This area has been set up for you to ask questions about issues you are having with running your own campaign, ask advice from us or generally 'have your say'! feel free to use it to ask questions or trawl theough what others have said and our responses.

Hello

The organisation that I work for is an IT company and sadly, doesn't have a big budget to be able to afford a PR agency. I work as a marketing coordinator and I am keen to distribute our press-releases and customer case studies to an IT media list. I do have the email addresses of most Australian media editors but I am not sure what's the most appropriate way to approach these guys. Do I email them pitching our product & distributing our press release article or do I call them individually and introduce myself? I'm not a PR expert and this is really not my forte but I'm up for the challenge. Any help would be much appreciated

Hello. Great question. The best way to contact this media is to email your media release. Be mindful that you need to offer something of interest to their audience. Perhaps a list of top ten tips for choosing an IT company - or some topic you feel comfortable talking about and showcases your company's expertise. Make sure you don't pitch to media that is not relevant to your business. A follow up email or phone call a few days later is also advised. But don't follow up more than once or you'll just annoy them.
Good luck!
Simone
(Sorry for the delay in getting back to you - the alert facility hadn't been activated.)

Hi Ladies, great site!

I have a couple of questions, now that I've prepared my press release for our new product.

Firstly, I'm aiming to get my new product in the "what's new" lifestyle sections of fashion and homewares magazines - do I send it to the lifestyle editor or the market editor (for lifestyle) - bearing in mind I only expect it to be a photo on a page, not made into a feature or story.

Secondly, I have high resolution professtional photos but as my product is chrome I had them taken with a black reflective background for high end effect (and the background can't be deep etched due to reflections etc). Do I need to get these re-done with a white background (even though i'm also supplying a product sample to the magazine as part of a press pack)?

Interested in your thoughts!

Hi Alecia

Love your site too! I'm sure you will do well with the PR.

I would probably aim to go to the Market Editor (if there is one), and if not, the Lifestyle Editor (who can always pass it on if there is someone more relevant). You can also send to the Editor who will forward it to the right person if you are stuck.

As for the pics, ideally they would be white background but why not see how you go? if you are sending samples that may be OK for them (many can shoot in-house) and the black will work for some of them. Having said that, next time you are doing a shoot I would try to get some on a whote background as you have probably noticed that most product pages feature the product deep etched.

Good luck!! Let us know how you go.

Thanks for the prompt reply Jules. I appreciate your suggestions - now I have your helpful advice I just need to take the jump and do it! Fingers crossed and I'll let you know how I go!

Thanks! :)

Hi
My company Hoozin is developing great concept for mobile group messaging application. Our target audience is teens and colleges that uses a lot of messaging and social media. I wanted to ask what other than the IT list do you think I should use? If whe launch our app in the begining of march when should I contact the journalists? and what other techniques do you think I should use to promote my app to 16-24 year old?
Thanks a lot!

Hi
Greeat and helpful website.
I wanted to know if your PR lists are lists in Australia or world wide?

Thanks