PR for Small Business: How to Make the News for the Right Reasons
Keeping up with the news can be exhausting, unless journalists are covering all of the great things your business is doing for Kansas City. Here to tell you how to make it on the front page is Katie Garcia, entrepreneur and PR pro at Sturges Word Communications:
Ever wondered how to get your business noticed by newspapers, magazines, digital publications, influencers and more? Have you ever thought… why is my competitor getting all the love in the local news and my business isn’t? The answer is your competitor probably has a strategic PR outreach plan.
As you sit down to sketch out your business’ strategic PR outreach plan, here are a few high level things to keep in mind:
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PR done right is high value, credible content that builds an organization’s reputation, relationships and reach. (Say that three times fast!)
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The vast majority of reporters prefer to be contacted via email and value press releases. I’ll ask you this though…do you know which reporter to contact and how to write a spot-on press release? If you answered no, don’t worry, keep reading.
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News is what the editor decides news is on any given day (sigh). The process isn’t completely random though. It is possible to make the editor your BFF through newsworthy pitches.
Not sure how to start? Join me on Tuesday, March 21, at an Enterprise University class, hosted by Enterprise Bank & Trust. I’ll be presenting along with Melissa Sturges, Sturges Word Communications, APR, principal, and the class will focus on the basics of PR. We will cover:
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Why your business needs good PR
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Current state of the newsrooms
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Current state of influencers
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What is “news”?
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Editorial calendar planning
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Media communications
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Maximizing media placements
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Crisis planning
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Interview preparation
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PR measurement
Enterprise Bank & Trust* offers these in-depth training sessions for business executives in the Kansas City area with the aim of providing real-world instruction in a collegial environment that accommodates schedules. Courses are offered at no cost, but registration is required.
At my Enterprise University class you can expect to gain in-depth understanding of the media world and how to experience success in pitching story ideas. We’ll be having a Pitch Perfect Competition, but you have to come to the class to learn more about that!
Now, here’s the skinny on the class:
Class: PR 101 – Get Noticed, Stand Out, Obtain Coverage in the Media
When: Tuesday, March 21, 2017
Time: 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Where: Hallbrook Country Club, 11200 Overbrook Road, Leawood, KS 66211
Sign Up for the class: www.enterprisebank.com/eu
For more information on this class or PR for small businesses, send me an email I’ll see you on the 21st!
Katie Garcia is a PR pro at Sturges Word Communications. Her entrepreneurial spirit guides her personal, professional and civic initiatives.
*Disclaimer: Enterprise Bank & Trust is my client. However, all opinions and thoughts are my own. I’m a big fan of Enterprise University and have attended many classes myself.
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