Think Like a Publicist To Achieve Like a Star
Have you picked out your Oscar's night outfit? I have. You
should. Have you thought about what you will say when you accept
your award? I have. You should. At least in your mind, that
wonderful playground for imagination - the very place we are
going to venture today for great publicity ideas.
Razzle, dazzle, sparkle, and shine. Isn't this how we think all
those stars get to the Oscars in the first place? However, it's
less glitter, and more planning that creates the reality. First
comes the dream, then the work, then usually a host of
disappointments to test the resolve, then a series of small
successes, and then....publicity. It is a fairly predictable
road, but often as business people we forget to plan our own
personal Oscar's night.
We also miss the key ingredient - publicity. Marketing is what
gets you in front of your target market to make the sale.
Publicity is the spotlight that shines on you and solidifies you
with mass appeal as the popular expert in your field. You drive
marketing to your buyers. Publicity drives the masses of buyers
to you.
When your focus has been marketing it's a little tricky to
change your paradigm to publicity. However, the important
difference between marketing and publicity is your target
audience. You are no longer pitching to buyers of your product
or service, now your audience is the media. This means editors
and producers. These important people are looking for one thing,
the story. A unique story. Something inspirational,
motivational, newsworthy, or educational. Period. Nothing else
will do.
In order to be successful in the media you have to think like a
publicist and find your unique story. If you don't have a story,
it's time to create one. What is unique about you or your
business? Sometimes it's an attitude. Like the employer that
regularly asked her employees what they didn't like about their
jobs and then proceeded to shift responsibilities. It may be an
event, like a charitable event that raises money for starving
children but serves beans and rice at the gala event to
demonstrate how it feels to be poor. It may be your wit, your
way of thinking, what you care most about, or how you integrate
your values into your business. Only, you can find it, but trust
me, it's there.
Begin to explore your own unique angles and media curves by
keeping notes on your thoughts and attitudes. Scribble, color,
or paint it out - it really doesn't matter as long as you begin
to devote time to exploring your "story". Not your ad, not your
price, not your product, but your story.
Once you've angled into your own unique media offerings, find
the appropriate avenues to make your pitch. Take care though,
the media should always be treated with good will and respect.
Do not, I repeat, do not go for the hard sell. This is not the
time. If you must, save the hard sell for marketing, or better
yet, chuck it all together. Do not wheedle, whine, or beg the
media. Make your pitch, respect their time, and their decision,
then work toward building long term relationships. In the end,
you'll have the kind of names in your pocket to begin dropping
at parties, and you will be a star! A star with the mind of a
publicist.
See you at the Oscars!