Get Your Name in the Newspaper
As a face painter it is always great to see photographs of your work in the newspaper or on the local television news. But it is even nicer when you are mentioned by name.
Local reporters usually attend events in the community where you will be painting and often use photographs of cute face painted children to illustrate stories covering the event, typically with no mention of who did the painting.
How do you get your name to accompany the photographs? Make sure that the local media know who you are! Introduce yourself to them by doing the following:
Compile a list of media contacts – get their names, titles, contact information, email addresses and create a mailing list. You can find this all on the internet for most media outlets and publications.
Create a “press kit” to send to all the media outlets in your area.
A press kit typically would be a presentation folder that contains:
- A personal letter of introduction
- Your biography/resume
- Services offered
- Past Client/Event list and upcoming events
- Photos of your work (suitable for publication with proper releases)
- Contact information
- Some business cards
Make it attractive and professional.
Send out your press kits – address it to the Editor, or to the Entertainment or Living Editor (you can send each of them a kit if you have the resources available) of every newspaper and periodical in your area, as well as to the local television and cable stations. You can also send them to your local radio stations. If you are aware of marketing and promotion companies in your area you can also send them a kit too.
Keep the media informed – when you are doing a high profile event send out a “Press/Media Release”. Use this release to remind them of your business and where you will be and what you will be doing. If you have or will be doing something interesting or significant such as attending an international conference, a workshop, won an award, published a book, etc. send out a press release.
If you don’t let the media know they can’t report on it.
If you want to be known to the local media it is up to you to be sure that they have your information. Try to meet them in person, introduce yourself to photographers you see taking photographs at events, give them your card. If they get to know you personally it is more likely that your name will be mentioned in their articles and photograph captions.
© Shannon Fennell 2009