What Are You Hooked On?

When it comes to getting free publicity for your product, service or business, there are several "must haves" that have to be in place.  One of them is a "hook", that one element that will make people sit up, take notice and WANT to listen to what you have to say.

For instance, say that you want a local or national talk show to do a feature story on your business.  Before you pick up the phone and call that producer or reporter, you better know what your hook will be.  If not, you will be wasting your time.  When you don't have a hook, it's like telling the whole world that there's nothing special about you, that there's nothing that separates you from the masses.  I know that's not the message you want to tell.

So, for the next two posts, I will be giving you three suggestions on what makes a compelling hook.  

1.  You should know by now what the first point is.  Your hook must be newsworthy.  What is the  hot button issue in the news right now?  What are people talking about?  Is it unemployment, the stimulus bill, the housing market?  There are TONS of angles out there you can pull from.  Pick one and run with it.

Stay tuned for #2 and #3.