Marketing | Public Relations | Promotion
How to Be an Expert Source by Newsjacking
Newsjacking creates thought leaders
One of the most effective ways to position yourself as an expert, generate media coverage, and increase your social media engagement is a technique known as newsjacking.
It’s a process by which you inject yourself into breaking news in real-time.
Have you ever wondered where media outlets find the sources they quote?
In most cases, those expert sources have mastered the art and science of newsjacking. They identified the story early, got out in front of it with a combination of facts and opinion, provided a unique perspective, and made sure their audience saw it.
Of course, it’s not enough to simply have an opinion, your thoughts must add value to the discussion.
An article, press release, or blog post using the newsjacking strategy would follow a structure similar to this:
- Headline naming the issue/event and promising more information
- A more detailed description of the event and why it matters to your audience
- Analysis that includes your opinion
- Advice or predictions, such as what steps your readers can take to avoid problems or take advantage of opportunities, or the impact the situation will have on your audience or another defined group
- A brief bio with your photo and credentials
Voila! A thought leader is born.
Once you create the content, you must let your target audience know it’s there. Do that by:
- Applying a sound keyword strategy so that journalists and others searching online for information about the story can find you.
- Using your social media network to further increase your exposure.
- Emailing the article to your list and encouraging your existing audience to share.
- Capitalizing on your existing news media connections.
Establishing yourself as an authority is just one way to use the newsjacking strategy. You can also use it for general exposure for yourself and your business, promoting brand awareness, increasing fan loyalty, and more.
The benefits of successful newsjacking go beyond the articles you generate. When you’re contacted by a journalist or broadcast producer, follow the advice in Guide to Media Interviews and you’ll get yourself on their go-to list when they need experts in your field.
A version of this article was originally published on my site at CreateTeachInspire.com. You can reach me there or email me at [email protected].
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