The creators of UnderstandingMarketing.com will be launching a new series to help advocate small business public relations and entrepreneurs’ efforts to attract media coverage. Each week we will discuss the stories that are currently talked about in the news media, and how they impact entrepreneurs and their ability to attract small business public relations.
As we discuss in The PR Toolkit For Small Business, many PR opportunities for smaller businesses surface when companies are able to develop PR angles that are part of ongoing stories in the news media. The following six stories are in addition to the 27 small business public relations opportunities in January we talked about recently.
1: Republican Campaign in New Hampshire - Small business will increasingly become a hot topic in the Republican campaign debates and regional primaries. Small business public relations opportunities will be largely centered around the economy, with special emphasis on jobs, taxes and other legislation that impacts entrepreneurs, small business owners and startups. Smaller companies located in the Northeast this week will have great opportunities to get coverage in the local press by sending emails to reporters saying they’re happy to comment on these key issues being discussed this week.
2: Jobs Report and Unemployment - While these two issues will be a central point of emphasis in this week’s Republican GOP campaign and primary in New Hampshire, entrepreneurs around the country will also have a chance to generate small business public relations and press coverage depending on their ability to create story pitches that talk about how the latest jobs data impact their businesses. The most recent round of jobs data was reported late last week, with 200,000 jobs being added to the mix. Economists see this as promising news but the largest question right now is whether or not this momentum can remain now that the holiday hiring season is over. What are you seeing in your small business? Are you adding jobs? Are you more optimistic today than you were three or four months ago? Share your reasons with a local or national reporter.
3: Second Round Of NFL Playoffs - Yes, football is a game. But it’s a game that commands a lot of news media attention this time of year throughout the country and in regions where teams are playoff participants. Locations like Houston, Detroit, New Orleans, Boston, New York, Baltimore, Denver, Pittsburgh, Atlanta and Green Bay (Wisc.) will be buzzing with a variety of stories that take place on and off the football field. In addition to the NFL playoffs, the NCAA National Championship between Louisiana and Alabama will also be played. As a small business, what kind of creative angles can you come up with to sneak into a story or create news of your own? Are you showing home team spirit in a unique way that impacts your customers? Tell the press about it as they’ll be looking for every angle before the big game.
4: Argentina President And Thyroid Issues - Thyroid doctors don’t often have a significant opportunity to jump into the small business public relations game because of timely news. Last week changed that and the opportunities will again be optimum this week. Argentina president Christine Fernandez de Kirchner underwent a critical surgery to remove her thyroid gland and doctors have announced she’s cancer free. Many members of the health media, as well as general news media, will continue to have this story on their radar as the natural interest in thyroid issues and thyroid cancer continue to be in the news.
5: Consumer Electronics Show - The largest annual technology and consumer electronics event will take place and several top industry analysts said this will be a show that breaks records in attendance. The opportunity for small business public relations? Those same analysts also say the show lacks a product that is considered a show-stopper. This means it’s a level playing field and many smaller tech companies and exhibitors have an excellent chance at stealing some wonderful press coverage from larger competitors.
6: North American International Auto Show - There’s lots of excitement in Detroit these days, from the city’s Lions NFL team making the playoffs to the annual major automotive show getting ready to gear up. All small businesses and entrepreneurs that have a stake in the automotive world should be sharpening their pitches to the automotive and regional press. What are you doing at the show? What is unique about your story and how does it change the world of automotive? Reporters are currently looking for stories.
What stories currently in the news are you watching for your small business public relations? Please share with us by leaving a comment.
John Sternal is co-founder of Sternal Consulting, a PR and marketing consultancy helping businesses get noticed through publicity in the media. He is the author of the PR Toolkit for Small Business and currently authoring a book about DIY public relations for small business owners. For questions email John Sternal.
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