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What are avoidable mistakes when contacting journalists?

04/05/2023 | By: FDS

Incomplete information: When reaching out to a journalist, it is important that you provide all the information necessary for the journalist to understand and cover your story.

Overly long emails or messages: Journalists are often busy and may not have time to read long emails or messages. Therefore, try to make your request as short and concise as possible.

Lack of personalization: when contacting a journalist, it is important that you familiarize yourself with their work and interests so that you can make a personalized and relevant request.

Inappropriate follow-up messages: It's important to give journalists time to respond to your inquiry. Excessive follow-up can be perceived as intrusive or inappropriate.

Lack of message etiquette: When sending an email to a journalist, make sure you use the correct salutation and signature, and that you do not include spelling or grammatical errors.

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What is a media inquiry?

03/07/2023 | By: FDS

A media inquiry is a request from a journalist to an individual, organization or company for information, expert opinion or comment on a specific topic or event. Media requests can be made by email, phone, fax or via social media.

Journalists can submit media requests when they need information or expert opinions to write a story or article. They can also ask for interviews or commentary on current events or issues. Media requests can come from a variety of media outlets, including newspapers, magazines, broadcast or online media.

As the recipient of a media request, you should carefully consider whether and how to respond to the request. It is important to respond quickly and willingly share information that is relevant and useful. On the other hand, however, you should also keep your own interests and needs in mind, especially when confidential or business-critical information is involved. It is often advisable to have a clear agreement on the use and publication of information in advance to avoid misunderstandings or legal problems.

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Generate leads 2022 - How it works

10/17/2022 | By: FDS

There are various sources and strategies for generating leads (both as a B2B and as a provider in the end customer business). Basically, a distinction can be made between unpaid (so-called organic) and paid sources of leads, e.g. in the form of Google Ads.

The situation for most companies and providers in the B2B sector is as follows: There is strong competition/stiff competition in the respective niche, high click prices, escalating marketing budgets as well as ad campaigns that do not work. The downward spiral of ever increasing costs with ever poorer conversion rates is supposed to be stopped with a further increase in the marketing budget - which often enough fails.

But what is the alternative to expensive online marketing?

With the help of so-called content marketing, you provide potential prospects and customers with free knowledge with added value and thus create trust. The goal is that the customers in spé deal longer with your offer and do not leave your website after a few seconds, but click through your website. The more articles, i.e. content, you provide on your website, the more this testifies to competence in your respective field and will increase the likelihood of a purchase.

In the best case, you manage to get interested parties to sign up for your newsletter, for example, to be informed about future discount promotions, make an inquiry via contact form or phone. It is important to obtain their consent to be contacted in order to be able to contact them in the future in the so-called follow-up process and to convert them into customers in the long term. After all, the majority of B2B customers only buy after the second, third or fourth contact. Here, it is also important to understand the so-called sales cycle in the business-to-business business.

If you have managed to direct interested parties to your site through thematically relevant articles or blogpots, the first hurdle has been cleared. Therefore, think about how you can maximize the number of visitors who come to your site for free (so-called organic traffic). These can be, for example, articles with titles that consist of specific questions as potential customers enter them in Google or other search engines, articles about current news in your industry or niche, product news or reviews.

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Writing to editors for beginners - How to get into media

08/01/2022 | By: FDS

In today's digital world, it is of great importance for companies, organizations and individuals to be present in the media. The media provides an excellent opportunity to gain attention, increase awareness, and communicate messages to a wide audience. One of the most effective ways to be represented in the media is to write to editors. This article is specifically for beginners and will give you some valuable tips on how to increase your chances of getting your message heard in the media.

Identify relevant editorials:

Before you start writing to editors, it's important to identify the relevant media outlets that fit your target audience. Consider what type of media is best suited for your issue. Is it a local newspaper, an online magazine, an industry blog, or maybe even a radio station? By choosing the right media, you increase the likelihood that your message will get to the right people.

Find the right contact:

Once you have identified the relevant media channels, it is important to find the right contact for your issue. Look for journalists, editors or producers who are responsible for the issues you care about. Check website imprints or research industry directories to find contact information for relevant people. It is advisable to seek direct contact rather than sending your message to a generic email address.

Craft a compelling subject line:

The subject line of your email is critical to grabbing the recipient's attention. Avoid generic subject lines like "press release" or "inquiry" and instead try to craft a short, concise sentence that will pique the recipient's interest. Consider what is particularly interesting or unique about your story or request, and highlight those aspects.

Craft a concise and informative email:

In the email itself, it is important to be concise and to the point. Journalists are often time constrained and receive many messages per day. So keep it brief, but make sure all relevant information is included. Provide a brief summary of your story, emphasize the news value, and explain why it's important to cover. Include any relevant facts, figures, or data that support your story.

Make a personal connection:

One way to get the journalist's attention is to make a personal connection. Research the journalist's background and find commonalities or interesting aspects to mention in your email. Show that you've looked into his or her work and why you think your story might be relevant to them.

Provide photos or visual materials:

Visuals are an important part of many media stories. So offer to provide high-quality photos, graphics or other visual materials that support your story. Make sure the images are high resolution and suitable for printing or posting online. If possible, include a few sample images in your email already to build interest.

Don't forget the follow-up:

It may happen that you do not receive an immediate response to your first email. In such cases, it's a good idea to send a quick follow-up after a few days to make sure your message was received. Be polite and friendly in your follow-up, and politely inquire if the recipient is interested in your story or needs more information.

Network and build personal relationships:

In addition to writing directly to editors, it's also important to build personal relationships with journalists. Attend networking events, industry conferences or press events to engage with journalists in person. A personal relationship can increase your chances of getting your message considered by the media, as journalists often want to rely on trusted sources.

Keep topicality and relevance in mind:

Finally, it is important to always keep timeliness and relevance in mind when writing to editors. Try to keep up with current issues and present your stories or information in a timely manner. The more relevant your message is to the readership or viewership, the more likely it is to be picked up.

Writing to editors requires patience, persistence and a certain amount of creativity.

Don't give up if you don't get a response right away. Revise your approaches, improve your message and keep at it. With time and experience, you will learn how to maximize your chances of being featured in the media. Use these tips as a starting point and take the first step toward telling your story and getting your message out to a wide audience.

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