By Cheval John
A person has just started a new business and they are looking to attract new customers.
They understand they do not have the funding to place an ad in newpapers or buy a spot on the billboards.
They figured out one of the ways to market their business is by being featured in the media.
The first thing they might do is hire a public relations firm to pitch their business to shows on major media outlets.
It might seem like a good idea because major media outlets like CBS, ABC and NBC has a nationwide reach.
The first problem: it cost an average $10,000 to hire a great public relations firm to pitch your story to major media.
The second problem: the shows from major media will not be interested in you because you are just starting out and you are not big enough for them.
The better solution would be to focus on getting your story featured in niche media.
The reasons are:
1. THEY HAVE A TARGETED AUDIENCE.
When your story gets featured on a new media outlets like blogs or podcasts, you have a much better chance at accomplishing your goals.
Their audience are very interested in what you have to say.
If they are interested, there is a good chance you can win over some customers.
Dr. Ai Addyson-Zhang‘s live streaming show, Classroom Without Walls, has an average audience of 100 views from around the world.
That might look to you like peanuts.
However, every times a guest appears on her show,they ended up gaining new clients.
2. THERE ARE TASTE TESTERS
The people who run blogs,podcasts or live stream shows are taste testers because they are the ones who are ahead of the curve.
They are willing to see what your business is and are willing to put themselves on the line for you.
3. THEY ARE MORE TRUSTED
Their audience trust them because they have built a solid reputation over the years.
When they recommend something that is valuable to them, they is a great chance their audience will respond.
4. THEIR CONTENT CAN BE RE-PURPOSED ON MAJOR MEDIA
Morning television shows on major media are searching for content everyday because they have to fill their time slot.
If your story gets discovered on a blog by a major media, they will feature it as one of their segments on their shows.
Abbie Unger runs a facebook group teaching people how to land work as a flight attendant.
Her story was featured on podcasts before being picked up by the Huffington Post.
A couple of months later, a major television show featured her story in their segment.
Now that you have seen the reasons for choosing niche media, the question is how to reach out to them.
Here are some suggestions to this question
1. BE ACTIVE ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Interact with your audience on a daily basis because they will appreciate you more.
This might even catch the eye of reporters because they are now on social media because they know that breaking news can happen there
2. KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE
If you know what your target audience is about, it can give you an idea of how to sell your story to a journalist.
You can’t just send a blanket press release to every journalist out there hoping for one to bite.
That will make you look bad in the long run.
3. SHARE THE REPORTER’S CONTENT
If an article by a reporter resonates, you can share it on your social media accounts.
If you do this consistently, they will take notice and there is a good chance they will respond to your pitch.
Also, interact with them on social media.
There is a good chance you all might have a lot in common.
4. MAKE YOUR WEBSITE A CONTENT HUB
Thanks to technology, journalists are short handed.
They to do everything from writing their story to editing their package before deadline to air on the news.
If your pitch does not get their attention, they will simply delete it and move on.
One of the best things you can do is create the story yourself.
You can put blog posts on your website with some clips from your event.
If you done the first three steps above, you can then send your pitch with the blog post attached to it.
There is a great chance the journalist will select it because they saw you took the time to put the story together yourself.
What are your thoughts on this?
Please leave your comment below.
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Niche Media or Mass Media
By Cheval John
A person has just started a new business and they are looking to attract new customers.
They understand they do not have the funding to place an ad in newpapers or buy a spot on the billboards.
They figured out one of the ways to market their business is by being featured in the media.
The first thing they might do is hire a public relations firm to pitch their business to shows on major media outlets.
It might seem like a good idea because major media outlets like CBS, ABC and NBC has a nationwide reach.
The first problem: it cost an average $10,000 to hire a great public relations firm to pitch your story to major media.
The second problem: the shows from major media will not be interested in you because you are just starting out and you are not big enough for them.
The better solution would be to focus on getting your story featured in niche media.
The reasons are:
1. THEY HAVE A TARGETED AUDIENCE.
When your story gets featured on a new media outlets like blogs or podcasts, you have a much better chance at accomplishing your goals.
Their audience are very interested in what you have to say.
If they are interested, there is a good chance you can win over some customers.
Dr. Ai Addyson-Zhang‘s live streaming show, Classroom Without Walls, has an average audience of 100 views from around the world.
That might look to you like peanuts.
However, every times a guest appears on her show,they ended up gaining new clients.
2. THERE ARE TASTE TESTERS
The people who run blogs,podcasts or live stream shows are taste testers because they are the ones who are ahead of the curve.
They are willing to see what your business is and are willing to put themselves on the line for you.
3. THEY ARE MORE TRUSTED
Their audience trust them because they have built a solid reputation over the years.
When they recommend something that is valuable to them, they is a great chance their audience will respond.
4. THEIR CONTENT CAN BE RE-PURPOSED ON MAJOR MEDIA
Morning television shows on major media are searching for content everyday because they have to fill their time slot.
If your story gets discovered on a blog by a major media, they will feature it as one of their segments on their shows.
Abbie Unger runs a facebook group teaching people how to land work as a flight attendant.
Her story was featured on podcasts before being picked up by the Huffington Post.
A couple of months later, a major television show featured her story in their segment.
Now that you have seen the reasons for choosing niche media, the question is how to reach out to them.
Here are some suggestions to this question
1. BE ACTIVE ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Interact with your audience on a daily basis because they will appreciate you more.
This might even catch the eye of reporters because they are now on social media because they know that breaking news can happen there
2. KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE
If you know what your target audience is about, it can give you an idea of how to sell your story to a journalist.
You can’t just send a blanket press release to every journalist out there hoping for one to bite.
That will make you look bad in the long run.
3. SHARE THE REPORTER’S CONTENT
If an article by a reporter resonates, you can share it on your social media accounts.
If you do this consistently, they will take notice and there is a good chance they will respond to your pitch.
Also, interact with them on social media.
There is a good chance you all might have a lot in common.
4. MAKE YOUR WEBSITE A CONTENT HUB
Thanks to technology, journalists are short handed.
They to do everything from writing their story to editing their package before deadline to air on the news.
If your pitch does not get their attention, they will simply delete it and move on.
One of the best things you can do is create the story yourself.
You can put blog posts on your website with some clips from your event.
If you done the first three steps above, you can then send your pitch with the blog post attached to it.
There is a great chance the journalist will select it because they saw you took the time to put the story together yourself.
What are your thoughts on this?
Please leave your comment below.
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Tags: Ai Addyson Zhang, Blog, Content, Journalists, Niche Media, Podcast
About Cheval John
Cheval John is the Founder and CEO of Vallano Media, LLC, a marketing agency which helps small to mid-sized businesses use social media correctly to build a loyal following and in the process become more profitable. Cheval is also the host of "What's The Word?" a podcast about finding out what inspires people to choose their respective careers and how social media impacted their lives and business. He is the author of two books including the Amazon Best-Seller, "8 Lessons Every Podcaster Needs To Learn." He has spoken at Social Media Week Lima in Ohio and at Social Media Day Houston 2017 about topics around live streaming and podcasting. Cheval has been featured in media outlets including Ebony Magazine, Social Media Today and Forbes. He was named a Houston Top 25 Social Media Power Influencer (2016 and 2017) and a Twitter Top 50 Influencer by Onalytica in 2018.