Creating buzz for your brand through media publicity is one of the best ways to get noticed. It is important to stand out from the crowd if you wish to gain media attention. Although it takes a bit of time and effort to plan a successful media event, most experts agree that the rewards are well worth the effort. It is easier than you might think if you have the right team in place. Here are some tips to help you get started.
Media Events: What Are They?
We’ll start by looking at the basics – what is a media event? As well as being referred to as a press conference or a pseudo-event, these are pre-planned activities that are specifically designed to increase public awareness for a particular activity, event, or product launch.
In the absence of advertising, media events provide business owners with an opportunity to get public attention for free rather than paying for advertisements. Furthermore, media coverage is often considered a more credible source of information since it is unpaid.
Most popular media event
When planning a media event, you can use a variety of formats. Despite this, some methods have consistently produced the desired results, which is why they are the most popular choices. The four most popular types of media events are outlined below.
1. Press Conferences
A press conference is one of the most common ways of distributing information to the media in an official capacity. The popularity of this format comes from the fact that it allows you to answer any questions that may arise from your announcement as soon as possible. As well as public relations (PR) issues, press conferences can serve other purposes, such as introducing new advertising campaigns or presenting scientific advances.
Whether you’re sponsoring a charity event, acquiring new talent, or making some other major changes, a press conference might be the perfect way to spread the word.
2. Product Launches
The purpose of a product launch is mainly to introduce a new product to the market and get it noticed by the market. There are two types of product launches: soft and hard launches. Soft launches put the product into the hands of a smaller, targeted audience, while a hard launch makes it available to the entire market. Prior to the product launch, many companies build anticipation around the actual release date by putting a lot of effort into the buildup.
3. Award Ceremonies
An award ceremony is simply a ceremony where individuals are recognized for their achievements and given high accolades for their accomplishments, as the name implies. The recipients usually receive trophies or other memorabilia at semi-formal or formal events. One company may hold an awards ceremony to honor its employees or it may be part of a larger industry conference where many companies are in attendance, where many companies are celebrating their employees.
4. Photo Ops
Participants can take pictures with politicians, celebrities, or other notable individuals or products during photo ops. Politicians first began holding these types of media events as a means of reaching out to their voters and gaining their trust as well. It is common now for companies to use them to display their latest products and show off their upper management in a positive light rather than to showcase their latest products.
A Guide to Planning a Successful Media Event
The following simple principles can help you make your media event as successful as possible, no matter what type you choose. Consider these tips when planning your media event.
Outcome goals should be set
You should always start with an end goal in mind when creating brand awareness or launching a new product. By doing this, you will be able to hone your message and measure the overall success of the event by taking a few benchmarks into account.
The Dream Team You Can Build
You can create a media event on your own, but having a team of professionals to guide you can help ensure that your event will be a success even if you do it on your own. For example, a professional public relations manager can assist you with reaching key people in the media as well as helping you secure sponsors and advertisers for your event.
With the help of an expert event planner, you will be able to focus on other things, such as preparing your presentation and socializing with your colleagues, while they will handle all the details and ensure the event goes according to plan.
Lastly, a skilled marketing strategist can leverage the results of your event by sharing the media exposure you receive through other channels – such as email and social media – thus increasing the impact of your event. You can boost your reach and impact by implementing an omnichannel approach and reaching a broader audience.
Make Your Message Exciting
Your PR manager and marketing team must work together to develop a message that resonates with your target audience and keeps them interested and engaged throughout your event. By incorporating storytelling into your messaging, it will be easier for you to create an emotional connection with your audience, and as a result, your event will be far more engaging.
Consider the aesthetics carefully
Your media event should reflect your company in every detail, from the venue to the decorations. Every detail, from the venue to the decorations, should reflect your company’s brand. Thus, it is essential to pay attention not just to what the speaker says, but also to the overall environment. It is important to remember that the media will share the image you present to the public, so try to make it as flattering as possible.
Whenever possible, you should provide attendees with hands-on access to your products and display them in a way that will allow them to take photos of them. Make sure each attendee receives a professionally designed brochure or a list of key talking points.
Getting the media’s attention
If the right people don’t attend your press event, you won’t get very far. Making sure the press will attend is the key to creating a buzz. Here are some ways to make sure they pay attention to you.
Publish a press release
Press releases assist the media in deciding whether to cover your story. As reporters receive many press releases daily, it is important to keep it simple and provide all the details they need without adding any extra hype. You will greatly increase your chances of success if you hire a professional press release writer who knows how to write press releases that attract the media’s attention.
Organize your schedule carefully
When you want the press to attend your event, you need to do it at a time that is convenient for them to attend. Mid-mornings and early afternoons are generally the best times to speak with reporters. It may be challenging to schedule events at 4 pm or 5 pm on weekdays since they usually have evening deadlines. Check community calendars to ensure your event doesn’t conflict with any other big local events that may divert attention from yours.
Prepare a press kit
Make sure your press kit is professionally prepared so you can send it with them when they leave, so they can get a good impression of your business. In addition to providing them with the information they need to write their story, the press kit will also allow you to have some control over the content the reporter chooses to report.
It is advisable to include some background information about your company as well as relevant information about what was discussed at the event in your press kit. Additionally, you may provide photographs, links to your website and social media accounts, and other information that will provide a well-rounded picture of your company.
Follow-up preparations
Following the event, reporters may ask you questions. It is therefore important to make sure that there is someone on hand who is familiar with all the details and can answer their questions. Your press kit should include the phone number and other contact information for your designated media contact. Once your press conference has been held, don’t forget to keep your reporters on standby for at least a few days afterward.
Make Your Next Media Event a Success!
When you’re ready to start planning your next media event, remember that there’s no question that it takes a team to pull it off. Even though you may be the face of your business, it is crucial to work with experts who can present you and your brand in the best possible light, even though you are the face of your business. On the Fiverr platform, you can hire a wide range of business experts.
