3 Ways to Newsjack and Get Free Press

Most marketing and PR folks are familiar with newsjacking, but many business owners or professionals don’t know quite it is or how to use it to their advantage. Truth is, the Oxford Dictionary shortlisted the term as a 2017 Word of The Year – but then again, so was unicorn.

Newsjacking provides a way to ride the coattails and/or inject your ideas into a breaking or viral story (before the buzz dies down) to get you noticed. “Strike while the iron is hot!” because to newsjack effectively, it’s all about timing. A balance of being tasteful and articulate while staying true to your brand.

When done correctly, newsjacking can be a creative, savvy and informative way to share an aligning or contradictory message. Don’t be afraid to disagree with what’s happening, or hold back because you think others will think you’re a contrarian. The press is always looking for both sides to a story and you could be the perfect resource to share your point of view.

Want to know more?

Carpe Diem with these 3 Strategies to Newsjacking

Subscribe to various RSS feeds and set up Google Alerts related to your industry to stay on top of breaking news. Here’s a guide of popular feeds you might want to consider and if you use WordPress on your website, here are the 9 Best WordPress RSS Feed Plugins of 2018.
Time is of the essence so be ready to pounce. There’s no way to predict breaking news, but knowing the topic of what you might want to newsjack – and having a plan in place to syndicate your content will speed things up. It will also get your name out there faster.
Trust your inner voice. If you question whether the newsjack is appropriate, trite or has the slightest inkling of positioning your brand or values in a negative way, fuhgeddaboudit (forget about it). Social media can make or break you, and comments though they’re pushed down, randomly die.

If you want to make the most of a trending news story, you need to be one of the first to know it’s news – and also one of the first to get your brand tied in. Try these strategies out and let me know what’s on your radar to newsjack.

Oh, and for ideas on how brands can win and totally fail using newsjacking, check out 15 Examples of the Good, the Bad and the Ugly of Newsjacking.

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Small Business Marketing and PR Expert Robin Samora

Robin Samora is a marketing consultant in Boston with over 20 years of experience creating winning marketing plans for clients. If your business needs a marketing plan or public relations training, reach out online.

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