Ahhhh, holidays! Most people get excited for a day off work; we get excited for all the public relations opportunities holidays provide. Don your red, white and blue brainstorming hat and come up with a media angle that resonates for your business. Here are a few to help jumpstart the process:
- 4th of July Safety Tips - Have you ever heard of the expression, “If it bleeds, it leads?” This is a common cliche used among the press, meaning that the top news stories are typically not the “feel good” philanthopic stories of the day. Those are saved for the second half of the news. This may seem a bit extreme, but the media will even cover the “dark side” of the holidays. The 4th of July is particularly fraught with dangers such as drinking and driving; fireworks; boating safety; fire safety…the list goes on and on. Even something like staying out in the sun too long can be a news hook for a dermatologist, or parenting expert or sunscreen company. Can you leverage your product or expertise to speak to these issues?
- 4th of July Parties - Nutritionists: whip out those eating tips for a delicious and healthy holiday. Party planners: what are the hot trends for an innovative 4th of July? What are some inexpensive things people can do in this economy to still create a festive environment? Chefs and restaurants: here’s a prime opportunity to get your dishes covered. Same with food products.
- 4th of July Festivities - Is your store or company doing something to celebrate 4th of July that’s a bit different, family-friendly and fun? For example, one year we had a hair salon chain host “Patriotic Hairpainting” at various 4th of July events across the country. The stars and stripes were temporary (think face painting - but for your hair); and for every person that got their hair painted, a donation was made to a charity. Can you implement a similar visual activity on a local level in your own community that will help your company get noticed?
With these ideas to start, you can blast into the media in no time. Have a safe, happy and press-filled 4th of July!
Tags: creative pitches, Jet set tips, media, pr takeoff, publicity, Regina Novickis, Stacey Johnes, summer stories, Takeoff Tips, unconventional stories