Public Relations 101: Getting Your Message Out - Start-Up Phase Forum

perlo · 01-20-2008, 06:57 AM

Perhaps you'd like to promote your organization's event. Maybe you're trying to publicize your cause. Or maybe you're trying to get media attention for yourself or your product. Sometimes it's difficult to have your voice heard amidst the cacophony of competing messages.

The mainstream media often refers to today's information overload. After all, people get their information from more sources than ever before. There's broadcast news, cable news, newspapers, magazines, radio, online publications, bloggers, discussion boards, RSS streams, and more. It seems, however, that people aren't overwhelmed with information; they're simply customizing the way they receive information. As for the mainstream media's hype about overload, it may very well just be a case of sour grapes. When people turn to other sources for news and information, the market share of the mainstream media decreases.

When you're trying to get your message out to the masses, follow the lead of public relations professionals. Their approach to promotion is to use multiple channels, both in traditional media and in new media. By blanketing as many channels as possible, your efforts at public relations and promotion are bound to be successful.

When you want to get the word out, you first need to define your audience. Who is it that you're trying to reach? If you're trying to market your message to 18-34 year olds, you don't want to waste your time with media that draws an older crowd.

Once you define your audience, you need to craft your message. Indeed, if you are using multiple channels or trying to reach more than one audience, you may have to craft several messages. For each, it's important to try and see the world through the eyes of your intended audience, and the design a message that they will find appealing.

When you know your audience and have your message, it's time to distribute that message. Although that can seem like an obstacle for an amateur, there are actually many venues through which you can do public relations and promotion. There are even online marketing opportunities that allow you to post free press releases and offer free public relations services.

One such service is pr-inside.com. It's a free public relations service that helps you in promotion - whether you're promoting your online business, your organization, or yourself. You simply register and submit your free press releases. It takes about five minutes, after which the pr-inside.com team reviews your text and adds it to their public relations website.

There's no need to be intimidated by the competition from big public relations firms or the savvy mainstream media. With some forethought and a targeted message, you can publicize your message effectively using free online marketing tools.

http://articles.webraydian.com/artic...ssage_Out.html

debrajean · 01-20-2008, 03:27 PM

And the best way to get the word out is, word of mouth. Just make sure it's positive things people are saying and not negative. A negative first impression lasts forever, a good gets more business.

Jack01 · 02-03-2008, 09:15 AM

One quick comment about this, if you're going to rely on bloggers, you must be careful that you cannot possibily predict what's going to be written/said. Bloggers are one of the most effective yet dangerous ways to promote your message, so be very picky when contacting bloggers.

Simone · 02-03-2008, 12:17 PM

Originally Posted by Jack01

One quick comment about this, if you're going to rely on bloggers, you must be careful that you cannot possibily predict what's going to be written/said. Bloggers are one of the most effective yet dangerous ways to promote your message, so be very picky when contacting bloggers.

There was a thread on the blogging section discussing this. It's quite intriguing to think of such a massive force bringing both good and bad. I'd still rely on conventional methods (although I have recently decided to give the web a try) since word of mouth is still the most dominant in marketing.

berlinlife06 · 02-03-2008, 03:49 PM

I think you could use bloggers as feedback and measure what's going on and how are you doing, but not rely completely on them for the "word of mouth"... I mean, bloggers can achieve sites like "Post Secret" to get 100 million visitors in 3 years, and keeps growing and growing. It is the most popular ad-free, site I've ever seen. And that worked very well with word of mouth!

01-20-2008, 06:57 AM	#1
perlo Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 50 Rep Power: 3	Public Relations 101: Getting Your Message Out Perhaps you'd like to promote your organization's event. Maybe you're trying to publicize your cause. Or maybe you're trying to get media attention for yourself or your product. Sometimes it's difficult to have your voice heard amidst the cacophony of competing messages. The mainstream media often refers to today's information overload. After all, people get their information from more sources than ever before. There's broadcast news, cable news, newspapers, magazines, radio, online publications, bloggers, discussion boards, RSS streams, and more. It seems, however, that people aren't overwhelmed with information; they're simply customizing the way they receive information. As for the mainstream media's hype about overload, it may very well just be a case of sour grapes. When people turn to other sources for news and information, the market share of the mainstream media decreases. When you're trying to get your message out to the masses, follow the lead of public relations professionals. Their approach to promotion is to use multiple channels, both in traditional media and in new media. By blanketing as many channels as possible, your efforts at public relations and promotion are bound to be successful. When you want to get the word out, you first need to define your audience. Who is it that you're trying to reach? If you're trying to market your message to 18-34 year olds, you don't want to waste your time with media that draws an older crowd. Once you define your audience, you need to craft your message. Indeed, if you are using multiple channels or trying to reach more than one audience, you may have to craft several messages. For each, it's important to try and see the world through the eyes of your intended audience, and the design a message that they will find appealing. When you know your audience and have your message, it's time to distribute that message. Although that can seem like an obstacle for an amateur, there are actually many venues through which you can do public relations and promotion. There are even online marketing opportunities that allow you to post free press releases and offer free public relations services. One such service is pr-inside.com. It's a free public relations service that helps you in promotion - whether you're promoting your online business, your organization, or yourself. You simply register and submit your free press releases. It takes about five minutes, after which the pr-inside.com team reviews your text and adds it to their public relations website. There's no need to be intimidated by the competition from big public relations firms or the savvy mainstream media. With some forethought and a targeted message, you can publicize your message effectively using free online marketing tools. http://articles.webraydian.com/artic...ssage_Out.html

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01-20-2008, 03:27 PM	#2
debrajean Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 16 Rep Power: 0	And the best way to get the word out is, word of mouth. Just make sure it's positive things people are saying and not negative. A negative first impression lasts forever, a good gets more business.

02-03-2008, 09:15 AM	#3
Jack01 Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 35 Rep Power: 0	One quick comment about this, if you're going to rely on bloggers, you must be careful that you cannot possibily predict what's going to be written/said. Bloggers are one of the most effective yet dangerous ways to promote your message, so be very picky when contacting bloggers.

02-03-2008, 03:49 PM	#5
berlinlife06 Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 17 Rep Power: 0	I think you could use bloggers as feedback and measure what's going on and how are you doing, but not rely completely on them for the "word of mouth"... I mean, bloggers can achieve sites like "Post Secret" to get 100 million visitors in 3 years, and keeps growing and growing. It is the most popular ad-free, site I've ever seen. And that worked very well with word of mouth!