Flip through the pages of a magazine and you will find dozens of ads that someone paid good money for. But on the page right next to the ad is an article that someone got for free.
I run my book and speaking business on a marketing budget of zero. One way that I am able to do that is by writing free articles and submitting them to magazines. Why do I do it? Because at the bottom of the article is a short paragraph that tells the readers who I am and how to contact me to either get my book or book me to give a free talk.
First, ask yourself who you want to reach with your message and what kind of magazines they might read. For instance, a mortgage broker wants to reach Realtors. What do Realtors read? Ask Google. Put the words Realtor and magazine into your favorite search engine and you will find dozens of housing industry magazines.
Second, make sure you have a message that provides real benefit to the readers. The mortgage broker may want to write about lessons learned from the mortgage mess or how to do your homework and build lasting relationships with lenders who are in it for the long haul. The article should be packed with information. Do not make it a commercial.
Finally, get busy writing and submitting. Take a look at the typical length and writing style of the articles in the magazines you want to target and copy the format.
Most magazine websites have an email address for feedback. I just email the completed article to an editor with a short introduction explaining that I am not looking for compensation and that they are welcome to use the article as is or delete it and send me back to the drawing board. I have had one article published at least one hundred times. Until a magazine buys it off of you, you own the rights and can resubmit it as many times as you would like.
Join the Lunch Bunch
For those of you in the DFW area, please join me for lunch on Monday Dec. 10th.
Radio host Jon-David Wells from 570 KLIF is our special luncheon speaker that day. He will be sharing stories and media tips from his more than three decades behind the mic.
The event is FREE to attend. You only need to bring money if you want to buy yourself lunch.
Click here for details. |
Need Jeff's Book?
Most of you already own a copy. But if you have a friend who's struggling to get media attention, you can purchase a copy at www.jeffcrilley.com
Want Jeff to talk to your group?
Jeff speaks at no charge. To schedule him for an upcoming group or meeting, please email Jeff at: jeffcrilley@yahoo.com
Is Your News Release a Snooze Release?
The newsrooms are getting buried in news releases, so it has become critical to know what you are doing.
A former newspaper editor from Wisconsin has come up with a list of things you never want to say in a news release.
Joan Stewart, who calls herself The Publicity Hound, has some FREE tips on how to keep your news release from ending up in the recycle bin.
Click here for details. |
