With the most recent release of Comnicate we have focussed on the distribution network. That is ensuring that from the Newsroomthe ways to distribute content are are diverse as possible.This includes autoposting to Twitter, Podcasting, RSS andmany other tools. The reasons is Social media is a fantastic tool for media relations and communication with the journalists. When using social media one should create a solid relationship with journalists, do extensive research on essential media tools that can be used, and also offer a relevant story when pitching to the media.
This is a summary on how social media can be used effectively for media relations:
- Dothorough research about journalists by; reading their media websites, blogs, find their twitter profiles, facebook profile and make a plan to interact with the journalist. Comment on their posts, retweet their content on twitter, one also can send a brief note on facebook, not for pitching a story but sharing one of their posts, liking and asking to connect . If you do this, by the time you are ready to pitch them you are already in their radar. Pitching a media contact is a process, firstly work to know journalist/blogger for best results.
- One should also be resourceful to the media; journalists like being helped than they like being pitched, set up a list of journalists and clients competitors. These goes with being a good listener and paying attention to journalists.
- Pitching properly. When using twitter, send out a pitch with few characters via @ reply, this is done precisely to get it right; the main point should be passed across bearing in mind the urgency of the matter, significance of writing about the company. Avoid as much as possible things on twitter that can be looked upon negatively like pimping clients news, straight out traditional pitch, sending random things to journalist or clients they do not know.
Social media as an important part of public relations because it increases companies name recognition by cultivating the relationship between brands and the consumers, for example twitter can be very powerful. Active use of social media changes the way word gets out, people seem to respond best to authentic touch. It helps in building brand loyalty; when a company is well known in its space it ultimately turns customers to fans.
RSS feeds are being used by many companies to open dialogue and keep its audience notified of current information.
I recently received an email from the Reserve Bank of Australia that they are now using RSS and the following RSS feeds are now available on their website: Daily exchange rates, media releases, speeches, research discussion papers and freedom of information.
Most companies have implemented RSS because of client demand. RSS makes company content readily available to the audience. It is also one of the cost effective online strategies. Creating excellent content and syndicating it in RSS feeds reaches a bigger audience and can also build back links to increase web awareness.
Offering content in RSS feeds has many benefits for companies.
- RSS feed syndicate your company content and make it available to other news outlets, websites and blogs.
- You can reach a big audience by syndicating your content in RSS feeds.
- RSS feed is secure and cannot be spammed.
- The audience, users or subscribers can control the information they receive.
- Subscription to RSS is anonymous and do not involve privacy issues.
- RSS feeds are compiled according to the choices of users.
- RSS is good for passing urgent information which is time sensitive and needs to be delivered to the audiences immediately.
RSS use is very important to companies and should not be ignored. Syndicating content builds up back links and it improves your company search engine rankings. Higher search engine rankings increase your company online visibility. More visibility online will bring new visitors to your company website who will build a relationship with you and trust you. This serves as a very important public relations function for the latest news on brands, executives and external content.
Creating RSS feeds so that you can syndicate content is highly recommended for each and every company. Sharing content online is one of the fastest growing trends. Social media sites like Facebook and Twitter have shown that there is power in the sharing of content and syndication. Ensure that you make RSS a part of your company online strategy.
Members of the Reserve Bank attend many forums. To ensure the transparency of the banking system these speeches are presented also as Podcasts making speeches readily available to all sectors of the community.
Naturally Comnicate can deliver these critical features so if you would like to discover more we welcome your enquiry
