How to Get the Most Out of Your Organization’s Publicly Planned Events

By Rachel M. Anderson, Publicist, RMA Publicity

A lot of organizations make hosting public events a part of their overall marketing plan. Afterall, what better way to reach the people you serve, or want to serve, than by being visible in the community.

Whether you are hosting an open house, providing tours, putting on a workshop, offering classes, or something else that doesn’t happen every day, there is an easy way to make the time you investment in your events pay huge dividends. All you need to do is take advantage of the Power of Publicity!

When you appear on television to promote your event, or are interviewed for a newspaper article or radio show, the resulting story can be used over and over again to promote your business or nonprofit. Not to mention, when your business is highlighted by a news outlet it gives you instant credibility.

So how do you get the media’s attention? By reaching out to them, of course. Just because you advertise the event on your company website, or via social media, does not mean assignment editors and reporters will learn about your event.

Making the assumption that your event is so important they are bound to find out about it is a mistake a lot of businesses make. In order to get coverage, you need to take direct action!

Here’s what to do in three easy steps.

Step one

Prepare a well-written write-up about your event, or press release.

Step two

Contact the media well in advance of the event, and request a preview story, as well as coverage of the event.

Step three

If you don’t hear back in a timely manner, follow-up with the outlets contacted.

Once you are successful at securing coverage, don’t just let the story air or publish and then move on. I always recommend to my clients that they highlight the media coverage they receive on their websites, and social media accounts.

If you don’t have anyone on your staff with the time or know how to successfully secure media placements, please consider a campaign with RMA Publicity. Since our founding in 2009, we have secured more than 3,200 media placements for clients.

Contact us here for a complimentary publicity consult.