Let people know what you're doing – and earn points
Creating a nice place to live and work or to visit is a cornerstone of taking part in the Bloom. But letting people know what you’re doing is also a key element of what is, after all, a campaign. The best way to raise awareness of your environmental efforts and to raise the profile of the South & South East in Bloom competition is through the media.
People who attended seminars in East Grinstead and Alton this Spring heard journalist turned PR man Tim Cobb reveal some tricks of the trade of getting your entry noticed. Here is a summary of Tim’s presentation:
Why raise awareness? It:
provides publicity for the sponsor Southern Water and positive publicity will encourage Southern Water to continue as a sponsor
could increase volunteers and voluntary support
could increase the number of entries
Positive publicity is great for your village or town – it helps all aspects of the economy and the community. Most importantly for you: raising awareness earns more points which means higher awards.
Every entrant has a range of media through which to promote what they are doing: Weekly newspapers – free and/or paid-for; a regional daily or evening newspaper; community and local BBC and independent radio stations; regional TV stations.
Tim urged people to build a relationship with local journalists by phoning them or meeting them, but, beforehand make sure you’ve got a good story or picture so as not to waste the journalist’s time. And be prepared to put everything in a press release, which can preferably be sent by email.
What should you say in your press release?
Tim’s golden rule is KISS – Keep it short and simple.
Your first paragraph must make the news editor sit up and take note.
Sentences should be short and snappy. Aim for only 25 words per sentence.
Newspapers love quotes, so ensure your release has at least one quote attributed to a relevant person in your organisation.
Any release should always have a contact name and an evening/mobile number as well as daytime number in case a journalist working a late or early shift wants more information.
The South & South East in Bloom logo is available here in a choice of formats, together with guidelines about how it should be used. There is also a downloadable poster which should be filled in and displayed to notify people about judging day.
