How To Get Media Exposure For Your Small Business

Small businesses can benefit immensely from the power of media exposures. Whether you run a supermarket, convenience store or any other small retail business, you shouldn't overlook the power of media. In today's fast-paced age, more and more people use media as their primary source for locating news and information. You can take advantage of this fact by leveraging it for your small business; here's how:

Press Release

One of the easiest and arguably most effective method for gaining media exposure is to submit press releases. Basically, these are short articles about your business which news outlets pick up publish themselves. There's no guarantee that a news outlet will publish your story, but the short amount of time it takes to write and submit a press release will almost always prove to be worth your time. Some of the top press release websites include prlog.org, prweb.com and sbwire.com.

Participate In Charity Events

Another technique that's helpful for gaining media exposure is to participate in charity events. Perhaps your business can sponsor a Little League baseball team. For the small price of a donation, you'll be able to display your business's logo while helping to fund a Little League baseball team. It's a win-win situation for everyone involved. In addition, some of the local news outlets may pick up on your donation and cover your charitable contributions as well. You can even go one step further by submitting a press release highlighting the contributions made by your business.

Newspaper Advertisements

Of course, newspaper advertisements is an effective technique for generating media exposure. After all, newspapers are run by the media, so it only makes sense for businesses to use them for exposure. Pick up the phone and call around to some of the local newspaper companies in your area. There are a couple of different factors which influence the price of an ad, including the location (ads in the front cost more), size and publication date.

Radio Advertisements

Even with more and more people using satellite radio or listening to their MP3 players in the car, radio is still an incredibly effective outlet for generating media exposure for your small business. A short 30-second commercial is a small investment that will pay off when performed correctly. Identify your business's target demographic and then choose the right radio station to match. In addition to generating direct sales/leads to your business, radio advertisements will also reinforce your brand's recognition.