The Publicity Hound’s Blog

Tamara Remedios of New Jersey writes:

“We’re doing a restaurant promotion July 24-August 4 in northern New Jersey. It’s Hudson Restaurant Week for Hoboken & Jersey City (across the river from Manhattan). I created the event last year. I own a local magazine and it was an idea brainstormed with one of my advertisers. It’s a 10-day dining promotion with prix-fixe meals at fine restaurants for a reduced price.

“The event has really grown over the past year. I give lots of attention to advertising but not PR. I want to change that as we go into Year Number 2. I want to do a kick-off party with mayors, politicians, chefs, restaurant owners, business owners and winners from our email list. We’ll be selling tickets to the public with proceeds going to a local food bank. I want to invite media but I’m not sure how to go about it.

“Do you send an invite or a personal note or letter? Do I also send a pitch? What’s the protocol and should we do anything special for them? Any other tips for publicity?”

Posted In: Business Promotion, Pitching the Media, Special Events
posted On: 4/25/2006: 11:21 am: By Joan
Comments:

4 Responses

Miriam Silverberg Says:
April 26th, 2006 at 10:04 pm

I would call first. I’m always afraid if I just send something blindly it will get lost or wind up in the “circular file.” You don’t have to send a handwritten note, a press release or email would do fine. If you want more publicity, why not take advantage of the nice weather and have chefs with their white hats handing out free tastes?

Kristen Says:
April 27th, 2006 at 3:09 am

A few suggestions:

1 — Invite media to attend your kick-off event, particularly from the style or gossip pages of your local print outlets.

2 — Pitch one or two of your local chefs to morning news shows during the week leading up to your event, including the weekend before. Make sure there’s something wacky or unique about them, and that they’re photogenic and prepped for TV.

3 — Create a community calendar listing release and send it to all outlets in your area, dailies and weeklies included. (Even monthly area magazines if their deadlines haven’t passed.)

Shel Horowitz Says:
April 27th, 2006 at 4:37 pm

Write up a very strong press release that *the food bank* will send out for you (ask them first, of course). This would focus on your commitment to their humanitarian mission, etc. etc., and how delighted they are to have you as a sponsor. The release should also mention all the participating dignitaries and their role. (Please visit my Frugal Marketing Tipsheet archives http://www.frugalmarketing.com/marketingtips.shtml for more information about effective press releases)

And of course a strong invitation to attend and cover the event.

Also send out a press release on your own, with different angles.

Media love charity tie-ins and feel obligated to cover politician appearances, so having both puts you in good shape.

garthgibsondotcom Says:
April 28th, 2006 at 9:02 pm

Sounds like a great event it’s a sure bet media would like to cover it.

Maybe to juice it up even more seek to add some Famous native sons and daughters from northern Jersey attend the event. Sign autographs for a donation that kind of thing.

How about inviting the families of soldiers in Iraq that live in the northern Jersey area.

Does northern Jersey have a favorite dish? If not why not create one for the event?