How does PRLEADS help me gain visibility in the media?

I read your previous article about How to get quoted in the newspaper but I have to say that I really don't quite understand how this PRLEADS service works. Can you offer an example of how it all fits together?

Dave's Answer:

Sure, and I understand your confusion because there is a wee sprinkling of luck involved in the entire process. But as it happens, I had an entire sequence of seeing a lead, responding, talking to the reporter, and being quoted in a national publication all transpire today, so I can lead you through the process.

First off, two or three times a day, I see a set of leads via email sent from PRLEADS that match my own profile in Internet, business and parenting. In today's email I saw the following query:

I've blanked it out here, but I simply clicked on the email address of the reporter listed in the blurb and sent the following email message:

Subject: Impact of lawsuit on pop-up advertising

Hello! I saw your query on Profnet/PR Newswire and I think that I can offer you some help. Frankly, I'm glad to see Spitzer go after some of these advertising companies as I hear far too often from my community how going to the wrong Web site can be "a disaster" as dozens of popups take over the computer, spyware is installed, and even viruses are dropped onto a computer all because of a one-letter typo in a domain name or similar. Since many of the individual organizations being advertised are offshore (think gambling and porn) going after the ad networks and advertising technology firms makes a lot of sense to me, and since it's clear that these firms believe that there are no needed constraints, they have to be externally imposed.

The impact on the industry? Well, if companies are making a profit over polluting people's computers then I don't know that a loss in income for them is such a bad thing anyway...

Interested in us talking about this topic? Please email me back and/or call me at 303 555-1212 [Mountain]

Biographical sketch: Dave Taylor has been involved with the Internet since 1980 and is widely recognized as an expert on both technical and business issues. He has been published over a thousand times, launched four Internet-related startup companies, has written twenty business and technical books and holds both an MBA and MS Ed. Dave maintains three weblogs, The Intuitive Life, focused on business and industry analysis, the eponymously named Ask Dave Taylor devoted to tech and business Q&A and The Attachment Parenting Blog, discussing topics of interest to parents. Dave is a top-rated speaker, sought after conference and workshop facilitator and frequent guest on radio and podcast programs.

With regards,

Dave Taylor
Intuitive Systems: Online Strategies and Communications

A key idea here is that I have a relevant subject, so she could correctly file my email message in case she's working on more than one story, and that I actually presented my point of view in the message rather than sending some sort of teaser about "I have an interesting perspective, please call so we can talk" or similar.

Sure enough, about 45 minutes after I sent the message, she called me up (and, no, I didn't send her a 555 number :-) and we chatted for a few minutes, mostly just her asking if the quote I gave her was an "exclusive" or had already appeared on my weblog or in publication elsewhere - it hadn't - and how I'd like to be cited.

That's music to your ears when you're working to gain media visibility!

A few hours later, E-Commerce Times published Spitzer Sharpens Focus on Spyware, wherein I'm quoted:

All in all, a good result from spending 10 minutes on an email message and another 10-15 minutes on the phone with a reporter, I'd say.

The really good news is that you too can sign up for PR LEADS [1]: it's $99/month and for most business folk it's some of the best money they spend on becoming recognized as an expert in their industry.

I hope that this helps clarify how you can work with PRLEADS and use it to gain more visibility in your market space and build a brand around yourself or your company too.

[1] Please note that this is an affiliate link. By joining PR Leads with my affiliate link, you're helping support our efforts here at Ask Dave Taylor. If you'd rather not, please go to www.prleads.com directly.

Categorized: Business and Management (Article 6454, Written by Dave Taylor)
Tagged: creating expertise, media exposure, prleads, profnet
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Comments

Dave - thanks for the very useful information on how to use PRLeads. I've often heard media-successful people say "you have to be quotable". You demonstrate that well in this post.

Posted by: Kevin Stirtz at June 7, 2007 9:10 AM

Thanks, Kevin. I have to say that every day I scour the PR Leads listings and typically respond to about a half-dozen a week now. About 25% of those result in me getting a call from the reporter, an interview with the radio personality, or just being directly quoted in the publication. It's definitely good for visibility.

Two additional tips I've learned:

1. Be quotable in your initial message. Don't just say "I have ideas on this topic, please call me" but actually share something interesting or controversial. Catch their attention.

2. Always end by saying "Please feel free to keep me on file for future stories in this ilk. Always happy to help you out!" and you'd be surprised how many follow-up calls and email messages you'll get as subsequent stories crop up.

Hope those help! See ya in the 'Times. :-)

Posted by: Dave Taylor at June 7, 2007 9:30 AM

I have something to say, now that you mention it, but ...

I do have a lot to say, and questions of my own for that matter, but first I'd like to say thank you for all your efforts on this Web site by buying you a cup of coffee!

I do have a comment, now that you mention it!