Positioning the Business as a Local Expert

After providing your client with new customers and growing their business it will become time to position them as the local expert in their industry. This will solidify their marketing efforts and take their exposure to the next level. The key is to use the media to promote the business and their products or services. This can be done with radio, magazines, newspapers and local television. The best part is that it won't cost any money. Let's take a look at some of the ways your client can take advantage of media opportunities.

The first place to get local recognition is on the radio. There are hundreds of radio talk shows that need guests to fill their time slots. Just check your local am dial for daytime shows and contact the station manager. More times than not, they need to book some guests. Give them an overview of your expert and send them a quick bio. Since these talk radio shows don't fill up fast, you can usually get a spot in as little as one week. Most of these shows are also archived on the stations website, so you get an instant podcast as well. Once you have referred a couple of guests, the producer will be calling you often for more recommendations.

Next, look at local newspapers and magazines that feature local experts. Many medium to large cities have several different publications that could use some great local content. The key is getting in contact with the right person at the publication. A lot of times, there will be a charity event that is put on by the magazine. This is a great opportunity to get in front of the key personnel. Since it is a charity event, it is pretty easy to get tickets to the event. Just remember to not be pushy and offer your clients as information sources and experts. Some of these publications will also accept articles from freelance writers. If you have a writer that you use on a regular basis, you can have them craft a piece for a local publication. This also gives a chance for syndication, which will give your client even more exposure.

Finally, local television is the best place to get media for your client. Out of all the traditional media sources, television can be the most difficult to break into. However, this doesn't mean you shouldn't try. A lot of local television personalities have blogs on their station websites. Your client can interact on the blog, offering their expertise on relevant stories. If a reporter likes the feedback, they may contact your client for more information or a future story. Another place to look for reporters is on the website http://helpareporter.com/. This site is designed to connect reports and sources, which can be a great way to get free PR.

Becoming a local expert in the media is a great way for your clients to increase their exposure and gain new customers. Look at local media sources such as newspapers, magazines, radio and television. Getting your client in front of the right person can gain them a lot of great local PR. Remember that your clients are a great source of information and you can leverage it for their benefit.