Well known America’s “gossip” expert and EMMY® award Shawne Duperon hosted (January 28/09) a brilliant, live luncheon in Calgary for the Canadian Marketing Association on how to get free press and tons of free publicity.
Among many tips on networking with the media, including a musical chairs marathon she had all of us participating in, here are some key elements that particularly got my attention.
Shawne stressed:
• PR with the media is a person-to-person relationship = know and polish that relationship.
• Be brief with your press release to the media = a few points.
• Refrain from sending email attachments = do not create WORK for the media.
• Tailor your pitch as a spin on current events and no stuff outside their interest.
The first statement that she pinned all her presentation on brought cheers in the room. It went like this: In these turbulent economic times, it is time to get busy and get creative with your PR and marketing skills and efforts. That was music to my ears.
