If the answer to that question was NO! or Heck No! or Are you crazy? Why would I bother with the news it is always bad, sad or tragic news???? Or maybe you say it’s downright depressing?
This is the post for you.
I know news can be difficult to digest sometimes. I have worked in the news business for about two decades and I know sometimes the news can deliver stories that are sad and tragic BUT….and it is a big BUT that is no reason to shut yourself off from the world of news and media. The media delivers more than just sad news and it’s purpose isn’t to depress us it is to educate, enlighten and even entertain us. Here is one of the reasons you NEED to make consuming media part of your daily diet….it is the best way to stay connected with your community and the larger world around us.
You need to know what is happening in the world around you.
If you are looking to promote yourself, your services, your product, your book and/or your brand I believe watching or digesting news of all kinds is ESSENTIAL.
I am not saying you have to immerse yourself in the news but what I am saying is it is important to be informed. You need to stay connected with your city, your community, your country and your world, especially if you are living some part of your life online. There are no boundaries or borders online, it is a global community.
For example, maybe you are an expert in a particular area, like nutrition or sleep or breastfeeding, you speak often to groups about these topics, but you are looking to expand your business and reach. You watch the news in the morning or read the newspaper and you see a story from a community or city outside of your own about something directly connected to your niche/expertise and you believe you have something to say about the topic that hasn’t been mentioned? This is a great opportunity to reach more people. You contact the newsroom email or twitter (or phone in very rare occasions) saying you have a unique, expert opinion on the topic and next thing you know you are being interviewed by a reporter for the 6 o’clock news. Now you are reaching a whole new audience and all because you paid attention to the news.
That is just one example of how being connected and staying plugged into the news can help you and your brand. It is important to know what is happening in the world. When you are educated and informed you can use that knowledge to better promote your business and take your message, expertise, brand, product or services to the world to help educate, enlighten, inform, or entertain.
The news of the day is the backbone of your pitches.
The news/media will help you generate story ideas, discussion topics and give you the direction you need to be a thought leader, expert and go-to speaker in your industry or niche. You can piggy-back on the news for your story pitches. Staying informed will help you better understand the stories the media really wants and needs and it will bring you opportunities to step up and share your message with the media.
Here are three things you can do to stay informed:
- Google Alerts: Set up Google alerts using keywords directly tied to your industry or niché. Any time stories, reports or research appear in the media you will get them right to your inbox so you can start crafting story pitches that the media wants. This will also help you use the piggy-back pitch approach to get your face, business, and message out in the world.
- Twitter Trends: Twitter is a great place to go to find out what people and specifically what the media is talking about and sharing. It might even help you pitch a story that is not already in the media spotlight. Be the media maker!
- News Email Blasts/Newsletters: Many of the leading news agencies, outlets and publications have email updates you can sign up for. Check the website of your favourite news outlets to sign up for updates. You can also use something like theSkimm.com to get news headlines right to your inbox every morning.
There are so many other ways to stay informed and connected. It is all about creating shortcuts, strategies, and systems for yourself to make it as easy as possible.
Take a few minutes today to sign up for a media newsletter or news blast and get yourself up with Google alerts. Let me know how it works for you!
