How can I get free publicity for my business through local newspapers?

November 25, 2009 by admin · 4 Comments
Filed under: Other - Advertising & Marketing 
business
Michelle S asked:

I contacted my local newspapers to write about my business but they say they will only write articles about my business if I place some ads. Is this the only way. I just started my business and want some publicity.

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4 Responses to “How can I get free publicity for my business through local newspapers?”
  1. lana m says:
    November 25, 2009 at 11:25 am

    organize charity event! such events you can advertise in media for free, for example you can try to collect toys for kids or school supply, or support to animal shelters.. first contact any charity organizations including the churches, ask what they need and offer your help: lend business space, provide service, etc! hopefully that event will be noticed by your local media and get you your chance to introduce your business on the higher level lana m

  2. tom bailey says:
    November 26, 2009 at 10:41 pm

    You might be able to partner with another business that advertises with them already and ask them for ad help. Look through the newspapers for the biggest advertisers and maybe your could trade some of your goods or services for some advertising. Another way to do it is to find a local bartering company and see if they can help you to get some free advertising as well, they often have some good business ideas for doing it. tom bailey

  3. wayne_burdeshaw says:
    November 29, 2009 at 7:31 pm

    My local paper has a section in the Sunday paper titled “LIFESTYLES”. Any new business that seems interesting can get a nice free story printed for free. Try just calling the news paper to ask if this type thing exists in your area,,,but TALK to a DIFFERENT PERSON than you spoke to the last time.Maybe even GO there in PERSON to talk with them.”HUMAN INTEREST” stories are the stock and trade of t6he newspaper business. wayne_burdeshaw

  4. OneyeJ says:
    December 1, 2009 at 9:30 am

    Ahh. now you’re right up my alley….

    I spend all day turning businesses away from the newspaper I work for; only to suggest they might call me after work for some tips. (really you advertising people out there should take this tip to heart, I’ve gotten a few really nice advertisers out of this).

    First, contact your local chamber of commerce and hold a ribbon cutting. Often the local paper will run ribbon-cutting ceremonies submitted by the chamber; also they typically have a business section – write your own article about the ‘new’ business in town and submit it to the business editor or business section.

    Write a letter to the editor (this is where you have to be creative)… Pick a semi-important topic. Here’s an example, you’ll have to adjust to your own business. “I just opened a new glassware shop downtown on main street, and I’m really concerned about the garbage trucks in the neighborhood. They have been slamming the containers, causing my merchandise to rattle and vibrate on the shelves. When I lose some of my one-of-a-kind works, should I send my bill to the sanitation department or the city?”

    Ok right now, you’re saying huh? but… you just got a great ad – read between the lines… New glassware shope downtown on main street, one-of-a-kind works. … (you may need to be a little more sneaky than that, but it works)

    If you have ample space, contact a local civic group (boy scouts, girl scouts, local pepband, etc) and offer to let them use your parking lot for a car wash, or better yet, a recycle collection site; local papers eat up those civic groups doing a good cause thing; and when they preview the article and/or write the article, they will have “local boy scouts collected recycable goods in the parking lot of GottaBeGood Beads Saturday to bring awarness to the city’s recycling needs.”

    There are more ideas, but I hope these help get you started. OneyeJ

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