Catapult Public Relations

Remember Phone Etiquette.

Tue, 25 May 2010 00:40:12 +0000

When calling to pitch a story, always:

Identify yourself, your company and location.
Ask if it is a good time to talk before you launch into your full pitch.
Avoid chit-chat unless the reporter initiates
Give a brief, direct reason why you are calling
Pitch the story in 30 seconds or less, instead of just confirming that the reporter received a news release.

Hold the Attachments

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 18:39:01 +0000

The proliferation of computer viruses and worms has made everyone leery of opening email attachments, even if the message is from someone they know. Some magazines have installed software that automatically removes attachments before forwarding the message to the intended recipient, but more often than not the entire email will simply be deleted. What that means for PR professionals is that they should always paste their releases in the body of their emails when sending them out to reporters. If there's an image to go with the release, let them know that artwork is available upon request.

Leveraging Editorial Calendars for PR Opportunities

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 19:34:04 +0000

Editorial calendars are published by every trade publication and offer a great way to see what editors will cover in upcoming issues. Editorial calendars are included in a magazine's media kit to help advertisers better schedule their promotions. If used correctly, editorial calendars provide a great avenue for PR because you can pitch story ideas in line with the topics you know will be covered by the magazine.

Every magazine has different editorial calendar guidelines. Monthlies usually work anywhere from one to four months in advance of items listed. Weeklies, on the other hand, work ahead only one to four weeks. Once you've identified an item, find out who's assigned to write the story and when they'll be working on the article. Then, with a quick email or call, make contact with the writer to briefly introduce your company and how it can be a source.

Competition is Good!

Fri, 15 Aug 2008 23:49:15 +0000

Many company execs make the mistake of saying “We don’t have any competitors.” If you don’t have any competitors you either aren’t being honest or you don’t have a market for your product. The willingness to identify who your competitors are gives you credibility and builds trust.

Make Contact Info Visible

Wed, 07 May 2008 01:06:21 +0000

Clearly display media contacts on your releases, Website and other PR materials. Make it easy for reporters to find out how and where to get more information (including after-hours). Also post pictures, logos and other supporting documents reporters might use to fine-tune a story.