Honda Dealer Know How Guide – What makes a good story
Honda Dealer Know How Guide – What makes a good story
Regional newspapers and magazines can be a great way to promote your business to the local community.
Advertising in these publications can be a good way to generate interest, but if you’re doing something special like hosting a promotional event, investing in your site, welcoming new members of the team or fundraising for charity, why not try to secure some editorial coverage? If you are advertising, you can always try to negotiate some extra editorial space alongside.
Editorial coverage increases your visibility, credibility and brand recognition, as well as giving you tangible materials to share online, but be aware that some will require an advertising spend to accompany any editorial coverage.
Prova will be providing full media support in the form of a Dealer Toolkit, which will be available to download from Hondanews.eu/gb from 01.05.16.
However, if you want to start pulling together the information before you get in touch, then the most important points of any story are the who, what, where, when, why and how.
Who?
Who is involved in your activity, who has been promoted, who is being sponsored or who do you want to attend your event/unveiling etc.?
What?
What is special about your activity, investment or event that existing and prospective customers would want to know? What are you offering that is of benefit to them?
Where?
This one is fairly simple – make sure you include information on where your dealership is located, or if the investment or event is not taking place at your showroom, let your customers know where they need to go. Are there any local landmarks that will help?
When?
When is the investment, sponsorship or event taking place? Give as much notice as possible. For events, weekends will attract a bigger crowd than a weekday, and it is more likely that families will attend. Weekday evenings might suit a smaller, more intimate event.
Why?
Why is the investment or event taking place? Are you growing, is there a new model you are promoting or is there a relationship with a local team or business?
How?
How are you making this milestone or event special? For events, for example, how is this a better alternative to how a customer was going to spend his weekend or evening?
You know your customers better than most. Consider what you can offer that will tempt them into attending. This will be the angle the journalist is looking for to write an interesting story – and it’s this information that will be vital when you get in touch with Prova to discuss next steps.
ENDS.
Dealers who would like to find out more about how PR can support their sales can contact the Honda Dealer PR Hotline on 07495 578705 or email: hondauk@provapr.co.uk for more information.
Prova will be providing full media support in the form of a Dealer Toolkit. This will include training guides, press releases, media relations support and events promotion advice, all of which will be available to download from Hondanews.eu/gb from 01.05.16.
Plus, there are four exciting campaigns lined up to help increase brand awareness to local media and, importantly, increase footfall into the showroom. We’ll tell you more about these in due course.