Press Release

Anyone ever try a press release to get features written about your inn?
I sent a feature idea to the local paper a couple weeks ago and they sent a reporter to interview us. Our story will appear in the June edition of their affiliated magazine.
So I was innspired to tell others. I sent a press release to all four local TV stations, the city paper, Coasta l Living Magazine, Yan kee Magazine, North Shore Magazine, can't remember who else.
Throwing it at the wall, hoping something sticks.

Here is hoping. One of the newspapers in the Capital is supposed to be coming up to cover the Elopement Package Wednesday. Crossing fingers on that one.

Have tried a couple of times without much success.
What I have found and hope you do too, is once one paper reports a story all the others will then pick it up. Reporters are generally lazy (a friend who was a freelance reporter once told me).

gillumhouse said:

Here is hoping. One of the newspapers in the Capital is supposed to be coming up to cover the Elopement Package Wednesday. Crossing fingers on that one..

Click to expand...

gillumhouse said:

Here is hoping. One of the newspapers in the Capital is supposed to be coming up to cover the Elopement Package Wednesday. Crossing fingers on that one.

Click to expand...

Good for you!! I hope it's a great article!

Highlands John said:

Have tried a couple of times without much success.
What I have found and hope you do too, is once one paper reports a story all the others will then pick it up. Reporters are generally lazy (a friend who was a freelance reporter once told me)..

Click to expand...

Highlands John said:

Have tried a couple of times without much success.
What I have found and hope you do too, is once one paper reports a story all the others will then pick it up. Reporters are generally lazy (a friend who was a freelance reporter once told me).

Click to expand...

I do intend to share the first article with everyone I can think of including HGTV.

We already have one article, but we paid to have it published. Like an ad/feature book where all the features are actually paid advertising.
And we were mentioned on buzzfeed as a place to stay when you visit our town.
I have both in a book in the front room titled, "Articles and Press." Hoping to add another or more.

gillumhouse said:

Here is hoping. One of the newspapers in the Capital is supposed to be coming up to cover the Elopement Package Wednesday. Crossing fingers on that one..

Click to expand...

gillumhouse said:

Here is hoping. One of the newspapers in the Capital is supposed to be coming up to cover the Elopement Package Wednesday. Crossing fingers on that one.

Click to expand...

Not trying to side track (K I know it is not something you want to have to pick up afterward, but I saw a cabin *grotto* like yours for an elopement and the bride walked in from outside the door following rose petals... I could not see if they were real or fake. Let me try to find it for you and post here. I was going to share and then said "you don't want to have to pick them all up after...but if the media is there, it would make a nice feature)
Here is the WHOLE video... start at around 2:51 here

beach house - absolutely, if you have time. long long ago i worked for a newspaper in the editorial department and there were a few companies that sent a press release with picture at least once a week. if we had space, if we needed filler, we'd run it. ESPECIALLY if it wasn't just soandso was promoted to vp of marketing but something interesting like 'the beach b&b has teamed up with the nature club to host walks on the beach' you know what i mean.

In our area, a well written press release will often be cut and pasted directly into a local weekly or monthly type publication. Its content the publisher doesn't have to pay those lazy reporters for. <grin> Please include good quality, attention-getting photos! A picture will get SO many more eyeballs than plain copy.
As a recipient of many email pitches for stories, I have to evaluate: Is it of interest to our local listeners? If so, I, or someone like me, will likely follow up.
In small markets, producer/reporter pay is often so low the paychecks would be larger from a fast food joint, plus you are wearing many hats. I host, produce, report, update the news blog and station website plus assist others with production for their shows. (no complaints - I came from a large market and this gig fits much better into my life, plus I LOVE the organization I work for.) So the less time it takes to write/produce, the more likely it is to be published or aired.
Point being, as in selling anything else, your message has to be a good fit for the publication you're aiming for. Plan your pitch accordingly.
By the by, I post here under another ID for B&B stuff. This site is the best source of information for B&B you will ever find.

Building a relationship with the local paper is a good idea - and yes, she needs the stories written and photo if possible.
Our local weekly editor made me feel great when she said she knows she can just paste my articles in without having to check grammar and spelling. And it is rare that she does not publish (sometimes eventually) something I submit. Right now, with the elections coming up, space is at a premium due to the candidates ads. Once that is over, we will be back to starving for content.

Joey Bloggs said:

gillumhouse said:

Here is hoping. One of the newspapers in the Capital is supposed to be coming up to cover the Elopement Package Wednesday. Crossing fingers on that one..

Click to expand...

gillumhouse said:

Here is hoping. One of the newspapers in the Capital is supposed to be coming up to cover the Elopement Package Wednesday. Crossing fingers on that one.

Click to expand...

Not trying to side track (K I know it is not something you want to have to pick up afterward, but I saw a cabin *grotto* like yours for an elopement and the bride walked in from outside the door following rose petals... I could not see if they were real or fake. Let me try to find it for you and post here. I was going to share and then said "you don't want to have to pick them all up after...but if the media is there, it would make a nice feature)
Here is the WHOLE video... start at around 2:51 here
.

Click to expand...

Thanks. You are right - I do not want to go pick them up. This one was a rural setting so I doubt if they had to worry about that - especially if the petals are real. Our 1778 log house is set between 2 modern houses. in a development. They were able to buy the land for the development ONLY because it was written into the deed that the log house could not be disturbed, sold, torn down... The developer got around that by donating it to the Historical Association.
Thanks for the video - it gave me some ideas for Wednesday.

Had pictures taken last night for an article in a local magazine. It will come out in June.
I was contacted by another magazine saying 'we'll see' for the article but offering to sell me an ad. LOL
Still waiting for Y ankee!

TheBeachHouse said:

Had pictures taken last night for an article in a local magazine. It will come out in June.
I was contacted by another magazine saying 'we'll see' for the article but offering to sell me an ad. LOL
Still waiting for Y ankee!.

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Yankee would be a good one!

We've had a few local papers write about us when we first opened. I would love to be in Yankee and on Chronicle!

How timely, Country Girl, I just did a search to find this thread.
This article is the today's Sea rch En gine Watch (I found it interesting):
http://searchenginewatch.com/article/2342240/Battle-Hardened-Journalist-Reveals-What-Makes-Press-Releases-Stand-Out