Business

Daily Buzz: How to Conduct a Media Tour

To take your media relationships to the next level, consider having a press tour. Also: Adrian Segar warns against hosting a beautiful event that lacks substance.

Emails, phone calls, and press releases aren’t the only way to build media relationships. Hitting the road and meeting with journalists and editors in person could do wonders for your press hits.

“While it requires an investment of time—and some serious preparation—a media tour can be an incredibly valuable exercise for organizations that are looking to build a lasting media presence,” writes Peter Panepento in a new post for Kivi’s Nonprofit Communications Blog.

Consider a media tour if you’re launching a major new initiative, get a new leader, need to break into a new media market, or are looking for a national audience.

To make your tour its most effective, you’ll need to be strategic during the planning stages. “If you’re launching a new program, for instance, identify the key audiences you need to reach for your program to succeed and then take time to identify a handful of reporters and editors who work at outlets that reach those audiences,” says Panepento.

Don’t Get Wrapped Up

When thinking about designing your next event, consider comparing it to a gift, and ask yourself what’s most important: the present or the wrapping?

The gift is the reason for the meeting—what attendees will learn, the networking opportunities, and ultimately what people take away from the event.

“And yet, all too often, we attend events that are like beautiful yet ultimately disappointing boxes of chocolates,” writes Adrian Segar in a Conferences That Work post. “The wrapping is gorgeous; our excitement mounts as we open the box, only to discover that the eagerly expected chocolates are missing, sparse, or stale.”

Other Links of Note

Just because volunteers aren’t getting paid doesn’t mean you can’t talk to them if they’re not meeting expectations. Volunteer Plain Talk provides tips for having uncomfortable conversations with volunteers.

Who’s responsible for your association strategy? Management consultant Meredith Low identifies pain points and fixes of your strategy process.

A great job candidate may not be a good fit right now but could be down the road. Here’s how to keep up a relationship with that candidate, from Fast Company.

(microgen/iStock/Getty Images Plus)

Raegan Johnson

By Raegan Johnson

Raegan Johnson is a contributor to Associations Now. MORE

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