Advertising Information

Media Savvy - Treat Them As You Would Your Best Customer


The ability to lead, persuade and influence are integral skills for effective managers. The capability of telling a story that inspires, motivates and informs is an essential part of this process. In an age of convergence in the media and increased scepticism over traditional communication methods, a new breed of managers and leaders is emerging that sees the media as an opportunity and not a threat. They use the media in a pro-active way to build their organisation's image, reputation and identity.

Business Review Weekly's cover story "Future Leaders" editorial reported "new chief executives must have better presentation skills, for they will be required to perform in the electronic and printed media. Poor presentation will be perceived as a weakness in leadership, and arrogance or condescending attitudes will only be tolerated while the company is on top," (BRW December 14, 1998 P.14).

So what is the best way to deal with the media to build and grow your business?

Well, I believe you should treat them as you would your best customer or client. All the rules that apply to dealing with customers and providing outstanding customer service should apply when you interact with the media.

Remember the media are very busy and the better you can help them by providing information, story ideas and leads the more effective you will be in getting your businesses name or story in the media.

My role with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, as both a broadcaster interviewing key decision makers and as a manager providing editorial leadership for program makers, allowed me to observe first hand how effective leaders use the media to get their message across.

I now share this knowledge and experience with a range of clients to add value, improve performance and build capabilities. Our company has built a reputation for excellence in media strategy, issues management, change management, marketing communications, media training, financial journalism and professional speaking. A practical approach is focused on helping people strategically manage real-life situations.

The most effective organisations that manage the media the best are those that take a customer service approach.

Here are 10 success tips that will help managers and leaders get the best from the media by taking a customer service approach.

1. Know Your Strengths. What are you an expert at? What is your specialized area of expertise? What unique services or information can you offer? Position yourself as the expert.

2. Clarify your communication objectives? What do you want to achieve? To inform or entertain? To provide information? To build a profile? To influence public opinion? Personal marketing? Marketing or launching a new product or service?

3. Define your target audience? Who is your target audience? General public? Customers? Competitors? Suppliers? What age are they, what level of education, what beliefs and values, geographical location, how do they use the media?

4. Identify the best channels of communication. What is the best way to reach your target audience? TV, Radio, Internet, newspapers - local or Statewide, specialist or generalist, industry publications, community newsletters?

5. What is your key message? Distill what you want to say into three key points. Work out the best time to deliver this message and who will deliver it.

6. Build your case? What are the features, advantages and benefits of your message for your target audience? What evidence and proof do you have?

7. What is the hook? What will make your message or news release stand out from the rest? Be creative. Use a press release to control the information flow.

8. Develop long-term relationships with the media. Visit and meet them face to face. Network and get to know them.

9. Use the Three Golden Rules to Perform at your Best = Know Your Topic, Be Prepared, Relax.

10. Seek Professional Help. For maximum impact, effectiveness and value seek the advice of a media and communications professional.

Thomas Murrell MBA CSP is an international business speaker, consultant and award-winning broadcaster. Media Motivators is his regular electronic magazine read by 7,000 professionals in 15 different countries.

You can subscribe by visiting http://www.8mmedia.com. Thomas can be contacted directly at +6189388 6888 and is available to speak to your conference, seminar or event. Visit Tom's blog at http://www.8mmedia.blogspot.com.


MORE RESOURCES:
Google

Marketing Week

Yahoo, WPP form advertising partnership
Forbes, NY - 5 hours ago
LONDON (Thomson Financial) - Yahoo Inc and WPP Group have formed a strategic partnership aimed at enabling WPP to buy display advertising more easily on the ...
Yahoo and WPP announce multi-year advertising partnership - Quick ... RTT News
Yahoo, WPP form multiyear ad-trading partnership Reuters
Yahoo and WPP in Partnership New York Times
WELT ONLINE - Marketing Week
all 36 news articles


Online Advertising Revenues Rising
InformationWeek, NY - 1 hour ago
By Antone Gonsalves Compared to 2006, revenues rose by 26%, the Interactive Advertising Bureau said in a report released with PricewaterhouseCoopers. ...
Internet Advertising Tops $21 Billion In '07 Streaming Magazine
Internet Advertising Revenues Top $21 Billion in 07, Reaching ... InfoBolsa
Internet Advertising Revenues Top $21 Billion in ?07, Reaching ... Business Wire (press release)
Adweek - Bizjournals.com
all 22 news articles


This is Money

ITV battles advertising downturn
BBC News, UK - 22 hours ago
ITV has predicted that advertising revenue will not grow during the first half of 2008 as the UK economy slows. However, executive chairman Michael Grade ...
ITV says outperforming a tough advertising market Reuters
ITV forecasts flat net advertising revenue in first half Times Online
ITV net advertising to outperform market ShareCast
Marketing Week - Reuters
all 32 news articles


ITV predicts flat advertising revenue
Independent, UK - 11 hours ago
By Sarah Arnott ITV is predicting flat advertising revenue for the first half of this year, but is still expecting to outperform the 1 per cent fall ...
Grade assures investors that ITV is recovering despite slide in shares guardian.co.uk
ITV revenue up, ad income stable Digital Spy
all 4 news articles


Brighton school district begins advertising
MLive.com, MI - 6 hours ago
By Lisa Carolin The Brighton school district has set aside $25000 to pay for advertising that it hopes will help lure new schools-of-choice students to the ...


BriefingsDirect Insights analysts probe future of online ...
ZDNet - 14 hours ago
The future of online advertising captures the headlines and attention when the likes of Microsoft courts the likes of Yahoo! And Wall Street still has a ...


BofA extends TV advertising campaign
Bizjournals.com, NC - 16 hours ago
The advertising encourages consumers to achieve their financial goals through savings and planning. "Americans across all income and education levels are ...


Netherlands tackle false advertising
Radio Netherlands, Netherlands - 15 hours ago
The Dutch Ministry of Finance is going to increase the fines for credit companies and mortgage lenders using misleading of false advertising. ...


Protest against JB?s outsourcing of advertising
Malaysia Star, Malaysia - 11 hours ago
By FARIK ZOLKEPLI JOHOR BARU: The Johor Baru Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JBCCCI) is protesting against the outsourcing of advertising by the ...


GameSHOUT

Google social network ad business "improving": Brin
Reuters - 9 hours ago
By Steven Scheer and Rebecca Harrison JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Google Inc co-founder Sergey Brin said on Thursday advertising on social networking sites such ...
Social networking sites keen in online advertising Merinews
Social networking future 'difficult to predict' Bluhalo
Facebook may consider bids from Microsoft and Google GameSHOUT
Business Day - Ha'aretz
all 51 news articles

Advertising - Google News

home | site map
© 2007