Press Release - Pros & Cons

[Charley]

I hope this thread can generate a lot of responses. More questions will follow.

- Is it possible to get free a press release in CNN Money, NY Times, etc before & after premium domains name are sold. Who needs to be contacted ?

 

[pixelpadre]

1 inaMillion chance

CNN gets hundreds of thousands of email everyday. The chance that they might read ours is real slim.

Let me explain something to all of your out there. TV programs can tell precisely how many viewers are watching based on the number of people who contact them via email or cell phone call (vote for your favorite contestant). This is the only reason they solicit contacts from us. Once they know how many are watching, they can get a premium for advertising dollars. Here is how they know exactly how many are watching.

Have you ever participated in a survey at the mall? By simply asking 100 random shoppers how likely they would be to respond to their favorite TV show via email or cell phone, they would get a percentage....lets say 25%.

Now, lets say 1 million emails are sent during Survivor, Big Brother, or CNN. Of course now we know that the 1 million emails is only 25% because of the survey we did. So the producers instantly realize that 4 million people are watching the show.

So to answer your question....even if you had a good email address....they wouldnt care unless it was some earth shaking news.

Keep in mind too that the survey results also tell us how many emails are likely to flood the networks based on the popularity of the show. So if you are thinking that your email will get read, stop and think for a moment how many people are probably watching, then go calculate 25% of that number to see how much competition you have. 25% is probably high I'm guessing, its probably more like 5%.

 

[Charley]

But then how did these links come up if chances are slim?

http://money.cnn.com/2006/10/27/technology/hell.com_domain/index.htm

http://online.wsj.com/public/articl...raemnGSXZ0_20070411.html?mod=tff_main_tff_top

 

[weblord]

first you have to determine whey they get their press releases from, then you have to submit to it, try and try again until they approve of it.

 

[equity78]

The money CNN link you gave was an article written by CNN Money staff, not a press release. So they probably either saw enough news stories about it and wrote an article on the auction, or the reporter came up with the story on their own.

The other link same thing it was staff of the site who wrote the article, not printing a press release.

I think if you put a press release out there is a chance they could pick it up but only if it a worthwhile release.

The auction of SEX.com for example I think would get written up, A press release of 10 so so domains probably not.

Now you could start sending the writers pieces you think would interest them and maybe they would pick one up as they are always looking for a hot story.

 

[Michael]

Email the editors of the tech column at various papers directly, or better yet physically mail them a press release. If the story is actually interesting and they're having trouble coming up with an article there's a chance it will get in. You can also submit to PRNewsWire, as some editors scan that for story ideas. The transaction would have to be in the million dollar range for them to care though.

 

[DDC_Cyn]

Email the editors of the tech column at various papers directly, or better yet physically mail them a press release. If the story is actually interesting and they're having trouble coming up with an article there's a chance it will get in. You can also submit to PRNewsWire, as some editors scan that for story ideas. The transaction would have to be in the million dollar range for them to care though.

This is the best advice so far, and may I add that if it's not a million dollar range sale, then you just need a hook that a journalist would pick up on.

The buyer is ten years old and he's an internet guru. You're selling the domain names for some wacky charity. You gotta have an angle.

 

[The Stealthy One]

If it is truly a premium domain, I would look at hiring a professional or, at the very least, using a distribution service such as PRWeb. One advantage to using a professional PR service is that they have connections, and can develop a unique angle for your domain that is virtually guaranteed to work.

 

[Charley]

Email the editors of the tech column at various papers directly, or better yet physically mail them a press release.

You mean getting emails via the website ?

You can also submit to PRNewsWire, as some editors scan that for story ideas. The transaction would have to be in the million dollar range for them to care though.

Nice information. Will keep this option open.

The money CNN link you gave was an article written by CNN Money staff, not a press release.

The other link same thing it was staff of the site who wrote the article, not printing a press release.

Thanks for the update on this.

Now you could start sending the writers pieces you think would interest them and maybe they would pick one up as they are always looking for a hot story.

So then I would need to draft the content as a professional or just a rough draft is enough and they do the alterations.

If it is truly a premium domain, I would look at hiring a professional or, at the very least, using a distribution service such as PRWeb. One advantage to using a professional PR service is that they have connections, and can develop a unique angle for your domain that is virtually guaranteed to work.

Is this a free service ?

*************** _____________________________ *************** ____________________ ***********

Thanks to all who participated and posted valuable information. I will update this thread for more information.

REPS coming along.

 

[Michael]

You mean getting emails via the website ?

Yep. It usually requires a little digging, but it is certainly the best approach. For example, take the Washington Post. You can email a staff member, such as their tech columnist Rob Pegoraro, by clicking this link:

http://projects.washingtonpost.com/staff/email/rob+pegoraro/

Just substitute rob+pegoraro with whatever staff member you are trying to contact. Or if you want to do snail mail or FedEx, which will probably get you the most attention, click here:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-adv/mediacenter/html/about_contact.html

When I get a chance I'm going to put together a guide with the proper contacts at all the major papers so we can start getting ourselves noticed. Good luck

 

[Charley]

When I get a chance I'm going to put together a guide with the proper contacts at all the major papers so we can start getting ourselves noticed.

Excellent Idea.

You can email a staff member, such as their tech columnist Rob Pegoraro, by clicking this link:

http://projects.washingtonpost.com/staff/email/rob+pegoraro/

Just substitute rob+pegoraro with whatever staff member you are trying to contact.

There are more than 100 people in there. How can I find which department and what kind of press they pertain to ?

 

[Michael]

Just browse the online version of the paper and go to the technology or business sections and note which editors are writing stories in those areas, it should only be a half dozen. You should note who is covering domain related stories like pizza.com and the two stories you linked to and put those guys on your short list, because you already know they are suckers for these types of stories.

 

[Charley]

You should note who is covering domain related stories like pizza.com and the two stories you linked to and put those guys on your short list, because you already know they are suckers for these types of stories.

Sure, will check that out.