Networking

I was going to do in-depth posts into each area of rodeo public relations but this weekend showed me how you never know when networking opportunities can present themselves.

So this weekend I was at a bull riding event that occurs on a regular basis. The event is sponsored by a local country radio station that has very often paired up with local rodeo and bull riding organizations to promote events. I was there and one of the on-air personalities that is always there doing promotions approached me and introduced himself to me. He said that he had always seen us at the event and just wanted to say hi and introduce himself. Now just through that interaction I have made a very strong media contact for radio.

Networking is something that is very important in public relations. Without relationships with media outlets public relations is almost impossible. In today’s world e-mail has made it so easy to get contact information for media personnel. The results of this can be seen with the use of sites such as Media Atlas (www.mediatlas.prnewswire.com), which list contact information for media contacts nationwide.

With the development of these sites media are getting bombarded with e-mails and phone calls from people they don’ t know trying to get media coverage. The best way to get your clients coverage over the sea of other PR professionals trying to get coverage for their client is to have a name the media person recognizes.

Think about it in your eyes, when you read your own e-mail which are you more likely to take time to look at: an e-mail from an acquaintance, or one from some name you don’t recognize that is most likely just trying to sell you something. Most people are more likely to read e-mail from people that they have met. Just by having them know your name you increase your chances of getting media coverage.

So now the issue is to get the media to know your name. The best way to get in touch with the media is to be where they are. In rodeo the best way to do this is to attend major events and find the members of the media who are covering it. Or also in my situation go to events that are hosted by media outlets and introduce yourself. Another option is to use social media outlets such as Twitter. Twitter members often host local meet and greets called “Tweet ups” where you go somewhere and meet people you follow and network. Start following members of the media that may have interest in covering you clients and host a “tweet up” for all of them.

Basically in today’s world the possibilities for networking are infinite. The most important thing that I have learned though my time helping event coordinate for my university Career Services office is that just being there is important. It really is simple if you are not going out there and meeting people then you are not going to be making connections so get out there and start networking.