Public Relations in the E World

1
Public Relations in the E World

• World Comedy League
• Sales Summit 2008

2
Did You Know?

• 98 of journalists go on-line everyday
• 76 of journalists search for stories online
• 73 of journalists search for press releases
• The online world is changing the way media
  operates

3
How to Contact the Media

• Press Releases
• Keep the Media and Search Engines in Mind
• Use 5 key words that describe CSz to ensure that
  your release grabs the medias attention (Comedy,
  Family, Entertainment, etc)
  
• Always put your website address at the end of the
  first paragraph
  
• Non-Traditional logos, images etc will get your
  releases noticed with search engines
  

4
How to Contact the Media

• E-mail press releases
• Make sure releases are TRULY newsworthy
• New Artistic Director at CSz is newsworthynew
  cast members not newsworthy
  
• Follow up with a phone call
• Walk the line between tenacious and stalker
• Faxing is so 90s
• The media you will want to connect with will not
  want information faxed.
  

5
How to Contact the Media

• Write to journalists through their blogs
  (Anything you write may be posted online)
  
• Appeal to journalists ego Reference stories
  they have written in the past. Know the
  journalist you are contacting.
  
• If a journalist writes a story
• Send a handwritten thank you note with two free
  comp tickets.
  
• The handwritten touch goes a long way

6
How to Contact the Media

• Hosting Media
• Whenever possible offer journalists free tickets
  to a specific show.
  
• Seeing a CSz show will sell the show
• Offer interviews with the Artistic Director or
  Cast Members after the show
  
• Give the journalist a take away gift to remember
  the experience
  

7
Your Website

• Create a PR Page on your Website
• MAKE THIS PAGE WORK FOR YOU!
• Create an Online newsroom which includes
• Fact Sheets
• Bios
• Photos
• Press Releases loaded
• Post all Positive Press on your PR page. There
  is nothing more powerful then a third party
  endorsement!
  
• PR/Media Contact information
• Post Fabulous PR articles on the Front Page of
  your website, dont bury good news.
  

8
Social Networking

• Social Networking Sites are transforming media
• Bloggers are an increasingly powerful tool
• Treat bloggers like journalists
• Some blogs are read by your audience

9
Top Networking Sites

• Facebook
• Myspace
• Youtube
• Twitter
• Flickr
• Digg
• Yelp
• Linked In
• Friendster
• Citysearch
• LA.com (or similar)

10
Top Networking Sites

• Facebook
• Myspace
• Youtube
• Twitter
• Flickr
• Digg
• Yelp
• Linked In
• Friendster

• Julib
• Dailycandy
• Urbandaddy
• LA.com
• Citysearch.com

11
Check the Sites

• Check the popularity of blogs and websites
• The below sites will let you know how many
  visitors sites get etc.
  
• Check these websites and blogs before you pitch
  them.
  
• Dont waste your time on small outlets.
• Make sure your outreach counts.
• Websites
• www.Alexa.com
• www.Compete.com
• Blogs
• www.Technorati
• www.blogpulse.com

12
Joint Opportunities

• Magazine and Online Publications offer Great
  Partnership Potential
  
• Offer exclusive discounted tickets to readers of
  the magazine
  
• Offer a fundraiser for a publications favorite
  charity
  
• Offer to host a exclusive party for friends of
  the magazine
  
• Offer joint marketing with your newsletters and
  collateral information
  
• These partnerships will result in FABULOUS press!

13
Media Tour

• A media tour is a valuable way of connecting with
  reporters when you have timely news
  
• Contact 5 key journalists in your city and make
  desk side appointments
  
• Meet journalists in their office (home turf) to
  personally tell them about CSz in your town
  
• Follow-up with journalists and offer comp tickets
  to a show
  
• The face to face contact is invaluable in
  securing positive press

14
Remember These

• These outlets/reporters are also important
• In-flight Magazines
• Websites
• Family Reporters
• Education Reporters
• Sports Writers
• Calendar Editors

15
Additional Ideas

• In Need of PR Help Outreach to a local
  University for PR Partnerships
  
• If you have the funds, invest in a media data
  base that lists virtually every publication and
  editorial calendar
  
• Host a Media Night and invite top target media
  (and their families) to attend a show any Friday
  of a specific month.
  
• PR should work Hand Glove with Marketing. PR
  should know what Marketing is doing.
  

16
Questions?

• Ask Me Anything?