If At First You Don't Succeed....

Being a former journalist, I can't tell you how many times I used to get pitched a story idea, how many emails or phone calls I received, or how many press releases were left on my desk. If you are a business owner looking to get media attention, I don't have to tell you how easy it can be to get lost in the shuffle. Everyone has a pitch, a great idea or a wonderful invention. If you want to stand out from all the rest, you must be two words: CREATIVE AND PERSISTENT.

Don't send out a generic email message or press release with the title: Grand Opening or New Business. That will most certainly hit the trash can. Instead, think BIG. Explain what makes your Grand Opening so unique. Is it the first of its kind in the area ? Were there any extraordinary challenges you had to overcome to make the grand opening a reality? Think about it. The more creative you are, the more likely you'll get the media's attention.

Secondly, be persistent with your follow-ups. There is some truth to the squeaky wheel saying. But don't overdue it or be a pest. If you do, you will quickly become black-balled in the newsroom. You have to find that perfect balance between being aggressive and being assertive. If at first you don't succeed....well you know the rest! :)