Photo by George Milton
by Christy A Laverty
In the competitive world of business and entrepreneurship, getting noticed by the media can be a game-changer. It is all about cutting through the noise and letting your expertise shine on a bigger stage and on other people’s platforms. Whether you’re launching a new product, sharing your expertise, or simply seeking to raise awareness about your brand, earning publicity and media coverage can significantly elevate your visibility and credibility. It can be the thing that helps you stand out from the crowd and help you get noticed by a bigger or different audience. However, amidst the hustle and bustle of pitching and networking, one crucial factor often gets overlooked: mindset. I like to call this your media mindset.
Your mindset, or your attitude and beliefs about yourself and your ability to succeed, plays a pivotal role in your journey to securing media coverage. I often find that when it comes to putting yourself out there in the media spotlight the little voice of doubt can creep in and start speaking louder to you. You start thinking that you are just a solo entrepreneur and no one would want to hear from you. You think that your business is not big enough, or old enough. You don’t think you have enough to say. And I am here to tell you that those are all lies. None of that is true.
When it comes to securing media coverage, you need a good story, a solid hook, and expertise that helps a journalist help the audience. If the size of your company is not relevant to the story then who cares how big or small your business is? Remember, this is about delivering information, tips, advice, guidance, and context to the audience.
Here’s why mindset matters and how cultivating the right attitude can make all the difference:
- Believing in Yourself: Confidence is key when it comes to pitching yourself or your business to the media. If you don’t believe in yourself or the value you have to offer, why should journalists or producers take notice? Cultivate a mindset of self-assurance and conviction in your expertise and unique story. Journalists need to be pitched. They can’t know about all the great stories, guests, and experts out in the world and that means they need you to tell them!
- Embracing Rejection as Feedback: In the world of media relations, rejection is inevitable. But instead of viewing it as a failure, see it as an opportunity to learn and improve. Adopting a growth mindset, as coined by psychologist Carol Dweck, means seeing challenges and setbacks as opportunities for growth and development. Use feedback from rejections to refine your pitch, target the right media outlets, and enhance your approach. I never take a no as a bad thing but a foot in the door, an opening to have a further conversation! It’s not personal. Also, remember a NO right now does not mean a NO forever. Pitch that journalist again later!
- Maintaining Persistence and Resilience: Securing media coverage isn’t always a quick or linear process. It requires persistence, patience, and resilience in the face of setbacks and obstacles. A positive mindset can help you stay motivated and focused on your goals, even when faced with rejection or silence. Keep pushing forward, believing in the value of your message, and trusting that your efforts will pay off in the long run. This is a marathon, not a sprint. Be patient. You are not going to secure media coverage overnight. Trust the process.
- Fostering Creativity and Innovation: Creativity is essential when it comes to capturing the attention of journalists and standing out in a crowded media landscape. A mindset that embraces creativity and innovation can inspire fresh ideas for pitches, angles, and storytelling approaches. Think outside the box, experiment with different strategies, and don’t be afraid to take calculated risks to capture the media’s interest.
- Building Authentic Relationships: Media coverage often hinges on the relationships you build with journalists, editors, and producers. A genuine, authentic mindset grounded in respect, integrity, and empathy can lay the foundation for meaningful connections and collaborations. Focus on building mutually beneficial relationships based on trust and reciprocity rather than solely on transactional exchanges. Remember, this is not a sprint but a marathon. Building solid relationships takes time. Securing media mentions, coverage and features takes time.
- Celebrating Small Wins and Milestones: In the pursuit of media coverage, it’s easy to fixate on the end goal and overlook the progress you’ve made along the way. Cultivate a mindset of gratitude and celebration, acknowledging and appreciating each small win and milestone, whether it’s securing a feature in a niche publication or receiving positive feedback from a journalist. Celebrating these achievements fuels momentum and motivation to keep pushing forward. Be sure to share the media mentions you have secured with your community. Add media logos to your email signature. Create a media page on your website. Celebrate all the media wins, big and small.
Mindset is a powerful factor of success when it comes to earning publicity and media coverage. By cultivating a positive, confident, and resilient mindset, embracing rejection as feedback, fostering creativity and innovation, building authentic relationships, and celebrating small wins, you can increase your chances of standing out in the media landscape and achieving your publicity goals. So, nurture your mindset, and watch as your efforts bring you amazing results in the world of media relations.
Hi. I’m Christy Laverty!
I’m so excited to be here getting the chance to share my knowledge with the She Owns It community.
I have spent nearly 20 years working in some of the biggest television and radio newsrooms in Canada. I have seen my share of good, bad, and ugly story pitches and press releases. So, now I am sharing tips, tools, and techniques with entrepreneurs so they can better pitch the media to get mentions, press, and publicity.
It’s a win-win-win really. I get to help people share their business and mission with the world, entrepreneurs learn how to better connect with journalists for press and publicity, and, finally, I get to help my Journalist friends get better stories to share with their audiences.
When I am not doing my media and PR thing, I am blogging, occasionally filling in on the radio, playing news anchor, and I also teach in the journalism program at a Canadian college.
So where else can you find me?
Swing by my website and social media channels for tips, techniques, and strategies to help you get media mentions, press, and publicity. Oh, and of course how to work with me.
