MyLocalReporter Helps Start-ups Get Covered in the News
8th December 2011 · 2 Comments
A start-up based in Austin recently launched an application designed to help other start-ups, and existing businesses, find and pitch reporters most likely to be interested in writing about them.
MyLocalReporter eliminates the three most common barriers preventing most start-ups from receiving news coverage (and subsequently enjoying its many benefits):
- Who to talk to: MyLocalReporter allows users to freely search for reporters based on the industry vertical (or beat) they cover. Knowing which beat a reporter is half the battle in a campaign to get news coverage for start-ups.
- What to say: MyLocalReporter provides video tutorials that help newcomers to PR discover what is most newsworthy about their particular start-up. It also steps the beginner through the process of how to write a compelling news pitch designed to gain the attention of a busy reporter.
- How to contact them: Once a start-up identifies which reporters to approach, and what message to share, MyLocalReporter makes it a snap to send out the news pitch to all reporters. After filling out a simple news pitch form, MyLocalReporter will then send out the pitch to all of the selected reporters in a user-friendly email then provide you with their phone numbers so you can follow up with them at your convenience over the next 24-48 hours.
Perhaps best of all, each news pitch you submit is reviewed by a PR professional to make sure it’s the best possible pitch before it gets released to the media. By dong this, MyLocalReporter guarantees that each start-up receives the advice and help needed to pique the attention of even the most jaded and cynical reporter.
MyLocalReporter doesn’t rest on its laurels, either. Its recent accomplishments have led to several start-ups and existing businesses receiving news coverage in such media outlets as the Austin American-Statesman, Fox News, the San Antonio and Austin Business Journals, and other media outlets. In one recent edition of the Austin Business Journal, MyLocalReporter was instrumental in placing 2 out of 8 major articles, which is a success rate virtually unheard of in the media world.
Why is MyLocalReporter so successful at getting its customers in the news? According to the founder, Dave Manzer, it comes down to providing real-time access to media information in one convenient app, adding a professional PR touch to customer news pitches, then getting out of the way and letting the customer’s story speak for itself.
Why are start-ups interested in getting covered in the news media? Well, that’s simple too, says Manzer. “Getting covered in traditional news media confers an element of trust on a company. If it’s been written about in a news paper or quoted on TV, people trust that the idea has been vetted by a professional journalist, that it passed the litmus test.” Manzer cites examples of start-ups who have seen a 60% jump in sustained website traffic and new business leads and opportunities that never would have been possible through simple marketing, at least not as quickly.
When asked if MyLocalReporter takes on PR consulting projects, the answer is a quick no, and yes. “We always try to leverage MyLocalReporter to keep the PR costs for start-ups contained to a reasonable level. But, there are times with a company wants to get into a major national media outlet and we take it on as a special PR project.” One of Manzer’s recent projects was for SalesVu, an Austin start-up which recently launched a mobile payment processing cloud-based app, which landed a significant write-up in TechCrunch, perhaps the most influential technology blog covering cutting edge technology.
“The key is to make PR work for you on whatever budget you have,” Manzer notes. “Ignoring PR is never good because what 80% of failed start-ups have in common is little to no consistent media coverage, which is a bit like a self-fulfilling prophecy. If you can get the news media tell the world how wonderful you are, and you keep doing it over time, well the world will tend to believe you and think of you ahead of the competition.”
Nice one, Dave!! A much-needed service.
Good to see this get recognized – great things ahead for MyLocalReporter and Dave’s team.