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Newspaper advertising
Alright you lot.
Have any members ever had a press release/feature included in their local newspaper? We have a weekly business section in ours which is full of these types of article. If any of you have done this, how did you go about it? Does it cost anything? Did you get any business from it?
I know…..I should be asking the local newspaper office about this and I will, but I’ve only just thought of it and I wanna know now!
Contrary to the above gibberish, I can write quite well and could knock out a press release pretty easily. Probably.
Thanks gang. 🙂
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11 Replies
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Are you talkingabout a press release type article about your company that costs nothing, or a feature whereby they sell advertising to your suppliers etc., to cover the cost?
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A press release type article that costs nothing would be nice…
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Big G
I know this is off topic but did you get the pm about the summa cutter I sent.
Looks like people have been having problems with it. -
No I didn’t.
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Depends if you have NEWS I guess if u want a freebie..
But taking out a one off diplay ad to go with the release may swing it I guess.
If you do get a free press release I would say take out an ad to coincide anyway you may even get a deal on the advert. -
You’ve two things to consider when sending in a press release. First of all the way it it set out, see below for more info……..and 2 the timing of your sending it in!
Obviously your press releaase should be targeted and relevant. If you’ve just supplied some vinyl tubes to the local Infants School aim your release at the Editor on the basis that it’s a recycling story etc., etc., May be teaching you to suck eggs here but you get my point…..
Timing is crucial. If your topic is seasonally relevant. i.e. you supplied these tubes to the local Infants School and they made cylindrical snowmen out of them, it’s perfect! If they made them into pretend telescopes to see Haleys Comet………not so clever 😕
Some tips on writing a usable press release: 😮
Double spaces between every word and every line makes
it easier for the Editor to read and make amendments.
Make sure you put the total number of words at the bottom.
Better still supply it on a Disc so he can edit it himself! 😀
Remember there are companies out there who make a living at doing this sort of thing (so make sure it’s polished) and it is all based on one simple principle. Journalists are amongst the laziest people ever to walk on this planet! 😉
Finally, don’t expect too much from it and DO send in a regular flow, say half a dozen or so a year to keep the editor on his toes! (:) (:) (:) (hot) (hot) (hot) (hot)
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Brilliant advice Martin
Oh! Love the combination of the emoticons: Made me laugh 😆
John
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Thanks martin, some useful tips. Actually before you posted this I contacted the local rag and they are coming to interview me next week for a feature. Seemed a bit too easy to be honest; maybe they’ll try to sell me some advertising space when they get here! Best get me barnet cut and brushed for the photographer! 😀
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Just get the best deal you can!
Find out how many readers, what age groups, make the salesman work for his money……………!
Don’t book a page, waste of money unless you’ve got a weekend sale, go for something smaller and have more than one, even a classified if it’s relevant?
Feature based advertising is ok but it’s a means to an end for the paper to fill space with advertisers who have money to waste, i.e. Restaurants, Weddings Specialists, Gymnasiums……….
If you book and ad and want some advice on copy let me know. I’m crap at doing my own ads but ok with other people’s!!
I have a fantastic book of copywriting for floorcoverings………. From America it’s retail value new was about £600. Most of the phrases can be adapted to suit any business.
Here’s one of my favourites and remember it’s CARPETS we’re selling here! 😉
Close your eyes and think “carpet.” What do you see? Nine times out of ten it’s shag. Maybe a shag a little on the wild side, or maybe a thoroughly tamed shag. Maybe one that’s tumbly, maybe one that stands up lush and high. No matter. Tousled or tamed, shags are terrific. 😀
or
What’s your pleasure? Shag? A sheared beauty? Velvet Plush?
and here’s one that I’m not so sure about 😕
Is there any greater enjoyment than romping on the floor with your family? And is there any greater assurance that it’s warm and draft-free than when you’re romping on wall-to-wall carpeting? Don’t deprive your family of this joy!!!!! 😕
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Blimey, the censor even stop’s carpet names!! 😕
A S H A G is a kind of carpet, as in Shagpile!
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Thanks Martin for the offer and for your advice. I have checked with the paper and apparently for new businesses you can have a free editorial feature (with photo 😳 ). The only possible snag is you don’t get to view the article before it is published. I’ve had a look at some previous ones in the paper and they seem pretty good so I’ll have to just trust them. I’m hoping it’ll at least assist the ‘knocking on doors’ method of marketing I’ve been doing in that it will remind people of that nutter who was trying to sell signs to them. S’worth a try anyway.
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