Peter Shankman, Help Us Help You.
March 25th, 2008 Dina at Wordfeeder.comEvery so often, you come across something that you just KNOW should be jumped on so you can ride it out before it gets too big to handle. This post is about just that; and I’m sending a message out to:
1. The Urban Muse
2. My copywriting clients and colleagues
3. Peter Shankman.
Okay, why the The Urban Muse? Because I have to thank this woman for posting about Peter Shankman’s Help a Reporter Mailing List.
Peter Shankman acts as a matching service between reporters on the beat, and experts who can supply them with quotes and stories for the articles they’re writing.
You can visit his site at http://HelpaReporter.com. To learn more about Peter, go to http://shankman.com/
Now, to all Wordfeeder copywriting clients: you should get on Peter’s list! He sends out at least one email query a day from reporters who may wish to quote you in their articles.
Just this morning I read through some requests for people who have planned wedding showers, and managers who have had to reorganize the office floor plan and deal with large numbers of empty cubicles. (yes, I’ve worked in corporate ghost towns like this… pretty creepy!)
I do want to warn you though. When you sign up, use a Yahoo or other email account that is NOT your main work email address. The volume of alerts that you receive from this is pretty substantial. Not a bad thing at all, but not what you want to be hit with in the same box as your client jobs.
Now, for Peter Shankman, here’s what I want to suggest. When you get some free time (ha ha), can you add a page to your site that explains the format and protocol for responding to these reporter queries? Maybe an FAQ page or something that would limit the number of times you keep answering the same questions via email.
I would feel much more confident knowing that I’m not ticking off the busy media people with some potentially inane questions. I think my clients and the rest of your readers might also appreciate this type of direction.
Thanks for your help… and for providing such a valuable service!
Dina Giolitto
“Copywriting on the Fly”
Wordfeeder.com
Popularity: 35% [?]
Email Dina@Wordfeeder.com for a copywriting or website marketing quote today.
March 25th, 2008 at 4:30 pm
Dina,
Thanks for the lovely comment! Glad I could help.
Best,
Susan
March 25th, 2008 at 4:56 pm
Dina:
Thanks for the kind words! Three emails a day is “massive?” :)
Will work on an FAQ ASAP.
March 25th, 2008 at 6:47 pm
Susan: You’re welcome!
Peter: Thanks for stopping by. I sent an email alert to my clients and friends today, letting them know about your service.
“Massive…” I’m not sure where you’re getting that word? :)
I just know that I’m far more likely to respond to an email alert when it comes to a Yahoo account that I check at certain times of the day than to my work email where it may end up an unintended break in my daily workflow.
I actually advise my own clients and readers to sign up for my own ezine using a Yahoo or alternate email address. I just think it makes people a lot happier to keep their many messages sorted into different piles so to speak.
Best wishes for your Help a Reporter service! I hope my clients make good use of it. I’ll look forward to your FAQ section!
March 26th, 2008 at 7:56 am
What a wonderful resource, Dina. Thanks for sharing it with me.
Nicole
March 26th, 2008 at 8:10 am
Hey, Nicole… long time no see. I would never have known about this if it weren’t for the Urban Muse.
So thanks to her as well! Word travels fast.
March 26th, 2008 at 8:46 am
You may also be interested to know I run a similar site in the UK called Getting Ink Requests -
http://gettingink.typepad.com/journos
It’s free to sign up and carries requests from some major magazines, newspapers and broadcasters in Europe.
I’d be really interested in anyone’s comments - we have an FAQ but it’s a work in progress!
Sally Whittle
March 26th, 2008 at 8:55 am
Thanks for letting us know, Sally. I’ll take a look at it at some point today and see if I can’t offer some suggestions.
Dina
Wordfeeder.com
March 26th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
Dina,
So funny you sent me this, I just learned about Peter Shankman yesterday and joined his list. I haven’t had any emails yet but am looking forward to them. I noticed Peter also has a PR book out, I am off to Amazon to order my copy!
March 26th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
Hey, Michelle!
Yeah, Shankman is one name that’s on the tip of everybody’s tongues lately, huh?
Also… if there’s one woman who knows how to get a buzz going around her market, it’s you! I’ve enjoyed watching you on the news this month… you may be the closest thing I know to a celebrity. :)
(Although I did serve Kevin Maas a sandwich back in the day.)
Anywho… thank for dropping by. Let us know what you think of Peter’s book.
March 26th, 2008 at 12:52 pm
Hi Dina,
I was going to send you an email, but thought I should just post here so not to clog up your inbox with a message from someone you don’t know! LOL Anyway, I wanted to send you KUDDOS on a great blog and I really enjoy reading your posts. You have so much to share, and I thank you for that. As a new web copywriter, I’ve had an amazingly successful first year ( so far), and advice like what you hand out, is priceless! Thanks again :-)
Lisa
Creative Writing Studios
March 26th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
Thanks for saying so, Lisa. I went to check you out but your link isn’t working. :( I’ll try again later.
March 26th, 2008 at 1:22 pm
[…] More Visibility with HelpaReporter.com Two days ago, I had no clue who Peter Shankman was. I read a post on Dina’s blog about a new website called […]
March 28th, 2008 at 7:17 am
Good idea, Dina! I signed up and already confirmed my account. I’ll be sitting by my inbox all day waiting for requests.
;-)
This sounds like fun, too. I like to use original quotes in my material, so I know how important this can be.
I stumbled this article too.
March 28th, 2008 at 7:32 am
Hi Matt,
You know, when I came by your blog I was going to say “stop by and read about Peter Shankman” but I didn’t want to be pushy?
I’m glad you came by. I think his service is pretty cool too, and sent a couple of his queries out to experts who I know! Fun for all.
I still don’t know how to stumble (hanging head). But thank you for stumbling!
Stumble on by again real soon.
March 28th, 2008 at 10:35 am
Dina - I just signed up with Peter. Thanks for forwarding the reporter’s request for Martini info - I sent her links to my blog and particular blog posts that I did that might help her article.
You always have such useful content!
March 28th, 2008 at 10:39 am
Hi Pop Art Diva,
You’re welcome! I was tickled to be able to refer her to someone who knows how to make a mean martini in wild colors and flavors.
Dina
April 4th, 2008 at 10:33 am
[…] for the life of me remember where I first read about HARO. It may have been on Facebook, or Wordfeeder or through MarketingSherpa, or any number of other news services I subscribe to. Nonetheless, I […]
July 30th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
I LOVE HARO!
I read your article on (HARO) Help A Reporter Out. I created a video on the subject and I thought I would send it. Here is a blip.tv rendition http://www.creativeendeavors.blip.tv/#1123448 or a You Tube version http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23biQbZjWBk that you can share with your readers and even embed in your blog. Each give you code to do just that.
GO HARO!
Bridgette Mongeon
BY THE WAY- this blog is shown in the video!