Is it summer yet? Seriously, we have another two to three months of this drab and dreary weather to sit through? Ugh. I shouldn’t complain too much though. This winter so far has been unusually warm and snow-free, but I can’t wait to say adios to my winter jacket and gloves, and push them to the back of the closet for six months. For now, the best way to get rid of the winter blahs is to start getting a plan together for my summer media pitches. Here is my two cents’ worth of advice for getting your summer story lines together.
There are those seasonal stories that all media outlets cover every summer: Memorial Day and 4th of July celebrations, summer grilling, ways to beat the heat, vacation travel, etc. These story lines can get stretched pretty thin, so now is the time to start thinking about how your company or product can offer a new or unique approach. The media will appreciate the effort, and will be more likely to want to use your fresh idea on a characteristically lackluster story.
Also think about how your company will fit in with topics that will be hot this summer. The London Olympics will be popular, as will the Presidential race. But what about the weather? Will our mild winter have an affect on summer events or activities in which you are involved? Or what about your company’s economic outlook? Unemployment has gone down the last two months; what can that mean for your business?
Here’s another bit to keep in mind. From my experience as a news producer, I can tell you that there is one big angle the media absolutely loves: human interest stories! Do some digging around the office. Does your CEO have a dynamic personal story about how the company was created, or how he/she overcame obstacles to achieve a company goal? Take a look at testimonials and see if one of your customers has a great story to share about how your product helped their life.
If you have a great story angle, but need help pitching it to the media, give us a call. We’ve got contacts at most every media outlet.
