Mastering Media Outreach: Do’s and Don’ts for Holiday Gift Guide Success 🎁✨
Join Our Workshop: How to Get Your Brand Featured in Holiday Gift Guides 🎁✨
Hello Chatterbugs! 🐝
As we dive into the holiday gift guide season, understanding the intricacies of media outreach is more crucial than ever. With journalists receiving up to 1,200 emails per day during this peak period, making your email stand out is imperative. Here’s a compilation of essential do’s and don’ts to ensure your pitch not only gets opened but also considered.
The Do’s of Media Outreach
Craft a Compelling Subject Line
Go beyond generic! Use specific and enticing subject lines that directly relate to your product, such as “Best Gifts for Moms This Holiday Season - Amazon and Affiliate Friendly.” This immediately informs the journalist of the content and its relevance.
Personalize Your Opener
Start with a kind and engaging opener. Comment on the journalist's latest social media post, Substack article, or a recent publication. Showing that you’ve taken the time to engage with their work can set a positive tone for the rest of your pitch.
Be Concise and Informative
For product-based businesses, keep your product description brief yet informative. Include hyperlinks to the product page, Amazon listing, and an image hosted on Dropbox or Google Drive. Ensure the image filename is descriptive of the product. Also, embed a low-resolution image directly in the email body to catch the journalist's eye at first glance.
Availability and Pricing
Confirm that your product is available for purchase immediately. Include the price and purchasing links to facilitate the journalist’s ability to share your product.
The Don’ts of Media Outreach
Avoid Overwhelming Follow-ups
While follow-ups are crucial, they must be respectful of the journalist's time. A single follow-up can reiterate your pitch and keep your product top of mind, but avoid being pushy or following up too frequently. Instead of just saying, "I'm following up on the email below," use the opportunity to re-pitch your product creatively to remind them of its relevance and benefits.
No Attachments
Never send attachments with your initial email as they can trigger spam filters. Instead, use links to hosted images and documents.
Research Before Following Up
Before following up, ensure the story hasn’t already been published. If it has and your product wasn’t featured, refrain from asking why. Instead, use it as a learning opportunity to improve future pitches.
Be Respectful and Patient
Recognize the high volume of emails journalists receive during this season. Make your communications count by being concise, relevant, and professional.
Express Gratitude
Always thank a journalist if they cover your product. Additionally, amplify the coverage by sharing the articles on social media. Tag both the publication and the journalist to bring more visibility to the article and show your appreciation.
Wrapping It Up
Navigating the holiday gift guide season requires tact, preparation, and a bit of charm. By adhering to these do’s and don’ts, you can enhance your chances of securing that coveted spot in holiday gift guides. Let’s make every email count and potentially turn today’s media pitch into tomorrow’s media win!
Ready to elevate your media outreach strategy? Let's ensure your brand shines this holiday season!
Join Our Workshop: How to Get Your Brand Featured in Holiday Gift Guides 🎁✨
As the festive season approaches, the opportunity to showcase your products in holiday gift guides becomes a golden ticket for brand visibility and sales. Wondering how to secure a spot for your brand in these coveted guides? We’ve got you covered!
Exclusive Workshop: Dive into Holiday Gift Guides
This August, I’m thrilled to host an essential workshop designed to demystify the process of getting your products featured in holiday gift guides. Whether you’re a seasoned business owner or a budding entrepreneur, understanding the timelines, requirements, and pitching strategies for these guides is crucial.
Workshop Details:
Date: August 22, 2024
Time: 12 PM PST
SIGN UP LINK COMING SOON
Navigating the Shift in Social Media: The Rise of LinkedIn & Decline of Twitter 🌐✨
In the ever-evolving social media landscape, it's crucial for PR professionals to stay ahead of trends and adapt their strategies accordingly. As we head into 2024, a significant shift is underway: the decline of Twitter, now known as X, and the rise of LinkedIn as a preferred platform for media players.
The Changing Social Media Tide
Twitter’s Challenges
Recently, Twitter, or X, has faced a series of challenges, including near-constant issues and fluctuating content standards. These issues have caused many media professionals and businesses to reconsider their reliance on the platform, leading to a gradual migration towards more stable and professional alternatives.
LinkedIn’s Growing Influence
LinkedIn has emerged as a favored platform among journalists and media players looking to promote their stories and engage with a professional audience. Its community-focused and industry-specific content approach makes it an ideal platform for sharing thought leadership and professional updates.
The Rise of Short-Form Video
While LinkedIn gains momentum for professional content, platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts are capturing consumer attention with short-form video content. These platforms are increasingly important for reaching broader audiences, particularly for consumer-facing brands.
Adapting Your PR Strategy
Diversify Your Social Media Outreach
While it might not be time to completely abandon Twitter, diversifying your social media outreach to include LinkedIn and popular short-form video platforms can enhance your reach and engagement. This approach allows you to connect with media contacts on platforms where they are most active and receptive.
Leverage LinkedIn for B2B Engagement
For businesses and agencies, LinkedIn offers a powerful tool for building relationships with industry peers, sharing company news, and establishing thought leadership. Encourage your clients to boost their presence on LinkedIn by sharing insightful articles, company milestones, and industry news.
Invest in Short-Form Video Content
Embrace the trend towards short-form video by creating engaging content that can be shared across TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts. This format is ideal for storytelling, showcasing products, or sharing quick tips that resonate with a consumer audience.
Conclusion
As the social media landscape shifts, staying adaptable and proactive in your PR strategy is more important than ever. By expanding your focus beyond Twitter to platforms like LinkedIn and embracing new content formats, you can ensure that your outreach remains effective and your brand stays relevant.
Melii Shines on Good Day LA: Back to School Spotlight 🎒✨
We're thrilled to share some fantastic news from our client Melii, who recently made a splash on Good Day LA, Fox 11! In a special back-to-school segment, Melii showcased not just one but five of their innovative products, perfectly timed for the back-to-school season.
Melii Takes Center Stage 🌟 Spotlight on Innovation
Good Day LA featured an array of Melii's products designed to make life easier and more fun for both parents and kids as they prepare for the new school year. This segment highlighted everything from their practical yet playful food containers to other clever essentials that support busy families during the school season.
Celebrating Success 🎉
We're proud of Melii's continued success and their ability to capture the attention of both media and consumers with their high-quality, innovative products. This feature is a significant win for Melii as they continue establishing themselves as leaders in family-friendly products.
Share the Excitement 📣
If you missed the live segment, don’t worry! We encourage everyone to check out the feature here, share it, and support Melii as they gear up for a successful back-to-school season. Seeing our clients shine is always exciting, and we can't wait to see what's next for Melii.
Cheers to successful pitching,
Amy and the Chatterbox Team
Work with Me: Elevate Your Brand with Tailored PR Solutions 🌟
At Chatterbox, we understand that every brand has unique PR needs. That's why we offer a range of services designed to fit different goals and capacities. Whether you're looking for comprehensive support, strategic guidance, or self-paced learning, we've got you covered.
🚀 Full-Service PR Retainer Package
Your Brand's Story, Told by Experts: Our all-inclusive retainer package is perfect for brands seeking end-to-end PR solutions. We handle everything - crafting compelling stories, securing media placements, managing your brand reputation, and more. Sit back and watch your brand's narrative unfold in the hands of our skilled team.
📈 PR Consulting: Custom Roadmap Creation
Empowering Your In-House PR Journey: Our consulting service provides a custom roadmap tailored to your brand, ideal for brands looking to build their PR capabilities internally. We equip you with the strategies, tools, and knowledge needed to execute a successful PR campaign in-house, guiding you every step of the way.
📘 The PR Formula Course: Cracking the Media Code
Learn at Your Own Pace, Make Your Own Impact: Launching soon is our self-paced course, 'Cracking the Media Code: From Pitch to Placement.' This comprehensive program is designed for brands eager to learn the intricacies of PR at their own pace. Covering everything from crafting the perfect pitch to securing media placements, this course is your step-by-step guide to PR mastery.
🌟 Celebrity and Influencer Seeding
Strategically Connecting Your Brand with the Stars: Dive into the world of celebrity and influencer marketing with our tailored seeding program. We handpick celebrities and influencers who are expecting, or have babies and toddlers, to receive your products six times a year—aligned with key seasonal moments: Spring/Easter, Mother's Day, Summer, Back to School, Fall, and the Winter Holidays. This service ensures your brand lands in the right hands at the right time, amplifying visibility and endorsement from those who lead trends and capture hearts.
🎬 Product Placement in TV and Movies
Your Brand in Every Scene: Elevate your brand's visibility with our product placement service, designed to integrate your products seamlessly into TV shows and movies. This service isn't just about having your product seen; it's about creating memorable moments that viewers associate with your brand long after the credits roll. Let us position your products within storytelling that speaks to your audience, crafting a narrative that extends beyond the screen and into the hearts of viewers.
Choose the service that aligns with your brand's vision or combine them for a comprehensive approach to brand elevation. At Chatterbox, we're here to tailor our expertise to your unique story, guiding you through every step of the PR journey.
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Until we meet again, keep buzzing with joy and creativity!