Let\’s talk about how you can get more of that great publicity that\’s out there waiting for you. Specifically let\’s talk about how to set up your own website newsroom. You may have gone to some big time websites and seen a link to what they call their \”newsroom\”. When you go to that link, you find a whole variety of information for reporters. You\’ll find photographs, press releases, bios, tip sheets, etc.

The idea behind these newsrooms is that reporters can go there at any time and download information about the business, their products or services, the people involved in the business, etc. that they\’ll be able to use in a story.

These newsrooms are usually a very good idea, but the vast majority of businesses are using them incorrectly. So they\’re either not getting the results they want or they\’re actually being harmed by them. I\’ll be talking about website newsrooms in the next few posts. They\’re not just for the \”big boys\”. You should have one too, regardless of how small you think your business is.

In this issue I\’m going to talk about one part of a website newsroom that\’s missing on almost every website I see; that\’s testimonials. When people want to buy a product or service, what do you think convinces them to buy, more than anything else?

If you answered testimonials from people who\’ve used the product or service, you\’re absolutely right. The same is true for reporters. Reporters have no idea who you are, whether or not you\’re for real, whether or not you\’re a nut simply trying to get into the news, etc. They know what you\’ve said about yourself in your press release, but beyond that they know very little about you.

A typical reporter gets from 100-300 press releases and story ideas a day. They\’ve got to sort through them quickly and efficiently. They have to pick the people who are most likely to give them a great story. In return, the reporter will give those people great publicity. One excellent way for you to build yourself up in the eyes of the reporter is to have testimonials. But not just testimonials from customers. You should also have testimonials from other reporters. You should have testimonials from customers who talk about how great you and your product or service are. You should also have testimonials from reporters who talk about what a great interview you are.

If you direct a reporter to the newsroom on your website, he should find lots of information about you…and testimonials. Now, here\’s the real power punch. Here\’s the secret ingredient to making your testimonials stand head and shoulders above everyone else\’s testimonials. Instead of just having testimonials printed on a page of your website, make them voice testimonials.

Can you imagine the power of being able to have reporters go to your various customer testimonials and actually hear the voices of your customers praising you and your product or service? Can you imagine the power of being able to have reporters go to your various media testimonials and hear their fellow reporters talking about how great an interview you are? That\’s pure, bubbling, volcanic power! Words on the screen are fine. You should certainly have some

testimonials printed on a web page. But actually hearing real voices on your website is a power punch that virtually no one is using. And of course, video testimonials are even better!

I\’ll have a whole lot more to say about website newsrooms. But if you want to make a revolutionary change to your newsroom – if you want to have a newsroom that reporters will talk about for a long, long time, get some voice or video testimonials up there.

Next time we\’ll talk about whether you should let everyone know you have a newsroom on your site or whether you should keep it something of a secret. Which one do you think you should do?

Paul Hartunian is respected around the world as a leading expert on how business owners can get publicity both online and offline. His website – http://www.Hartunian.com – is a resource center for reliable publicity advice.

Paul Hartunian is respected around the world as a leading expert on how business owners can get publicity both online and offline. His website – http://www.Hartunian.com – is a resource center for reliable publicity advice.

Author Bio: Paul Hartunian is respected around the world as a leading expert on how business owners can get publicity both online and offline. His website – http://www.Hartunian.com – is a resource center for reliable publicity advice.

Category: Business
Keywords: what is a press release, how to write a press release, how to release a press release, online pr,