In the blog,”The Power of Media Relations”, we've extensively discussed why building a strong media relationship is important for your organization. Now we go one step further by discovering exactly how to maintain those media relationships.
In this blog, I'll share important tips to help you strengthen your relationship with the media than ever before. Let's get started!
Journalists rely on accurate information to write their stories and find sources. “Young people are increasingly sustainable, that's why we released the following product”. This may be the case, but what shows that young people go for sustainability? Therefore, always include a source to defend your claim.
This emphasis on facts shows that you are serious about the truth and becomes a reliable source that journalists are happy to come back to.
A catchy pitch can attract attention, but sometimes a different approach is needed to stand out among all the pitches that journalists receive. And while one journalist would rather receive a pitch, the other journalist might prefer to work with a normal message. So do your research first to find out how the journalist in question would prefer to be contacted.
Most journalists have a tight deadline. Therefore, ask before you make a partnering specifies what deadlines they are meeting. This shows that working with you runs smoothly. Journalists remember this and most likely want to work together again.
Maintaining media relationships isn't just about contacting journalists when you have something to promote. Stay in touch regularly, send updates about your organization, share interesting information, and offer help if they need anything. Building a long-term relationship of trust is essential for successful media relationships.
Often people think in the pr-industry that maintaining media relationships means having a nice chat with journalists. Delicious, while enjoying a cup of coffee. But in reality, quality is better than quantity. You don't need to know a lot of people, as long as it's the right people. Therefore, focus on finding the right contacts and focus on them.
Make sure you stay up to date with important events, trends and developments in your field. Share relevant information about this with the media. By playing an active role in your communication, you show that you are a valuable source for journalists.
By actively investing in maintaining media relationships, you lay a solid foundation for the success of your organization. So, get started with these tips and put your media relations in the spotlight!
