Along with the summer comes the conference whirlwind. With so many organizations competing for attendees, getting the word out about your meeting is crucial. And it’s never too soon to get started—in fact, generating some media buzz during this year’s conference can help generate interest in next year’s.

In a post on Kivi’s Nonprofit Communications Blog, media relations expert Peter Panepento has a few suggestions for how to entice news organizations to cover your event, including:

Link your conference to a larger trend in the community. “By taking this step—and then showing reporters how your event will help them write an interesting trend story—you have a better chance of getting them to pay attention,” Panepento writes.

Make your speakers available for interviews. “During my days as a local newspaper reporter, I always loved the opportunity … to interview a newsworthy speaker,” Panepento explains, “particularly if it was someone from out of town who might be able to provide some unique insights about something that was happening in the community I was covering or on a larger trend or topic.”

Helping reporters find good stories and connect with interesting sources helps build relationships with them, meaning “the reporter might be more likely to pick up the phone and call you in the future for comment on a story—and reply to your next pitch.”

Infographic of the Day

Social media may be the latest and greatest recruiting tool in an association’s arsenal, according to the company Betterteam. SocialFish highlights the company’s infographic on the latest trends and benefits of finding top talent online.

Other Good Reads

Implementing a new AMS? Aptify contributor Jennifer Barrell offers advice on ensuring a smooth transition.

Don’t let new outreach opportunities pass you by. Explore the latest research on Snapchat and podcasts with Social Media Examiner‘s Michael Stelzner.

Turning “fails” into successes. Adweek‘s Gabriel Beltrone spotlights how a cereal brand took “YouTube fails” and turned them into a terrific ad campaign.

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