Why Your Writing Style Can Make or Break Your Media Opportunities

Today's blog is a guest post by Lisa Elia, enjoy!!

Lisa Elia- PR Expert and Media Trainer

Don’t be too casual with your writing style, when pitching the media.Many members of the media, especially at larger, more prestigious media outlets, are very well educated and can be picky about correct grammar and punctuation. 

Some members of the media have told me that even one typo or grammatical error in a pitch or press release can make them disregard the pitch entirely. If you’re not a great writer, and even if you are, have someone proofread everything you send to the media.

Use Associated Press Style in press releases that you will send to the media (as opposed to those you may simply post online for consumer viewing). If you’re writing press releases or even if you are having them written for you, it’s important to know what Associated Press Style is because it will save you many PR service hours and/or dollars.

Associated Press (AP) Style is the media industry standard for journalistic style. Adhering to this style will make members of the media take you seriously, and it will make it easier for editors to publish your release immediately, and you ALWAYS want to make their job as easy as possible.

First, here’s a bit about the Associated Press, from the organization’s website:

“The Associated Press is the essential global news network, delivering fast, unbiased news from every corner of the world to all media platforms and formats. Founded in 1846, AP today is the largest and most trusted source of independent news and information. On any given day, more than half the world’s population sees news from AP.”

On the Net: www.ap.org”

So, you can see why Associated Press Style is important when writing press releases. If you’re planning to do your own PR, I highly recommend buying the Associated Press Stylebook, available at Amazon.com or at www.ap.org

AP Style is very specific. There are rules on punctuation, grammar, quotes, etc. that are specific to this style. It also changes with the times, so be sure to get a new copy of the AP Stylebook every year or so. AP Style is succinct, journalistic, objective and factual. Keep in mind that press releases are meant to be newsworthy, so write “news.”

If you want a more flowery, loose article on yourself or your company, consider pitching an article authored by yourself to media outlets that accept submissions or write whatever you’d like on your blog.

As a basic rule in business and in PR, supply people with the information in a format that is going to make it easiest for people to spread the word about you.

For more tips, register for my 10 PR Musts guide at www.10PRmusts.com

Resource box:

This article is provided courtesy of PR Expert and Media Trainer Lisa Elia, the CEO and founder of Lisa Elia PR and Expert Media Training. Elia has spent more than 25 years in the PR industry, securing interviews for clients with major media outlets that include CNN, Oprah Winfrey Show, Time, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Redbook, Shape, Huffington Post, and hundreds of other outlets. To receive free tips on how to work with the media most effectively, avoid common mistakes and shine in every interview, visit www.lisaeliapr.com or contact us at lisa@lisaeliapr.com or 310-479-0217.

Use Video to Engage Members of the Media

Today’s Blog is a guest post by  Lisa Elia

Lisa Elia- PR Expert and Media Trainer

Videos are extremely important because members of the media (especially TV producers) need to see how you will come across on camera before they will book you for an interview. Increasingly, print media outlets are now including videos on their websites, to correlate to their print articles. Members of the media frequently search YouTube and Google for experts to interview and products to feature. So, if you want to attract the media and keep them interested in you or your company, video is crucial.

If you are an expert, create videos of yourself sharing valuable tips or information, or demonstrating what you do. If you create products, you can also share tips, but be sure to create at least one video that shows the products in use. Be sure that the lighting, audio and video quality is adequate for the media. You can lose the attention of the media quickly if your videos look too unprofessional or if they are difficult to watch.

Host your videos on your website so that you lead people back to your site to view them. For purposes of media pitching, it’s best to host at least some of your videos in an online press room on your website. You can also post your videos in the videos section of your Facebook page and other social media accounts, and share them in your feeds.

Include links to videos in the body of your press releases so that when they are published, readers can view the videos to gain information, be entertained or see something else that is useful, educational and/or entertaining. Also include links to videos of you/your products in your email pitches to the media so they can get an immediate sense of you and/or your products.

For more tips, register for my 10 PR Musts guide at www.10PRmusts.com

Resource box:

This article is provided courtesy of PR Expert and Media Trainer Lisa Elia, the CEO and founder of Lisa Elia PR and Expert Media Training. Elia has spent more than 25 years in the PR industry, securing interviews for clients with major media outlets that include CNN, Oprah Winfrey Show, Time, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Redbook, Shape, Huffington Post, and hundreds of other outlets. To receive free tips on how to work with the media most effectively, avoid common mistakes and shine in every interview, visit www.lisaeliapr.com or contact us at lisa@lisaeliapr.com or 310-479-0217.

Publicity For Your Business (and your book)

Publicity is important. It can help you as a business or an author stand out. And, it can help you be remembered.

Dan Smith, is the founder of Smith Publicity, a full service book marketing and publicity agency which has promoted more than 1500 books since 1997.  Their clients have appeared on virtually every top radio and TV show, and have been featured in leading print outlets. (www.smithpublicity.com)

Publicity, according to Dan can include radio, TV, magazine articles, feature stories, print media (e.g. newspapers), reviews, and other forms of media coverage.  Publicity can be of great value to authors and businesses because it helps you stand out, and publicity gives you credibility. And, it helps you get your message (and your book or product) to the masses. 

Some of the mistakes that authors are making include:

- writing press releases without knowing the format, process or how to write a release
- not being media trained or lacking media savvy skills
- saying things like "as I say in my book" or actively selling your book
- not carefully choosing what you say when interviewed by print media

Changes in the world of publicity:
- for authors, there are about 1000 books published every day, there is great competition, so you must stand out.
- it is more difficult to get media attention

Social media can be a great support for traditional media. Smith stated that when your business or book is featured in traditional media (TV, radio or print), you can post the link and share through social media.  Social media requires businesses and authors to provide lots of value, and useful posts, otherwise your followers start to disappear and disengage from you. If you are considering advertising, ensure that you explore niche specific markets, this will give you the biggest bang for your buck. You can listen to Dan's great publicity tips at:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/your-book-as-a-business/2012/10/20/guest-dan-smith

Some take away tips for you:

1) Know your audience

2) Have a publicity plan

3) Work with the experts

4) Find ways to stand out

5) Be optimistic, and have fun!

Here are some books that are on my bookshelf and that I highly recommend: