There are lots of things to enjoy as an online publisher. There's the thrill of creating content. The pleasure of meeting friends at conferences. The sheer freedom of being your own boss and setting your own schedule.
And then there's publicity.
That's a whole other world of fun.
Not every online publisher uses publicity to drive traffic to their website. Some think it's a bit like a lottery. You'll send out hundreds of press releases and if you're lucky, once in a blue moon, you'll land a story in the press.
I think that's a mistake.
There are techniques that massively raise the chances of your press releases being picked up by the media. They involve writing the press release in exactly the way the media expect to see it. The include being available to talk to reporters when they call.
And most importantly, they revolve around offering the press a story that will entertain their audience.
That's not the same as a story about you or your website.
A story you offer the press should certainly involve your website, but if it's only about your website, no one will care enough to run it as a media story.
That would be a waste because when reporters do write about you and your website, you don't just get a burst of extra users. You don't just get a new level of respect and recognition. And you don't just earn more advertising income.
You also get to read about yourself in the newspapers. And that's fun!
It's Del.icio.us!
Furl It!
