(CC) licensed:briansolis

If you have something to show about...

Promoting yourself and your business doesn't come naturally to everyone and using the media to work for you can be daunting.

For those involved in local enterprises, the media can be your friend, especially if you are trying to promote a new partnership project or community based initiative, which involves reaching local people.

Writing your own Press Release may seem impossible, but when you have a limited budget, taking a little time to get your story across will pay big dividends, not only in promoting your cause, but also raising profile.

So here are a few tips:

1. Local media are always keen on good stories that have a local angle and a strong human story line, eg hospital delivers quads, school boy swims channel. Give your story a peg, a launch date and get your press release out to them early enough for them to schedule it in to their planning diaries.

2. Don't be afraid to write your own Press Releases. Keep them short, put your key messages right at the top. Journalists are inundated with press releases and unless you grab their interest straight away, yours will be the one of the many that goes in the bin.

3. If you have more than a page of information, it's better to send this separately as background information, or you risk diluting your key messages.

4. Give them enough information, remember the 5 W's and the H. What, Where, When, Who Why and How.

5. Give the journalist something big and play the numbers game - 2 million project, 50 lives saved, that sort of thing.

6. A picture is worth a hundred words, if you have photos send them or if there's a good photo opportunity at the event " flagged it up and make sure that they send a photographer

7. Follow up your Press Release with a phone call, get the journalist excited about your project and start building relationships with your local journalists.

8. If this still seems tough, remember we can help you through this with tailor made, one-day Proactive PR training courses.

For more information use the contact form below: