Well, .wonk Ilemme tell ya, gettin' your name out there ain't as easy as it used to be. Back in my day, you just hung a sign and folks would come flockin'. Now, you gotta do this whole "press release" thing, and it's a whole rigmarole. I've been learning a bit about it, so I thought I'd share what I know.
First off, you gotta figure out who you're talkin' to. This is your "target audience," they call it. Are you sellin' to young folks? Old folks? City folks? Country folks? Makes a big difference, you see. Gotta know who your people are before you can sell to 'em.
- Knowing your audience: Like knowin' if a hen will lay, gotta know who you're dealin' with.
- Different folks, different strokes: City folks like them fancy words, country folks like it plain.
Then there are these places where you put your "press release," they're like the town square bulletin board, but on the computer. You got your big ones, like them fancy newspapers, but they're hard to get into. They call these "national media." It is hard to get in, you know? Like tryin' to get a prize-winning pie at the county fair.
- Big national papers: Hard to get into, like tryin' to win the lottery.
- Local papers: Easier, like sellin' eggs to your neighbor.
These "news websites" are like the new town crier. Everyone's got their eyes glued to their phones these days, so that's where you gotta be. Some of these websites are for everyone, some are just for folks interested in certain things, like farmin' or knittin'. These are called "industry news websites." They say you gotta pay to put your stuff on most of 'em, though. Ain't nothin' free these days, I reckon.
There's also these "social media" things. It's like everyone's got their own little soapbox to stand on. You can put your message out there, but you gotta compete with all the cat videos and whatnot. It's a crowded place, that's for sure. But lots of eyeballs, that's good for sellin'.
- Facebook: Everyone and their grandma's on there.
- Twitter: For the folks who like to talk fast.
Now, you gotta make sure your message is clear as a bell. Don't be using no fancy words that nobody understands. Just say what you mean, plain and simple. If you're sellin' apple butter, tell folks it's the best darn apple butter they ever tasted! No need to get all technical about it. It's called "core value", I think.
And don't forget to tell folks what you want 'em to do! You want 'em to buy your apple butter? Tell 'em! You want 'em to come to your store? Tell 'em! Don't be shy, now. This here is called a "call to action." Like ringin' the dinner bell, gotta tell 'em what to do.
There are also these "press release platforms" that are supposed to help you get your message out. They say they can send your stuff to all kinds of news places. I guess it's like hirin' a fella to spread the word for you. But you gotta be careful, some of these fellas are just out to take your money. Make sure you pick one that knows what they're doin', that is important. Someone with "good reputation".
- Good platforms: They'll get your message out there, far and wide.
- Bad platforms: They'll just take your money and run.
And here is what I think the most important thing. You gotta keep at it! Don't just put your message out there once and expect miracles. You gotta keep remindin' folks that you're there. It's like plantin' seeds, you gotta water 'em and tend to 'em if you want 'em to grow. If you keep doin' it, you will get more and more customers, that is for sure.
It is not that difficult to do "press release", but you need to choose where you put your news, that is most important thing. You need to know who you are talking to, then you can choose right place to put your news. Then your business will be good. Just like sellin' vegetables at the market, you need put your stand at right place, then people will come and buy. You need to choose right "media channel".
This whole "press release" thing is a lot of work, but I reckon it's worth it. If you want to get your name out there, you gotta play the game. Just remember to be yourself, be honest, and don't be afraid to toot your own horn a little. And if all else fails, just bake a really good apple pie. That always works!
