I have to admit that everything I needed to know I did NOT learn in kindergarten. I learned a very valuable lesson my freshman year of college as a communications major that has helped me in getting so much free publicity. I have been very fortunate over the past 12 years to have been featured in over 30 magazine articles in addition to the numerous times I have been featured on the local news. Let me first state that not once did the media come looking for me. This is a proactive endeavour:)
The most recent fruit of my labor resulted in the following TV news story on Monday... http://www.news14.com/Default.aspx?ArID=606752&ap=1&Flash as well as a feature story that will be in the local newspaper in the next few days. We had the mayor of our relatively large community as well as over 100 local business owners and community members.
I think that real estate agents and firms overlook the power of a press release all too often. We tend to send the same template release that was written by the corporate office with only making changes in the "agent name" and "office location" section of the release. There needs to be thought and purpose to your release. Why would the media want to contact you or your firm. At least in our market there are new agents joining companies by the dozen so that fact that an agent got a licensed or transferred companies is not news to the media.
Now more than ever the media needs educated, experienced and knowledgeable resources. I am confident that my activerain friends are just that so I want to offer up a few suggestions for a successful press release. Let me first start with the phrase that my teacher embedded into my head. "Media reps have a hard enough time doing their job without having to track down stories ideas and sources" It is the old "you scratch my back and I will return the favor." Media reps love a detailed but straight to the point press release that basically does their job for them.
TIPS FOR A GREAT PRESS RELEASE...
- Make sure what you are sending in newsworthy. The last thing you want is to look like a junk spammer to the media. They will stop looking at your information as having any value.
- Make sure your content looks professional in presentation.
- Make sure your content is relevant in some manner to the local market or trends.
- Encourage them with catchy headlines. You will be amazed at how many stories titles were verbatim of the title of my press releases. Our most recent TV coverage the writer used my title as the title to their story. This goes back to the point of making their job easy!
- Follow the local media and offer your assistance on stories.
- Know the media schedule - Call your media source and ask for their "media kit". Each year publications plan a year in advance for their advertisers to know the focus of each issue. For example the Business Journal in your area may be doing a story on yout section of town in August. Put it on your calendar to send a press release and offering of assistance toward the end of May or early June when they will start working on that issue.
- Have numerous ways to contact you in the press release... ie, phone, email, web and mailing address, etc.
- Contact them in the method they prefer to be contacted. Most will have this information posted on their website. Some medias prefer that you fax to the news desk while some prefer that you email.
I have added the press release for the grand opening. Note that I used terms that refer to the current market conditions, an offering of a seminar explaining the timely $8000 tax credit as well as personal and corporate information. Here is also a link to the office your and ribbon cutting event...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tC36iPU_YE&feature=channel_page
CONTACT: Sheri Moritz - Owner FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Real Living Realty Experts
919-387-4100
Sheri.Moritz@RealLiving.com
Despite downturn in the market, Real Living Realty Experts is opening a brand new 3000 sf ft. state of the art real estate office
Garner, North Carolina- (March 14, 2009) - With more than 16 years of local experience helping clients buy and sell their homes Broker/Owner Sheri Moritz announces the opening of Real Living Realty Experts at 915 Vandora Springs Rd. Garner, NC 27529. Real Living Realty Experts is one of the anchor tenants in the Crescent Building along with Crescent State Bank in the newly revamped Forest Oaks Shopping Center.
Despite many large real estate companies closing their local offices, Real Living Realty Experts is forging ahead with the grand opening of their 3000+ sf ft residential real estate sales office. Moritz teamed up with Real Living Inc., one of the nation's fastest growing real estate companies as Real Living's newest real estate franchise location.
Real Living Realty Experts will be celebrating a Grand Opening Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and Ice Cream Social with the Garner Chamber of Commerce, mortgage representatives, home inspectors, local business owners, non-profit groups and media representatives on March 23rd, 2009 from 12pm-3pm. Everyone is invited to attend.
Moritz, a top real estate broker and trainer has been featured in REALTOR magazine for innovative marketing ideas, Top 30 under 30 and Pioneer of virtual offices. In addition, Moritz has been featured in Entrepreneur Magazine for managing and training real estate agents. Prior to acquiring the local Triangle area Real Living franchise Moritz held positions locally as recruitment and training director for RE/MAX and was the owner of a large local independent real estate company.
Moritz chose Real Living because of the innovative tools for potential clients and customers and agents as well as the business philosophies of the company. Moritz states "When I was researching the different franchise options I found the atmosphere and environment of Real Living combined with the business center platform will set it's agents apart from other brands. The web 2.0 interactive home search for buyers and seller offered through Real Living finally gives buyers and sellers the ability to be interactive with and customize their personal home search site.
Real Living Realty Experts will be hosting a free 1st time home buyer's seminar with details on the new $8,000 tax credit. In addition, Real Living will be offering a free homeowner seminar for those in risk of or in the process of foreclosure with a focus on short sale and loan modification.
Sheri may be reached at 919-520-7205, Sheri.Moritz@RealLiving.com, or at our Web site, www.HomesByRealLiving.com
About Real Living, Inc.
The largest independently-owned, residential real estate firm in the Midwest and the fifth-largest in the country, Real Living boasts nearly 5,000 sales associates and employees, nearly $9.1 billion in combined annual sales, and more than 130 offices throughout the Midwest, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas. Real Living also offers a full range of affiliated business services, including home financing, title, relocation, corporate relocation management, auctions and home warranties. For more information, or to learn more about Real Living Realty Experts visit www.HomesByRealLiving.com
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