Over the past two weeks, I've been getting a steady flow of new users. Just wanted to say welcome and provide a few tips for getting the most out of Newsvetter:
Media: Use your public profile and actively share it with people who commonly supply you with news tips. Place the contact badge (see image on right) on your website or blog or provide a link to your Newsvetter profile on your About page or in your email signature. Why do this? This is your first line of defense when dealing with PR people. Your profile tells them something about you, your publication, and what you cover. It's a profile that you control and update. The more visible this is to PR people the more PR people will use it rather than media list brokers where accuracy can be iffy. Best of all, it provides a mechanism for vetting pitches. Quality is important to you, Newsvetter's vetting process establishes a two step process that makes sure that PR people have done their homework. Does it guarantee quality? No. But if a pitch is subpar you can rate it and provide a comment which becomes part of their permanent record on Newsvetter. Think of it as an eBay feedback score for sellers.
The vetting process isn't just for PR people. Journalists, bloggers can test out the strength of their story ideas using this process as well. Use it to outline the story idea and/or to help you sell the idea to editors at your publication or if you are a freelancer, to other publications. Once you complete the vetting process you can email it directly from the site to an editor or publication.
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PR: Tired of being called a Flack? This is your opportunity to show that you can be a valuable partner in the news making process. Think of the vetting process as your starting point. This is where you will challenge and evaluate the value and quality of your news or client's news. Still think you got a story? If you have to send out a press release, use the completed vetting questionnaire as your data sheet for writing your press release per newswire specifications. When it comes to sharing your news with the media, use Newsvetter as your media relations/pitching tool to ensure that you are articulating the importance of your news and why it matters to that specific journalist or blogger.
Remember, once you've completed the vetting questionnaire you are only half way done. Newsvetter has a "send to media" feature that allows users to send their submission to the media, but only one at a time (see image on right). Newsvetter is designed to reduce the temptation for cut-and-paste or mass pitching. Can you stlll send low quality information through Newsvetter? Sure. But two things will happen: 1) Media can rate and comment on your submission. These become part of your permanent record. Do you want that visible to your company or clients? 2) Newsvetter's goal is to be associated with quality. We are here to help. If you need assistance with a story, just hide your content and send us the link via the contact form. We'll gladly supply you with some helpful tips. On the other hand, if quality isn't your MO, Newsvetter reserves the right to remove your content from the site.
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