When entrepreneurs and organizations come to me and want to get featured in the media, (I’m talking big names like NBC, ABC, CBS an FOX) I typically pull from one of my go-to strategies in order to help them do just that.

You see, getting press is easy when you use the right strategy. Here are five easy ways to do it:

1) Figure out what’s interesting, visual and timely

Stay up on the news that relates to your industry. No matter what industry you’re in, there is always something happening around the world that you can weigh in on. The trick is making sure that you keep up with the publications and media outlets that you want to be featured in. My favorite way to do this is by creating a Google Alert for the topics you want to follow or subscribing to news from that specific publication.

2) Be controversial

Now before you start rolling your eyes, hear me out. I’m not talking about Donald Trump controversial, I’m talking about having something interesting to say. Putting a fresh spin on things or being willing to talk about the number one thing in your niche that people don’t want to talk about. The media is hard-wired for controversy (trust me, I was a journalist for five years) and I know first-hand that nothing sells better than a juicy headline. Be willing to be just a tad bit edgier and the media will come calling ; )

3) Put your spin on something holiday/special month themed

There is a special day, month, holiday for just about every day of the year. National Donut Day, National Break Up with Your Ex Day, Admit You’re Happy Month…these are just a few examples but there is literally a day, month, a week for nearly everything. Think about how your message relates to holidays and themes that are already going on. For example, maybe you’re a health coach and you can show me a healthy alternative to donuts (is there such a thing lol)…national donut day might be a good time for you to reach out to the media. If you’re a relationship coach, maybe Break up with Your Ex day is for you. And then there are the more popular holidays that the media just eats up. Typically, the more creative you can be during the popular holidays, the better.

4) Email the reporter directly

Most news agencies have the generic email that everyone checks but no one really takes ownership for. You want to reach out there, but more importantly, you want to connect with that editor or reporter directly. If you can’t find the reporter’s email listed, do a google search for their email or use a site like this to find it. After you find it, use this template to contact them. 

5) Be willing to drop what you’re doing

This might sound crazy to you, but it’s the truth that most media don’t want to tell you. Daily news operations are on very tight deadlines. They typically need to interview you NOW to make the deadline for the day. The more willing you are to drop what you’re doing and make yourself available, the more likely your chances of getting coverage. If you can do this the first time they reach out to you, then they are likely to make you their go-to person when they need someone to interview in that niche again.

BONUS: Say thank you – I can’t stress this enough! Be sure to shoot an email or publicly thank them on your social media accounts for taking time to feature you. Gratitude is a golden rule throughout all of my business and it holds true here as well. My favorite way to share love is to talk about that reporter’s story on social media & send more traffic to it. Have someone talk pictures of them interviewing you, or take a picture of them doing their filming or take a selfie with them and then post that on your social media. Tell your community about the interview and how much fun it was. This goes a LONG way towards you standing out in the minds of that reporter and all their colleagues. Saying thank you can go a long way towards standing out!

After you get their attention, you’re probably wondering what to say? I could spend an entire blog post talking about that (and can create a post on that if you leave me a comment below telling me you want me to)…essentially though, you want to pick three main “talking points” that you want to convey and be able to convey those talking points in 20 seconds or less.

As I wrap up, let me tell you that these tips have secured more than 3000 features in the news and can help you get a foot in the door too. I hope this helps. Let me know in the comments below any questions or aha moments you have.