Six Alternatives to Sending a Press Release

It's my firm belief that list-building services such as Vocus and Cision - while making reporter list building extremely easy - have also created a generation of very lazy PR professionals. It's nice to pull a minty fresh list out of that database. But that is the easy part. Now it's your skill and creativity that will get your news in front of those reporters. Yes, I said CREATIVITY.

Arguably, the worst part of being a PR Professional is facing that list, breaking it down, and digging in to pitch those reporters. But the most important thing is NOT writing the press release and blasting it out. First, you have to back up and say, "What is my message, and who would appreciate hearing it?"

If you have to, go ahead and write the press release. In fact, if that's how you organize your thoughts, or find your key message, be my guest and write it. But DON"T SEND IT!! Challenge yourself never to send another standard press release again. That is, unless someone specifically asks for one. Or your client forces you to write one. This is really, really sneaky. Even if you write it, don't send it.

Instead, here are alternatives that you SHOULD be utilizing instead of a press release.

1. Pitch email: More than 90% of reporters claim that they want to receive pitches via email. Since you're already emailing, just put your pitch in the form of a story, with bullet points emphasizing the most important details you want the reporter to know. Here is the key to a successful pitch email:
   
   • Google the reporter's name. After ensuring that she still writes for the news outlet, click on one of her recent articles. Make sure it is within the same genre as your pitch. In other words, if you are pitching a healthcare story, make sure that she covers that subject.
   • Write a one paragraph personalized intro for every email you send."I read your series on healthcare abuses in the nursing home industry..." Show some interest in the reporter's work.
   • The remaining portion of the email can be the same for every reporter. This is your brief opportunity to capture the reporter's interest with your pitch. Make it short, and make it interesting.
   • Write a subject line that gets attention and describes your pitch. "For your information" is not a good subject line.
2. Make a website posting (preferably a blog post): If your client has a newsroom or a blog, post your pitch material in the form of a web article or blog post. Use story-telling language, not a standard press release format. Tag the post with keywords and link out to the company's website or other information if possible. You can start a new blog on Posterous in less than 15 minutes.
3. Send a Tweet: Turn your key idea into a tweet. With a little practice, you'll be a pro at getting your message across in one or two tweets. Ideally, it would be great to send these messages to a reporter as a direct message, but if all else fails, go ahead and say "@JeffZeleny, did you know that the most outstanding pork tenderloin sandwich in Des Moines is at Smittys?" (of course, you'll want to come up with your own tweet material) If the reporter does not respond, follow up with an email pitch.
4. Send a Facebook message: I'm friends with a lot of local reporters on Facebook, but not so many national reporters. But even if you're not friends with a reporter on Facebook, you can still send them a message. Attach a link or photo if you have one.
5. Pick up the phone: Sometimes, a quick conversation to gauge a reporter's interest can save you a lot of time, especially when it seems as though a reporter is no longer covering that beat. If you keep your call brief and courteous, the reporter will be happy to point you in the right direction. If they don't answer or are on deadline, follow up with a pitch email.
6. If you're in the same city as the reporter, offer to meet them for coffee. Sometimes reporters are looking for any excuse they can to get out of the newsroom for a while.

This post really is not geared specifically for pitching bloggers. But my advice is to never send a blogger a press release. Bloggers are not traditional journalists. They aren't used to receiving press releases. In fact, most don't use them at all. Amber Naslund covers the sentiment well here. Plain and simple, press releases are just too formal. The quotes are absurd and aren't even used in most newspaper stories. I've never seen a blogger regurgitate a press release, especially not the made-up gobbelty-gook quotes.

PR pros have this incredible opportunity to be content creators instead of "content suggesters." Unless your client is absolutely hounding you to get in the Wall Street Journal, spend your time and energy telling your own story on your own website. Then use social media to build an audience (including media) and get your story out. My favorite homegrown content success story is Blendtec.

They created their own videos on their own site and used social media to tell the world. No boring news releases allowed. In fact, I wish I could hand Blendtec a stack of press releases to blend.

Comments

[Krista]

These are wonderful alternatives, Claire! I also agree with your sentiment that building a media list and sending a press release should require a little more effort and research on the PR pro's side. Utilizing some of your alternatives is a great way to build better media relations and perhaps score more coverage.

PS. Love your addition to Will It Blend - I'd love to see him do that one :)

[Khurrum Pervaiz]

Interesting alternatives Claire!
Practicing PR from halfway across the globe i myself can also see huge relevance. Although meeting all the prospective journalist over coffee from my media list always seemed tedious but blending of info tweets and blog posts definitely boost media's interest and coverage.
Great post, looking to read more on the same lines. Cheers!

[Pgeorgieva]

Effective tips, which really can differentiate the news stories we pitch thanks to the different approach with journalists. Thanks for the great post! :)

[Steve Mullen]

Good post. I blogged about it and added my own suggestions here: http://www.endgamepr.com/blog/2011/05/05/creative-uses-for-a-news-release/

[Davina K. Brewer]

Good list Claire. Only thing I'm not sure about is the pitching via Twitter. I see it recommended all the time, so I know it may work for some people but it's a mixed bag.

In my experience, journalists I follow use Twitter many different ways. Some are researching and promoting their work but many aren't; some accounts are just feeds of the paper, etc. And more than a few send a few tweets ranting against some 'PR flack' that did whatever it was that annoyed them. My biggest issue is that tweet pitches public and therefore loses the exclusivity so many reporters and editors want. That said, by all means use Twitter to build a relationship with reporters, @reply when the ask for help and if you are on good terms, perhaps DM them for a pitch idea to ask for email, etc. FWIW.