distinction you believe should be made.
3. Ask what your options are. Some publications or outlets will publish/air a retraction or correction, depending on the error. If you believe the reporter simply misunderstood or took a quote out of context, ask if you can write a letter to the editor explaining the issue. If it's broadcast, ask if they will consider a brief phone call to let you clear things up. 
4. Clarify on your website or social media. Worst case scenario, the outlets don't see an issue. You still have your own ways to publicize your stance. You may still share the link to the story, but with an addendum that says you want to clarify, correct or add to a certain point. Also, if it's a common misconception, you may want to take the opportunity to rephrase a certain point for your organization or business and invite feedback and discussion via Facebook or Twitter. Perhaps this is an image issue that you didn't even realize you had.
5. Don't bash the reporter. Try to remember that it isn't personal and everyone has a job to do. Even if you and the media outlet don't see eye to eye on the higher, take the higher road and don't burn bridges.

The moral of the story? Mistakes and misunderstandings happen. Respond to them and use them to make your next interview even better.

Bridgette Outten is a journalist and media 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.

3 Ways Publicity Can Make You Money

We've established that getting news coverage -- minus the cost of perhaps paying someone to pitch your news -- is free.

But.

You do know that publicity can make you money, right?

Through publicity, you can:

• Ask  for donations.
• Publicize a new product.
• Generate buzz about a new program or an anniversary/continuing success of a current one.
  
  All of these can lead to bigger and better partnerships, more clients and more customers.

However, here are a few tips to keep in mind when you're using your publicity to promote your business or organization.

1. Make it about your audience, not about you. People ultimately want to know how what you're doing affects them -- or their community. Make sure people know the bigger picture of how they can help the situation or how what you're doing is going to make their lives better.
2. Don't talk up the competition. Focus only on what you do. You don't want to put yourself in a situation where you've given other people a part of your space.
3. Don't waste a moment of your interview. Make sure everything you tell the reporter is deliberate and has a purpose.

The moral of the story? If done correctly, your publicity will compel people to go to want to find out more about your business or organization, therefore increasing your reach and your potential to make more money for your business or organization.

Bridgette Outten is a journalist and media 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.

How the News Works

I've said it before.

Getting in the news is free -- and if you paid for an interview, it's not news.

Though you may pay a strategist or publicist or PR person to craft your pitch or press release or press kit to pique a reporter's attention. nobody pays the reporter to cover your story -- except their own publication. Because it's the reporters job

There are a few points worth reiterating here:

1. Reporters are bound by ethics laws that prohibit them from taking money from you. If money changes hands, the objectivity goes out of the window. Any gifts, even for holidays or to show appreciation, usually have a very small limit. This means you cannot pay someone for media coverage.
2. If you pay someone to publicize you, write the script because it's an advertisement. There are lot of of e-shows and such that charge money. If that's the case, please tell them that you should get to submit questions and answers, because you have essentially paid for a commercial.
3. Do your research before you try to submit your own article. Some media outlets, but not all, let you submit your own information for coverage. I've seen newspaper in smaller markets or towns that will print your press release as is or let you actually submit an article. But larger ones typically want their own reporters and photographers to cover the story. Do the research to be sure the media outlet you're targeting accepts submissions. 

The moral of the story? The media is a great tool and one that you can tap into -- if you know how to pitch your story correctly -- without a charge from them.

Bridgette Outten is a journalist and media 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.