Getting to know the media can improve ROI

Erica Wood, co-owner and chief security officer of Dayton, Ohio-based American Fire & Security, said she kept getting turned down by a business newspaper in her community when she tried to get it to publish news about her company.

It wasn't until she met with the publication's editor that she found out the paper only wanted stories focused on business growth. Now Wood knows how to tailor press releases about her company to win the interest of that publication.

Talking to editors and reporters to find out what kinds of information they're looking for was one of the tips offered during a panel discussion I moderated today at the ESX show in Nashville, titled “Maximize Your Media Relations ROI.”� The focus was on how to get favorable publicity to help market your company.

The session included lively discussion from audience members such as Wood, who shared their experiences and posed questions to the panel of public relations experts: Joseph Mitton, marketing coordinator, Select Security; Beth Welch, public relations manager, Honeywell Fire Systems; and Jay Stuck, chief marketing officer and VP, residential sales, Securewatch24.

Panel members offered a number of tips. Welch urged use of social media sites like Facebook and Linked In to get information out about company news and also make connections. And she said to make sure that media outlets correct any mistakes they make in writing about your company online, because those kinds of stories “last forever.”

Welch said that sometimes sending a compelling photo along with a press release can help catch a publication's interest.

When it comes to deciding what's newsworthy enough about a company to put in a press release, Stuck suggested to the audience that they ask themselves, “So what?” If they can't answer that question, he said, it's probably not news.

Among tips from Mitton, a former television journalist, was to work to establish friendly relationships with reporters and editors, making it easier to pitch them story ideas.

ESX recorded the session—something it's doing for all the seminars offered here—so it will be available online. I hope you'll find what we had to say rewarding for your company!