Ok… they’re probably not a secret to those in the industry, but they may be to your organization. Did you ever wonder how reporters find leads? Did you ever wonder how your competition always seems to find its way into some industry periodical and you never do?
Sometimes it’s word of mouth or through blogs – but there are other sources you may not be aware of. Help a Reporter Out (HARO) and Reporter Connection are two great resources for responding to requests from reporters. There are rules to using these services – like not abusing the opportunity to sell product – follow the rules!
Help a Reporter Out is a great service that I’ve been subscribed to for quite a while. A few of my clients have been interviewed and gotten some widespread PR from the service.
Reporter Connection is one I’ve recently joined, but I love the format of their emails and their system for responding – far more advanced than HARO.
I really wish both systems could allow me to simply sign up with tags and only receive relevant requests I might be available for. Going through the emails (sometimes more than once a day) can be a bit daunting. If your company has a public relations firm, be sure they’re reviewing these emails on your behalf on a daily basis.
When you respond, weigh heavily on how you qualify or are an authority on the subject they are seeking. Be sure to provide some kind of personality to your respond to distinguish yourself. It’s not all about understanding the jargon or being a professional – sometimes it’s about finding a colorful resource!
Don’t shy away from these services… sometimes because you’re a small business or a new company, reporters are seeking you out! It doesn’t cost anything to sign up (I’m surprised at this!), so sign up today and get some access to reporters.
