The media has long been a powerful, effective and lately imperative tool for marketing and growing your business.
Not only does positive media coverage promote your business and help improve sales and fundraising success as a result, but it can also turn your organisation into a recognised brand and give it credibility. Those days of handing out flyers or putting up posters to advertise your business or products are so passé! The media has become the modern way of spreading the word - it's quick, effective and above all, it can reach a large audience at one go.
Let media be your means
In truth, these days, if you really want to grab the attention of the public and deliver your message to your target audience, the use of the media is the way to go. With the busy schedules that people have, some no longer have time to spend hours searching for products or services that will interest them. You have to find a more unique marketing approach in order for people to be reminded of the existence of your business, despite their busy lives.
General feedback suggests that when an organisation gets media coverage, it often results in emails or phone calls flooding in from potential customers or funders enquiring about their business, services and products.
More potential business thanks to media exposure
Here’s a practical example: Paula Maleka is the founder and owner of Fountain of Beauty, a township-based beauty parlour in Sebokeng. She was assisted in getting an article about an entrepreneurial award she won into certain industry-specific publications, as well as the local community papers. Since Paula's business received this media coverage, she has had numerous calls and emails from different people either wishing to buy her products or wanting to partner with her - she was also able to secure a new beauty franchise and grow her product offering as a direct result of this media success.
When I say media coverage, I mean making yourself part of the story in the professional media-coverage in television newscasts, newspapers, and on radio programs. Usually when the discussion of the small business sector and how it can utilise the media pops up, it has to do with how to market your business via social media, and that is an important subject on its own. However, it is still important that you acquaint your business with professional media such as newspapers, radio and television, don't ignore it! Just look at how politicians make use of these channels during campaigns, and how it (usually) works for them. Imagine what it can do for your business if properly managed.
Get to know your media, be there for them
• Get to know the media that are most likely to cover your business/organisation (read and watch the media in your local area), and make a list of all relevant publications and magazines and develop contacts with the people at these organisations (editor, news editor, chief journalists etc.).
• Get to know reporters and editors personally, drop off some printed material or personally deliver that press release instead of mailing or emailing it.
• Always give the media information that is fresh, newsworthy and relevant to their readers - the media are not there to promote your business that is what paid advertising is for. They want interesting content that their audience will enjoy.
• Develop a "virtual" media kit, including the history of your business, its vision, mission and goals, along with brief profiles and photos of key staff and related stakeholders, the most recent news releases, and any recent awards or accolades.
• Make yourself available to the media at any time, give them a home or cell number where they can reach you day and night if necessary.