What kinds of written material will you develop?
Depending on your needs, I will review brochures and previously developed articles, as well as press kit materials, including biographical profiles, fact sheets, press releases and media lists. Even though you may not need a full-blown online media kit, you may want to develop certain elements, such as fact sheet, organizational profile or biographies.

How long will it take to develop these materials?
It may take two hours to develop each double-spaced page of a brochure, white paper, speech or press release. This includes telephone, e-mail or face-to-face research, writing, editing, securing of approvals, and coordination with external and internal parties. While a six-page article might involve 10-12 hours of work, a longer article or report could involve as many as 20 hours of work. Hours vary for marketing letters, speeches, press releases, brochures, backgrounders, one-page columns, proposals and rewrites of existing materials.

Will I have an opportunity to review drafts of the material?
Yes, we will develop an approval process prior to initiating the writing of any material. Individuals who are involved in approvals will receive an e-mail and telephone “heads-up,” as well as instructions on how to review copy. Research, writing, editing, approvals, production and dissemination dates will be included in the communications plan.

Once you’ve developed an article, for example, how do you approach members of the media?
In most cases, it’s best to approach an editor prior to the submission of a completed article. This can be done with a cover letter/outline combination, a pitch letter describing the nature of the article, or a page or two of media briefs. It’s also useful to develop a series of generic letters, including an initial query letter, a follow-up letter to an editor who hasn’t responded, and a thank you letter.

How will you track and report activity with the media, for example?
I’ll develop monthly media reports indicating media contacted, messages delivered, response, results, and a future date for follow-up.

Can you help us get quoted in the media, while also developing bylined articles?
Securing media interviews requires that you develop some sort of online and offline media kit. This kit or online resource center should include possible areas of expertise and potential story lines. Getting interviewed also requires that you get “on the Rolodex”of writers and editors. This can be accomplished by developing a section for the media within your Web site and/or sending media a targeted e-mail communication on your latest accomplishments.