Get Your Handbags Noticed by the Press
You know you have created some really great handbags and plenty of people out there would love to own. But you need to get the word out.
One great way to let lots of people know about the handbags you have to offer is to get them featured in articles in magazines, newspapers, websites, and even TV and radio.
The easiest way to get this accomplished and get noticed by the media is to send out a press release.
What is a press release?
A press release has been defined as a “newsworthy story about your business that you submit to various media outlets.” A press release lets people in the media know what is going on in your business. If they find what you are doing interesting they will write an article about the subject of your press release. Sometimes they will simply run the press release exactly as you have written it (this is especially true for many websites that will pick up your press release). More often, a reporter will become intrigued by your release and use the included contact information to arrange for an interview. The reporter will then use the interview and the press release to write an article about what you are doing.
When should you send out a press release?
You should send out a press release anytime there is a “newsworthy” happening related to you handbag business. Some examples might be:
• Announcement of a new handbag or handbag line.
• Your appearance at an upcoming trade show.
• A store deciding to carry your handbags.
• New services such as customized handbags being offered by your business.
• Stories about you that have appeared in the press.
And you don’t have to wait for something to happen. You can create your own “newsworthy” events. For example, you can get your handbag business involved in a charity, sponsor a show, or offer something free to the public. You can even try to “hook” the press by tying in a promotion you are having to a current news story or a popular movie or TV show.
When we launched the We Design Handbags website, we sent out a press release to let the world know about it. Click here to see our release
And here are some examples of press releases sent out by handbag designers:
Susanne Maddux San Francisco Launches with the “Cosmo Tote” for Stylish Moms
Atlanta’s Very Own Eunice Hong - Handbags Selected for 2005 CMT Music Awards Celebrity Gift Bags
Do You Believe In Magic? Charles L Thomas Introduces New Handbag Line
Benefits sending out press releases will bring to your handbag business
The great thing about using press releases to generate publicity is that a press release can be sent out at very little cost. Hiring a professional publicist can cost thousands of dollars. Taking out an advertisement in a magazine, newspaper, or TV can cost thousands of dollars. An effective press release can be sent out for just a few dollars.
And when a publication runs an article about your handbags, this is much more effective than a full-page ad for your business could be. People give credence to an article run by a magazine or newspaper, whereas they tend to discount the claims made in advertisements. And when an article about you and your bags appear in the press you not only reach potential customers, but also store owners who may contact you to carry your handbags in their stores.
Press releases are also great ways to drive traffic to your website. There are many online press release distribution services, many of which will run your press release for free or at very low cost. These services will run your press release on their own websites and make your press release freely available to other websites. Many websites and blogs use press releases as content for their sites. Many people who see your press release will click the link to your website, where they will get more information about you and your handbags. Furthermore, links to your website are a key ingredient to getting your website ranked highly by search engines such as Google and Yahoo. A higher rank in the search engines will drive even more Web visitors to your site.
What you need to send out a press release
To send out a press release you will need the following:
1. Press contact list: This is a list of editors at the publications that might be interested in your press release.
2. Online distribution service: These are services that will make your press release freely available and widely accessible to World Wide Web. Many of these services are free and you should use several of these services.
3. Proper format: Press releases follow a particular format, including contact information. To be most effective, your press release should follow the standard format.
4. Newsworthy topic and compelling headline: Editors and reporters want interesting stories for their readers. Your press release should help them write one about you.
Secrets to getting your press release noticed
Take a look at a website like PRWeb and you will see that there are many types of businesses sending out many types of press releases. Sadly, most of these will never get any notice. There are a variety of reasons for this. Most are not truly newsworthy. Some don’t list their contact information correctly. Some don’t have a compelling headline and get overlooked. Press releases can be great tools for generating publicity and getting handbag sales. But if your press release is not done correctly, then you are just wasting your time.
One resource we highly recommend is the course Press Release Profits. We at We Design Handbags have used the information in this course to help generate publicity for our website.
This Press Release Profits course was created by press release writer Alice Seba to help small business owners get the most out of their press releases. In this course Seba will teach you exactly how to:
• Build an effective press contact list – get your release noticed by the people who matter.
• Come up with “hooks” to get reporters interested in your story.
• Prevent your press release from sounding like an advertisement.
• Use the proper format for a press release.
• Make writing a press release easy, even if you hate to write.
• Use free and paid online press release services—This course gives you the URLs of dozens of these services.
• Get ready for that call from an interested reporter asking for an interview.
The Press Release Profits course uses audio, video, and text to teach you step-by-step how to use press releases to get more customers and make more sales. For more information about this course, visit the website: Press Release Profits.