Three Ways to Generate Media Coverage at Your Next Event

December 11, 2018

Emily Richett

Emily Richett is the founder of HAPPY, a publicity and marketing agency that works with fast-growth businesses and leading organizations in health, wellness, tourism and e-commerce. Emily is a frequent media contributor and speaker for trade shows and events around the U.S. 

You’ve spent months, maybe even years, planning your next big conference or event. It’s one of your organization’s most significant milestones this year and also, a big opportunity to generate earned press coverage.

If you want to leverage the media and PR opportunities that trade shows and events provide, make sure to do these three things. 

  1. Think Local

In the past six years, my agency has managed public relations for more than 80 conferences and events hosted by Experience Grand Rapids. While the majority of these meetings and groups hosted were from outside of the Grand Rapids region, they all received significant media coverage. What’s our big secret? Think local.

No matter what your event is about or who is invited to attend (many of the conferences we pitch to the media are closed to the public), there are two things that make your conference or trade show especially newsworthy to the local media. 

The first is your local impact. Does your event bring thousands of people to the area? The positive impact this can have on hotels, restaurants and the local economy is significant. 

Second, why did you choose to host your event in this particular host city? Is the city a leader in green initiatives, fitting perfectly with your theme of renewable energy? Or is the city an rising region for start-ups, making it a great fit for your innovation conference? Maybe your host destination was ideal simply because it has a great climate, high safety ranking and family-friendly attractions. Whatever your reasons, the local media would probably find these interesting, so include this in a press release quote or media advisory.

  1. Make it Easy

If you want local journalists, influencers or reporters to cover your event, you need to make it easy for them. 

Send out a press release to local media 3-4 weeks before your event and let them know how to get a free press pass or how to get on the media list. There is nothing worse to a reporter then having to track down the right contact to find out if they can attend an event. 

Even better, pitch specific reporters who cover your industry and personally invite them to attend sessions that resonate with their beat. The personal touch requires a bit more research but will go far in developing local press relationships quickly.

Help reporters identify the most newsworthy, visual or exciting opportunities available at your event. Conference brochures and agendas can be lengthy and daunting for an outsider to sift through. 

If a local TV news station wants to cover your conference, they will need to record footage of something visually interesting. Identify these significant media opportunities in your press release and don’t make a reporter search your entire agenda or website. 

Print media will generally expect access to the best interviews possible. This would include the organizer, a key speaker or potentially attendees. Have a team member identify these people for reporters, making their jobs easier and therefore, more likely to get coverage. 

Designate one person on your team to be the media contact so they can answer any questions or assist media onsite at the event. 

  1. Share Stories

The conferences and events that get the most press typically have a few things going for them (outside of having a marketing/PR firm doing it for them). The common denominator to the 80-plus events we’re promoted over the past few years is this: the capacity for storytelling. 

Consider what stories your event can tell. Sometimes these stories are found in the speakers or experts involved. Other times it is in your exhibitors or attendees. Does it attract a significant number of people? Why? What is the purpose of the event in the first place and what impact will it have in the future? 

Once you have identified potential stories, now consider how you can share them. The more content you can create in advance to tell those stories, the easier it will be for the local media to cover it. Write up a blog or create a video about your upcoming conference. Highlight testimonial or success stories about the impact the event has had on the organizations, communities or people involved. Add it to your digital press kit that is sent to the media. 

As you approach your next event, make sure to think local, invite the media and make it easy for them and share your own stories. You’ll find more earned press opportunities and thought leadership for your organization than ever before.

 

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MGM Resorts is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse culture, not just among employees and guests but also within its supply chain. The company prioritizes procuring goods and services from businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans, people with disabilities, LGBTQ individuals and those facing economic disadvantages. This commitment is integral to MGM Resorts' global procurement strategy.    Through its voluntary supplier diversity program, MGM Resorts actively identifies and connects certified diverse-owned suppliers to opportunities within its supply chain. The company is on track to spend at least 15% of its biddable procurement with diverse-owned businesses by 2025, demonstrating that supplier diversity is not only a social responsibility but also a strategic business imperative.    Supplier diversity isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s good for business. A diverse supply chain allows access to a broader range of perspectives and experience, helping to drive innovation, entrepreneurship and resilience, while strengthening communities. At MGM Resorts, engaging diverse suppliers ensures best-in-class experiences for guests and clients. Supplier diversity ensures a more resilient supply chain while supporting economic development in the communities in which it operates.   The impact of MGM Resorts' supplier diversity initiatives is significant. In 2023, these efforts supported over 3,500 jobs across more than 30 states, contributed over $214 million in income for diverse-owned businesses and generated more than $62 million in tax revenue. The story extends beyond the numbers – it reflects the tangible benefits brought to small and diverse-owned businesses, fostering economic empowerment in their communities.    MGM Resorts also supports the development and business skills of diverse-owned businesses through investment, mentorship and education. Through the MGM Resorts Supplier Diversity Mentorship Program, the company identifies, mentors and develops diverse-owned businesses to fill its future pipeline, while providing businesses with tools and resources to empower and uplift. Since 2017, the program has successfully graduated 105 diverse-owned businesses and is on track to achieve its goal of 150 graduates by 2025.     MGM Resorts’ commitment to supplier diversity not only enhances its business operations but also plays a crucial role in uplifting communities and fostering economic development. This approach reinforces the idea that diversity is a powerful driver of innovation and resilience, benefiting both the company and the wider community.