Meet The Press
If there’s one way to make sure that you get your PR moving, that’s to give yourself a deadline. And what bigger deadline could you get that a specific date where you meet the press.
Here’s our 7-point guide on inviting press to an event…
1. Decide what it is you will do and put it in the diary. If you’ve got something to eat or drink, organise a tasting. If you’ve got a venue, organise an open day. If you’re exhibiting, invite the press along to your stand at a specific time for a mini press event.
2. Chose a date. You want enough time to be able to organise something different, and yet a date that’s close enough to give some urgency.
3. Find a partner. If there’s a venue that you think could do with the publicity, approach them, or buddy up with someone who targets the same market and split the work.
4. Invite the press – keep the invites personal (no round robin emails), eye-catching and give them a good reason why they should come. Think about whether you want to go for numbers, inviting lots of press (and paying for the inevitable drinks bill!), but ultimately reaching a maximum number of publications in one fell swoop, or target and go for a small intimate group where you can get your message across.
5. Follow up. And follow up again. Speak to them and find out if they can make it along. If they say yes call to confirm a week before and again the day before as a reminder.
6. Think about goodie bags. There’s many a journalist has come along to an event for the goodie bag alone if it’s good enough. Once they’re there it’s up to you…
7. Stay in Touch. If they made it, call to find out what they thought. If they didn’t make it, call to see if they’d like a personal meeting/samples sent over.
One the night…
* Make sure there’s someone else available to do the organisation. It’s your job to look after the press.
* Think about inviting a handful of friends or colleagues to create an atmosphere and give people someone to talk to while things get going. Make sure that they are aware that their job is to boost your confidence and create a buzz, rather than merely have a great time themselves.
*Easier said than done, but enjoy it!
