How Not to Get Media Coverage With Your Press Release

There was once a shepherd boy who craved attention.  He grew bored and lonely tending his sheep every day, so one day he cried “Wolf!” (Read more…)

Don’t Let Holiday Merriment Ruin Your Press Release

Halloween has ended, the masks have been put away (hopefully) and the Yankees are still jumping around like little school girls.  That can only mean one thing:  the holiday trifecta (Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years) is staring us squarely in the face. (Read more…)

Six Consecutive Press Release Failures. Why Bother?

I have seen press releases generate tens of millions of dollars in publicity $399 at a time. If you don’t believe me, just visit: http://www.ereleases.com/testimonials/

Why didn’t your press release do the same? The likely answer is that you gave up, perhaps even after a single press release. (Read more…)

PR Quotes: How Being Controversial, Despite Being Wrong, Attracts Media Coverage

I follow the television industry. It’s a medium I devote about five minutes a day trying to follow largely by headlines and RSS feeds. Today I saw this headline and had to dig deeper: Big Media Sites Like Hulu “Anti-Consumer, Anti-Media Employees, Anti-America”? (Read more…)

The PR Fuel Mailbag: the Cost of Public Relations, Press Release Don’ts, and More

It’s once again time to dip into the PR Fuel mailbag for another batch of reader queries. How much do I charge for public relations services? Can a newswire service refuse to distribute my press release? Come find out the answers to these puzzlers from the world of public relations. (Read more…)

Is a Press Release Your Best Public Relations Bet?

A press release is undoubtedly important when it comes to drumming up publicity for your business. But should it be the *most* important part of your public relations strategy? A press release may not even be the best way for your company or clients to get publicity for a new product or an important announcement. The following four ideas may actually be more effective than a traditional press release. (Read more…)

Media Tips from a Public Relations Veteran

I wasn’t surprised to lear Jeff Battcher was once an athlete. As the Director of Media Relations for BellSouth, Battcher often had to display the grace and skill that we’ve come to expect from athletes. Whether it’s taking a handoff and plowing through the pile to score a touchdown with a journalist or coming out of the bullpen and putting out a fire, Battcher’s job required he patience of a veteran athlete, if nothing else. (Read more…)

Everything the Public Relations Industry Wants to Know About Journalists

…but might be afraid to ask. Consider the following list a series of tips and tricks for dealing with intractable or just plain obnoxious journalists. Heeding them may make the public relations process that much easier. (Read more…)

Public Relations Basics: Mastering the Media Interview

Your press release did its job. A reporter calls and wants to talk about your business. Now what? You need to build a relationship with the reporter, and the primary way you’re going to do so is through  a media interview. (Read more…)

Public Relations Basics: Keep Your List of Press Contacts Updated

A few years ago, Wired magazine editor-in-chief caused a ruckus when he announced he was banning public relations consultants from his email inbox. “I get more than 300 emails a day and my problem isn’t spam, it’s PR people,” Anderson wrote. “Lazy flacks send press releases to the Editor in Chief of Wired because they can’t be bothered to find out who on my staff, if anyone, might actually be interested in what they’re pitching.” And that was only the start of Anderson’s tirade against public relations professionals who keep sloppy, out-of-date lists of press contacts. (Read more…)